Holy Cross Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-04-06
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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.Mary of Egypt

     

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Eighth Tone

From on high didst Thou descend, O Compassionate One; to burial of three days hast Thou submitted that Thou mightest free us from our passions. O our Life and Resurrection, Lord, glory be to Thee.

Apolytikion for Sun. of St. Mary of Egypt in the Eighth Tone

In thee the image was preserved with exactness, O Mother; for taking up thy cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to overlook the flesh, for it passeth away, but to attend to the soul since it is immortal. Wherefore, O righteous Mary, thy spirit rejoiceth with the Angels.

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.

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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

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:11-14

BRETHREN, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
The Reading is from Mark 10:32-45

At that time, Jesus took his twelve disciples, and he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant of James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."


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Wisdom of the Fathers

Before He humbled Himself, only the angels knew him. After He humbled Himself, all human nature knew Him. You see how His humbling of Himself did not make Him have less but produced countless benefits, countless deeds of virtue, and made His glory shine forth with greater brightness? God wants for nothing and has need of nothing. Yet, when He humbled Himself, He produced such great good, increased His household, and extended His kingdom. Why, then, are you afraid that you will become less if you humble yourself?
St. John Chrysostom
On the Incomprehensible Nature of God. 8.46-47. Taken from: Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Vol: Mark. Intervarsity Press, 2005, p. 143.

But let no man be troubled at the apostles being in such an imperfect state. For not yet was the cross accomplished, not yet the grace of the Spirit given. But if thou wouldest learn their virtue, notice them after these things, and thou wilt see them superior to every passion.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 65 on Matthew 20, 2,3,4,6. B#54, pp.399-401,403., 4th Century

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Saints and Feasts

April 06

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt

The memory of this Saint is celebrated on April 1, where her life is recorded. Since the end of the holy Forty Days is drawing nigh, it has been appointed for this day also, so that if we think it hard to practice a little abstinence forty days, we might be roused by the heroism of her who fasted in the wilderness forty-seven years; and also that the great loving-kindness of God, and His readiness to receive the repentant, might be demonstrated in very deed.


April 06

Eutychius, Patriarch of Constantinople

Born in Theia Kome of Phrygia, Eutychius was the son of illustrious parents, from whom he received a pious upbringing. He studied in Constantinople, and became a monk in a certain monastery of Amasia. In 552 he was chosen Patriarch of New Rome, but was exiled in 565 as a result of the machinations of the Origenists. In 577 he was restored to his throne and reposed on April 6, 582.


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Announcements

Big Thank You - Baby Shower

Thank you so much for all the donations that we have recived for Williow in honor of the Annunciation! All of the donations will go to help mothers and children right here in our own community!


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. See the Holy Week Schedule for more times.

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


Bible Study and St. Emmeliea

There will be no Bible Study or St. Emmeliea until after bright week.


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 4/6/25

5 pm Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

220 N. Walnut St Youngstown, OH 44503


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

    April 6 to April 20, 2025

    Sunday, April 6

    9:00AM Matins

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

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

    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

    Monday, April 14

    6:00PM Bridegroom Matins

    Tuesday, April 15

    6:00PM Bridegroom Matins

    Wednesday, April 16

    10:00AM Presanctified Liturgy

    6:00PM Holy Unction - Bishop Andrei

    Thursday, April 17

    10:00AM Vesperal Divine Liturgy - St. Basil

    6:00PM Matins of Passion Gospels

    Friday, April 18

    10:00AM Royal Hours

    6:00PM Vigil - Burial of the Lord & Lamentations

    Saturday, April 19

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy - St. John's ACROD

    11:30PM Midnight Office

    Sunday, April 20

    12:00AM Ressurection Service

    Pascha

    12:00PM Agape Vespers

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Online Donations

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