Holy Cross Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2024-08-18
Bulletin Contents
Sunday August 18, 2024
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Saints and Feasts
Announcements
Parish Calendar

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Holy Cross Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • 724-346-9937
  • Street Address:

  • 950 Maple Dr

  • Hermitage, PA 16148-2333

Contact Information

The Most Rev. NATHANIEL
Archbishop


Right. Rev. ANDREI
Vicar Bishop


Rev. Father Spyridon Ickes
Parish Priest

[email protected] | 216-372-6217

Services Schedule

Wednesdays: Daily Vespers 6 pm; Bible Study after

Saturdays: Great Vespers 6 pm; Confessions heard after

Sundays: Matins 9 am, Divine Liturgy 10 am

 

Past Bulletins


Sunday August 18, 2024

     

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Seventh Tone

Thou didst abolish death by Thy Cross; Thou didst open Paradise to the thief; Thou didst transform the myrrh-bearers' lamentation, and didst bid Thine Apostles to preach that Thou art risen, O Christ God, granting great mercy to the world.
You destroyed death by Your Cross, You opened Paradise to the Robber. You turned the Myrrh-bearing Women’s lament into joy, and You commanded Your Apostles to preach that You rose, O Christ God, granting the world the great mercy.

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Dormition in the First Tone

In giving birth, thou didst preserve thy virginity; in thy dormition, thou didst not forsake the world, O Theotokos. Thou wast translated unto life, since thou art the Mother of Life; and by thine intercessions dost thou redeem our souls from death.
You gave birth yet preserved your virginity. You fell asleep in death yet did not desert the world, O Theotokos. You were transported to life, as you are Mother of Life and, by virtue of your intercessions, deliver our souls from death.

The translations of hymns are under copyright and used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on other websites or in any other form, without the prior written authorization of the copyright holder:

  • Resurrectional Apolytikion in Grave Tone © Holy Transfiguration Monastery
  • Resurrectional Apolytikion in Grave Tone © Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - Fr. Serphim Dedes
  • Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Dormition in the First Tone © Holy Transfiguration Monastery
  • Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Dormition in the First Tone © Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
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    Gospel and Epistle Readings

    Matins Gospel Reading

    Eighth Orthros Gospel
    The Reading is from John 20:11-18

    At that time, Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb, and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus has lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni," which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, "Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God." Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and she told them that He had said these things to her.

    Epistle Reading

    8th Sunday of Matthew
    The Reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 1:10-17

    Brethren, I appeal to you by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brethren. What I mean is that each one of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispos and Gaius; lest any one should say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any one else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

    Gospel Reading

    8th Sunday of Matthew
    The Reading is from Matthew 14:14-22

    At that time, Jesus saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.

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    Wisdom of the Fathers

    And another thing too we learn, the self-restraint of the disciples which they practised in necessary things, and how little they accounted of food.
    St. John Chrysostom
    Homily 49 on Matthew 14, 4th Century

    For being twelve, they had five loaves only and two fishes; so secondary to them were the things of the body: so did they cling to the things spiritual only. And not even that little did they hold fast, but gave up even it when asked.
    St. John Chrysostom
    Homily 49 on Matthew 14, 4th Century

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    Saints and Feasts

    August 18

    8th Sunday of Matthew

    August 18

    Floros & Lauros the Monk-martyrs of Illyria

    These Martyrs were twin brothers, and stonemasons. After the martyrdom of their teachers Proclus and Maximus, they left Byzantium and came to the city of Ulpiana in Illyricum, where a certain Licinius hired them to build a temple for the idols. The wages he gave them, they distributed to the poor, and when the temple was built, Floros and Lauros gathered the paupers, and with their help put ropes about the necks of the idols, pulled them to the ground, and furnished the temple as a church. When Licinius learned of this, he had the paupers burned alive in a furnace. Floros and Lauros were tormented, then cast into a deep well, where they gave up their souls to the Lord. When their holy relics were recovered years later, they poured forth myrrh and worked many miracles; they were enshrined in Constantinople.

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    Announcements

    Memory Eternal

    With faith in Christ and hope in the resurrection, we announce the repose of one of our parishioners, Betty Pappus. Betty fell asleep in the Lord on the night of August 5th. Please keep Betty and her family in your prayers.


    Memorial Service for Betty

    Because many parishioners were unable to attend the funeral service for Betty Pappas, we will be offering a parastas for Betty at her grave on her 40th day after her death. We will meet at Saint John's Orthodox Cemetery on September 14th at 6 pm. We encourage all of our parishioners to come and pray for Betty. Please note that as this is a Saturday, we will be serving the Parastas in place of vespers. Saturday is the day marked in the weekly cycle for the departed as well as the 14th being our Parish Feast Day. I can not imagine a better time for us to get together as a parish and pray for one of our own.


    Bible Study

    Starting on September 11th, our parish will be offering a weekly bible study. Our bible study will start at 6 pm in the Church with prayer. Invite your friends!


    Lipstick

    Please avoid kissing the holy icons while wearing lipstick. The lipstick leaves a residue on the icons that can actually seep into the paint and permanently stain the icons. We also ask that you please remove your lipstick before partaking in communion. Wearing lipstick while taking communion results in the spoon and ultimately the body and blood of Christ being stained by the lipstick. 


    Pastoral Meetings by Appointment

    Father Spyridon is available by appointment to serve your pastoral needs. Please do not hesitate to contact him via email or phone to set up appointments.  


    Commemoration Slips

    You will now find commemoration slips at the candle stand. These slips are for people to be added to our parish prayer list. Names should be added of people who have recently fallen ill, pregnancies, newborns, or recently departed. If the person is not an Orthodox Christian, their name should be added only under the non-Orthodox spot. If there is someone you wish to have commemorated who departed this life more than 40 days ago, please give the name directly to Father and he will pray for them during Proskomedia. After filling out the commemoration slip, please place it in the small basket on the candle stand. The altar boys will collect them during Liturgy so that they can be added to our prayers.


    Family Prayer Lists

    Before the Divine Liturgy, the priest prays for the people. To assist with this, we ask that all parishioners create a list of living family members and a list of departed family members to be commemorated before the Divine Liturgy. Please note all names on the list must be Orthodox Christians.


    Prayer List

    Please keep the following in your prayers:

    Living:

    • Psa. Sarah and the child to be born of her
    • Newborn Infant Susanna
    • Mary Ann
    • Virginia 
    • Helen
    • Janet

    Departed:

    • Betty

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    Parish Calendar

    • Calendar

      August 18 to September 2, 2024

      Sunday, August 18

      9:00AM Matins

      10:00AM Divine Liturgy

      Saturday, August 24

      6:00PM Great Vespers

      Sunday, August 25

      9:00AM Matins

      10:00AM Divine Liturgy

      Saturday, August 31

      6:00PM Great Vespers

      Sunday, September 1

      Ecclesiastical New Year

      9:00AM Matins

      10:00AM Divine Liturgy

      Monday, September 2

      Office Closed - Labor Day

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