May 3 – Fourth Sunday of Pascha, of the Paralyzed Man. Tone 3

Righteous Tabitha (1st c.). Translation of the relics of Martyr Abramius of Bulgaria (1230) St. Theodore Trichinas ("the Hair-shirt Wearer"), hermit near Constantinople (400). Sts. Gregory (593) and Anastasius (599), Patriarchs of Antioch. St. Anastasius, abbot of Sinai (685). Child-martyr Gabriel of Bilostok (1690).

Acts 9:32-42; Jn. 5:1-15;

May 10 – Fifth Sunday of Pascha. Tone 4

The Samaritan Woman. Holy Apostle and Hieromartyr Symeon the Kinsman of the Lord (107). St. Eulogius the Hospitable (6th c.). Ven. Stephen, abbot of the Kyiv Caves and bishop of Volodymyr in Volyna (1094).

Acts 11:19-26, 29-30; Jn. 4:5-42 ;

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!
Христос Воскрес! Воістину Воскрес!
Hristos Voskres! Voistynu Voskres!
Χριστός Ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη!
Hristos a înviat! Adevărat a înviat!
¡Cristo ha resucitado! ¡En verdad ha resucitado!

Апостол і Євангеліє - Gospel and Epistle of the Day

Дивіться у вказівках - See propers here

Mid-Pentecost: The Feast of Living Waters

What Is Mid-Pentecost?

Mid-Pentecost (Преполовення П'ятидесятниці in Ukrainian; Greek: Μεσοπεντηκοστή, Mesopentēkostē) is one of the lesser Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church. It falls on the Wednesday of the fourth week after Pascha — precisely at the midpoint between the Feast of Pascha (the Resurrection of Christ) and the Feast of Pentecost (the Descent of the Holy Spirit). Its name literally means "the middle of the fifty days," reflecting its place in the Paschal cycle.

This feast draws its theological foundation directly from the Gospel of John (7:14–30), where Christ stands in the Temple at the Feast of Tabernacles and cries out: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink" (John 7:37). The Church receives this proclamation not only as a historical event, but as an eternal invitation — a bridge between the joy of the Resurrection and the fullness of the Spirit's coming. The Feast of Tabernacles is one of the three greatest holidays of the Jewish people. It was established in memory of the Jews dwelling in booths (tents) during their journey to the Promised Land, and especially of that tent (tabernacle) which was shown by God to the prophet Moses (Exodus 25:40) to become a prototype of the Old Testament tabernacle.

Historical Origins

The feast is ancient, rooted in the early liturgical life of the Church. Evidence of its observance can be traced to at least the 4th–5th centuries. The great Archbishop of Constantinople, Saint John Chrysostom (347–407), references the spirit of this liturgical period in his homilies, connecting the midpoint of the Paschal season to the Church's ongoing catechetical mission — particularly the instruction of the newly baptized (neophytes) who had received the sacraments at Pascha.

Saint Cyril of Alexandria (☦444), in his Commentary on the Gospel of John, provides deep exegetical reflection on the passage read at this feast. He explains that when Christ speaks of "living water," He is prophesying the gift of the Holy Spirit which would soon be poured out upon the faithful. Cyril writes that this water is not merely physical refreshment, but the divine life that flows from the Risen Lord into the hearts of believers.

The Typikon of the Great Church of Constantinople — the foundational liturgical rule of the Byzantine tradition — codified Mid-Pentecost as a distinct feast with its own proper hymnography, readings, and blessing of water. This liturgical structure was gradually adopted across all the Orthodox Churches.

Saint Sophronius of Jerusalem (☦638), Patriarch and hymnographer, contributed to the deepening of this feast's theological expression, weaving together the themes of Pascha, the thirst of the soul, and the anticipation of Pentecost in the liturgical poetry of the Church.

Why Is It Celebrated?

The Orthodox Church celebrates Mid-Pentecost for several intertwined theological reasons, as expressed by her saints and theologians:

The Holy Fathers understood this day as a spiritual "resting place" between two peaks of grace. Just as a traveler pausing at the midpoint of a long journey refreshes himself for the road ahead, the Church pauses to renew her contemplation of both the Risen Christ and the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Synaxarion for the feast states: "Today we celebrate the middle of the feast, which begins with the saving Pascha and ends with the holy Pentecost."

The central Gospel reading — Christ's cry in the Temple — is understood by the Fathers as the core message of the feast. Saint Cyril of Alexandria teaches that the "living water" Christ offers is the Holy Spirit Himself, not yet given while Christ remained on earth, but promised and soon to come. This reading invites the faithful to examine the depth of their thirst for God in the midst of the Paschal season.

A defining feature of Mid-Pentecost is the blessing of water (водосвяття). This rite connects the feast to the great blessings of Theophany and Pascha, reminding the faithful that the sanctification of creation is continuous and ongoing. Saint Symeon of Thessalonica (☦1429), the great liturgical theologian, explains that the water blessed on this day carries the grace of the feast into the material world, sanctifying the bodies and homes of believers and affirming the cosmic scope of Christ's Resurrection.

The Paschal season lasts fifty days, and Mid-Pentecost ensures that the Church does not allow its joy to fade or grow cold at the midpoint. The hymns of the feast — particularly the Troparion and Kontakion — repeatedly call the faithful to "keep the feast" and to hold fast to the Resurrection until Pentecost crowns the season with the descent of the Spirit.

Rooted in the early tradition noted by Saint John Chrysostom, Mid-Pentecost also served a catechetical purpose. The newly illumined Christians, baptized at Pascha and still wearing their white robes symbolically, were at the midpoint of their intensive post-baptismal instruction (mystagogy). The feast reminded them — and the whole Church — that the thirst of the soul is quenched not by a single sacramental moment, but by a lifelong drinking from the waters of Christ.

The Hymnography of the Feast

The liturgical poetry of Mid-Pentecost expresses its theology with characteristic Orthodox beauty. The Troparion of the feast sings:

"In the middle of the feast, give my thirsting soul to drink of the waters of piety. For Thou didst cry out to all, O Savior: Let whoever thirsts come to Me and drink. O Christ God, Fountain of our life, glory to Thee!"

This hymn, attributed to hymnographers of the Byzantine tradition, encapsulates the entire theological vision of the feast: thirst, the invitation of Christ, the living water of the Spirit, and doxology.

Mid-Pentecost is not a secondary or forgotten feast — it is a luminous theological moment in the heart of the Church's most sacred season. Rooted in patristic wisdom from Saint John Chrysostom to Saint Symeon of Thessalonica, and grounded in the Gospel cry of Christ Himself, it calls every Orthodox Christian to pause at the midpoint of Pascha's fifty days, renew their thirst for God, and drink deeply from the eternal living water that flows from the Risen and glorified Lord.

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!

Happy Birthday

• May 4: Mia Klodowska
  
• May 4: Markus Klodowski
  
• May 6: Natalie K Corwin
  
• May 6: William Scannell
  
• May 7: Pipinos Dimitriou
  
• May 9: Kateryna Burdyliak

* 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