Monday October 6 /19 ns 2026 Holy Apostle Thomas of the Twelve ~ For Saint Thomas: I Cor. 4:9-16; St. John 20:19-31

MONDAY

OCTOBER 6 / 19 NS 2026

HOLY APOSTLE THOMAS

OF THE TWELVE

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.

1 Corinthians 4:9-16 KJV

9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

Saint John 20:19-31 KJV {The same as Sunday's Matins Gospel}

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.  God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. PSALM 51:5

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

HEART IN THE HAND

Approach our Heavenly Father holding your heart in your hand in hope of restitution, a meek and loving heart from which the passions has been circumcised. He is closer than your eyes, the same eyes that have been granted to touch the clouds and the stars.

A SINGLE REQUEST BUT DENIED

Adam was in ceaseless 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.
So, many are and remain alienated through pride even if in the slightest degree as an innocent child.

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Sunday Oct. 5 / 18 ns 2026 • c 9th Matins Gospel: St. John 20:19-31 Gal. 1:11-19 (20th Sunday of Epistles); St. Luke 6:31-36

God took flesh of thy pure blood; wherefore, every generation doth hymn thee, O Lady, and the multitudes of the noetic beings glorify thee; for through thee we have clearly seen the Master of all, Who assumed the nature of man

SUNDAY

OCTOBER 5 / 18 NS 2026

HOLY MARTYR CHARITINA

SAINT JOHN, BISHOP OF EVCHAITA

SAINT METHODIA THE NEW

OF KIMOLOS

Having been orphaned in infancy, Charitína was adopted by an eminent Christian man named Claudius, who raised her as his own daughter. Charitína was meek, humble, obedient and quiet. She studied the Law of God day and night, and vowed to live her life in chastity, as a true bride of Christ.

Since Charitína also brought others to the Christian Faith, Dometius, Emperor Diocletian's eparch, heard of her, sent soldiers to take her from her foster father, and brought her to trial. The judge questioned her: "Is it true, young maiden, that you are a Christian, and that you deceive others, leading them to this profane Faith?'' Charitína courageously replied: "It is true that I am a Christian, but it is a lie that I deceive others; rather, I lead those in error to the true path, by leading them to my Christ.''

The evil judge condemned her. Her hair was shorn and hot coals were poured onto her head. Even so, she was saved by the power of God. They threw her into the sea, but God delivered her again. They tied her to a wheel and began to turn it, but an angel of God stopped the wheel, and Charitína remained unharmed. Then the depraved judge sent some dissolute young men to defile her. Fearing this dishonor, St. Charitína prayed to God to receive her soul before those degenerates could defile her virginal body. While she knelt, praying to God, her soul departed from her and was translated to the Immortal Kingdom of Christ.

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 Spirit:

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.

Galatians 1:11-19 KJV

11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

Saint Luke 6:31-36 KJV

31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

God said to Adam 

by St Symeon the New Theologian

In the day that thou eatest of it (that is, of the forbidden tree), thou will die the death (Genesis 2:17) that is, the death of the soul. This happened immediately: man was stripped of the garment of immortality. God said nothing more than that decree, nor did anything special happen after that. God, foreseeing that Adam was to sin and desiring to forgive him if he repented, did not say anything more than the above. But Adam refused to acknowledge his sin and did not repent even when he was accused by God; for he said, "the woman whom Thou gave us to be with me she deceived me (Genesis 3:12). Oh woe to his blinded soul! Seeing this, it was as Adam said to God: Thou Thyself are guilty because the woman whom Thou gavest me, has deceived me.

This very same thing I myself now suffer, wretched and miserable, when I do not desire to be humbled, and say that with my whole heart: "that person over there inspired me to do or say this. He advised me and knocked me off the path." Woe is my poor soul which speaks such words - filled with sin! O most shameless and irrational words of a shameless and irrational soul.

BOREDOM

Does one who keeps endless company with the Creator ever become bored?

FOR SURE?

An atheist once claimed:  "There is no God!"  In response he was asked:  "Are you sure?  Can you prove it?" Surprised, he answered with a "No".  This scenario isn't uncommon among atheists who seem to like to address a subject in which they have little more to offer than conjecture.  Hmm ...

Another atheist meekly asked if the existence of God could be proved. "Yes"  was the reply.  Ok, what is your proof?  

If you will, please repeat the name Jesus, and he did.   Now what? he said.  If you really desire to know, start calling for Christ by simply saying his name ceaselessly, either within or outwardly. Ok, he replied, and for how long? Don't stop until ...

KECHARITOMENE - FULL OF GRACE

In the Church the following is related concerning St. Gregory Palamas the Wonderworker. He called the name of Most Holy Ever Virgin Mary ceaselessly for so long that she finally appeared in the room and asked what he wanted.  

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Saturday October 4 / 17 ns 2026 • Holy Hieromartyr Hierótheos, Bishop of Athens ~ II Cor. 1:8-11; St. Luke 5:17-26

Holy Hierotheos was a companion of St. Dionysios the Areopagite and received the Christian Faith from the Apostle Paul a short time after Dionysios did. Later, the Apostle appointed him bishop of Athens. At the time of the Dormition of the Most-holy Theotokos, Hierótheos arrived in Jerusalem and took part in her burial. With his divine chanting he inspired heartfelt worship in many, revealing himself as a man inspired from on high. He labored much in the work of evangelism, converted many pagans to the truth and governed well his rational flock. He finally died a martyr for Christ, Who granted him a twofold crown in His Heavenly Kingdom: the crown of a hierarch and the crown of a martyr.

2 Corinthians 1:8-11 KJV

8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

Saint Luke 5:17-26 KJV

17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?

23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

ON THOSE WHO THINK THEY ARE MADE

RIGHTEOUS BY WORKS

by Saint Mark the Ascetic

Every word of Christ shows us God's mercy, justice and wisdom and, if we listen gladly, their power enters into us. That is why the unmerciful and the unjust, listening to Christ with repugnance, were not able to understand the wisdom of God, but even crucified Him for teaching it. So we, too, should ask ourselves whether we listen to Him gladly. For He said: 'He who loves Me will keep My commandments, and he will be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him' (St. John 14: 21). Do you see how He has hidden His manifestation in the commandments? Of all the commandments, therefore, the most comprehensive is to love God and our neighbor. This love is made firm through abstaining from material things, and through stillness of thoughts.

Knowing this, the Lord enjoins us 'not to be anxious about the morrow' (St. Matt. 6:34); and rightly so. For if a man has not freed himself from material things and from concern about them, how can he be freed from evil thoughts? And if he is beset by evil thoughts, how can he see the reality of the sin concealed behind them? This sin wraps the soul in darkness and obscurity, and increases its hold upon us through our evil thoughts and actions. The devil initiates the whole process by testing a man with a provocation which he is not compelled to accept; but the man, urged on by self-indulgence and self-esteem, begins to entertain this provocation with enjoyment. Even if his discrimination tells him to reject it, yet in practice he takes pleasure in it and accepts it. If someone has not perceived this general process of sinning, when will he pray about it and be cleansed from it? And if he has not been cleansed, how will he find purity of nature? And if he has not found this, how will he behold the inner dwelling-place of Christ? For we are a dwelling-place of God, according to the words of Prophet, Gospel and Apostle (Zech. 2:10; John 14:23; I Cor. 3:16; Heb. 3:6)

ALL OF YOUR HEART

Need we be reminded that Christ requires ALL OF YOUR HEART? Are we not aware that He has already freely given you everything this life has to offer? Don't think for a moment that if, in your heart, you exchange every last bit of your transient life, every jot and tittle, that He will take anything from you! Again, all of your heart means EVERY aspect of your life. In other words, you desire nothing but Christ. Never doubt! I think that when this is accomplished, He will confirm it from within you.

Our Lord, our Father, our Savior, our Holy Trinity, doesn't require our blood but He requires that we martyr our association with this transient world - IF - we wish to be with Him Eternally in Paradise.

Make no mistake! This is exactly what He requires! When Satan whispers praise to convince you that you are satisfied with your struggle, with what you have accomplished, reply, with all your being, to the thought saying: Get thee behind me Satan!

Is there no simple way to accomplish total devotion to Christ you may ask? Yes, the simple ceaseless remembrance of Him! In doing so, all things will be given and should He offer opportunities to increase your stature or, furnish more elaborately a mansion in Paradise for you, He will make it known through the Jesus Prayer. And if you question your ability to accomplish unceasing remembrance of Christ, never forget....what's not possible with man is possible with God and thus the quote from the holy Athonite father Porphyrios below.

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