Holy Cross Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-01-05
Bulletin Contents

Organization Icon
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 January 5, 2024 - Forefeast of Theophany

     

BACK TO TOP

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Tone

Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm, He hath trampled upon death by death. The first-born of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us, and hath granted great mercy to the world.

Apolytikion for Eve of Epiphany in the Fourth Tone

River Jordan was turned back by Elisseus' mantle once, when the fiery man of zeal Elias had been taken up; then were its waters divided hither and thither. The running streams became dry passage unto him, truly as a sign and type of Baptism, whereby we pass to the other side of the shifting stream of this fleeting life. Christ hath appeared in the Jordan River, to sanctify the waters.

Apolytikion for the Church in the First Tone

O Lord save your people and bless your heritage. Grant victory to Orthodox Christians over the enemy, and preserve your people by your cross.

BACK TO TOP

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Sixth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:36-53

At that time, having risen from the dead, Jesus went up and stood among His disciples and said to them, "Peace be with you." But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; handle Me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave Him a piece of broiled fish [and some honeycomb], and He took it and ate before them. Then He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name in all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands, He blessed them. While He blessed them, He parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the Temple blessing God.


Epistle Reading

Sunday before Epiphany
The Reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 4:5-8

TIMOTHY, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.

For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.


Gospel Reading

Sunday before Epiphany
The Reading is from Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' John was baptizing in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."


BACK TO TOP

Wisdom of the Fathers

Repentance is the renewal of baptism and is a contract with God for a fresh start in life.
St. John Climacus
Ladder of Divine Ascent Step 5:On Penitence, Paulist Press pg. 121, 6th century

[Christ] is baptized not as Himself requiring purification but as making my purification His own, that He may break the heads of the dragons on the water, that He may wash away sin and bury all the old Adam in water, that He may sanctify the Baptist, that He may fulfill the Law, that He may reveal the mystery of the Trinity, that He may become the type and example to us of baptism. But we, too, are baptized in the perfect baptism of our Lord, the baptism by water and the Spirit.
St. John of Damascus
An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, Book 4: Chapter 9; Eerdmans pg. 79, 8th century

BACK TO TOP

Saints and Feasts

January 06

The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

About the beginning of our Lord's thirtieth year, John the Forerunner, who was some six months older than Our Saviour according to the flesh, and had lived in the wilderness since his childhood, received a command from God and came into the parts of the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins. Then our Saviour also came from Galilee to the Jordan, and sought and received baptism though He was the Master and John was but a servant. Whereupon, there came to pass those marvellous deeds, great and beyond nature: the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove upon Him that was being baptized and the voice was heard from the Heavens hearing witness that this was the beloved Son of God, now baptized as a man (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:1-22). From these events the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and the great mystery of the Trinity were demonstrated. It is also from this that the present feast is called "Theophany," that is, the divine manifestation, God's appearance among men. On this venerable day the sacred mystery of Christian baptism was inaugurated; henceforth also began the saving preaching of the Kingdom of the Heavens.


BACK TO TOP

Announcements

Many Years, O Master!

The Holy Cross Parish community extends a great thank you to His Grace Bishop Andrei for coming and visiting us! We are thankful for the opportunity to pray with you and look forward to your next visit!


Parish Synod

Our annual parish synod will be held at the parish on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, February 2nd, 2025, following the Divine Liturgy. Please be in attendance if you can make it. 


Parish Growth!

By the grace of God, we continue to see our parish grow! Yesterday, January 4th, a new member, Nektaria Maria Ickes, was baptized in our parish by His Grace Bishop Andrei. Our parish has four catechumens right now and will soon be blessed to witness more baptisms! Continue to pray with us for the catechumens that the Lord our God will teach them the Word of His truth, and unite them to His holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. 


Saint John Dinner

Next Sunday, after the Divine Liturgy, we will have our annual Saint John Dinner. Please join us for a spread of traditional Romanian foods. Sign-up for attendance and help setting up for the banquet can be found on the candle stand. 


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.

 


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!


Prayer List

Please keep the following in your prayers:

Living:

  • Mary Ann 
  • Helen
  • Charles

Departed: 


BACK TO TOP

Parish Calendar

  • Calendar

    January 5 to January 19, 2025

    Sunday, January 5

    9:00AM Matins

    9:00AM Hierarchical Visit - Bishop Andrei

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:30AM Great Blessing of Water

    Monday, January 6

    Theophany

    Wednesday, January 8

    6:00PM Bible Study

    Saturday, January 11

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, January 12

    9:00AM Matins

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    Wednesday, January 15

    6:00PM Bible Study

    Saturday, January 18

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, January 19

    9:00AM Matins

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

BACK TO TOP

Online Donations

BACK TO TOP