The Confession of Faith on Thomas Sunday – The Visit of Archbishop-elect Atanasie to the Liverpool Orthodox Community

On the Second Sunday after Holy Pascha, dedicated to Holy Apostle Thomas, April 27, 2025, Archbishop-elect Atanasie of Great Britain and Northern Ireland celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the parish of ‘Saint Paisius Velichkovsky, Abbot of Neamț and Saint Ephraim the New’ in Liverpool.

In the uttered homily, His Grace spoke on ‘the wounds of Christ which are our wounds. Christ heals our wound through His own wound, and through His voluntary suffering, He heals our pain and that of all humanity. That mysterious wound which Saint Thomas the Apostle wished to touch. Through it, the Lord heals all unbelief. The Lord embraces our pain, takes on the cross of our sufferings, from which life and joy will spring forth – come, all faithful, let us bow before the Holy Resurrection of Christ, for behold, through the Cross, joy has come to all the world.’

The hierarch also emphasized that ‘this Sunday is also a lesser feast of Pentecost, because, in the upper room where the disciples had gathered, grieving over what had occurred, they receive with joy from Christ the Holy Spirit, being once again assured of the peace the Lord bestows upon them. The double “Peace be with you” signifies a double forgiveness, but also a deep commitment on the part of Christ.’

At the end, Archbishop-elect Atanasie spoke about the mystery of forgiveness that brings healing: ‘through forgiveness, healing is received. Thomas’s absence from that appearance of the Lord makes him desire to partake in God’s love and forgiveness, asking that he too may see the Risen Christ. He is Thomas the Brave, because of his confession made when the Lord appeared to him, saying “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28), thus showing his spiritual growth, his longing for eternity, and the fullness of his faith.’

During the Liturgy, parish priest Reverend Father Florin Voinea was appointed Dean for the Northern Deanery of UK, as a sign of appreciation for his zeal and sacrificial service in the midst of the Orthodox community in this part of the country.

The hierarchical visit also brought the joy of preparing for the celebration of the parish’s second patronal feast, dedicated to Saint Ephraim the New – May 5^th.