Holy Cross Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-03-30
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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 March 30, 2025 - St. John of the Ladder

     

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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.

Apolytikion for Sun. of St. John Climacus in the Eighth Tone

With the streams of thy tears, thou didst cultivate the barrenness of the desert; and by thy sighings from the depths,thou didst bear fruit a hundredfold in labours; and thou becamest a luminary, shining with miracles upon the world, O John our righteous Father. Intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

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.

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!"
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Seventh Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:1-10

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him." Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying and the napkin, which had been on His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that He must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.


Epistle Reading

Sunday of St. John Climacus
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 6:13-20

BRETHREN, when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. John Climacus
The Reading is from Mark 9:17-31

At that time, a man came to Jesus kneeling and saying: "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again." And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise."


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Wisdom of the Fathers

Seest thou how He now proceeds to lay beforehand in them the foundation of His doctrine about fasting? ... See, at any rate, how many blessings spring from them both. For he that is praying as he ought, and fasting, hath not many wants, and he that hath not many wants, cannot be covetous; ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 57 on Matthew 17,4,5. B#54, pp.355,356., 4th Century

... he that is not covetous, will be also more disposed for almsgiving. He that fasts is light, and winged, and prays with wakefulness, and quenches his wicked lusts, and propitiates God, and humbles his soul when lifted up. Therefore even the apostles were almost always fasting.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 57 on Matthew 17,4,5. B#54, pp.355,356., 4th Century

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Saints and Feasts

March 30

Sunday of St. John Climacus

The memory of this Saint is celebrated on March 30, where his biography may be found. He is celebrated today because his book, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, is a sure guide to the ascetic life, written by a great man of prayer experienced in all forms of the monastic polity; it teaches the seeker after salvation how to lay a sound foundation for his struggles, how to detect and war against each of the passions, how to avoid the snares laid by the demons, and how to rise from the rudimental virtues to the heights of Godlike love and humility. It is held in such high esteem that it is universally read in its entirety in monasteries during the Great Fast.


March 30

John Climacus the Righteous, author of The Divine Ladder of Ascent

This Saint gave himself over to the ascetical life from his early youth. Experienced both in the solitary life of the hermit and in the communal life of cenobitic monasticism, he was appointed Abbot of the Monastery at Mount Sinai and wrote a book containing thirty homilies on virtue. Each homily deals with one virtue, and progressing from those that deal with holy and righteous activity (praxis) unto those that deal with divine vision (theoria), they raise a man up as though by means of steps unto the height of Heaven. For this cause his work is called "The Ladder of Divine Ascent." The day he was made Abbot of Sinai, the Prophet Moses was seen giving commands to those who served at table. Saint John reposed in 603, at eighty years of age. See also the Fourth Sunday of the Fast.


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Announcements

Confession Before Pascha

The Church expects and asks that all of her faithful go to Confession at least once during the four major fasting periods of the Church. The Great Lent is one of those! It is time that we prepare ourselves to come to Christ and ask His forgiveness. Confession does not have to be done during Holy Week. It is preferable that we go to confession prior to Holy Week so we can be prepared as best we can to participate in the events of Holy Week. Father is available after every Great Vespers and by appointment for confessions. 

No confessions will be able to be heard from Holy Wednesday Evening until after Pascha!


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 3/30/25

5 pm Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church

429 High St NE Warren, OH 44481

Lenten Vespers 4/6/25

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 30 to April 13, 2025

    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*

    Tuesday, April 8

    7:00PM Saint Emmelia

    Friday, April 11

    10:00AM Presanctified Liturgy

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    6:00PM Parastas

    Saturday, April 12

    Lazarus Saturday

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, April 13

    🐟 Palm Sunday

    9:00AM Matins

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    6:00PM Bridegroom Matins

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Online Donations

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