Sunday following Easter, in the Christian Orthodox tradition and culture, was called Antipasa. Otherwise, this day is called Fomina week. This holiday is the historical memory of the Church about the appearance of the risen Christ to his disciples.
The very name of the holiday Antipasa can be translated as “standing opposite Easter” or “instead of Easter”. This name speaks of the time of the celebration of Christian triumph. The name of the holiday Fomina week announces the appearance of the risen Christ to the apostles, among which special attention is paid to the confirmation of the apostle Thomas in faith in the miraculous resurrection of Christ.
The Gospels tell of several appearances of the risen Jesus Christ to his disciples. So, in one of the Gospel narratives it is said that Christ appeared to the apostles directly on the evening of the Resurrection. Among the closest disciples of Christ there was no apostle Thomas. Other apostles proclaimed to Thomas the reality of the resurrection of the Savior, but Thomas did not believe the story he had heard. The apostle expressed a desire with his own eyes to see the risen Christ and even touch him, putting his hand "in the ribs", and witness the wounds in the hands of Christ.
Eight days after this miraculous appearance to the apostles, Christ again appears to his disciples, among whom Thomas was already present. Christ himself invited the apostle, who was not confirmed in faith, to see with his own eyes the wounds on his hands. Christ also asked the Apostle Thomas to put his hand on the ribs of the risen Savior. Christ asked the Apostle Thomas "not to be an unbeliever, but a believer." The first sight of the miracle of the resurrection of Christ made the apostle establish himself in the faith forever, as evidenced by the exclamation of the disciple of Christ, testifying that Christ is Lord and God.
It should also be mentioned that Christ asked the apostles for food in order to prove the reality of his resurrection, refuting the possible thoughts that the disciples saw a ghost.
Particular attention is drawn to the words of Christ that Thomas saw and believed, but blessed are "unseeing and believing." This promise of the Savior applies to all those who, with their hearts and souls, accept the faith in the resurrection of Christ without real visible evidence.
This gospel narrative is a reminder to every person not only about the very fact of the resurrection of Christ, but also about the saving necessity of perceiving by man the very miracle of the resurrection of Christ, since if Christ did not rise, then all human faith in the Savior is futile.
