Saint Nicholas
Greek Orthodox
Church
San Jose, California
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1999-2006 St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of
San Jose, CA
Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
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"REJOICE, O SPRING OF UNENDING JOY!" A unique icon graces the cover of the April 29th Church Bulletin: the Theotokos of the Life-giving Spring. We see the Mother of God depicted in a huge fountain with her Divine Son. The fountain is surrounded by those who thirst for the streams of healing and grace that flow form it. In some forms of this sacred image, two angels may be shown above the Theotokos, holding scrolls which read: "Hail! That you bear" and "Hail! That you are." The Life-giving Spring Icon, which annually becomes the focus of our worship on Bright Friday, has a rich history, inspired by events that occurred centuries ago. It is said that the Byzantine Emperor Leo I, who reigned in the 5th century, came across a blind man in a beautiful grove near the Golden Gate of Constantinople. While seeking water for this helpless traveler, Leo was directed to a spring by the voice of the Mother of God, who instructed him to build a church in her honor on this site. When he assumed the royal throne a number of years later, Leo carried out the Virgin's wishes. Through the years, the waters of the spring, contained within the walls of the church, were credited with healing the ills of a countless number of pious faithful. Tradition has it that the famous Emperor Justinian built a more magnificent edifice there after he himself drank from the miraculous waters and was cured of a life-threatening disease. With the Fall of Constantinople in 1453 A.D., the Church of the Life-giving Spring was destroyed. It was rebuilt in 1835 A.D. and today, it is still one of the most venerated shrines in Constantinople. In addition to containing the waters of the ancient spring, the church compound, located in Baliki, is also the final resting place for departed Ecumenical Patriarchs. |
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Special Message for the day... "Thomas, the Twin, eternally dubbed 'The Doubter' by generations of Sunday School teachers, is also called away from isolation, fear and uncertainty into the community of peace, empowerment and ministry. With his own fingers in contact with the wounds of Christ, Thomas is threatened with resurrection and incorporated into the community of belief. So it is for us. We who sometimes too easily call ourselves disciples, followers of Christ, Christians; we too are threatened with resurrection in our encounter with the wounded, yet risen Christ. Our encounters seem tame by comparison. We encounter this wounded, risen one in the word, in baptism, and in the shared meal [the Eucharist]. But such an encounter, far from being tame, confronts us to the core of our being... We are threatened with resurrection in that we are dared to offer our lives to Christ and spend our lives for others... In word and sacraments... we are given peace, forgiveness, and community and are commissioned for ministry." (borrowed) |
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Sunday of St. Thomas -
April 22, 2001 APOLYTIKION OF THE FEAST DAY Chris our God, You are the life that dawned from the grave, though the tomb was sealed. Through closed doors, You came to the Apostles. You are the resurrection of all. And, through them, You renewed us, with an upright spirit, according to Your great mercy. KONTAKION Though You went down into the tomb. You destroyed Hades' power, and rose the victor, Christ God. To the myrrh-bearing women saying "Hail!" and granting peace to Your disciples. You are He Who raised up the fallen.
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St. Nicholas Greek
Orthodox Church
1260 Davis Street, San Jose,
California 95126