Dear Brothers and Sisters, Christ is Risen! Today’s feastday, when we remember how the Apostle Thomas finally saw and believed in the risen Christ Jesus, has different names. It is called Thomas Sunday, because the Apostle Thomas played a central role in the events we remember today. It is also called New Sunday, because the liturgical structure of the church services returns to the normal order and all of the liturgical cycles reset. It is also new because, after the Resurrection of Christ, the whole world has been renewed and a new reality has taken hold, where death and the Devil no longer hold sway over those who have faith in the risen Jesus. Finally, this day is also called Antipascha ("instead of Pascha," not "against Pascha"). The Greek prefix anti does not only mean against, but also instead of (like in the word antidor, instead of the Gifts (Communion), that is, the bread we receive after the Liturgy). This Sunday is Antipascha because today we once again celebrate Pascha, but not in that unique way we celebrated last week, but in a similar manner as we would celebrate any of the great feasts. Sometimes St. Thomas is looked upon with suspicion, because at first glance he seems to have had weak faith. He is even called Doubting Thomas. In reality, at least in this moment, Thomas has a very healthy and correct thirst to know, with complete certainty, that his Teacher has risen from the dead. Christ Himself confirms the correctness of Thomas’ "doubt". Were this not the case, He would not have appeared to the Apostle and satisfied all of his demands to strengthen his belief. In analogous circumstances, Christ did not show such condescension (remember how the Pharisees, scribes, priests and the rest of the Jewish establishment demanded a sign and how they demanded that He come down from the cross). Therefore it is clear that today’s saint had a pure heart and a thirst to truly believe in the resurrection. Brothers and Sisters, we are also called to thirst for Christ, to staunchly believe in His resurrection, to thirst to come close to Him and touch Him. It may seem to us that it is not completely possible to have such an intimate experience with Christ, as Thomas had. But we are mistaken if we think in such a way. We need only remember the saints and the numerous times that Christ or His Divine Light appeared to them, or how they felt the mighty power of Grace, to be convinced of this. Although we sinners may not have had such bright or dramatic personal experiences of Christ as the saints had, without a doubt each one of you has had some kind of similar experience. Someone’s experience of Christ is tied to Communion, another’s – to prayer or the church services, a third’s with some very personal, life-changing event, someone else’s – to sorrows. Finally, another person may experience God through contemplating on the greatness of His creation. It’s not all that important when or how the Lord has visited us, but it is important to remember these special moments. When we are attacked by feelings of melancholy or our faith begins to waver, let’s try to remember those moments and tell our soul the following: "My soul, do not be perturbed! Remember how the Lord showed Himself to you! Remember how you saw Him with your spiritual eyes! Know that your spiritual eyes are no worse than your bodily ones, they will not trick you. Be calm and put your trust in the Lord!" priest Alexis