Holy Cross Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-08-17
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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 August 17, 2025 - Afterfeast of Dormition

     

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Tone

Although the stone was sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers guarded Your most pure body, You arose on the third day, O Savior, giving life to the world. For this reason, the heavenly powers cried out to you, O Giver of Life: Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Your kingdom! Glory to Your dispensation, only Lover of Mankind!

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Dormition in the First Tone

In giving birth, thou didst preserve thy virginity; in thy dormition, thou didst not forsake the world, O Theotokos. Thou wast translated unto life, since thou art the Mother of Life; and by thine intercessions dost thou redeem our souls from death.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Tone

Neither the grave nor death could contain the Theotokos, the unshakable hope, ever vigilant in intercession and protection. As Mother of life, He who dwelt in the ever-virginal womb transposed her to life.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Tenth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 21:1-14

At that time, Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and He revealed Himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas, called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish lying on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after He was raised from the dead. .


Epistle Reading

10th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 4:9-16

Brethren, God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off-scouring of all things. I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me.


Gospel Reading

10th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 17:14-23

At that time, a man came up to Jesus and kneeling before him said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him." And Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me." And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move hence to yonder place,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting." As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day."


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Wisdom of the Fathers

Here Christ is not speaking of that faith which believes in Him undoubtingly and knows Him to be true God, but of the faith (needed) to work miracles. If ye have faith, He said, so exceedingly warm and burning as a grain of mustard seed (for these are its qualities), and if it is believed without a doubt that ye will perform signs, then ye will receive such power, that if ye desire to move the very mountains, ye will move them.
St. John Chrysostom
The Gospel Commentary, edited by Hieromonk German Ciuba, 2002, 4th Century

For a man to have such faith appears simple, but it is, on the contrary, something very lofty, not easily attained by many. Such faith is born of boldness before God; but such boldness comes (only) from pleasing God. Beloved, great labour is needed to acquire, through pleasing God, such boldness before Him that one firmly believes that he will grant all that one asks; as it is written, Ask, and it shall be given to you.
St. John Chrysostom
The Gospel Commentary: edited by Hieromonk German Ciuba, 2002., 4th Century

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Saints and Feasts

August 17

10th Sunday of Matthew


August 17

Myron the Martyr of Cyzicus

Saint Myron was a priest during the reign of Decius, when Antipater was ruler of Achaia. On the day of our Lord's Nativity, Antipater entered the church to seize the Christians and punish them. Saint Myron, kindled with holy zeal, roundly insulted Antipater, for which he was hung up and scraped, then cast into a raging furnace, but was preserved unharmed. When Myron refused to worship the idols, Antipater commanded that strips be cut in the Saint's flesh from his shoulders to his feet; the Saint took one of the strips of his flesh and flung it in the tyrant's face. He was beaten, and scraped again upon his beaten flesh; then he was thrown to wild beasts, but when Antipater saw them leaving off their fierce nature and protecting the Saint from harm, he was overcome with unbearable shame and slew himself. The Saint was then sent to Cyzicus, where the proconsul had him beheaded, about the year 250.


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Announcements

Pastoral Meetings

Please do not hesitate to contact Fr. Spyridon with any pastoral issues that you may have. For scheduling meetings, it is best to contact Father through text or email. If you call Father and he is unable to pick up, please leave a voicemail. 

Things to contact Father about:

  • Illness and or injury
  • Spiritual direction
  • Theological and moral issues
  • Anything that you could use guidance, prayer, and support with

Holy Cross Banquet

In celebration of our patronal feast, Exaltation of the Holy Cross, we will be hosting a festive banquet. As the Great Feast of the Exalation of the Holy Cross is a fast day, we will have the banquet in its celebration on Sunday, September 7th, following the Divine Liturgy, in anticipation of our Parish Feast. Please see the sign-up sheet located on the candle stand. 


Orthodoxy 101

Today after Liturgy

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, August 27th 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
  • Rick
  • Linda

Departed: 

 


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Parish Calendar

  • Calendar

    August 17 to August 31, 2025

    Sunday, August 17

    9:00AM Matins

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    12:00PM Orthodoxy 101

    Monday, August 18

    7:00PM Parish Council Meeting

    Wednesday, August 20

    6:00PM Bible Study

    Thursday, August 21

    10:00AM Car inspection at flynns

    5:00PM Choir rehearsal

    Saturday, August 23

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, August 24

    9:00AM Matins

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    Tuesday, August 26

    7:00PM Saint Emmelia

    Wednesday, August 27

    6:00PM Bible Study

    Saturday, August 30

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, August 31

    9:00AM Matins

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

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Online Donations

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