St. Thomas the Apostle
Romanian Orthodox Church
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Wednesday, January 10, 2024
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You were a disciple of Christ, and a member of the divine college of Apostles. Having been weak in faith you doubted the Resurrection of Christ, but by feeling the wounds you believed in His all-pure Passion: pray now to Him, O all-praised Thomas, to grant us peace and great mercy.
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A Message from Father
Un mesaj de la părintele
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Dearly Beloved,
Christ is in our midst!
This week we re-enter into a normal rhythm of celebration as we slowdown from the celebrations surrounding the Feasts of the Lord: His Nativity, Circumcision and Baptism. The schedule for this coming week, therefore, is going to be the usual, with services every day, Catechism tonight, at 7 pm; Great Vespers and Confessions on Saturday, 5 pm, and Matins and Divine Liturgy on Sunday, starting from 8:45 am.
We will also continue our traditional custom of House Blessings (sfințirea caselor). If you would like me to come over and bring the blessing of the Lord from the Jordan, please reach out to me at (914) 525-0758 or email me at fr.topris@gmail.com.
Another important announcement is that we have now posted the new financial pledge (membership) forms for 2024 on our website (CLICK HERE for the link), alongside having printed versions for distribution at the church.
It goes without saying that we continue to need your support and involvement in all the aspects of our church life, since YOU and I are the church, and the church building and all that we have belongs to all of us who are involved in it, you and me both.
In other words, we are called to be stewards of what God has entrusted to us, our gifts, talents, and treasure and use them for the benefit of the community, so that like in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30), those gifts might be multiplied, and that we may receive our just reward from the Lord.
As always, please make sure to double-check the Google Calendar on our website (https://www.stthomasstl.org) before coming to one of these services or other events, since at times there may be changes or cancellations to the schedule, due to unforeseen circumstances or unexpected events.
After the Sunday Divine Liturgy, you are of course also invited to join us for the Coffee Hour, generously sponsored by our Church's Aurora Ladies Auxiliary Organization; this week, it will be sponsored by Mirela Marcu / Nicole Petrescu. Thank you, Ladies, for your help; without your aid, our Church would not be able to organize any of our events.
We hope to see you this Sunday, as well as at the other services held at our Church!
In Christ,
Rev. Fr. Tiberiu Opriș
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Liturgical Schedule
Program liturgic
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Wednesday Jan 10th
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Venerable Antypas of Calapodesti Monastery
6:00 pm – Great Vespers
7:00 pm – Catechism Class
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Thursday Jan 11th
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Venerable Theodosius the Great, the Cenobiarch
8:00 am – Matins
(Reader's Service)
6:30 pm – Parish Council Meeting
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Friday Jan 12th
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8:00 am – Daily Matins
(Reader's Service)
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Saturday Jan 13th
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Martyrs Hermylus and Stratonicus
8:00 am – Third and Sixth Hours, Typika (Reader's Service)
5:00 pm – Great Vespers
6:00 pm – Mystery of Holy Confession
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Sunday Jan 14th
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Twenty-ninth Sunday after Pentecost
(Ten Lepers)
8:45 am – Matins
10:00 am – Divine Liturgy
11:30 pm – Sunday School
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Monday Jan 15th
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6:00 pm – Daily Vespers
(Reader's Service)
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Tuesday Jan 16th
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8:00 am – Daily Matins
(Reader's Service)
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Wednesday Jan 17th
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Venerable and God-bearing Father Anthony the Great
8:00 am – Matins
(Reader's Service)
6:00 pm – Daily Vespers
7:00 pm – Catechism Class
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Epistle and Holy Gospel Readings
Citirile din Apostol și Evanghelie
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Epistle and Gospel Readings for the Twenty-ninth Sunday after Theophany
(Ten Lepers)
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Epistle Reading
Colossians 1: 12–18
(click here for the text in Romanian)
Brethren, we give thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
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Holy Gospel Reading
Luke 17: 12–19
(click here for the text in Romanian)
At that time, as Jesus entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner? And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
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News and Announcements
Știri și Anunturi
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On January 6th
The Orthodox faithful celebrate the memory of our Father Antypas of Calapodesti and Valaam Monasteries.
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Financial Pledge Form for 2024
Formular de membrie pentru 2024
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The new financial pledge (membership) forms for 2024 are now available on our website. We also have printed copies available at our Church. Please fill them out and return them as soon as possible. Thank you for offering your time, talent, and financial support to St. Thomas!
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Pan-Orthodox Youth Retreat 2024
February 17
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TRAVEL THE WORLD
Youth on a Mission
For children in grades K – 8
Sign up to get your travelling papers and learn about five missionary countries where the Orthodox Church is growing through the efforts of missionaries and the support of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC).
See, Taste and Feel what it is like to live in Fiji, Guatemala, Romania, South Korea and Uganda as an Orthodox Christian.
Special: Parents Open Discussion – Help your children grow in the Faith.
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House Blessings for 2024
Binecuvântarea casei pentru anul 2024
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The season of Theophany is a time of renewal for us, a time to fully acknowledge the One into Whom we have been baptized, which means living a life devoted to loving God and our neighbor, as Christ did, going so far as to be nailed to the Cross for us all.
One of the ways that our faith encourages us to become once again aware of this is to have our houses blessed by the priest, so that the evil spirits that have made their dwelling in there might be banished, thus allowing us to continue to work our salvation through the renewed grace that is being given to us in this manner.
If you would like to schedule an appointment for a house blessing,
please contact Fr. Tiberiu at
(914) 525-0758 or fr.topris@gmail.com
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Prayers Requested
Să ne rugăm unii pentru alții
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Praying for each other is a tangible display of our love within the Christian family, a testament to our living faith. Just as our bodies require nourishment, our souls find sustenance in prayer. Scripture echoes this truth—Jesus advises us to 'watch and pray' (Matthew 26:41-42), and St. Paul sought the prayers of his fellow workers (2 Corinthians 1:11). In the words of James, 'Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, for powerful and effective is the prayer of the righteous' (James 5:16).
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Therefore, we invite you to pray for our fellow Orthodox Christians as such:
- For the healing of their soul and body: Archpriest Andrew, Archpriest Cristopher, Matushka Irene, Archpriest Miroljub, Nazema, Mariana Magdalena, Hermina, Liberta Marie, Martha, Flori, George, Dianne Elizabeth, Aurica, Flora, Niculina, Antonia, Maria, Florica, Georgeta, Deborah, Tatiana, Constantin Florin, Ioana.
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For the blessed repose of those fallen asleep in the Lord: Priest Daniel, Archpriest William John, Archpriest Michael, Archpriest Michael, Priest Atanasie Tănăsache, Priest Daniel, Florea , Matushka Katherine, Diaconeasa Liliana-Elena, Cassiane, Constantin, Rucsandra, John (Kevin), Elena, Constanța, Catherine, Gregory, John.
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For the progress in the Orthodox faith of the catechumens at our Church, and in all the Orthodox Churches, and for whom we pray at each and every Divine Liturgy, that they may be numbered among God's chosen flock: Michaela (Jacqueline) and Dymphna (Teresa).
In your mercy, you could also pray for the non-Orthodox Christians who:
- are suffering from various illnesses and afflictions: Diana, Bryan, Alexander, Chanda, Brianna, Haley, Andy, Luigi, Mandy, Dominic, Magdalena.
- have departed from this life: Adrian.
Please continue to pray also for the people who are impacted by the conflict in Ukraine, and also for all those who are suffering from the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, especially for the following: Archimandrite Teofil, Protosyngellos Ioan, Protosyngellos Roman, Priestmonk Avraam, Nun Nicodima, Nun Nicolaida, Nun Tavita, Nun Iustina, Nun Veronica, Sister Maria, Sister Floarea, Sister Dorina, Sister Elena, Gabriel with his family, Roxana with her family, Priest David with his family.
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Help needed
Avem nevoie de ajutor
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Sound Technician - Enhance church acoustics.
Photography/Videography - Capture moments during services and events.
We're always seeking new ways for members to engage. Feel called to serve in these or other roles? Or have skills to benefit our community? Please reach out to Fr. Tiberiu via email or phone.
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Giving Back
Dând înapoi la caritate
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Andrei Ștefănescu, the FOCUS (Fellowship of Orthodox Christians United to Serve) representative for our Church, has set u p a collection bin for your donations in the social area of St. Thomas. We will periodically take your donations to St Michael's Orthodox Church, the HQ of FOCUS - St Louis / Gateway City. This is a great opportunity to put into practice what we hear preached at Church, so all of us are highly encouraged to participate as much as it is within our power, thus allowing Christ to work in and through us (the Liturgy after the Liturgy).
As part of the FOCUS Gateway City Pantry and Clothing Closet Rotation, our Church has been asked to bring the following items only:
- Canned tuna 5 oz
- Canned beef stew 15 oz
- Chili with beans 15 oz
- Chef Boyardee products 15 oz
- Spam 12 oz
- Canned Ham 16 oz
You can also make a monetary donation if bringing these items to Church is not possible.
Please also note that FOCUS Gateway City recently launched a initiative meant to attract monthly sponsors who would commit to donating at least $25/month, in order to increase their income and be able to expand. In order to find out more, please access their website.
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Learn More
Află mai multe
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About us
Are you new here? Learn more about our church family.
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Want to learn more about what's happening in our community?
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Illness or Hospital Visits
In times of illness or hospitalization, it is crucial for Orthodox Christians or their relatives to promptly inform us.
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Thank You to Our Benefactors
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supports and actively participates in the life of our church.
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