On the second Sunday after Pascha and on the commemoration day of Saint Thomas the Apostle, April 27, 2025, Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine celebrated the Divine Liturgy according to the rite of Saint John Chrysostom at the Saint Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral in the capital.
The Primate of the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine was joined by Bishop Yefrem of Vasylkiv, the venerable brotherhood of the Golden-Domed Monastery, and invited clergy.
During the service, prayers were offered for the soldiers defending Ukraine, for the government and the people, and for the repose of the souls of all fallen defenders of the homeland and peaceful civilians who perished during the war.
His Beatitude also offered a special prayer to the Lord for Ukraine, which is going through a time of severe trials and danger.
In the Church calendar, the Sunday after Pascha is called Antipascha and Thomas Sunday. The word “Antipascha” signifies a return to the celebration of the Bright Resurrection of Christ—another remembrance of it.
On this day, our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to the Apostles to confirm His Resurrection.
The Apostle Thomas responded to the Savior’s appearance with the words: “My Lord and my God,” thereby expressing his faith not only in Christ’s Resurrection but also in His Divinity. This is why the eighth day after Pascha is also called the Sunday of Saint Thomas the Apostle.
Source: pomisna
