Orthodoxe Broederschap v.d.H.Apostel Thomas

30/07/2026

Op vrijdag 28/15 augustus om 18.00 uur , vieren wij de vespers en op zaterdag 29/16 augustus om 08.00 uur vieren wij de metten, gevolgd door de Heilige Liturgie die omstreeks 09.30 uur in onze kapel wordt gevierd. Op deze zaterdag vereren wij de ikoon van het heilig Aangezicht van de Heer , niet door mensenhand geschapen, naar wie onze kapel vernoemd werd en gedenken wij de heiligen :
Dear Friends, please note that on Friday evening 28 th /15th of August we will celebrate vespers at 6 PM and on Saturday morning 29 th/16th of August matins at 8 AM followed by the Holy Liturgy at around 9.30 AM . On this Saturday we venerate the Icon of our Lords Holy Face, not made by hand, to whom our chapel is dedicated and we commemorate the saints :
TRANSLATION OF THE ICON NOT MADE WITH HANDS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST FROM EDESSA TO CONSTANTINOPLE
HOLY MARTYR DIOMEDES THE UNMERCINARY HEALER

Troparion of the Holy Icon Tone 2
We worship Thine immaculate image, O Good One,/ and ask the forgiveness of our sins, O Christ our God;/ for of Thine own will Thou wast pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh,/ to deliver from slavery to the enemy those whom Thou hadst created./ Therefore we thankfully cry to Thee:/ Thou hast filled all things with joy, O our Savior,/ by coming to save the world.

Troparion of the Feast Tone 1
In giving birth thou didst preserve thy virginity;/ in falling asleep thou didst not forsake the world, O Theotokos./ Thou wast translated to life, O Mother of Life,/ and by your prayers you deliver our souls from death.

Troparion of St Diomedes Tone 1
O Diomedes, as a healer of bodily sickness,/ by the word of truth thou didst grant healing to souls./ Thou hast received this gift from God/ and dost ever help those suffering from various diseases./ Thou art radiant with the grace of martyrdom;/ wherefore thou savest those who cry to thee:/ Glory to Him Who has glorified thee; glory to Him Who has crowned thee;/ glory to Him Who through thee works healings for all.

Kontakion of the Holy Icon Tone 8
The uncircumscribable word of the Father/ was circumscribed when He took flesh of thee, O Theotokos;/ and when He had restored the defiled image to its pristine state He permeated it with divine beauty./ And as we proclaim our salvation we record it by word and deed.

Kontakion of the Feast Tone 2
Neither the tomb nor death could hold the Theotokos,/ who is sleepless in her intercessions and an unchanging hope in her mediations./ For as the Mother of Life she was transferred to life/ by Him Who dwelt in her ever-virgin womb.

Kontakion of St Diomedes Tone 6
Thou wast skilled in the science of healing/ and didst wisely choose the lot of holy athletes;/ thou didst openly preach Christ our God,/ O blessed Diomedes, thou adornment of unmercenary saints,/ the protector of those crying to thee:/ Become the physician of us thy servants, O wise one.

The holy cloth with the Face of our Lord Jezus Christ (scientific research supposes it to be the Holy Shroud, folded in a way that only the Face of our Saviour was visible), was brought to Edessa by the disciple of our Lord, Ananias and recieved by the sick king Abgar, who started healing after its reception . Afterwards he continued healing until the arrival of the disciple Thaddeus, Apostle of the 70. The Apostle preached the Gospel and baptized king Abgar and those living in Edessa.
Having written on the Image Not-Made-By-Hands the words, Christ-God, everyone trusting in Thee will not be put to shame, Abgar adorned it and placing it over gates of the city. For many years it was venerated by those who passed through the gates of. Edessa. A great-grandson of Abgar, lapsed into idolatry and was determined to remove the image. In a vision, the Lord ordered the Bishop of Edessa to conceal the image. The bishop and his clergy at night, blocked up the niche with clay tablets and bricks inclosing with it a lit lampada. Many years passed by and the inhabitants forgot about the Holy Object.
In the year 545, the Persian King Chroses I, besieged Edessa, and all seemed hopeless. But Bishop Evlavios was commanded by a vision of the Theotokos to get from the enclosed niche the image with which to save the city from the adversaries. Dismantling the niche, the Bishop found the Holy Image; and on the clay tablets, with which the niche had been enclosed, was found a similar image. After preceding with the Cross and the Image Not-Made-By-Hands around the walls of the city, the Persian army miraculously departed. In 630, Edessa was seized by Arabs; but they did not hinder veneration of the Image Not-Made-By-Hands. In 944 the Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus (912-59) requested that the Image be brought to the Capital of the Orthodox. With great honor the Image of the Savior Not-Made-By-Hands was brought by the clergy to Constantinople. On August 16 the Image of the Savior was placed in the Pharos Church of the Most-Holy Theotokos.

The Martyr Diomedes (Diomḗdēs) was born in Tarsus in Cilicia, and studied the medical arts. His scientific knowledge did not make him proud, but he retained the piety in which his parents raised him. And since the Lord, the Physician of bodies and souls, "spoke to them about the Kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing" (Luke 9:11), so did Diomedes emulate his Lord and God, practicing his medical profession charitably and without charge. Not only did he heal their bodies, he also treated their souls. He proclaimed the saving truth of the Gospel to the sick, and he brought many souls to Christ the Savior.
Divine zeal brought Diomedes as far as Nicaea in Bithynίa. There he healed the sick, and taught and nurtured their faith. When Diocletian began his persecution against the Christians, the activities of Diomedes were reported to the Emperor, who ordered his arrest. But before he could be arrested, God called him to Himself, and the soldiers found him dead. Even though he was dead, they beheaded him in order to prove that Diocletian's orders had been carried out. Then the soldiers were struck blind. The Emperor commanded them to take the head back and place it with the body. As soon as the soldiers did this, their sight was restored and they believed in Christ.The Church venerates Saint Diomedes as an Unmercenary Physician and he is mentioned during the Mystery of Holy Unction.

01/07/2026

Op vrijdag 24/11 juli om 18.00 uur , vieren wij de vespers en op zaterdag 25/12 juli om 08.00 uur vieren wij de metten, gevolgd door de Heilige Liturgie die omstreeks 09.30 uur in onze kapel wordt gevierd. Op deze zaterdag gedenken wij de heiligen :
Dear Friends, please note that on Friday evening 24 th /11th of July we will celebrate vespers at 6 PM and on Saturday morning 25th/12th of May matins at 8 AM followed bij Holy Liturgy at around 9.30 AM . On this Saturday we commemorate:

HOLY MARTYRS PROCLOS AND HILARY

Troparion Tone 1
O Hilary and Proclos, arrayed in the armour of the Cross,/ you contested and were communicants of Christ./ You were partakers of heavenly glory/ and shine with gifts of grace on those who cry:/ Glory to Him Who has strengthened you; glory to Him Who has crowned you;/ glory to Him Who through you works healings for all.

Kontakion Tone 2
Of like spirit in your life and of one accord in all things,/ O renowned martyrs and kinsmen Proclos and Hilary,/ you became images of the Passion of Christ/ and were found worthy of His glory./ Pray that all may receive Christ's mercy.
The Holy Martyrs Proclus and Hilarion were natives of the village of Kallippi, near Ancyra, and they suffered during the time of a persecution under the emperor Trajan (98-117). Saint Proclus was put under arrest first. Brought before the governor Maximus, he fearlessly confessed his faith in Christ. The governor decided to compel the saint to submit himself to the emperor and offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. During his tortures, the martyr predicted to Maximus that soon he himself would be compelled to confess Christ as the true God. They forced the martyr to run after the chariot of the governor, heading towards the village Kallippi. Exhausted, Saint Proclus prayed that the Lord would halt the chariot. By the power of God the chariot halted, and no force could move it from the spot. The dignitary sitting in it became petrified. The martyr told him that he would remain unmoving until such time as he would sign a document with a confession of Christ. Only after this could the chariot continue on its way with the governor.

The humiliated pagan took fierce revenge on Saint Proclus. He commanded that Proclus be led out beyond the city, tied to a pillar and shot with arrows. The soldiers, leading Saint Proclus to ex*****on, told him to give in and save his life, but the saint said that they should follow their orders.

Along the way to the place of ex*****on, they met Hilarion, the nephew of Saint Proclus, who with tears embraced his uncle and also confessed himself a Christian. The soldiers seized him, and he was thrown into prison. The holy Martyr Proclus prayed for his tormentors and surrendered his soul to God beneath a hail of arrows.

Saint Hilarion was brought to trial and, with the same courage as Saint Proclus, confessed himself a Christian. After tortures he was sentenced to death. They tied the martyr’s hands and dragged him by his feet through the city, wounded and bloody, and then they beheaded him three days after the death of his uncle, the holy Martyr Proclus. Christians buried them together.

04/06/2026

Op vrijdag 26/13 juni om 18.00 uur , vieren wij de vespers en op zaterdag 27/14 juni om 08.00 uur vieren wij de metten, gevolgd door de Heilige Liturgie die omstreeks 09.30 uur in onze kapel wordt gevierd. Aansluitend ,na de liturgie vertrekken wij naar de Crypte van de Basiliek van Onze Lieve Vrouw Sterre der Zee, Maastricht
Adres: Onze Lieve Vrouweplein 7, 6211 HD Maastricht, voor het zingen van haar akathist en de verering van haar gordel.
Op deze zaterdag tijdens de Apostel Vasten gedenken wij de heilige :

Dear Friends, please note that on Friday evening 26 th /13th of June we will celebrate vespers at 6 PM and on Saturday morning 27th/14th of June matins at 8 AM followed by Holy Liturgy at around 9.30 AM . Directly after Holy Liturgie we leave for the Crypt of the Basilica of Our Lady, Sterre der Zee, address : Onze Lieve Vrouweplein 7, 6211 HD Maastricht, in order to sing her praised with the Akathist and to venerate her precious Sash.
On this Saturday within the Apostles Fast we commemorate:

HOLY PROPHET ELISHA

Troparion Tone 4
Interpreter of the Savior's words,/ teacher and enlightener of those under the law,/ thou wast known to those afar by thy signs and miracles,/ for thou didst inherit the grace of the Tishbite./ Preserve us evermore, O divine Prophet Elisha.

Kontakion Tone 2
O Prophet of God, thou didst worthily receive a double portion of grace,/ for thou wast a companion of Elijah./ With him intercede with Christ our God unceasingly for us all.

Troparion & Kontakion

The Holy Prophet Elisha lived in the ninth century before the Birth of Christ, and was a native of the village of Abelmaum, near Jordan. By the command of the Lord he was called to prophetic service by the holy Prophet Elias (July 20).

When it became time for the Prophet Elias to be taken up to Heaven, he said to Elisha, “Ask what shall I do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha boldly asked for a double portion of the grace of God: “Let there be a double portion of your spirit upon me.” The Prophet Elias said, “You have asked a hard thing; if you see me when I am taken from you, then so shall it be for you; but if you do not see me, it will not be so” (4 [2] Kings 2: 10). As they went along the way talking, there appeared a fiery chariot and horses and separated them both. Elisha cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” (4 Kings 2: 12). Picking up the mantle of his teacher which fell from the sky, Elisha received the power and prophetic gift of Elias. He spent more than 65 years in prophetic service, under six Israelite kings (from Ahab to Joash). While Elisha lived, he did not tremble before any prince, and no word could overcome him (Sirach 48: 13 [“Sirach” is called “Ecclesiasticus” in Catholic Bibles ]).

The holy prophet worked numerous miracles. He divided the waters of the Jordan, having struck it with the mantle of the Prophet Elias; he made the waters of a Jericho spring fit for drinking; he saved the armies of the kings of Israel and Judah that stood in an arid wilderness by bringing forth abundant water by his prayer; he delivered a poor widow from death by starvation through a miraculous increase of oil in a vessel. This Shunamite woman showing hospitality to the prophet was gladdened by the birth of a son through his prayer, and when the child died, he was raised back to life by the prophet. The Syrian military-commander Namaan was healed from leprosy but the prophet’s servant Gehazi was afflicted since he disobeyed the prophet and took money from Namaan.

Elisha predicted to the Israelite king Joash the victory over his enemies, and by the power of his prayer he worked many other miracles (4 Kings 3-13). The holy Prophet Elisha died in old age at Samaria. “In his life he worked miracles, and at death his works were marvellous” (Sir. 48: 15). A year after his death, a co**se was thrown into the prophet’s grave. As soon as the dead man touched Elisha’s bones, he came to life and stood up (4 Kings 13: 20-21). The Prophet Elisha and his teacher, the Prophet Elias, left no books behind them, since their prophetic preaching was oral. Jesus, son of Sirach, praised both great prophets (Sir. 48:1-15).

John of Damascus composed a canon in honor of the Prophet Elisha, and at Constantinople a church was built in his honor.

Julian the Apostate (361-363) gave orders to burn the relics of the Prophet Elisha, Abdia (Obadiah) and John the Forerunner, but the holy relics were preserved by believers, and part of them were transferred to Alexandria.

In the twentieth century, the humble priest Nicholas Planas had a great veneration for the Prophet Elisha, and was accounted worthy to see him in visions.

04/06/2026

Liebe Freunde, bitte nehmt zur Kenntnis, dass wir am Freitagabend, dem 26./13. Juni, die
Vesper um 18:00 Uhr feiern werden und am
Samstagmorgen, dem 27./14. Juni, die Matutin um
8:00 Uhr, gefolgt von der Heiligen Liturgie gegen 9:30 Uhr. An diesem Samstag werden wir
nach der Liturgie in unserer Kapelle die Krypta der Kirche der Dormitio der Theotokos (heute
OLV Basiliek) besuchen, um ihr Akathist zu singen und ihren Gürtel zu verehren, der seit dem
Ende des 4. Kreuzzugs gegen Konstantinopel in dieser Kirche aufbewahrt wird.
Дорогие друзья, просим обратить внимание, что в пятницу вечером 26-го/13-го июня мы
будем совершать вечерню в 18:00, а в субботу утром 27-го/14-го июня — утреню в 8:00,
после которой последует Святая Литургия приблизительно в 9:30. В эту субботу, после
литургии в нашем храме, мы посетим крипту церкви Успения Пресвятой Богородицы
(ныне Базилика OLV), чтобы пропеть акафист и поклониться Её Поясу, хранящемуся в
этом храме с конца 4-го Крестового похода против Константинополя.
Dear Friends, please note that on Friday evening 26 th /13th of June we will celebrate vespers at
6 PM and on Saturday morning 27th/14th of June matins at 8 AM followed by Holy Liturgy at
around 9.30 AM . On this Saturday , after liturgy in our chapel, we will visit the Crypt of the
Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos (now OLV Basiliek) in order to sing her Akathist and
venerate her Sash, treasured in this church since the end of the 4th Crusade against
Constantinople.

23/05/2026

14/05/2026

https://orthodoxreflections.com/the-english-akathist-to-saint-ignatius-of-antioch/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_source_platform=mailpoet&utm_campaign=the-last-newsletter-total-posts-from-orthodox-reflections_2

The powerful English Akathist to Saint Ignatius of Antioch, one of the earliest Church Fathers and a fearless witness to Christ.

11/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BoTJ6yGkh/

28/04/2026

Op vrijdag 29/16 mei om 18.00 uur , vieren wij de vespers en op zaterdag 30/17 mei om 08.00 uur vieren wij de metten, gevolgd door de Heilige Liturgie die omstreeks 09.30 uur in onze kapel wordt gevierd. Op deze zaterdag gedenken wij de ontslapen orthodoxe Christenen en de heiligen :
Dear Friends, please note that on Friday evening 29 th /16th of May we will celebrate vespers at 6 PM and on Saturday morning 30th/17th of May matins at 8 AM followed bij Holy Liturgy at around 9.30 AM . On this Saturday we commemorate the deceased Orthodox Christians, and we commemorate:

HOLY NEW MARTYR PETER THE ALEUT
HOLY APOSTLE ANDRONICOS OF THE SEVENTY WITH HIS COMPANION JUNIA
ST MADERN, HERMIT

Troparion of St Peter the Aleut Tone 1
O Peter, on the rock of thy faith Christ has built the Church of thy land,/ and has hallowed it in the streams of thy blood./ O Aleut, in thee thy people are made holy;/ from the farthest islands of the west He has raised thee as a light to all./ Glory to Him Who has glorified thee; glory to Him Who has crowned thee;/ glory to Him Who through thee works healings for all.

Troparion of Ss Andronicos and Junia Tone 2
You shone forth as Apostles and heralds of Christ,/ sowing the preaching of grace among all men./ Therefore we praise you, illustrious Andronicos and Junia,/ as we exalt Christ our God.

Troparion of St Madern Tone 2
Out of pagan darkness in the land of Cornwall/ thou didst shine as a witness to Christ./ Holy hermit Madern,/ entreat Him that the light thou didst kindle/ may ever shine in our hearts.

Kontakion of Ss Andronicos and Junia Tone 2
Let us praise these two Apostles of Christ/ Andronicos the star who enlightened the heathen,/ and Junia his fellow labourer;/ and let us cry:/ Pray to Christ our God unceasingly for us all.

Saint Peter the Aleut
A native of Kodiak Island, Cungagnaq had been baptized by the monks of St. Herman's missionary party, receiving the Christian name Peter.
In 1815, a party of 14 Aleut seal and otter hunter, including Peter approached the California shore by ship. The Russian-American Trading Company had in 1812 established Fort Ross (derived from the word "Russia") about 50 miles north of San Francisco as a warm climate trading post and as a place to raise crops and cattle to support the communities in Alaska. At that time, Spain still owned California, and some Spaniards perhaps thought that Russia was planning to attack and take possession of San Francisco.
When, therefore, Peter and his party of young fur trappers approached near Fort Ross, Spanish sailors captured them and took them to San Francisco for a mock trial. Roman Catholic priests in California tried to force the Aleut hunters to embrace Roman Catholicism. The prisoners answered, "We are Christians; we have been baptized," and they showed their baptismal crosses. "No, you are heretics and schismatics," replied one of the priests. "If you do not agree to take the Catholic Faith we will toruture you," and they were told to think it over.

Returning a while later, the priests found that the Aleuts again refused to renounce Orthodoxy. They took Peter and cut off a toe from each foot, but Peter simply repeated, "I am a Christian; I will not betray my Faith." The Spanish priest-inquisitor ordered a group of California Indians to cut off each finger of Peter's hands, one joint at a time, eventually cutting off his hands altogether. Finally, he ordered that Peter be disemboweled. Peter quickly died as a result of the tortures, witnessing to his Faith in God to his last breath. Just as they were ready to start on the next Aleut, the Spaniards received an order to stop the proceedinggs. This eyewitness account of Peter's martyrdom is told by some of his comrades who were eventually released.
When the incident was reported to St. Herman, back on Kodiak Island, the monk turned to his icon, crossed himself and exclaimed, "Holy, new-martyr Peter, pray to God for us!" Peter the Aleut was formally glorified as a saint, as the "Martyr of San Francisco;" in 1980. His feast day is commemorated on September 24.

14/04/2026

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Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

14/04/2026

Op vrijdag 24/11 april om 18.00 uur , vieren wij de vespers en op zaterdag 25/12 april om 08.00 uur vieren wij de metten, gevolgd door de Heilige Liturgie die omstreeks 09.30 uur in onze kapel wordt gevierd.
Dear Friends, please note that on Friday evening 24th /11th of April we will celebrate vespers at 6 PM and on Saturday morning 25th/12th of April matins at 8 AM followed bij Holy Liturgy at around 9.30 AM . On this Saturday, we commemorate:

ST BASIL THE CONFESSOR, BISHOP OF PARIOS
Not to be confused with Basil the Confessor, companion of the Venerable Procopius at Decapolis, Commemorated on February 28, St Basil the Confessor, Bishop of Parium, fought valiantly against the Iconoclast heresy during the eighth century.
When the Iconoclast heresy broke out, Saint Basil resolutely came out on the side of icon veneration and refused to sign the orders for their abolition (the “Iniquitous Scroll”) of the Council of 754 which was convened under the emperor Constantine V Copronymos (741-775). The saint avoided any contact with the heretics and did not permit them into his diocese. For his zeal he suffered much persecution, hunger and deprivation.
St Basil is commemorated on April 12.

Troparion Tone 4
Hierarch Basil, priest of the King of glory,/ thou art a radiant confessor of the Faith./ Thou didst oppose the iconoclasts and suffer for the Truth./ Standing before God in glory,/ remember those who honour thee.

Kontakion Tone 6
Thou didst royally serve the King of all,/ O holy Hierarch Basil./ Thou didst reveal divine truths/ and become a whole burnt offering./ To those who honour thee thou criest:/ The honour given to the icon ascends to Christ.