04/19/2026
âŚď¸đŻď¸SUNDAY OF SAINT THOMASđŻď¸âŚď¸
Then he said to Thomas, âPut your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.â Thomas answered him, âMy Lord and my God!â Jesus said to him, âHave you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believeâ (John 20:27-29).
The Orthodox Church observes the Sunday of Thomas one week following the celebration of the Sunday of Holy Pascha. The day commemorates the appearance of Christ to His disciples on the evening of the Sunday following Passover. It also commemorates the appearance of the Lord to His disciples eight days later when Thomas was present and proclaimed âMy Lord and my Godâ upon seeing the hands and side of Christ.
This Sunday is also called Antipascha (meaning âin the stead of Pascha,â not âin opposition to Paschaâ) 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.
Some icons depicting this event are inscribed âThe Doubting Thomas.â This is incorrect. In Greek, the inscription reads, âThe Touching of Thomas.â The Slavonic inscription is, âThe Belief of Thomas.â When Saint Thomas touched the Life-giving side of the Lord, he no longer had any doubts.
By Sami Tafesh