On the Sunday of Thomas, the Second Sunday of Pascha, we celebrate the Antipascha, that is to say, the rededication of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and also commemorate the event of the Holy Apostle Thomas' touching the wounds of the Lord. Antipascha (the Greek prefix, anti, means "in place of")--that is the renewal of Pascha.

When Mary Magdalene brought her news to the Disciples, it is likely that they reacted in one of two ways: either they did not believe her, or, if they did, they were crestfallen because they were not deemed worthy to see Christ. Meanwhile, fear of the Jews was increasing the Disciples' longing to see the only One Who could relieve their anxiety.

By the age of three, Elizabeth's father had already given her over to learning the sacred letters, that is, religious texts. The little girl exhibited much skill and ability in her lessons so that she was able to recite the lives of the Saints only after hearing their accounts once. Once she closed her twelfth year, Ephemia, the maiden's mother, departed this life. Evnomianus, her father, wished to arrange her marriage, but Elizabeth could not bear to hear about a match for herself. Her yearning was rather to be wedded to the Immortal Bridegroom, Christ.

Elizabeth, the Wonder-worker, and our venerable mother was famed for her asceticism and miracles (Gk. thavmata). From her birth, Elizabeth was revealed by God to be an elect vessel. Now that "many daughters have wrought mightily, and many have obtained wealth" was spoken of in prophecy by the most wise Solomon. By this, he was saying that, at sundry times, not only men but also women would shine forth radiantly with the comely gifts of the Divine Spirit, thereby working, in a marvelous manner, mysterious and extraordinary prodigies and signs in all the inhabited world.

Many are the miracles that are wrought by the Saint's sacred relics and his holy icons. The blind are granted their sight; the disabled are healed; and, simply put, all those who hasten to the Saint with faith find bodily cures and receive the requests of their hearts. Many and diverse were the feats and exploits of Saint George, which we have summarized.

Outside of the Queen City of Constantinople, towards the district of the Seven Towers, there was in ancient times a very large and most beautiful church named in honor of the Theotokos (Mother of God); it had been built about the middle of the 5th century by the Emperor Leo the Great (also called "Leo of Thrace,") he is commemorated on January 20th). Before he became Emperor, he had encountered a blind man, who being tormented with thirst asked him to help him find water. Leo felt compassion for him and went in search of a source of water but found none.