Holy Cross Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2024-12-08
Bulletin Contents

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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








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 December 1, 2024 - Forefeast of the Conception of the Theotokos by St. Anna

     

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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.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Tone

On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, * Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; * with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a young Child Who * before the ages is God.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Second Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back - it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, He is not here; see the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him, as He told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.


Epistle Reading

24th Sunday after Pentecost
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 2:14-22

Brethren, Christ is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.


Gospel Reading

10th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 13:10-17

At that time, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity." And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day." Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?" As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.


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Wisdom of the Fathers

So great an evil is envy. For not against strangers only, but even against our own, is it ever warring.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 40 on Matthew 12, 4th Century

I am amazed that there are some who are extremely doubtful whether the holy Virgin should be called Mother of God or no. For if our Lord Jesus Christ is God, then surely the holy Virgin who gave him birth must be God's mother.
St. Cyril of Alexandria
Letter I to the Monks in Egypt. B#15, p. 252., 5th Century

Rightly do we, who have been saved through you, pure Virgin, confess that you are the Mother of God, extolling you with the angelic choirs. For God, whom men cannot see, on whom the ranks of angels do not dare to look, has through you become visible to men as the Logos made flesh. Glorifying Him with the heavenly hosts we proclaim you blessed. And what shall we call you, who are full of grace? Heaven, for you have made the Sun of Righteousness shine forth? Paradise, for you have put forth the flower of immortality? Virgin, for you have remained inviolate? Pure mother, for you have held in your embrace the God of all? Mother of God, you are the true vine, for you have born the fruit of life. We entreat you, intercede in your glory with the apostles and all the saints, that God may have mercy on our souls.
St. Peter of Damascus
(Book 1: A Treasury of Divine Knowledge, Philokalia Vol. 3 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pg. 130, 8th century

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Saints and Feasts

December 08

10th Sunday of Luke


December 08

Forefeast of the Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos


December 08

Patapios the Righteous of Thebes

This Saint was from the Thebaid of Egypt and struggled many years in the wilderness. He departed for Constantinople, and having performed many miracles and healings, he reposed in peace in a mountain cave on the Gulf of Corinth, where his holy relics are found incorrupt to the present day.


December 09

The Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos

According to the ancient tradition of the Church, since Saint Anna, the Ancestor of God, was barren, she and her husband Joachim remained without children until old age. Therefore, sorrowing over their childlessness, they besought God with a promise that, if He were to grant them the fruit of the womb, they would offer their offspring to Him as a gift. And God, hearkening to their supplication, informed them through an Angel concerning the birth of the Virgin. And thus, through God's promise, Anna conceived according to the laws of nature, and was deemed worthy to become the mother of the Mother of our Lord (see also Sept. 8).


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Announcements

Christmas Schedule

Our liturgical schedule for Christmas is as follows:

December 24th:

10 am Royal Hours and Vesperal Divine Liturgy

6 pm Great Vespers

December 25th: 

10 am Divine Liturgy


Thank You Holy Rollers!

A big thank you to everyone who has helped with pumpkin rolls! Thanks to you, we have completed another successful year of pumpkin rolls!


Online Donations

You can now donate to Holy Cross online; no account is needed! You will find a QR code at the candle stand and at the back of the bulletin. Simply scan this QR code with your phone's camera and you will be directed to our parish's secure and easy-to-use online giving page. You will also find the link for our online giving located on our parish website and parish Facebook page. 

Online donations will be processed by "Tithely", an online giving platform designed specifically to help parishes with online giving. Tithely provides a super secure and easy platform for our parish at no cost. When you make a donation through our online platform, you will immediately receive an email confirming your donation with a receipt. 

By using this online giving platform, you may pay using any credit or debit card, through your bank account, and even by using Apple Pay. You are able to give a one-time donation, or you can even schedule a recurring donation to cover your pledge. 

We thank you wholeheartedly for your continuing support of our parish!


Help Support our Liturgical Worship

By the Grace of God, our parish continues to grow, and we continue to be able to come and experience Christ through the liturgical services and the sacraments. Our parish is in need of support in purchasing items that we use in worship. If you are able, we would greatly appreciate donations to cover the cost of certain items:

Adult Baptismal Gown: $72

Chrismation Brush: $25

Wine: $165 a case

Incense: $55 in bulk

Altar Server Robes: $105 (3 more needed)

Altar Covers: Price to be determined. We could use red and blue

If you are interested in providing the funds to cover these items, please leave a memo with your donation stating what item you would like to donate. Thank you!


Bible Study

Every Wednesday, our parish has Bible study! We meet at 6 pm in the church for daily vespers, and then start our bible study right after. Please come, and bring your friends! We are currently studying the Gospel of Mark.


Prayer List

Please keep the following in your prayers:

Living:

  • Psa. Sarah
  • Infant Nektaria
  • Mary Ann 
  • Helen

Departed: 

  • Janet

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Parish Calendar

  • Calendar

    December 8 to December 22, 2024

    Sunday, December 8

    9:00AM Matins

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    Monday, December 9

    Conception of the Theotokos

    Wednesday, December 11

    6:00PM Bible Study

    Thursday, December 12

    Saint Spyridon

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    Saturday, December 14

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, December 15

    9:00AM Matins

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:30AM Parastas - Vasile

    Wednesday, December 18

    6:00PM Bible Study

    Friday, December 20

    Saint Ignatius of Antioch

    Saturday, December 21

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, December 22

    9:00AM Matins

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

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Online Donations

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