Orthodox Calendar, April 27

Hieromartyr Simeon, the kinsman of the Lord, bishop of Jerusalem

The holy, glorious, all-laudable Apostle and Hieromartyr Symeon the Kinsman of the Lord (Simeon) of the Seventy, was the second Bishop of Jerusalem, serving for the period of 67 to 107. He is commemorated by the Church on April 27, and on January 4 with the Seventy.

St. Symeon was the son of Cleopas, the younger brother of St. Joseph the Betrothed. He was a witness to the miracles of Jesus Christ and came to believe in him.

After the Apostle James, the first bishop of Jerusalem was killed in 63 AD, the Christians elected the Apostle Symeon to take his place. During the reign of Emperor Trajan, it was reported to the Roman governor Atticus that St. Symeon was of the lineage of King David and that he confessed the Christian Faith.

The pagans seized St. Symeon, at that time already 100 years of age, and after prolonged torture, crucified him. St. Symeon is mentioned in Acts 13:1: “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Symeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.”

Troparion — Tone 1
The Church glorifies you as a kinsman of Christ, O Hierarch Simeon, / and as a steadfast martyr, for courageously you destroyed all deceptions and preserved the Faith. / Therefore, we celebrate your holy memory today, / and by your prayers, we receive the remission of our sins.

Scripture Reading – 2nd Sunday of Pascha — St. Thomas

John 20:19-31 (Gospel):

Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side.

Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.