THE PARAGON April 6/19 ns 2026 † 2nd SUNDAY OF PASCHA (THE HOLY APOSTLE THOMAS) • St. Evtychios, Patriarch of Constantinople; St. Gregory the Sinaite ~1st Matins Gospel: St. Matt. 28:16-20 Acts 5:12-20 (2nd Sunday of Acts); St. John 20:19-31

 

 2nd S U N D A Y   OF    P A S C H A 

T H E   H O L Y   A P O S T L E 

T H O M A S

April 6/19 ns 2026

• St. Evtychios, Patriarch of Constantinople; 

• St. Gregory the Sinaite

Thomas was one of the Twelve Apostles. Through his doubt in the Resurrection of Christ the Lord, a new proof was given of that wonderful and saving event. The resurrected Lord appeared to His disciples a second time, in order to convince Thomas.

The Lord said to Thomas: Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas replied: My Lord and my God (St. John 20:27-28).

After the descent of the Holy Spirit, when the apostles cast lots to see where they would each go to preach, the lot fell to Thomas to go to India. He was a little saddened that he had to go so far away, but the Lord appeared to him and encouraged him. In India, St. Thomas converted many, both aristocrats and poor, to the Christian Faith, and established the Church there, appointing priests and bishops.
Among others, Thomas converted two sisters to the Faith-Tertiana and Migdonia-both wives of Indian princes. Because of their faith, both sisters were ill-treated by their husbands, with whom they no longer wanted to live after their baptism. Eventually, they were allowed to go. Being freed of marriage, they lived God-pleasing lives until their repose. Dionysius and Pelagia were betrothed, but when they heard the apostolic preaching they did not marry, but devoted themselves to the ascetic life. Pelagia ended her life as a martyr for the Faith, and Dionysius was ordained a bishop by the apostle. Prince Mazdai, Tertiana's husband, whose son, Azan, was also baptized by Thomas, condemned the apostle to death. Mazdai sent five soldiers to kill Thomas. They ran him through with their five spears, and thus the Holy Apostle Thomas rendered his soul into the hands of Christ.

Before his death, he and the other apostles were miraculously brought to Jerusalem for the burial of the Most-holy Theotokos. Arriving too late, he wept bitterly, and the tomb of the Holy Most-pure One was opened at his request. The Theotokos' body was not found in the tomb: the Lord had taken His Mother to His heavenly habitation. Thus, in his tardiness St. Thomas revealed to us the wondrous glorification of the Mother of God, just as he had once confirmed faith in the Resurrection of the Lord by his unbelief.

KECHARITOMENE

'FULL OF GRACE'

Orthros Saint Matthew 28:16-20 KJV

16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Acts 5:12-20 KJV

12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,

18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

Saint John 20:19-31 KJV

19 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.

20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 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.

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.

27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

BEHAVIOR IN ACCORDANCE TO

ONE'S CALLING

Saint Nikolai Velimirovich

"… that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering"
(Ephesians 4:1-2).

Be not proud, be not angry, be not faint-hearted; for these are unworthy of a Christian calling.
This calling is so elevated and wonderful that it is difficult for a man to safeguard himself from pride; yet it is difficult to keep oneself above faint-heartedness when dangers and losses occur. Against these three unhealthy states, the Apostle emphasizes three healthy states: against pride, lowliness; against anger, meekness; against faint-heartedness, longsuffering.

It must be said that these three virtues—lowliness, meekness and longsuffering—do not express in full measure the loftiness of the Christian calling. But then, nothing in this world can fully express the height of the Christian calling.

The preciousness and richness of this calling cannot be seen here on earth: it is like a closed chest that a man carries through this world, but only opens it and avails himself of its riches in the other world. Only someone who could raise himself to the highest heavens and see Christ the Lord in glory with the angels and the saints could assess the loftiness of the Christian calling; for there is the victorious assembly of all God’s chosen ones from earth who were made worthy of this exceedingly high honor.

O Lord Jesus Christ our God, Thy name is the name most dear to us.

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

St. James 4:6

Without question this child is beautiful,

more beautiful than her purity?

Adam was in ceaselessly in communion with God

but having been given free will, he chose to use

it to disobey his Creator's one, single instruction and

in doing so became prideful, which alienated him

since God is meek and lowly.

So, many are and remain almost

alienated through pride

even if  only to the slightest degree. {Ed.}

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity;

and in sin did my mother conceive me. 

PSALM 51:5

Lord, grant me tears, remembrance of death,

and compunction.

 A N E D O T E

ARE YOU EAGER FOR THE RIGHT THING?

Or now are we back to the "same old" since the Great Fast has ended?
Are you eager to have this or that, to go here and there, eager for anything in Creation and all while minimally attentive that the Creator of all things wants all of your being, all of your heart? 

 You can indeed gain much from this mortal, temporary life but you will lose Jesus Christ Who is Paradise without end. There WILL be those who will hear: "I never knew you?" In other words, they never knew "Him".

Ask yourself: Do you believe Him when He says that all of the hairs of your head are numbered? Do you believe He knew every thought you would have before He made you? Can a disfigured mind, a mind that is blind to the Oneness of all things, begin to grasp such a God?

Ask yourself, did He make this life a desert, void of joy etc.? No! but is He not clear about what He expects from us in return? But, do you lack eagerness for Him like those who live in a fantasy thinking subconsciously that they will live forever, or at least live in that fashion by consuming all you can without little to no thought about your judgement date; a date of which you have no say, other than by self termination, which is forbidden.

And lets ask ourselves: How hard was it for God to incarnate? How hard to resurrect from the dead? He has NO needs. Did He not call all things into being without even breathing or thinking? We know with certainty that He did so in order for us to believe that we, WE, who are temporarily carnal, can live, die to this life, resurrect and ascend into PARADISE/LIFE ETERNAL WITH HIM!

If we are not eager for it, then what value? Many people, even "religions" fast just as strictly and some even more frequently for peace?, for health? for a god who is not God? - people without He Who is Peace, He Who is Truth, He Who is without end.

Who does the following describe?

This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Who said: “I am the Resurrection and the Life"

If we do as He says, we become Him.  And then what do you think what happens?

It is said the St. John the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco blessed everything, even his mailbox.



If you ask, from your heart, OUR LORD WHO IS LOVE to bless and forgive everyone you encounter,  will He not send others to you for a blessing?

THE PARAGON march 5/18 ns 2026 † BRIGHT SATURDAY • Holy Martyr Claudius and those with him ~ No Fasting ~ Acts 3:11-16; St. John 3:22-33 ~ Saint Diadochos of Photiki ON TRANSCENDENCE

 

KECHARITOMENE

'FULL OF GRACE'

† BRIGHT SATURDAY

April 5/18 ns 2026

• Holy Martyr Claudius

and those with him

~ No Fasting ~

++± If you know of  St Claudio's 'life' that's accurate please let me know.

Acts 3:11-16 KJV

11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

Saint John 3:22-33 KJV

22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.

23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

24 For John was not yet cast into prison.

25 Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.

26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.

27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.

33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

If you want to know why the Fox news was posted,

CALL 319-210-0891

~ TRANSCENDENCE ~

OR

AWAKEN THE SOUL AND FIND

THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE!

+Saint Diadochos of Photiki

When we have blocked all its outlets by means of the remembrance of God, the intellect requires of us imperatively some task which will satisfy its need for activity. For the complete fulfillment of its purpose we should give it nothing but the prayer ‘Lord Jesus', 'No one', it is written, 'can say "Lord Jesus" except in the Holy Spirit' (1 Cor. 12:3). 

Let the intellect continually concentrate on these words within its inner shrine with such intensity that it is not turned aside to any mental images. Those who meditate unceasingly upon this glorious and holy name in the depths of their heart can sometimes see the light of their own intellect. For when the mind is closely concentrated upon this name, then we grow fully conscious that the name is burning up all the filth which covers the surface of the soul; for it is written: 'Our God is a consuming fire' (Deut. 4:24). Then the Lord awakens in the soul a great love for His glory; for when the intellect with fervor of heart maintains persistently its remembrance of the precious name, then that name implants in us a constant love for its goodness, since there is nothing now that stands in the way. This is the pearl of great price which a man can acquire by selling all that he has, and so experience the inexpressible joy of making it his own (St. Matt. 13: 46).

THE PARAGON April 4/17ns 2026 † BRIGHT FRIDAY; LIFE-GIVING SPRING • St. George of Mt. Maleón; St. Pláton the Studite; St. Zosimas; St. Theonás, Metropolitan of Thessalonica ~ No Fasting ~ Acts 3:1-8; St. John 2:12-22 ~ QUOTE From Saint Ambrose of Milan ~ FULL OF HOLES By Saint Symeon the New Theologian ~ ANECDOTE

April 4/17 ns 2026

• St. George of Mt. Maleón; 

• St. Pláton the Studite; 

• St. Zosimas;

• St. Theonás, Metropolitan of Thessalonica

No Fasting

Please note: 

The link to the weblog PARADISE NOW has been removed and may return if repairs are successful.

The Feast of the Life-giving Spring which is kept on the Friday of Bright Week has its origins in the 5th century. It is the feast that commemorates the consecration of the Church of the Life-giving Spring outside of Constantinople.

The very large and beautiful church named in honor of the Theotokos of the Life-giving Spring was built about the middle of the fifth century by the Emperor Leo the Great (457-474 AD), outside of Constantinople. Emperor Leo was a pious man (he is commemorated on January 20th) and before he became Emperor, he had encountered a blind man, who being tormented with thirst asked him to help him find water. Leo felt compassion for him and went in search of a source of water, but found none. As he was about to cease his search, he heard a voice telling him there was water nearby. He looked again, and found none. Then he heard the voice again, this time calling him "Emperor" and telling him that he would find muddy water in the densely wooded place nearby; he was to take some water and anoint the blind man's eyes with it. When he had done this, the blind man received his sight.

After Leo became Emperor, as the Most Holy Theotokos had prophesied, he raised up a church temple over the spring, whose waters worked many healings, as well as resurrections from the dead, through the intercessions of the Theotokos. From this, it came to be called the "Life-giving Spring."

Justinian the Great (527-565 AD) was also cured by the waters of “The Life-giving Spring” and in gratitude built a new church temple, larger than the first. It was destroyed by earthquakes and rebuilt by grateful emperors.

After the fall of Constantinople to the Turks in 1453, this Church temple was razed to the ground and the materials from it were used for building the mosque of Sultan Beyazıt. Nothing remained of that Church’s ancient beauty, except for a small chapel, almost completely buried in the ruins. This chapel had twenty-five steps going down into it, and a transom window on the roof, from which it received a little light. Toward the western side of the chapel was the holy Spring, fenced about with a railing.

In 1821 even that little remnant was destroyed. The sacred Spring was buried with it and disappeared altogether. But in the days of Sultan Mahmud, when those subject to him were rejoicing in their freedom to practice their religion, permission was sought by the Orthodox Christian community to rebuild at least the chapel. Permission was granted to build a Church temple and it was consecrated on Bright Friday in 1835. But on the night of September 6-7, 1955, it along with 73 other Orthodox churches in Istanbul, was desecrated and burned to the ground by the Turks. The church has been restored yet once again, but not anywhere its former magnificence.

Saint  George of Mt. Maleón

Our holy father George lived in the 9th century and from a young age loved the Lord with all his soul. Although he desired to live a monastic life, his parents sought to arrange a marriage for him against his will. He therefore departed from his household and entered a monastery on Mount Maleón in Peloponnesos. There he gave himself over to every form of asceticism, namely fasting, hard work, prayers and the study of the Holy Scripture, among other things.

Many people came to Saint George seeking his guidance in spiritual matters and they left enlightened and in a spirit of repentance. Such a crowd of people came to see him that Saint George would leave the monastery and climb Mount Maleón to find the quiet necessary for prayer. Even there however many monks came to visit him and he guided them in asceticism and prayer. He progressed to such a state of virtue, that he became known to many people in high places as well, even emperors, to whom he would send many letters addressing various subjects of concern to them.

Three years prior to the end of his earthly life, he foretold his death to his disciples. Thus when the time approached, he gathered his disciples to give them final words of advice and he departed to the Lord.

Followers of Christ must always remember that our Lord is always with us in all we do. As a result, we need never feel alone regardless of the degree of trials, troubles or afflictions.

A colloquialism from an Orthodox Christian village below reminds us that we have help from the Lord when we need to get back up from any kind of fall, physical or spiritual! Keep it close to your heart.

"Arise my servant and I rise with you. "

Acts 3:1-8 KJV

3 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

Saint John 2:12-22 KJV

12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.

13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

21 But he spake of the temple of his body.

22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

From Saint Ambrose of Milan

The Unity of God is necessarily implied in the order of Nature, in the Faith, and in Baptism. The gifts of the Magi declare (1) the Unity of the Godhead; (2) Christ's Godhead and Manhood.

The truth of the doctrine of the Trinity in Unity is shown in the Angel walking in the midst of the furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. All nature testifies to the Unity of God, inasmuch as the universe is one. The Faith declares that there is one God, seeing that there is one belief in both the Old and the New Testament. That there is one Spirit, all holy, grace witnesses, because there is one Baptism, in the Name of the Trinity. The prophets proclaim, the apostles hear, the voice of one God. In one God did the Magi believe, and they brought, in adoration, gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Christ's cradle, confessing, by the gift of gold, His Royalty, and with the incense worshipping Him as God. For gold is the sign of kingdom, incense of God, myrrh of burial.

Full of Holes

From Saint Symeon

the New Theologian

“The aim of all those who live in God is to please our Lord Jesus Christ and become reconciled with God the Father through receiving the Holy Spirit, thus securing their salvation, for in this consists the salvation of every soul. If this aim and this activity is lacking, all other labour is useless and all other striving is in vain. Every path of life which does not lead to this is without profit.”

“If you know that all visible things are a shadow and all pass away, are you not ashamed of playing with shadows and hoarding transitory things? Like a child you draw water with a bucket full of holes; do you not realize it and take it into account, my dear friend? As though there were nothing more serious than appearance and illusion, as though reality has been taken from them?”

ANECDOTE

FORMLESS

When a revelation comes for us to say 'I love you' to someone. did it need to take form in its arrival?
If you feel you love Christ with ALL YOUR HEART, 'not MOST of your heart', which you must admit is EXACTLY what He wants, does He need to take form when He comes to confirm for you that you indeed genuinely do love Him?