Holy Cross Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-03-23
Bulletin Contents
Sunday March 16, 2025 - Veneration of the Holy Cross
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Saints and Feasts
Announcements
Parish Calendar
Online Donations

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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 March 16, 2025 - Veneration of the Holy Cross

     

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Sixth Tone

Angelic powers were above Thy tomb, and they that guarded Thee became as dead. And Mary stood by the grave seeking Thine immaculate Body. Thou hast despoiled Hades and wast not tried thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst grant us life. O Thou Who didst arise from the dead, Lord, glory be to Thee.

Apolytikion for Sun. of the Holy Cross in the First Tone

Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; grant Thou unto the faithful victory over adversaries. And by the power of Thy Cross do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Eighth Tone

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"

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 Plagal of the Second Tone © Holy Transfiguration Monastery
  • Apolytikion for Sun. of the Holy Cross in the First Tone © Holy Transfiguration Monastery
  • Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone © Narthex Press
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    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 of the Holy Cross
    The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-6

    BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek."

    Gospel Reading

    Sunday of the Holy Cross
    The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1

    The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

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    Wisdom of the Fathers

    The key to knowledge is the humility of Christ. The door of the Kingdom of Heaven is open, not to those who only know in their learned minds the mysteries of faith and the commandments of their Creator, but to those who have progressed far enough to live by them.
    St. Bede the Venerable
    Unknown, 8th century

    To deny oneself means to give up one's bad habits; to root out of the heart all that ties us to the world; not to cherish bad thoughts and desires; to suppress every evil thought; to avoid occasions of sin; not to desire or to do anything out of self-love, but to do everything out of love for God. To deny oneself, according to St. Paul means "to be dead to sin. . . but alive to God."
    St. Innocent of Alaska
    The Lenten Spring, SVS Press, p. 147, 19th Century

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    Saints and Feasts

    March 23

    Sunday of the Holy Cross

    With the help of God, we have almost reached the middle of the course of the Fast, where our strength has been worn down through abstinence, and the full difficulty of the labour set before us becomes apparent. Therefore our holy Mother, the Church of Christ, now brings to our help the all-holy Cross, the joy of the world, the strength of the faithful, the staff of the just, and the hope of sinners, so that by venerating it reverently, we might receive strength and grace to complete the divine struggle of the Fast.

    March 23

    The Holy Righteous Martyr Nicon and His 199 Disciples

    Saint Nicon was from Neapolis (Naples) in Italy. His father was an idolater and his mother a Christian. At first he was a soldier, but later he went to the East, where he was baptized and in time became a bishop. After some years, he returned to the West and came to Sicily, where he and many of his disciples were put to death by beheading because they would not worship the idols.

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    Announcements

    Thank You Fr. Steven

    We would like to thank Fr. Steven for cominga nd serving the Divine Liturgy with us today!


    Mid-Lent

    Next Wednesday is the halfway point of the Great Lent. This day is comerated as "Mid-Lent". The Church marks this special day as a great reminder to us the humility that is required of us to truly particpate in the Great Lent. let us keep our eyes towrds Christ and continue to even more strive to imitate Him in his humility. Thank you Lord for allowing to make it this far!

    "Give thanks, brethren, to divine mercy for allowing you to successfully reach the middle of the Forty Days Fast. But only they can worthily give thanks who have thus far striven to live as they were taught at the beginning of the Forty Days Fast—that is, those who have striven to ask for the remission of their sins by daily fasting, alms, and church attendance. But as for those who have neglected all this—that is, who have not fasted daily, not given alms, and not earnestly prayed, or prayed without heartfelt compunction—they should not rejoice, but lament and weep." - St. Ambrose of Milan. 


    Lenten Worship

    During the Great Lent, the worship of the Church shifts. Services become a little longer, a little different in tone. This is to pull our souls to God. The Lenten Worship of the Church is only experienced Monday through Friday, and if we do not come to Church during the week, we will never really experience the Great Lent. Why Monday through Friday? It is only the weekdays of Great Lent that are "lenten". Every Sunday throughout the year is a Feast day! Every Sunday is a little Pascha and we proclaim and experience the Resurrection of our Lord. Every Saturday is the Sabbath. On the 7th day God rested after creating the world, on the 7th day Christ rests in the tomb. You may notice on your calendar, that this shift in the tone on the weekends is even expressed in our fasting. During the weekends of Great Lent we only strictly fast on weekdays. With the joy we experience of the weekend Resurrectional services, we lessen the fast and partake of wine and oil that "gladdens man's heart" as the Psalm says. It is because of this "little Pascha" we celebrate every Sunday that the focus of our Sunday worship is fully on the Resurrection and not Lenten.


    Great Lent

    "When a man leaves on a journey, he must know where he is going. Thus with Lent. Above all, Lent is a spiritual journey and its destination is Easter, 'The Feast of Feasts.' It is the preparation for the 'Fulfilment of Pascha, the true Revelation.' We must therefore by trying to understand this connection between Lent and Easter, for it reveals something very essential, very crucial about our Christian faith and life." - Fr. Alexander Schememann, Great Lent

    Though for some of us Lent may seem like a time full of rules and regulations, it is much more. It is our communal journey to the Resurrection. The "rules" have no meaning in and of themselves. Everything we do in the Great Lent is preparation for approaching the Holy resurrection of Christ our God. Fast as well as you can. When you fail at fasting, may it be a reminder of our weakness and the strength that exists in Christ. When we complete the fast, may we acknowledge the Grace of God that has allowed us to do so, and not fall into our own pride. 

    Fasting and prayer rules are not meant to be self-prescribed. Dispensation from fasting or altering of the fasting plans and our prayer rules must be done in conjunction with and the blessing of our spiritual father. If anyone has any questions on fasting, prayer, or anything in our journey of Lent, please speak with Fr. Spyridon.


    Pan-Orthodox Lenten Vespers

    During Great Lent, our parish will be participating along with the other parish belonging to the Eastern Orthodox Clergy Association of Greater Youngstown. During Great Lent, there will be a Sunday Lenten Vespers held at a different area parish that will be attended by the faithful of Greater Youngstown and served by the clergy of the various Orthodox Dioceses. 

    Lenten Vespers 3/23/25

    5 pm Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church

    2053 North Rd NE Warren, OH 44483

    Lenten Vespers 3/30/25

    5 pm Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church

    429 High St NE Warren, OH 44481

    Lenten Vespers

    5 pm Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

    220 N. Walnut St Youngstown, OH 44503


    Use of Parish Facilities

    Please be aware that any use of any parish facilities must have the blessing of Fr. Spyridon. As the Bylaws of the ROEA remind us, "Nothing may take place in the parish without the blessing of the parish priest." Please note that this includes any and all events, rentals, choir rehearsals, or anything that takes place at the parish. No one besides the parish priest is able to authorize the use of parish facilities and property. Please be aware that the parish council, parish council members, and parish council president are unable to authorize the use of parish facilities and property. 


    Bible Study

    Every Wednesday at 6 pm, our parish has Bible study! During Great Lent, we will serve the Presanctified Liturgy and have a potluck and bible study following. 

    Please come, and bring your friends!


    Prayer List

    Please keep the following in your prayers:

    Living:

    • Mary Ann 
    • Helen
    • JaBree & the child to be born of her

    Departed: 


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    Parish Calendar

    • Calendar

      March 23 to April 6, 2025

      Sunday, March 23

      10:00AM Divine Liturgy

      5:00PM Lenten Vespers *St. Nicholas Warren*

      Tuesday, March 25

      🐟 Annunciation

      7:00PM Saint Emmelia

      Wednesday, March 26

      10:00AM Matins

      6:00PM Presanctified Liturgy

      7:00PM Bible Study

      Thursday, March 27

      10:00AM Matins

      Friday, March 28

      10:00AM Presanctified Liturgy - Holy Transfiguartion Ellwood City

      Saturday, March 29

      6:00PM Great Vespers

      Sunday, March 30

      9:00AM Matins

      10:00AM Divine Liturgy

      5:00PM Lenten Vespers *St. Demetrios Warren*

      Tuesday, April 1

      10:00AM Matins

      Wednesday, April 2

      10:00AM Matins

      6:00PM Presanctified Liturgy

      Thursday, April 3

      10:00AM Matins

      Friday, April 4

      10:00AM Presanctified Liturgy

      7:00PM Holy Unction @ St. Andrew's

      Saturday, April 5

      6:00PM Great Vespers

      Sunday, April 6

      9:00AM Matins

      10:00AM Divine Liturgy

      5:00PM Lenten Vespers *St. Nicholas Youngstown*

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    Online Donations

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