The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

DIOCESE OF SOUTH AMERICA: May 12, 2011
Paschal Days at Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Buenos Aires

On May 1, 2011, the second Apostle Thomas Sunday, Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina, of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, celebrated its feast day. Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Grace Bishop John of Caracas and South America, along with Protopriest Igor Bulatov and Protodeacon Nicholas Radysh.

Despite the fact that the Cathedral’s feast day fell on the First of May, which is a state holiday in Argentina, when very little of the city’s transit system is at work and not a single newspaper is published, and regardless of the foul weather, a great many parishioners and worshipers gathered at the Cathedral.

In his sermon, Vladyka John emphasized the profound meaning of the Gospel read that day. Apostle Thomas expressed doubt, but not outright rejection, of Christ’s resurrection. He wished to test his doubt, and when he did, he immediately cast it aside. Of course, said His Grace, everyone has a right to doubt and seek his own proof, but that is not a sin in and of itself. Also, said His Grace, in accordance with Orthodox teaching, the Church is the mystical Body of Christ. The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ was killed, but He came back to life. These very enemies of Christ wish to kill the Church of Christ, as His mystical Body. In Russia, the Church of Christ indeed came back to life. Whoever might doubt this can visit Russia and find proof in today’s renascent Russian Orthodox Church with their own eyes, and insert their fingers into her wounds, as it were.

Following Divine Liturgy, the worshippers were given pieces of the Artos and icons of the Resurrection of Christ, after which everyone was invited to the parish hall for a Paschal feast.

Radonitsa

On May 3, 2011, the Tuesday of the second week of Pascha, was Radonitsa, and Bishop John celebrated Divine Liturgy at Holy Resurrection Cathedral, and a pannikhida afterwards with the commemoration of the dead.

After Liturgy, Vladyka John headed for the British Cemetery of Buenos Aires, where many Russians are buried. There, he performed Paschal litanies at the graves of Archbishop Ioassaf (Skorodoumoff), Bishop Innokenty (Petrov), Mitred Protopriest Timofei Soin, Mitred Protopriest Vladimir Skalon of blessed memory and other Orthodox Christians.