Sunday of the Samaritan woman #1

He who covers the earth with clouds asked her for water. O marvel!
He who surrounds the clouds with water asked her for water.
He who clothes the clouds with water came to the woman and asked her for water.
He who is borne by the cherubim spoke with a harlot.
He who suspended the earth above the waters asked her for water.
He, the source of water's springs and pools, looked for water.
For He wished to give the water of life to drink to her who was aflame with improper desires.
For He wished to draw to Himself the woman ensnared by the fierce enemy.
For He alone is compassionate and loves humankind.

* * *

In the Orthodox Church the fifth Sunday after Easter is called the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman. This Sunday is based on the Gospel account of Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman in John 4: 1-42. Tradition names the woman as Photini and she is the first person to whom Jesus openly reveals Himself as the Messiah:

“I AM he, the one who is speaking to you” (John 4:26).

It is also the longest personal conversation that Jesus Christ has in the entire New Testament.

At first, it appears puzzling why the Church would commemorate this episode on the fifth Sunday of Easter since it bears no connection with the Resurrection and does not even contain a miracle that could be linked (even indirectly) to the Resurrection.

The subtlety is the reference to water. Water plays a very significant role throughout the New Testament and is a major symbol within Orthodoxy. Jesus was baptized by water, He transformed water into wine, walked upon the waters, and most significantly, taught that the only way to enter into the kingdom of Heaven was to be born of water and Spirit.

The Wednesday, preceding this festival, is called the "Wednesday of mid-Pentecost" and it is precisely between Easter and Pentecost dividing this into two clear periods of three weeks. Mid-Pentecost, the Church reads the portion of the Gospel that begins with, 'Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple ...' corresponding to the Jewish feast of Tabernacles. If we continue this gospel, we come to the words:

"... if any man thirsts, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believe on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit ...)"

This is where we meet the Pentecostal theme and its link to water and, in this way, we are lead to Jacobs Well and we hear Jesus Christ announce to the woman the doctrine of water and of the spirit.

The chants on Saturday evening introduce us to this:

Behold we come to the half of these days which begin with the saving Resurrection and end with the divine feast of Pentecost ... Thou didst come to the wells at the sixth hour, O Thou, most wonderful Fountain.

The Holy Gazelle of Saidnaya

I have much to learn and I begin today

This poem has been borrowed from a photo off Flickr. The author has signed himself anonymously but recognition should be awarded to him. Quote © 2008 by my Nickname ‘Mosche Lopez Pereira or Diego d´Aguilar’ - proud about his Sephardic heritage @ the Residence de Le Petit Chateau  (his family name and address changed to protect his privacy on the internet)




I have much to learn. I begin today . . .

My Elders have all gone to see The Great Spirit.
One great beauty named Erna,
who was married by my German, French, American Grandfather,
I know not much from that union,
I have much to learn.
I begin today . . .

So much has been lost
Will I ever find my way?
Yes, I have, but I have much to learn.
I begin today . . .

I can feel the connection to The Great Spirit
that I share with all my children on earth.
Does it matter that I have missed so much time?
No... I have much to learn.
I begin today . . .

Right now is what my Creator has given me.
I cannot change the past, but can do with today what he guides me to do.
I will do the best I can with what I have.
I will continue to learn and live.

Maybe someday I will know some things to share,
so sacred rituals are not lost.
A Wisdom keeper someday I may be.
I have much to learn.
I begin today . . .

The Story of the church visitor

One day, a man went to visit a church. He arrived early, parked his car, and got out. Another car pulled up near him, and the driver told him, "I always park there. You took my place!"

The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat, and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's my seat! You took my place!"

The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.

After Sunday School, the visitor went into the church sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit. You took my place!" The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still said nothing.

Later, as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?" 


The visitor replied, "I took your place."

To love is easy and sweet

Oh! if we could only see the heart of a man who bears the evangelic yoke of Christ, you would see in it a paradise of joy and gladness, you would see there the Kingdom of God, even though on the surface he was worried and surrounded by grief and tribulations, as a rose is surrounded by thorns. 

There can be nought but comfort and true joy in a heart in which reigns the Kingdom of God.

Untreated disease

"It is not possible to correct yourself rightly if you do not recognize the evil hidden in your heart and the calamities that proceed from it. An unrecognized disease remains untreated. The beginning of health is to know your disease, and the beginning of blessedness is to know your misfortune and wretchedness. For who having recognized his illness does not seek healing, and who knowing his misfortune does not seek deliverance from it?"

Song that speaks of love ...

Τα τραγούδια που μιλούν γι' αγάπη
The songs that are talking about love



Something is going on between us, something,

And we are not like we used to be ...

Our love turned its back on us,

And our hearts are split like glass.

The songs that talk about love,

Have ceased talking about us.

Now my favorite piece (song)

Is the one that tells me that you don't love me.

The songs that talk about love,

Have ceased talking about us.
Now my favorite song

Is the one that tells me that you don't love me.

This song that you loved so much,
Has stopped touching you emotionally.

They all talked about eternal love
Now you're saying it has been discordance from the beginning.

The songs that talk about love,

Have ceased talking about us.

Now my favorite song

Is the one that tells me you don't love me.

Greek:

Κάτι τρέχει ανάμεσά μας, κάτι
και δεν ήμαστε όπως ήμασταν παλιά

Ο έρωτας μας γύρισε την πλάτη

και ραγίσαν οι καρδιές μας σαν γυαλιά

Τα τραγούδια που μιλούν γι' αγάπη
έχουν πάψει να μιλάνε πια για μας

Τώρα αγαπημένο μου κομμάτι

είν' αυτό που λέει πως δεν μ' αγαπάς

Το τραγούδι εκείνο που αγαπούσες

έχει πάψει πλέον να σε συγκινεί

Το 'λεγαν παντοτινή αγάπη

τώρα λες πως ήταν φάλτσο απ' την αρχή
Τα τραγούδια που μιλούν γι' αγάπη..

St George the Great Martyr

May Christ grant us all repentance, 

that we all may be saved, 

and come to the knowledge of the Truth! 

St. George the Trophy-bearer, 

intercede for us all and help us! 

Amen!

Sermon on Sunday of the Paralytic

by Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh:

In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

How tragic today’s story of the life of Christ is. 

A man had been paralysed for years. He had lain at a short distance from healing, but he himself had no strength to merge into the waters of ablution. And no one – no one in the course of all these years – had had compassion on him.

The ones rushed to be the first in order to be healed. Others who were attached to them by love, by friendship, helped them to be healed. But no one cast a glance at this man, who for years had longed for healing and was not in himself able to find strength to become whole.

If only one person had been there, if only one heart had responded with compassion, this man might have been whole years and years earlier. As no one, not one person, had compassion on him, all that was left to him – and I say all that was left to him with a sense of horror – was the direct intervention of God.

We are surrounded by people who are in need. It is not only people who are physically paralysed who need help.

There are so many people who are paralysed in themselves, and need to meet someone who would help them.

Paralysed in themselves are those who are terrified of life, because life has been an object of terror for them since they were born: insensitive parents, heartless, brutal surroundings. How many are those who hoped, when they were still small, that there would be something for them in life. But no. There wasn’t. There was no compassion. There was no friendliness. There was nothing. And when they tried to receive comfort and support, they did not receive it. Whenever they thought they could do something they were told, ‘Don’t try. Don’t you understand that you are incapable of this?’ And they felt lower and lower.

How many were unable to fulfil their lives because they were physically ill, and not sufficiently strong… But did they find someone to give them a supporting hand? Did they find anyone who felt so deeply for them and about them that they went out of their way to help? And how many those who are terrified of life, lived in circumstances of fear, of violence, of brutality… But all this could not have taken them if there had been someone who have stood by them and not abandoned them.

So we are surrounded, all of us, by people who are in the situation of this paralytic man. If we think of ourselves we will see that many of us are paralysed, incapable of fulfilling all their aspirations; incapable of being what they longed for, incapable of serving others the way their heart speaks; incapable of doing anything they longed for because fear, brokenness has come into them.

And all of us, all of us were responsible for each of them. We are responsible, mutually, for one another; because when we look right and left at the people who stand by us, what do we know about them? Do we know how broken they are? How much pain there is in their hearts? How much agony there has been in their lives? How many broken hopes, how much fear and rejection and contempt that has made them contemptuous of themselves and unable even to respect themselves – not to speak of having the courage of making a move towards wholeness, that wholeness of which the Gospel speaks in this passage and in so many other places?

Let us reflect on this. Let us look at each other and ask ourselves, ‘How much frailty is there in him or her? How much pain has accumulated in his or her heart? How much fear of life – but life expressed by my neighbour, the people whom I should be able to count for life – has come in to my existence?

Let us look at one another with understanding, with attention. Christ is there. He can heal; yes. But we will be answerable for each other, because there are so many ways in which we should be the eyes of Christ who sees the needs, the ears of Christ who hears the cry, the hands of Christ who supports and heals or makes it possible for the person to be healed.

Let us look at this parable of the paralytic with new eyes; not thinking of this poor man two thousand years ago who was so lucky that Christ happened to be near him and in the end did what every neighbour should have done. Let us look at each other and have compassion, active compassion; insight; love if we can.

And then this parable will not have been spoken or this event will not have been related to us in vain. Amen.

© 2010, Preachers Institute.

Alexamenos worships his god

The earliest surviving depiction of a crucifixion is not work of art but a school boy's scrawl. It dates anywhere from the 1st to 3rd centuries. 

  

It was discovered in 1857 on the Palatine hill in Rome in the remains of a boarding school for imperial page boys built by the Emperor Caligula. It reads in crude misspelled Latin, "Alexamenos worships his god," and shows a figure on the left looking at a crucified figure with a donkey's head seen from behind. 


It could well be that Alexamenos was a Christian and this other anonymous boy was mocking him for his beliefs. It could be that Alexamenos may not have been Christian at all, and that showing him praying to a crucified donkey headed god was just another way of insulting him. Alexamenos worships something so low as a crucified donkey man, associating him with foreigners, slaves, criminals, and work animals; the timeless stuff of adolescent insults. 


This bit of vandalism sometimes gets over-interpreted (some scholars try to identify it with gnostic sects). 


I think it is very useful for revealing the powerful sense of shame that was attached to the crucifixion in ancient times. It reveals the attitude the Romans had of Christ (crucified donkey man).

A Passenger

Για άλλη μια φορά , αισθάνομαι ότι σε έχω διώξει

από το καλυβάκι της ψυχής μου . . .

Μην παρατείνεις άλλο την απουσία Σου . . .

γιατί η ζωή χωρίς Εσέ δεν αντέχεται ! . . .

Διαβάτης ...

One again I have driven you away 

Away from the cottage of my soul.

Do not prolong your absence any more

I can not tolerate life without You!


By a passenger ... 

Hattip: Odeuontas Blog.

Tranquility of soul ...

"A psalm is the tranquility of souls, the arbitrator of peace, restraining the disorder and turbulence of thoughts, for it softens the passion of the soul and moderates its unruliness. A psalm forms friendships, unites the divided, mediates between enemies. For who can still consider him an enemy with whom he has set forth one voice to God? So that the singing of psalms brings love, the greatest of good things, contriving harmony like some bond of union and uniting the people in the symphony of a single choir."

—Saint Basil the Great

Christos Anesti - who can ever tire of Life?

Love 

is the foremost of all excellent achievements 

and the first of the commandments of the law. 

If ever, then, the soul reach this goal, it will be in no need of anything else; 

it will embrace that plenitude of things which are, whereby alone it seems in any way to preserve within itself the stamp of God's actual blessedness. 

For the life of the Supreme Being is love, 

seeing that the Beautiful is 

necessarily lovable to those who recognize it, 

and the Deity does recognize it, and so this recognition becomes love, that which He recognizes being essentially beautiful. 

This True Beauty 

the insolence of satiety cannot touch; and no satiety interrupting this continuous capacity to love the Beautiful, God's life will have its activity in lfe; which  

life is thus in itself beautiful, 

and is essentially of a 

loving disposition towards the Beautiful." 

-- St. Gregory of Nyssa

Christos Anesti in flowers

A Bach double

Blessed is the Man ...

Why do I always end in spiritual tears? This is the Psalm I am drawn to most by personal choice. I first heard the words of Psalm 1 set to music by the Vatopaidi monks who chanted (Byzantine) it. Its grace has tugged and blessed my heart ever since ... Here is another beautiful interpretation that moves my inner peace and stillness, it is by the composer Sergei Rachmaninoff

λαϊκό πνεύμα -

Στη συνείδηση του απλού ορθόδοξου λαού η Παναγία δεν είναι ένα απόμακρο, απόκοσμο πρόσωπο σε κάποιο θρόνο κι ας τη λέει Παντάνασσα εικονίζοντας τη δόξα της:

Μήτηρ του Θεού,
Θεοτόκος,
Χώρα του Αχωρήτου,
Ζωοδόχος Πηγή,
Αγία Σκέπη,
Γλυκοφιλούσα,
Γοργοϋπήκοος,
Παραμυθία,
η Παναγία μας  
ή απλώς 

η Μητέρα όλων.

Περισσότερο την αισθάνονται ως τον πιο δικό τους άνθρωπο στον οποίο μπορούν να καταφύγουν σε κάθε δύσκολη στιγμή. Η φράση «Παναγία μου» εκφέρεται πρώτη στο στόμα του κόσμου. Ξέρουν ότι η γλυκύτατη Μητέρα του Χριστού δεν παραβλέπει τις αιτήσεις μας και γίνεται ο καλύτερος πρεσβευτής μας ενώπιον του Θεού και Υιού της. 

Η δημοτική μας παράδοση μάς κατέλιπε μέσω του στόματος του απλού λαού -ο οποίος δεν θεολογεί αλλά αισθάνεται βαθύτατα τη θλίψη της Μητέρας του και συμπονεί- μερικά από τα συγκλονιστικότερα μοιρολόγια. Μέσα σ' αυτό το λαϊκό πνεύμα κινούνται και οι στίχοι του Κώστα Βάρναλη που μελοποιήθηκαν από τον Λουκά Θάνου και έγιναν γνωστοί με μοναδική φωνή του Ξυλούρη.

* * *

Πού να σε κρύψω γιόκα μου 

να μη σε φτάνουν οι κακοί 

σε ποιο νησί του ωκεανού 

σε πια κορφή ερημική.

Δεν θα σε μάθω να μιλάς 

και τ' άδικο φωνάξεις 

ξέρω πως θα 'χεις την καρδιά 

τόσο καλή τόσο γλυκή 

που μες τα βρόχια της οργής 

ταχιά, ταχιά θε να σπαράξεις.

Συ θα'χεις μάτια γαλανά 

θα 'χεις κορμάκι τρυφερό 

θα σε φυλάω από ματιά κακή 

και από κακό καιρό.

Από το πρώτο ξάφνιασμα 

της ξυπνημένης νιότης 

δεν είσαι συ για μάχητες 

δεν είσαι συ για το σταυρό 

εσύ νοικοκερόπουλο 

όχι σκλάβος, όχι σκλάβος ή προδότης

Κι αν κάποτε τα φρένα σου 

το δίκιο φως της αστραπής 

κι αν η αλήθεια σου ζητήσουνε 

παιδάκι μου να μην τα πεις

Θεριά οι ανθρώποι δεν μπορούν 

το φως να το σηκώσουν 

δεν είναι η αλήθεια πιο χρυσή

απ' την αλήθεια της σιωπής 

χίλιες φορές να γεννηθείς τόσες, 

τόσες θα σε σταυρώσουν.

--  Source: ερετικό ιστολόγιο.

Blessed is the Man ...

Lord, I am tired. 

Find me and remind me of who I am.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked.
For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice in Him with trembling.
Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.
Arise O LORD, save me O my God.
Salvation belongs to the LORD, Thy blessing be upon Thy people.


Psalm 140/141

1 LORD, I cry out to You;
Make haste to me! 
Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.

2 Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. 

3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.

4 Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,
To practice wicked works 
With men who work iniquity; 
And do not let me eat of their delicacies. 

5 Let the righteous strike me;
It shall be a kindness. 
And let him rebuke me; 
It shall be as excellent oil; 
Let my head not refuse it. 
For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked.

6 Their judges are overthrown by the sides of the cliff,
And they hear my words, for they are sweet.

7 Our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave,
As when one plows and breaks up the earth. 

8 But my eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord;
In You I take refuge; 
Do not leave my soul destitute.

9 Keep me from the snares they have laid for me,
And from the traps of the workers of iniquity.

10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
While I escape safely.



Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee O God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee O God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee O God.

Η αγάπη

Η αγάπη απονέμεται πάντα σαν δώρο. 

Eλεύθερα.

πρόθυμα.

Aπροσδόκητα. 

Προσφέρεται ακόμα και όταν οι άλλοι δεν την αναγνωρίζουν 

και δεν την εκτιμούν. 

Δεν αγαπάμε για να μας αγαπήσουν.

Aγαπάμε γιατί έτσι νιώθουμε…

Day of Rejoicing (Radunitsa)

The Radunitsa ("Day of Rejoicing") is a holiday in the Orthodox Church which falls on the Tuesday of Saint Thomas Week— nine days, respectively, after Pascha (Easter). This day is a general memorial for the departed; we remember those Orthodox Christians from all ages who have died in the faith, and in the hope of the Resurrection ...

Stop. Look. Listen.

In the Songs of Songs we read:

“Arise, my dove and come: Winter is now past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth.” (2: 10-12). 

The storm of sorrow is gone, and Jesus the Nazarene, whose very title in Hebrew means the Flower, has appeared in glory. Beautiful was that Flower when it took its roots in the dark cave of Bethlehem. Fragrant was that Flower when it was bruised and pinned to the Cross which became its vase: but glorious is that Flower today, for It now fully blooms never to wither away again.

He Is Risen.

Easter is the Queen of feasts, the solemnity of solemnities, because the Saviour of the world had risen. Let the bells ring till the steeples reel; let the organs peal forth their loudest notes; let the flowers of spring exhale their sweetest fragrance, for this is the day the Lord has risen. 

Yesterday and the day before we saw Him covered with wounds: today we see Him glorified. Yesterday and the day before our hearts were sad, because He who raised people to life—was dead Himself. It is natural for a flower to die in the autumn: it is natural for the sun to go down in the evening, but when the flower withers in the summer, and when the sun grows dark at noon—that is sad. 

On Good Friday The Flower of Nazareth died; today It is risen in an eternal spring. A few days ago the Sun went down at noon. but now It has risen for an eternal day. The Lord has risen today, and He will die no more. Let the whole earth rejoice, for “This is the day which the Lord hath made: we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24).

During the holy season of Lent our eyes were moist with tears of sorrow, but today they glitter with tears of joy. In the tears of Good Friday our eyes saw clouds of sorrow: in the tears of Easter Morning they see the rainbow. The showers of weeping eyes on Good Friday refresh the garden of our soul for Easter Day. The premature Flower of Nazareth that was plucked and crushed on Good Friday gave its sweetest fragrance on Easter morning. Our altars that were as bare as the desert, are now decorated with flowers, and the bells that were hushed as a sepulchre, now peal out the gladsome tidings of the Resurrection. On Good Friday the cruel enemies cried out to Christ: “Come down from the cross!” On Easter Morning an angel from heaven sings: “He is risen!”

On Easter day the soul of Christ returns to take possession of His body. 

Those sightless eyes again sparkle like jewels. Those ears are once more open to hear the sorrows of men. That Royal Blood spilt on Calvary once more flows through His veins. No purple garment of mockery is on Him now. No crown of sharp thorns disfigures His sacred brow. No blood trickles down that Holy Face which angels delight to admire. The crown of thorns is replaced by a halo of heavenly light. His disfigured Face is changed to a beauty that is rare on earth. His five wounds remain, but they are not gaping wounds; rather they are tender lips which proclaim the glory of His Divinity.

Source

When, O King Immortal

When, O King Immortal,
Thou didst seek the gloom,
Tasting death in meekness,
Resting in the tomb—
On that dark and woful day,
Hades owned Thy kingly sway.

Victor! now we hail Thee,
Hail Thee Christ our God;
Thou hast burst the barrier
Of Thy dark abode;
On that glad and glorious day,
Hades owned Thy kingly sway.

They who bore the spices
In the early hour,
Heard the salutation
Of the Lord of power,
And His followers, sore and sad,
Found the peace that made them glad.

Hail the King Immortal!
Death by death is slain,
And the weak and fallen
Rise to life again;
On this glad and glorious day
Hades owns the Victor’s sway.

Irish Proverbs and sayings ...

An Irishman's Philosophy  

In life, there are only two things to worry about—
Either you are well or you are sick.

If you are well, there is nothing to worry about,
But if you are sick, there are only two things to worry about—
Either you will get well or you will die.

If you get well, there is nothing to worry about,

But if you die, there are only two things to worry about—
Either you will go to heaven or hell.

If you go to heaven, there is nothing to worry about.


And if you go to hell, you’ll be so busy shaking hands with all your friends
You won’t have time to worry! 

* * *

The Way We Tell a Story (Pat McCarty 1851-1931)

Says I to him, I says, says I, Says I to him, I says, The thing, says I, I says to him, Is just, says I, this ways. I hev', says I, a gret respeck For you and for your breed, And onything I could, I says, I'd do, I wud indeed. I don't know any man, I says, I'd do it for, says I, As fast, I says, as for yoursel', That's tellin' ye no lie. There's nought, says I, I wudn't do To plase your feyther's son, But this, I says, ye see, says I, I says, it can't be done. * * *

Murphy's Law

Nothing is as easy as it looks. Everything takes longer than you expect. And if anything can go wrong, It will, at the worst possible moment.

* * *

Irish Proverbs: Life's Ups & Downs 

Níl aon suáilce gan a duáilce féin.
There are no unmixed blessings in life.

Is gaire cabhair Dé ná an doras. 
God's help is nearer than the door.
 
Is ceirín do gach créacht an fhoighne.
Patience is a poultice for all wounds.

My Lord and My God ...

Observe the Power of Christ and the empty tomb ...

"Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you." (John 20:19) "But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." (John 20:24-26)

And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. ... " (John 20:27) ... 

Thomas proclaimed:

"My Lord and My God"

The Power of the Empty Tomb:

The empty tomb of our Resurrected Christ gives us hope, encouragement but most of all comfort. 

The tomb whispers in our hearts, "You who have suffered do not be disheartened in the most painful moments of your life. Do not feel deprived, when your friends abandon you and do not be discouraged when the hatred of people creates around you, and inside you, an atmosphere that is suffocating. Listen and regard the road of all those who have traveled with My Gospel as their guide. The footsteps of His life never ended with Golgotha; His path ended with the Resurrection ... with the Ascension ... with Theosis. Remain with Christ, O Bride, and He will remain with you - do not be afraid of anything."

O Lover of mankind, great and immeasurable is the multitude of Your mercies; for You endured being struck by the Jews, handled by Apostles, and investigated by those who reject You. How did You become incarnate? How were You crucified, You who are sinless? But make us understand, as You did Thomas, so that he cried to You, ‘My Lord and my God, glory to You.’ Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and forever. Amen. 

—from the Vespers of St. Thomas Sunday

"Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him." (John 11:16).

"O strange wonder, / unbelief hath given birth unto steadfast faith! / For Thomas said: / Unless I see, I shall not believe. / And when he touched the side of Christ, / he spake with divine authority / concerning the Incarnate One Who is the very Son of God, / and recognized Him as the One Who suffered in the flesh. / He proclaimed the Risen God, and cried with a radiant voice: // O my Lord and my God, glory be to Thee".