St. Thomas Sunday, 2025 - Yonkers, NY

On Sunday of St. Thomas, April 26–27, 2025, the faithful of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Yonkers, NY, joyfully welcomed His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, for an archpastoral visit.

The visit began on Saturday evening with the celebration of Vespers and Litiya. Surrounded by the glow of Paschal candles, the parish gathered in prayer, continuing the radiant joy of the Resurrection. At the conclusion of Vespers, Archpriest Volodymyr Zablotskyy (Rector) offered a homily reflecting on Christ’s merciful entrance into the gathering of the fearful disciples — showing that even in moments of fear and failure, the Risen Lord enters with peace, not judgment.

On Sunday morning, Archbishop Michael presided at the Divine Liturgy. Concelebrating with him was Archpriest Volodymyr Zablotskyy. Assisting in the altar were Subdeacons Mark Federoff, Christopher Nolan, and Andrew Karlgut; Readers Pavlo Kurganov, Demetrios Torres, and David Acevedo; and altar servers Andrei Bocur, John Federoff, Ivan Shevarikhin, Colin Parchet, Sebastian Parchet, and Alec Statkevikus.

Following the reading of the Holy Gospel, Father Volodymyr delivered the homily, drawing the faithful into the mystery of St. Thomas's encounter with the Risen Christ. He spoke of how Christ does not wait for doors to be opened, but enters even the closed and wounded places of our hearts, offering peace and breathing new life. Thomas’s honest doubt, he emphasized, was met not with reproach but with mercy, inviting all of us to cry out with faith: "My Lord and my God."

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Michael addressed the faithful, exhorting them to open their hearts fully to the Risen Christ and to enthrone Him in their hearts as their "Lord and God" (in the words of Saint Thomas), to receive His peace, and to continue to live and share the joy of the Resurrection in their families and communities.

During the festive coffee hour that followed, Father Volodymyr offered a heartfelt appeal to the parish, calling them to reclaim the parish’s educational building not merely as a rental space, but as a vibrant center of Orthodox faith, service, and outreach — a living extension of the Church’s mission in Yonkers. Echoing the sacrifices of past generations, he urged the faithful to dream boldly and invest in a future rooted in Christ.

The faithful of Holy Trinity were deeply uplifted by Archbishop Michael’s pastoral presence and the spirit of renewal that marked this Paschal celebration. The visit was a powerful reminder that the Risen Lord continues to breathe His life into His Church — calling it not merely to survive, but to thrive.

We give thanks to Almighty God for this blessed weekend, and we pray that our Lord will continue to grant His Eminence many blessed years!

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!