Weekly Bulletin
Sunday, October 17, 2026
20th Sunday of Pentecost
Holy Martyr Charitina of Amisus; Holy Hieromartyr Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria
SPIRITUAL ARTICLES
From The Prologue for October 6/19 by St. Nikolai Velimirovic:
The Holy Apostle Thomas
Thomas was one of the Twelve Apostles. Through his doubt in the Resurrection of Christ the Lord, a new proof was given of that wonderful and saving event. The resurrected Lord appeared to His disciples a second time, in order to convince Thomas. The Lord said to Thomas: Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas replied: My Lord and my God (John 20:27–28). After the descent of the Holy Spirit, when the apostles cast lots to see where they would each go to preach, the lot fell to Thomas to go to India. He was a little saddened that he had to go so far away, but the Lord appeared to him and encouraged him. In India, St. Thomas converted many, both aristocrats and poor, to the Christian Faith, and established the Church there, appointing priests and bishops. Among others, Thomas converted two sisters to the Faith—Tertiana and Migdonia—both wives of Indian princes. Because of their faith, both sisters were ill-treated by their husbands, with whom they no longer wanted to live after their baptism. Eventually, they were allowed to go. Being freed of marriage, they lived God-pleasing lives until their repose. Dionysius and Pelagia were betrothed, but when they heard the apostolic preaching they did not marry, but devoted themselves to the ascetic life. Pelagia ended her life as a martyr for the Faith, and Dionysius was ordained a bishop by the apostle. Prince Mazdai, Tertiana’s husband, whose son, Azan, was also baptized by Thomas, condemned the apostle to death. Mazdai sent five soldiers to kill Thomas. They ran him through with their five spears, and thus the Holy Apostle Thomas rendered his soul into the hands of Christ. Before his death, he and the other apostles were miraculously brought to Jerusalem for the burial of the Most-holy Theotokos. Arriving too late, he wept bitterly, and the tomb of the Holy Most-pure One was opened at his request. The Theotokos’ body was not found in the tomb: the Lord had taken His Mother to His heavenly habitation. Thus, in his tardiness St. Thomas revealed to us the wondrous glorification of the Mother of God, just as he had once confirmed faith in the Resurrection of the Lord by his unbelief.
THE READING FROM THE EPISTLE OF THE HOLY APOSTLE PAUL TO THE GALATIANS (1: 11-19)
Brethren, I make known to you, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.
COMMENTARY ON GALATIANS 1: 11-19
The true Gospel is taught by true apostles but many declare themselves to be true – how do we know true from false? 1) True apostles are called by God, learning the Gospel by the revelation of apostolic tradition that is grounded in divine revelation from Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:2); 2) They are called by grace and not their own conduct, whether good or bad, and they bring glory to God, not themselves; 3) They hold to the Church doctrine, stand firm in matters of conscience and are correctable when mistaken. Just as the Twelve Apostles stood together as one, so Paul entered their unity in consensus and mutual submission.
THE GOSPEL READING FROM SAINT LUKE (7: 11-16)
At that time, Jesus went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us” and, “God has visited His people.”
COMMENTARY ON LUKE 7: 11 – 16
This account is recorded only in Luke’s Gospel. Jesus shows deep compassion for this widow who has lost her only son and provider. Like Jairus’ daughter (8: 41-56) and Lazarus (John 11: 1-44), this young man was resuscitated by our Lord but not resurrected. The difference? All three would die again physically in this world but not before their ‘new life’ manifested Christ’s divinity and assured the coming general resurrection, a transformation to glory for His chosen flock.
Читање из посланице Галатима светог Апостола Павла (1: 11-19)
Браћо, али вам дајем на знање, да оно јеванђеље које сам ја јавио, није по човеку. Јер га ја не примих од човека, нити научих, него откривењем Исуса Христа. Јер сте чули моје живљење некад у Јеврејству, да сам одвише гонио цркву Божију и раскопавао је. И напредовах у Јеврејству већма од многих врсника својих у роду свом, и одвише ревновах за отачке своје обичаје. А кад би угодно Богу, који ме изабра од утробе матере моје и призва благодаћу својом. Да јави Сина свог у мени, да Га јеванђељем објавим међу људима незнабошцима; одмах не питах тело и крв, Нити изиђох у Јерусалим к старијим апостолима од себе него отидох у арапску, и опет се вратих у Дамаск. А после тога на три године изиђох у Јерусалим да видим Петра, и остадох у њега петнаест дана. Али другог од апостола не видех, осим Јакова брата Господњег.
Читање светог Јеванђеља по Луки (7: 11-16)
И потом иђаше у град који се зови Наин, и с Њим иђаху многи ученици Његови и мноштво народа. Кад се приближише к вратима градским, и гле, изношаху мртваца, јединца сина матере његове, и она беше удовица и народа из града много иђаше с њом. И видевши је Господ сажали Му се за њом, и рече јој: Не плачи. И приступивши прихвати за сандук; а носиоци стадоше, и рече: Момче! Теби говорим, устани. И седе мртвац и стаде говорити; и даде га матери његовој. А страх обузе све, и хваљаху Бога говорећи: Велики пророк изиђе међу нама, и Бог походи народ свој.
Из Охридског Пролога Св. Владике Николаја
РАСУЂИВАЊЕ Ко сиромаху дели, Христу даје. То је смисао јеванђелске науке, која се у искуству светитеља потврдила. Петар Милостиви кад се покајао почео је делити милостињу сиромасима, где год му се указала прилика. Једном га срете неки бродоломник, који једва спасе своје наго тело при бродолому, срете га и запроси неку одећу. Петар свуче са себе своју скупоцену доламу и обуче нагога. Но после кратког времена Петар виде своју доламу у дућану неког трговца, који је беше изложио на продају. Ожалости се Петар веома, што онај бродоломник продаде његову доламу место да је сам употреби. „Нисам достојан, говораше сам себи Петар, не прима Господ милостињу моју”. Но на сну му се јави Господ у виду човека благообразна, сјајнијег од сунца, са крстом на глави својој, и са доламом Петровом на себи. „Зашто се жалостиш, Петре?” упита га Господ, „Како да се не жалостим, Господе мој, кад видим да оно што ја убогим дајем продаје се на пазару?” Тада га Господ упита: „познајеш ли ову одећу на мени?” Петар одговори: „познајем, Господе, то је моја одећа којом оденух нагога”. Тада му опет Господ рече: „не жалости се, дакле, ти си дао сиромаху, а ја сам је примио, и похваљујем дело твоје”.
RESURRECTIONAL TROPARION – TONE THREE: Let the heavens rejoice! Let the earth be glad! For the Lord has shown strength with His arm! He has trampled down death by death! He has become the firstborn of the dead! He has delivered us from the depths of hell, and has granted to the world great mercy!
TROPARION TO THE FATHERS OF THE ECUMENICAL COUNCILS – TONE EIGHT: You are most glorious, O Christ our God. You have established the Holy Fathers as lights on the earth. Through them You have guided us to the true faith. O greatly Compassionate One, glory to You!
RESURRECTIONAL KONTAKION – TONE THREE: On this day You rose from the tomb, O Merciful One, leading us from the gates of death. On this day Adam exults as Eve rejoices; with the prophets and the patriarchs they unceasingly praise the divine majesty of Your power!
KONTAKION TO THE FATHERS OF THE ECUMENICAL COUNCILS – TONE EIGHT: The apostles’ preaching and the fathers’ doctrines have established one faith for the Church. Adorned with the robe of truth, woven from heavenly theology, it defines and glorifies the great mystery of piety.