Holy Cross Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-06-29
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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 June 29, 2025 - Saints Peter & Paul

     

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Tone

When Thou didst descend unto death, O Life Immortal, then didst Thou slay Hades with the lightning of Thy Divinity. And when Thou didst also raise the dead out of the nethermost depths, all the powers in the Heavens cried out: O Life-giver, Christ our God, glory be to Thee.

Apolytikion for Apostles Peter and Paul in the Fourth Tone

O Foremost of the Apostles and teachers of the world, intercede ye with the Master of all that He grant peace to the world and great mercy to our souls.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Tone

O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Third Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:9-20

When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. After this He appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table and He upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw Him after He had risen. And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."

So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.


Epistle Reading

Peter and Paul, the Holy Apostles
The Reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 11:21-33; 12:1-9

Brethren, whatever anyone dares to boast of -- I am speaking as a fool -- I also dare to boast of that. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one -- I am talking like a madman -- with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brethren; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for ever, knows that I do not lie. At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me, but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped his hands.

I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows -- and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.


Gospel Reading

Peter and Paul, the Holy Apostles
The Reading is from Matthew 16:13-19

At that time, when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."


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Wisdom of the Fathers

We must admire not only the inner meaning of all the things that are celebrated in the Church of the Orthodox Christians, but also the sacramental actions through which this meaning is expressed: how through divine baptism we become sons of God by grace, though we have done nothing before this, and do nothing after except keep the commandments; and how these awesome mysteries - I refer to holy baptism and holy communion - cannot take place without the priesthood, as Saint John Chrysostom says. Here, too, we see the significance of the power given to Saint Peter, chief of the apostles; for if the gates of the kingdom of heaven are not opened by priestly action, no one can enter (cf. Matt. 16:19). As the Lord says: 'Unless a man is born of water and Spirit...' (John 3:5); and again: 'Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you' (John 6:53).
St. Peter of Damaskos
Book 1: A Treasury of Divine Knowledge, Philokalia Vol. 3 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pgs. 208-209, 8th century

What then saith the mouth of the apostles, Peter, the ever fervent, the leader of the apostolic choir? When all are asked, he answers ... "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 54 on Matthew 16, 4th Century

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Saints and Feasts

June 29

Peter and Paul, the Holy Apostles

The divinely-blessed Peter was from Bethsaida of Galilee. He was the son of Jonas and the brother of Andrew the First-called. He was a fisherman by trade, unlearned and poor, and was called Simon; later he was renamed Peter by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who looked at him and said, "Thou art Simon the son of Jonas; thou shalt be called Cephas (which is by interpretation, Peter)" (John 1:42). On being raised by the Lord to the dignity of an Apostle and becoming inseparable from Him as His zealous disciple, he followed Him from the beginning of His preaching of salvation up until the very Passion, when, in the court of Caiaphas the high priest, he denied Him thrice because of his fear of the Jews and of the danger at hand. But again, after many bitter tears, he received complete forgiveness of his transgression. After the Resurrection of Christ and the descent of the Holy Spirit, he preached in Judea, Antioch, and certain parts of Asia, and finally came to Rome, where he was crucified upside down by Nero, and thus he ascended to the eternal habitations about the year 66 or 68, leaving two Catholic Epistles to the Church of Christ.


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Announcements

Father Spyridon Out of Office

During parts of July, Father Spyridon will be out of the office. Father will be traveling to Phoenix to represent our parish in the All-American Council. The All-American Council happens every few years and gathers all of the clergy of the Orthodox Church in America. It is very similar to our diocese's Episcopate Congress, but for the entire OCA (which our diocese is a part of). Father will also be serving at our Diocese summer camp, Camp Vatra. As always, when Father is out of the office, he continues to work remotely, taking care of parish needs. Please do not hesitate to call Father when you need him. 


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. 


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 Tuesday, July 9th 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: 

  • Mary

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Parish Calendar

  • Calendar

    June 29 to July 13, 2025

    Sunday, June 29

    9:00AM Matins

    9:00AM Sts. Peter & Paul Fast Ends

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    Monday, June 30

    7:00PM Parish council meeting

    Wednesday, July 2

    6:00PM Bible Study

    Saturday, July 5

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, July 6

    9:00AM Matins

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    Tuesday, July 8

    7:00PM Saint Emmelia

    Wednesday, July 9

    6:00PM Bible Study

    Saturday, July 12

    9:00AM Baptism Logan Baylor

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, July 13

    9:00AM Matins

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

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Online Donations

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