On this, the 2nd Sunday of Pascha, we commemorate the saving confession of the Holy Apostle Thomas. We also remember the Virgin-Martyr Pelagia of Tarsus in Asia Minor (ca. 290), the Alfanov brethren: Sts. Nikita, Cyril, Nikifor, Clement, and Isaac, of Novgorod (14th to 15th c.), the Hieromartyr Erasmus, Bishop of Formia in Campania (303), Hieromartyr Albian, Bishop of Anaea in Asia Minor (304), Hieromartyr Silvanus, Bishop of Gaza, and with him 40 Martyrs (311), St. Monica of Tagaste (mother of Blessed Augustine of Hippo, 388), St. Athanasius of Corinth (10-11th c.), St. Hilary the Wonderworker, St. Ethelred, king of Mercia and monk, in England (716), and the Venerable Nicephorus of Mt. Athos (c. 1300).
This Sunday is also called "ANTIPASCHA" (meaning "in the place of Pascha," not "in opposition to Pascha") because with this day, the first Sunday after Pascha, the Church consecrates every Sunday of the year to the commemoration of Pascha, that is, the Resurrection.
What the soul now has treasured up within it will be revealed at the Last Day and displayed outwardly in the body. Think of the trees that have survived the winter, how they are warmed by the invisible power of the sun and the winds, and put forth buds and clothe themselves with leaves and blossoms and fruit; or think of the flowers of the field at that same season of the year, now they come out from the bosom of the earth, so that the earth and fields are covered and decked as with raiment; as Christ said of the lilies, "Even Solomon in all his glory was not adorned as one of these" (Matt. 6:29).
These are all parables and types and figures of Christians at the Resurrection. To all souls that love God, to all true Christians, there shall come a first month, as the month of April, and this will be the day of Resurrection. Through the power of the Sun of Righteousness, the glory of the Holy Spirit comes out from within, decking and covering the bodies of the Saints -- the glory which they possessed before, hidden within their souls.
At the Resurrection all the members of the body are raised: as Scripture says, not a hair perishes (Luke 21:18). All our limbs become full of light, they are all plunged in light and immersed in fire, and they are transformed: yet they are not, as some assert, dissolved and turned into fire, with nothing of their natural substance left. Peter is sill Peter, Paul is still Paul, Phillip is still Phillip. Each one retains his own nature and personal identity, but they are filled with the Spirit.
As the Lord's body was glorified when He went up the mountain and was transfigured into the glory of God and into infinite Light, so the Saints' bodies are also glorified and shine as lightning. The glory that was within Christ was outwardly revealed in His body and shone forth; and in the same way with the Saints the power of Christ that is within them will at the Last Day be poured forth outwardly upon their bodies. For even now in their intellect they share in His substance and nature. So it is written, "He who consecrates and they who are consecrated are all of the same stock" (Heb. 2:11), and "The glory which Thou hast given Me, I have given to them" (John 17:22). Just as many lamps are lit from one flame, so the bodies of the Saints, being members of Christ, must needs be what Christ is, and nothing else.
- St. Makarios the Great (5th c.)
This famous saint was born of a patrician family in Rome, and was well-educated both in secular learning and philosophy and in spiritual wisdom. Abandoning all secular studies, he gave himself to the service of the Church and was deacon in a large church in Rome. Unmarried, retiring, silent and prayerful, Arsenios thought that he would spend his whole life in that way. But, by the Providence of God, his life was directed in a different way. The Emperor Theodosius summoned him to bring up and educate his two sons, Arcadios and Honorios, and made him a senator, surrounding him with wealth, honour and luxury. But this was a greater burden than pleasure to the heart of Arsenios. It happened at one time that Arcadios was at fault, and Arsenios punished him for it. The insulted Arcadios thought up a harsh revenge on his teacher, and, when Arsenios discovered this, he dressed himself in simple clothing, went to the coast, got into a boat and sailed off to Egypt. When he arrived at the famous Scetis, he became a disciple of John the Dwarf and gave himself to asceticism. He considered himself as one dead, and, when he was informed that a rich kinsman had died and left him all his goods, he replied: "I died before he did. How, then, can I be his heir?" He retired to a cell in the desert as into a grave, and there he spent his days weaving baskets from palm-leaves and his nights in prayer. He fled from men and from every conversation with men. Only on feast-days did he leave his cell and come to the church for Communion. In order not to become idle, he often put this question to himself: "Arsenios, why did you come into the desert?" He spent thirty-five years as a hermit, and all that time he was an example to the monks and the glory of monasticism. In all, he lived a hundred years and departed this life peacefully in 448, after long labors and trials voluntarily taken on himself. He went to the Kingdom of Christ the Lord, whom he had loved with all his heart and soul.
A monk complained to St. Arsenios that, while reading the Holy Scriptures, he felt neither the power of the words he read nor any sweetness in his heart. To this the great saint replied: "My child, just read! I have heard that snake-charmers, when they cast a spell on the snakes, pronounce words that they themselves do not understand; but the snakes, hearing the words spoken, feel their power and are tamed. So with us, when we constantly keep the words of the Holy Scripture on our lips; even if we cannot feel their power, the evil spirits, hearing these words, flee in terror, for they cannot abide the word of the Holy Spirit. My child, just read. The Holy Spirit who wrote the divine words through those He inspired, will hear and understand, and hasten to your aid; and the demons will hear and understand, and will flee from you. That is: He whom you summon to your aid will understand, and he whom you want to drive from you will understand, and both goals will be reached."
- From The Prolog of St. Nicholai Velimirovic (+1959)
Thee do I worship, O Christ our Savior. Thou art the Resurrector and Savior of all the departed who were baptized in Thy Name and confessed Thy cross and Thy death. Blessed is Christ Who promised life and resurrection to Adam's children in the day of His coming. We too shall arise and exalt Him along with the saints who have been pleasing to Him. Praise to Thee! By Thy resurrection didst Thou grant all the mortal race the hope of life and resurrection. And we offer Thee praise, for Thou art the Resurrector of all flesh. Ye mortals exalt and praise Him Who by His death emptied the dominion of death and promised all the mortal race life and resurrection. May the soul that has sought refuge in Thy cross and inherited eternal incorruptible treasure praise and exalt Thee together with the spirits that number her among Thy ranks. Meet it is to worship the Father who sent us His Only-Begotten Son, Who saved our race from death and the devil, and sits at the right hand of His Father entreating His compassion on behalf of us all.
- St. Ephraim the Syrian (4th c.)