According to church calendar, the first Sunday after Pascha bears the name of Antipascha, or Thomas Sunday. Antipascha means “in place of Pascha,” in other words, not being in opposition but repeating and going back to the feast.

The eighth day of Pascha concludes the Bright Week and is celebrated in a special way as a replacement of Pascha. Once again, we remember the glory of Christ’s Resurrrection, as if we immerse ourselves back into the festive atmosphere of the paschal night. Therefore, Antipascha is instead of Pascha, or its renewal. This day is also called Thomas Sunday in remembrance of the miracle of Apostle Thomas’ belief.

Before the Vigil service, the clergy at all the churches of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery closed the altars’ Royal Gates. They stayed open during the Bright Week because Christ has risen from the dead thus opening the doors of the Heavenly Kingdom to each and every man. After this, the nuns resumed the reading of the unceasing Psalter interrupted on the Holy and Great Wednesday.

After the late Diving Liturgy, a procession with the cross walked along the Holy Kanavka with the singing of the Paschal troparion. This procession takes place every Sunday until the Leavetaking of Pascha.