Bulletin for April 19, 2026
Apr. 19 – Antipascha. 2nd Sunday of Pascha, of St. Thomas. Tone 1
St. Eutychius, patriarch of Constantinople (582). St. Platonida (Platonis) of Nisibis (308). 120 Martyrs of Persia (345). Martyrs Jeremiah and Archilias the Presbyter. St. Methodius, Equal-to-the- Apostles, enlightener of the Slavs (885).
Acts 5:12-20; Jn. 20:19-31;
Apr. 26 – Third Sunday of Pascha, of the Myrrh-bearing Women. Tone 2
Sts. Myrrh-Bearing Women; Righteous Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus; Sts. Mary and Martha, sisters of St. Lazarus (1st c.). Hieromartyr Artemon, presbyter of Laodicea in Syria (303). Martyr Crescens of Myra in Lycia. Martyr Thomais of Alexandria (476).
Acts 6:1-7 ; Mk. 15:43–16:8;
Services & Other Events
19 April, St. Thomas Sunday - Фомина Неділя:
- 9am – Confession / Hours
- 9:30am – Divine Liturgy - Бож. Літургія
20 April, Monday:
- 7pm – Parish Council Meeting
21 April, Tuesday:
- 6:30pm – Centennial Committee Meeting
25 April, Saturday - Субота:
- 5pm – Great Vespers - Вел. Вечірня
26 April, Sunday - Неділя:
- 9am – Confession / Hours
- 9:30am – Divine Liturgy - Бож. Літургія
- Paschal Cemetery Blessing
Апостол і Євангеліє - Gospel and Epistle of the Day
Holy, Glorious Apostle Thomas
The Holy and Glorious Apostle Thomas was born in the Galilean city of Pansada and was a fisherman. Hearing the good tidings of Jesus Christ, he left all and followed after Him. The Apostle Thomas is included in the number of the holy Twelve Apostles of the Savior.
According to Holy Scripture, the holy Apostle Thomas did not believe the reports of the other disciples about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ: "Unless I 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 20:25).
On the eighth day after the Resurrection, the Lord appeared to the Apostle Thomas and showed him His wounds. "My Lord and my God," the Apostle cried out (John 20:28). "Thomas, being once weaker in faith than the other apostles," says Saint John Chrysostom, "toiled through the grace of God more bravely, more zealously and tirelessly than them all, so that he went preaching over nearly all the earth, not fearing to proclaim the Word of God to savage nations."
Some icons depicting this event are inscribed "The Doubting Thomas." This is incorrect. In Greek, the inscription reads, "The Touching of Thomas." In Slavonic, it says, "The Belief of Thomas." When Saint Thomas touched the Life-giving side of the Lord, he no longer had any doubts.
According to Church Tradition, the holy Apostle Thomas founded Christian churches in Palestine, Mesopotamia, Parthia, Ethiopia and India. Preaching the Gospel earned him a martyr's death. For having converted the wife and son of the prefect of the Indian city of Meliapur [Melipur], the holy apostle was locked up in prison, suffered torture, and finally, pierced with five spears, he departed to the Lord. Part of the relics of the holy Apostle Thomas are in India, in Hungary and on Mt. Athos. The name of the Apostle Thomas is associated with the Arabian (or Arapet) Icon of the Mother of God (September 6).
Апостол Фома
Святий апостол Фома був родом із галілейського міста Панеади і займався рибальством. Почувши благовістя Ісуса Христа, він усе залишив і пішов за Ним. Апостол Фома входить до числа дванадцяти святих апостолів, дванадцяти учнів Спасителя.
За свідченням Священного Писання, святий апостол не повірив розповідям інших учнів про Воскресіння Іісуса Христа (Ін. 20:25). На восьмий день після Воскресіння Господь явився апостолу Фомі і показав Свої рани. «Господь мій і Бог мій!» — вигукнув святий апостол (Ін. 20:28). «Фома, який був колись слабшим за інших апостолів у вірі, — каже святитель Іоанн Златоуст, — став по благодаті Божій мужнішим, ревнішим і невтомнішим за всіх них, так що обійшов зі своєю проповіддю майже всю землю, не злякавшись сповіщати Слово Боже народам диким».
За церковним Переданням, святий апостол Фома заснував християнські Церкви в Палестині, Месопотамії, Парфії, Ефіопії та Індії. Проповідь Євангелія апостол закарбував мученицькою смертю. За навернення до Христа сина і дружини правителя індійського міста Меліапора (Меліпура) святий апостол був увʼязений до вʼязниці, зазнав катувань і, пронизаний пʼятьма списами, відійшов до Господа.
Частинки мощей святого апостола Фоми є в Індії, Угорщині та на Афоні. На початок XXI століття частина чесної глави апостола зберігалася в монастирі Іоанна Богослова на Патмосі, Греція. З імʼям апостола Фоми повʼязана Аравійська (або Арапетська) ікона Божої Матері, яка вшановується 6 вересня.
Апостолу Фомі моляться у разі невірʼя, що турбує душу, як тому, хто сам пройшов цей тяжкий стан.
What is the Artos?
"I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst." (St. John 6:35)
One of the Church's most sacred and beautiful traditions during the feast of Pascha, is to bless a large, upright bread called the Artos – a Greek term meaning "leavened bread or cake." This special bread usually has a depiction of the Resurrection upon it and symbolizes the presence of the Risen Christ, "the Bread of Life Who nourishes us with the food of His divine mercies."
Near the conclusion of the Paschal Liturgy, the priest blesses the Artos with a special prayer and sprinkles it with Holy Water. The Artos is then placed on a small table before the Iconostasis where it remains throughout Bright Week. It is customary, whenever the faithful enter the Temple, for them to kiss the Artos as a way of greeting the Risen Christ.
The Artos serves to remind us of all the events connected with the Resurrection, but is also in keeping with an ancient custom initiated by the Apostles. Following Christ's Ascension, whenever they sat down to an ordinary meal, they would leave a place at the head of the table empty for the invisibly present Christ and would set bread there. The Church therefore maintains this tradition by using this special Paschal bread to remind us of the Risen Lord Who is the Bread of Life.
The disciples recognized Jesus on the road to Emmaus when he broke bread with them during a meal, which opened their eyes to his true identity. This moment of recognition occurred as they shared the meal, leading to their realization that they were in the presence of the risen Christ. They recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread. We continue to share bread so that we all may recognize Christ.
Paschal Cemetery Blessing
Due to rain, the Paschal Blessing of the cemetery is moved to April 26, 2026.
Через дощ ми переносимо Пасхальне окроплення цвинтаря на 26 квітня.
St. John's Ukrainian Social Club
Let's Help Ukraine!
St. John's Ukrainian Humanitarian Fund is accepting donations to help Ukrainians during war. Donations will go to provide food and other humanitarian needs.
To make donation online click here
We accept checks as well.
Please make the checks to St. John Ukrainian Humanitarian Fund
Mailing address:
1 Saint John's Parkway
Johnson City NY 13790
Cash is accepted in church
Pray for Ukraine!
Prayers for Ukraine are done during each service. To see the schedule click here.
Молитви за Україну проводяться під час кожної служби. За розкладом дивіться тут.
May God bless and protect Ukraine!
Please Note!
- Only Orthodox Christians may receive Holy Communion or other Sacraments.
- If you have not been to confession in over a month, please go to confession before receiving the Holy
Gifts.
- We fast from all food and drink (including water) from bedtime (the previous night) until we receive the Holy Gifts during morning Divine Liturgy. That also means no coffee, no cigarettes, no gum, candies in the morning and during Divine Liturgy.
Happy Birthday
- April 19: Benjamin Holicky
- April 23: Davyd Astakhov
- April 23: Oleksandr Vozniuk
- April 23: Sara Dickstein
- April 23: Diane Merkel
- April 24: Alexis Cardarelli
- April 25: Declan Scannell
- April 25: Beverly Haluska
* If your or someone else's birthday is missing or incorrect please let Fr. Ivan know right away.
Please Pray for the Servants of God
Benjamin, Rachel, John, Rose, Solomiia,
Bob, Melodye, John, Jane, Alla,
Fr. Andre, Mary, Zenna, Douglas, Ivan,
Daniel, Melanie, William, Marion, Helen,
Mariann, Robert, Jean, Ronald, Brian,
Fr. James, Scott, Andriy, James, William,
Fr. Gabriel and PM Susan, Vasyl, Olha
Upcoming Readings
| Mon. Apr. 20 – | Acts 3:19-26; | Jn. 2:1-11; |
| Tue. Apr. 21 – | Acts 4:1-10; | Jn. 3:16-21; |
| Wed. Apr. 22 – | Acts 4:13-22 ; | Jn. 5:17-24; |
| Thu. Apr. 23 – | Acts 4:23-31 ; | Jn. 5:24-30; |
| Fri. Apr. 24 – | Acts 5:1-11 ; | Jn. 5:30–6:2; |
| Sat. Apr. 25 – | Acts. 5:21-33; | Jn. 6:14-27; |
