4th Sunday of Pascha
Sunday of the Paralytic
Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!
Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee (John 5:14). Sin does not strike only the soul, but the body as well. In some cases this is exceedingly obvious; in others, although not so clearly, the truth remains that the illnesses of the body always stem from sins. A sin is committed in the soul and directly makes it sick; but since the life of the body comes from the soul, then the life coming from a sick soul is of course not healthy. The mere fact that sin brings darkness and sorrow must unfavourably act on the blood, in which lies the basis of bodily health. But when you remember that it separates man from God, the Source of life, and places man in disharmony with all laws acting in himself and in nature, then one must marvel how a sinner remains alive after sinning. This is the mercy of God, Who awaits repentance and conversion. Consequently, a sick person must rush first of all to be cleansed of sins and make peace with God in his conscience. This paves the way for the beneficial action of medicine. They say that there was one distinguished doctor who would not begin treatment until the patient had confessed and received the holy Mysteries; and the more serious the disease, the more urgently he insisted upon this.
St. Theophan the Recluse
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In the middle of the Paschal journey—from the Bright Resurrection of Christ to the great Feast of Pentecost—the Holy Church gives us a special day: the Midfeast of Pentecost, which is celebrated on the Wednesday of the fourth week after Pascha. This year, the feast falls on May 14. This is more than just a date on the calendar. It is a spiritual pause—a moment to breathe in the joy of Pascha more deeply, to listen to the words of Christ, and to remember with faith where this sacred path leads: to the descent of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church of Christ.
On this day, we hear in the Gospel reading how the Lord, standing in the temple, calls out to all: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37). These words are a call of love addressed to every heart—to those who are weary, searching, or in need of comfort, meaning, peace, and the living God. Christ promises that whoever believes will receive living water—the grace of the Holy Spirit, which strengthens, renews, and sanctifies the soul.
This is why on this day, the Church serves the blessing of water. This is not merely an ancient tradition—it is a living encounter with Christ, who even today offers each of us “living water.” Holy water is a sacred gift through which the Lord grants us comfort, strength, and sanctification in every part of life. It becomes a quiet but tangible witness that God hears us, cares for us, and responds to the thirst of our hearts.
We would be glad to pray with you on this day.
You can find the full schedule of services on our website: https://resurrectionrocathedral.org/schedule as well as in the weekly newsletter from our Warden.
Please subscribe to and read our Starosta's new Newsletter, Our Sobor Headlines! This is your source for news about our Parish, photos, videos, important updates about our Cathedral, information and announcements, our schedule of services and much more!
