Holy Cross Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-06-08
Bulletin Contents
Sunday June 8, 2025 - Holy Pentecost
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Saints and Feasts
Announcements
Parish Calendar
Online Donations

Organization Icon
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 June 8, 2025 - Holy Pentecost

     

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Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion for Pentecost in the Eighth Tone

Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast shown forth the fishermen as supremely wise by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, and through them didst draw the world into Thy net. O Befriender of man, glory be to Thee.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Eighth Tone

Once, when He descended and confounded the tongues, the Most High divided the nations; and when He divided the tongues of fire, He called all men into unity; and with one accord we glorify the All-holy Spirit.

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:

  • Apolytikion for Pentecost in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone © Holy Transfiguration Monastery
  • Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone © Holy Transfiguration Monastery
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    Gospel and Epistle Readings

    Matins Gospel Reading

    Holy Pentecost
    The Reading is from John 20:19-23

    On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were gathered, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

    Epistle Reading

    Holy Pentecost
    The Reading is from Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11

    WHEN THE DAY of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were amazed and wondered, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontos and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God."

    Gospel Reading

    Holy Pentecost
    The Reading is from John 7:37-52; 8:12

    On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, "If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, 'Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.'" Now this he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

    When they heard these words, some of the people said, "This is really the prophet." Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the scripture said that the Christ is descended from David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

    The officers then went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why did you not bring him?" The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this man!" The Pharisees answered them, "Are you led astray, you also? Have any of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, who do not know the law, are accursed." Nikodemos, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?" They replied, "Are you from Galilee too? Search and you will see that no prophet is to rise from Galilee." Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

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    Wisdom of the Fathers

    For as thirsty men, when they have taken a bowl, eagerly drain it and then desist, so too they who hear the divine oracles if they receive them thirsting, will never be weary until they have drunk them up. For to show that men ought ever to thirst and hunger, "Blessed," It said, "are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness" (Matt.5:6)
    St. John Chrysostom
    Homily 51 on John 7, 4th Century

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    Saints and Feasts

    June 08

    Holy Pentecost

    After the Saviour's Ascension into the Heavens, the eleven Apostles and the rest of His disciples, the God-loving women who followed after Him from the beginning, His Mother, the most holy Virgin Mary, and His brethren-all together about 120 souls returned from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem. Entering into the house where they gathered, they went into the upper room, and there they persevered in prayer and supplication, awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit, as their Divine Teacher had promised them. In the meanwhile, they chose Matthias, who was elected to take the place of Judas among the Apostles.

    Thus, on this day, the seventh Sunday of Pascha, the tenth day after the Ascension and the fiftieth day after Pascha, at the third hour of the day from the rising of the sun, there suddenly came a sound from Heaven, as when a mighty wind blows, and it filled the whole house where the Apostles and the rest with them were gathered. Immediately after the sound, there appeared tongues of fire that divided and rested upon the head of each one. Filled with the Spirit, all those present began speaking not in their native tongue, but in other tongues and dialects, as the Holy Spirit instructed them.

    All foods allowed during the week following Pentecost.

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    Announcements

    Orthodoxy 101

    Ever wanted to learn more about your faith?

    On the third Sunday of every month, our parish will be offering an "Orthodoxy 101" class. These classes are designed to help us deepen our understanding of the Orthodox faith. 

    How is this different from Bible Study?

    Great question. In our Bible Study, we work our way through different books of the Holy Scriptures. We discuss in detail the particular passages and how they help us understand how God reveals Himself to us. In Orthodoxy 101, we will discuss more broadly the Orthodox Church, her traditions, and how developing a better understanding of the Church helps us draw nearer to Christ.

    Who is this for?

    If you are reading this, then Orthodoxy 101 is for you. Though Orthodoxy 101 is especially helpful for inquirers and catechumens, all of us have so much more to learn. 


    ROEA & OCA

    Lately, we have received many questions about the relationship between the ROEA and the OCA. Our parish is under the jurisdiction of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America (ROEA). The ROEA is a diocese under the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). Our bishops are members of the Holy Synod of the OCA, and all parishes of the ROEA are a part of the OCA. This agreement that placed the ROEA under the OCA took place on December 17th, 1970, after being agreed upon by the ROEA congress and the hierarchs of the ROEA and OCA.  From December 17th, 1970 forward, all parishes of the ROEA became part of the OCA. 

    This decision was made for several reasons, including the preservation of the canonical status of the ROEA, which was threatened by a break in communication between the ROEA and the Church of Romania, suffering under the communist regime. Most importantly, the decision of the ROEA to join the OCA was to promote and further the development of a single autocephalous Church in North America. Let us follow in this tradition of our holy diocese and continue to pray and work for the unity of the American Orthodox Church

    This agreement between the ROEA and the OCA is published in the ROEA website and hard copies are available for anyone who would like one. 


    House Blessings

    Due to the many illnesses that passed through our parish this winter and early spring, there was a major disturbance to the house blessing schedule. If you have not yet had your house blessed, we extend a sincere apology for any delay and ask for your understanding, as we tried our best not to spread the illness. Please contact Fr. Spyridon to schedule your house blessing!


    Charity of Caring

    Many thanks to all who contributed to our collection for the City Rescue Mission. As part of their Matching Challenge for this month, our donation will be doubled!

    Over these next several months, we will be collecting to help support summer feeding programs for children administered by the Mercer County Food Bank. Hunger doesn't go away because school is out for the summer. 

    The labeled collection baskets for our donation id located in the back of the church and at the coffee hour table. 


    Bible Study and St. Emmeliea

    Bible Study every Wednesday at 6 pm. We are currently studying Genesis. 

    St. Emmeliea 7 pm on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. Please see Psa. Sarah, for additional information. 

    Next St. Emmeliea is this Tuesday, June 10th at 7 pm


    Prayer List

    Please keep the following in your prayers:

    Living:

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

    Departed: 

     


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    Parish Calendar

    • Calendar

      June 8 to June 22, 2025

      Sunday, June 8

      Holy Pentecost

      9:00AM Matins

      10:00AM Divine Liturgy

      11:00AM Kneeling Vespers

      Monday, June 9

      Hall Rental

      Tuesday, June 10

      7:00PM Saint Emmelia

      Wednesday, June 11

      6:00PM Bible Study

      Saturday, June 14

      6:00PM Great Vespers

      Sunday, June 15

      The Sunday of All Saints

      9:00AM Matins

      10:00AM Divine Liturgy

      Monday, June 16

      Sts. Peter & Paul Fast Starts

      Wednesday, June 18

      6:00PM Bible Study

      Saturday, June 21

      6:00PM Great Vespers

      Sunday, June 22

      All Saints of North America

      9:00AM Matins

      10:00AM Divine Liturgy

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    Online Donations

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