St. Andrew Church
Publish Date: 2025-09-14
Bulletin Contents

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St. Andrew Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (973) 584-0388
  • Fax:
  • (973) 584-3573
  • Street Address:

  • 1447 Sussex Turnpike

  • Randolph, NJ 07869-1830
  • Mailing Address:

  • 1447 Sussex Turnpike

  • Randolph, NJ 07869-1830


Contact Information








Services Schedule

On Sunday we celebrate

Orthros at 8:15 am & Divine Liturgy at 9:30am

Weekday Orthros and Liturgies begin at 8am 

 

 


Past Bulletins


Services at St. Andrew

Sunday 9/14
@8:15am Orthros @9:30am Divine Liturgy
+Exaltation Of The Holy Cross
1st DAY OF Sunday School -Students will attend the Divine Liturgy at 10am, receive Holy Communion, return to their pews for Agiasmo and then proceed to their class. 

   On Sunday,  September 14st  2025 at 1:00 pm, Bret Reyes and Elena Melekos will baptize their      son in the Orthodox Faith. The Godparents will be Lukas Anastassakis & Alexa Reyes

 

Sunday 9/21
@8:15am Orthros @9:30am Divine Liturgy
+ Sunday after Holy Cross
An Annual Memorial Service will be held for the repose of the soul of + Antonios and +Helen Stathis beloved parents of: George (Rosemary) Stathis, HopeMaglaras, Maria Kolyvas,  Jimmy (Sophia) Stathis, Michael Stathis, FayStathis,  and  Arietta (Peter) Bryn. 


Participation in services is also available via livestream - go to: Home | St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church (orthodoxws.com) and choose LIVESTREAM on the Menu bar 

Prayers/Liturgy can always be found at: https://www.agesinitiatives.com/dcs/public/dcs/dcs.html

Online Giving System: Website: https://www.standrewgonj.org/ and choose PayPal / online WeShare | Consider making your donations using our   New Abundant App

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Announcements

Coffee Hour Host ον Sunday 9/7 Daughters of Penelope

Bagels are donated by ALFA BAGELS Route 10 in Randolph, NJ

Coffee is donated by Aristotle Leontopoulos  Coffee Associates Edgewater NJ

 

September 14th  is the 1st day of Sunday School
Sunday School students will attend the Divine Liturgy at 10am, receive Holy Communion, return to their pews for Agiasmo and then proceed to their class. 

 If not a Greek School Family (HAS) please submit $30 for membership in our PTA.

Fillable  Registration Forms please send to Church office [email protected] 

GOYA Practice: Basketball & Volleyball
 
in the gym at 11:45am – 12:45pm
Last day to order merch with DEZINE

Hellenic Afternoon School 
Has begun: Call Church office concerning registration
 

 GREEK DANCE  Has begun: Call Church office concerning registration 
Group 1 @ 6:30pm | Group 2 @7:15 pm | GOYA  @8:00pm

 Please patronize & support our local businesses:  With the closures taking place on Route 80, many of our parishioners have been suffering with difficulties associated with the travel delays. Some of our parishioners have businesses that have been adversely affected as well. We ask that you keep these businesses and the families who own them in your prayers and also try to find ways to patronize them and give them your support.

click to view online calendar

Stewardship 
We ask you to continue supporting our ministries with your financial pledge and prayfully consider rounding up your giving to tithing as we did last year.  When we offer our treasure and ourselves sacrificially, as members of the Body of Christ, we will reach our full potential in Christ both personally and as a community.  To learn more about what this means, please visit: https://standrewgonj.org/stewardship/#round-u p or speak to a member of the Parish Council or the Stewardship Ministry.  If you are not already a member of Saint Andrew, please consider a pledge starting out at 1% of your income. In gratitude for God’s Blessings, please click on and fill in the  2025 Stewardship Pledge  Please complete and send it to the church office in January 2025

“In an effort to really get to know and understand each other and to bring our community closer together, we invite you to listen to testimonials from parishioners and people touched by our Faith. Let us love one another, “Αγαπήσομεν Αλλήλους", also by reflecting on our journeys together. We hope these testimonials are meaningful and uplifting for you."

Click here to listen to testimonial of Nicholas Tonini

Click here to listen to testimonial of Ervin Mile

Click here to listen to testimonial of Nikolaos Karkanias.

 If you would like to share your story with us, please contact our parish office.
Thank you and may God bless you.

HOPE & JOY is a Youth Group
for children in K-6th grades. 
We have great news!  Stala Jelis will be joining with Jenny Manis to organize this beautiful program.  Stala will plan the HOPE events (grades k-2) and Jenny will plan the JOY events (grades 3-6), but we will have plenty of events together where it makes sense.  We also look to the JOY children to help with some HOPE events as an opportunity to be of service to others. If your child is in 3rd grade, they can be in either group, but again, many events will be combined when appropriate.  Questions? please email us. [email protected] 

phishing / CON ARTISTS TEXTS/EMAILS :  Someone is sending out texts and emails asking for assistance and signing Fr John’s name. This is not Fr John’s  cell number or email address. His  cell number is 973-219-2941, his email is [email protected] .  Please report the text/email as junk and delete and block the sender. We contacted the FBI about this problem and was informed that they do not take a case like this. We hope no one is fooled by these criminals. Please tell your friends. Fr will never reach out to anyone asking for “assistance” in this way. Thank you for your patience and understanding. God Bless!

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Fr. John's Message

Archepiscopal Encyclical

 

Prot. No. 423/2025


Archepiscopal Encyclical for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross The Feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross


September 14, 2025


Unto the Most Reverend and Right Reverend Hierarchs, Pious Priests and Deacons, Monks and
Nuns, Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils, Honorable Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Members of Leadership 100, Day and Afternoon Schools, Philoptochos Societies, Youth, Greek Orthodox Organizations, and entirety of the Christ-named Plenitude of the Sacred Archdiocese of America:


Χαῖρε, Κριτοῦ δικαίου φανέρωσις…. (Ἀκάθιστος τοῦ Τιμίου Σταυροῦ, Ν)
Hail, Manifestation of the Righteous Judge…. (Akathist of the Holy Cross, N)


Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,


Today, we hail the Precious and Life-giving Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In many of
our parishes, the Akathist to the Holy Cross is chanted in overflowing praise. Like so many of our
magnificent liturgical texts, this Akathist contains glimpses and glimmers of the mystery of our salvation in Christ, which illumine our spiritual path and teach us the deep things of God.


It is not without purpose that our Theological School is named “Holy Cross,” because the Cross of
our Lord is one of the greatest teachers in the two thousand years of the Church. We have amazing and erudite Saints, like Basil and the Gregorys, whose writings endure through the ages, and who are studied intently at our Theological School. But the Holy Cross of our Lord teaches wordlessly. It teaches by example, and by sheer manifestation. Therefore, when we chant, “Hail, Manifestation of the Righteous Judge,” we come to the realization that the Lord, hanging upon the Cross, is being revealed to us as the Righteous Judge.


Let us all pause for a moment and consider the only truly innocent human being, put to death for
the sake of every other human being. It is an unfeigned “sign of contradiction,” as the Prophet Simeon the Elder said (Luke 2:34). For from the Cross, the Lord delivers no judgment of anyone — not his crucifiers, nor the ones who clamored for His destruction, nor those who ridiculed Him in His agony. The Lord, the Judge of the Universe, judged no one; rather, He gave His life for the life of the world with forgiveness.

 

Such is the lesson for each of us, then, as we praise the Holy Cross. To forgive, rather than condemn.
To love, rather than despise. These are the lessons that are at the core of our training of the good people studying at our beloved Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. Today, on their Feastday, let us remember this vital Institution of our Church and support its mission, as we apply ourselves to the lesson of the Cross, the greatest teacher of our souls.


With paternal love in Christ,

 

† ELPIDOPHOROS
Archbishop of America

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Daily Calendar

click to view online calendar

Coffee Hour Hosts in September9/14  DOP, 9/21 PTA,   9/28 Parish Council October: 10/5 Philoptochos

Monday 9/15
@7:30pm Parish Council Meeting rescheduled from 9/8

Tuesday 9/16
@7:30-9pm GOYA Volleyball

Wednesday 9/17
@11am Knitting Crochet & Pillow Ministry -  next on 9/24 @6pm
@6:30-9pm GOYA Basketball

Thursday 9/18
@4:30 HAS- Greek School Classes

1ST Day of Greek Dance @6:30PM & 7:15PM
@7pm Bible Study next
on 9/25

Sunday 9/21
@8:15am Orthros @9:30am Divine Liturgy +Sunday after the Holy Cross

Monday 9/22
@8 am +Orthros @9am Divine Liturgy +Phocas the Martyr, Bishop of Sinope *Relics

Tuesday 9/23
@8 am +Orthros @9am Divine Liturgy + Conception of John the Baptist
@6pm Stewardship Meeting /w Zoom w Christina Mehas
@7pm Philoptochos Meeting next 10/28
@7:30-9pm GOYA Volleyball

Wednesday 9/24
@6pm  Knitting Crochet & Pillow Ministry  - next on 10/1 @11am
@6:30-9pm GOYA Basketball

Thursday 9/25
@11:30am Agape Luncheon
next on 10/23
@4:30 HAS- Greek School Classes

Greek Dance @6:30PM & 7:15PM

@6:30pm GOYA Monthly Meeting  next on 10/23
@7pm Bible Study next on 10/3  

Friday 9/26
@8 am +Orthros @9am Divine Liturgy Falling Asleep of John, Theologian & Evangelist
GOYA Harvest Dance -  Kimisis in Homdel  @6:45 pm

Saturday 9/27
Faith Kitchen  - GOYA
@11am-6pm GYRO & SOUVLAKI FEST



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News - Flyers - Registrations - Other

     Encyclical

    Encyclical

    2025 Archiepiscopal Encyclical for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Greek


    Sunday School

    Sunday School

    September 14th is 1ST DAY OF SUNDAY SCHOOL: Sunday School students will attend the Divine Liturgy at 10am, receive Holy Communion, return to their pews for AGIASMO and then proceed to their class.


    Lord's Voice

    Lord's Voice

    FONI KYRIOU 9-14-25 in Greek


    Lord's voice

    Lord's voice

    Lord's Voice 9-14-25 English


    Car Raffle

    Car Raffle

    CAR RAFFLE TICKETS Please help us with postage and pick up your raffle tickets. Please sell your raffle tickets, mail, or bring in your money with the stubs to the office, and consider selling more tickets in front of the church. sign up genius https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4FADA829ABFBC07-56695719-roadside/19642185#/roadside/19642185#/


    Bible Study  Thusdays

    Bible Study Thusdays

    September 11, 18, 25 TBD, October 2, 9 TBD, 16, 23, 30 November 6 TBD, 13


    Backpack Blessing

    Backpack Blessing

    09-28-25


    Greek Language Class -adults

    Greek Language Class -adults

    MODERN GREEK LANGUAGE - BEGINNERS & INTERMEDIATE on Thursdays 7pm-9pm October 2 - December 11, 2025


    Taverna Night!

    Taverna Night!

    Saturday October 18, 2025


    Fashion Show

    Fashion Show

    Saturday Oct 11, 2025 11am


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Prayer List

Prayer for a Sick Person:

Heavenly Father, physician of our souls and bodies, who have sent Your only-begotten Son and our Lord Jesus Christ to heal every sickness and infirmity, visit and heal (me) Your servant from all physical and spiritual ailments through the grace of Your Christ. Grant (me) patience in this sickness, strength of body and spirit, and recovery of health.  Lord, You have taught us through Your word to pray for each other that we may be healed.  I pray that You heal (me) as Your servant and grant (me) the gift of complete health. For You are the source of healing and to You I give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

Please keep these names in your prayers

Eleni, Gladys, John, Gregory, Barbara, Sylvia, Amal Angelo, Helen, Michelle, Chrisdulla, Ennette, Eleni, Mary, Andreas, Sofia, Joseph, Kenneth, Vasilis, Judith, Catrina, Patricia, Eleni, Erica, Maria, Angeliki, Maria, Dimitrios, Irene, Reta, Eleni, Ioannis, Maria,  Nadia, George, Frosso, Kyriaki, Maria, Beatrice, Angeliki, Monica, Stephanie, Demetrios, Eleni, Alexandros, Alexandra, Juliana, Demetrios, Kathy, Michael, Maroulia, Areti, Niko, Dennis, Romeo, Anna, Demetrios, Cynthia, Irene, Jackellyn, Maria, Panagoula, Sophia, Michael, Andrew, Effie,  Hariklia, Mary, Konstantinos

If you would like us to remember you or your loved one in our prayers, please contact the office. 973-584-0388 or send us an email to [email protected]   

Names will be kept on this list for approximately three months. Please resubmit Names if needed.   Fr. John will pray for the Names above during the PROSKOMIDI “Offering of gifts” during the first part of the Divine Liturgy when our priest prepares the mystical gifts of bread and wine. Please keep these names in your prayers as well.

 

 

 

 

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross
The Reading is from John 12:28-36

The Lord said, "Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd standing by heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast out: and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." He said this to show by what death he was to die. The crowd answered him, "We have heard from the law that the Christ remains for ever. How can you say that the Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?" Jesus said to them, "The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light."

The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 12:28-36

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· Πάτερ, δόξασόν σου τὸ ὄνομα. ἦλθεν οὖν φωνὴ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ· καὶ ἐδόξασα καὶ πάλιν δοξάσω. ὁ οὖν ὄχλος ὁ ἑστὼς καὶ ἀκούσας ἔλεγε βροντὴν γεγονέναι· ἄλλοι ἔλεγον· ἄγγελος αὐτῷ λελάληκεν. ἀπεκρίθη ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν· οὐ δι᾽ ἐμὲ αὕτη ἡ φωνὴ γέγονεν, ἀλλὰ δι᾽ ὑμᾶς. νῦν κρίσις ἐστὶ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου, νῦν ὁ ἄρχων τοῦ κόσμου τούτου ἐκβληθήσεται ἔξω· κἀγὼ ἐὰν ὑψωθῶ ἐκ τῆς γῆς, πάντας ἑλκύσω πρὸς ἐμαυτόν. τοῦτο δὲ ἔλεγε σημαίνων ποίῳ θανάτῳ ἤμελλεν ἀποθνήσκειν. ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ ὁ ὄχλος· ἡμεῖς ἠκούσαμεν ἐκ τοῦ νόμου ὅτι ὁ Χριστὸς μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, καὶ πῶς σὺ λέγεις, δεῖ ὑψωθῆναι τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου; τίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου; εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· ἔτι μικρὸν χρόνον τὸ φῶς μεθ᾽ ὑμῶν ἐστι· περιπατεῖτε ἕως τὸ φῶς ἔχετε, ἵνα μὴ σκοτία ὑμᾶς καταλάβῃ· καὶ ὁ περιπατῶν ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ οὐκ οἶδε ποῦ ὑπάγει. ἕως τὸ φῶς ἔχετε, πιστεύετε εἰς τὸ φῶς, ἵνα υἱοὶ φωτὸς γένησθε.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 98.9,1.
Exalt the Lord our God.
Verse: The Lord reigns; let the people tremble.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 1:18-24.

Brethren, the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Προκείμενον. Grave Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 98.9,1.
Ὑψοῦτε Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν.
Στίχ. Ὁ Κύριος ἐβασίλευσεν, ὀργιζέσθωσαν λαοί.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 1:18-24.

Ἀδελφοί, ό λόγος γὰρ ὁ τοῦ σταυροῦ τοῖς μὲν ἀπολλυμένοις μωρία ἐστίν, τοῖς δὲ σῳζομένοις ἡμῖν δύναμις θεοῦ ἐστιν. Γέγραπται γάρ, Ἀπολῶ τὴν σοφίαν τῶν σοφῶν, καὶ τὴν σύνεσιν τῶν συνετῶν ἀθετήσω. Ποῦ σοφός; Ποῦ γραμματεύς; Ποῦ συζητητὴς τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου; Οὐχὶ ἐμὼρανεν ὁ θεὸς τὴν σοφίαν τοῦ κόσμου τούτου; Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ἔγνω ὁ κόσμος διὰ τῆς σοφίας τὸν θεόν, εὐδόκησεν ὁ θεὸς διὰ τῆς μωρίας τοῦ κηρύγματος σῶσαι τοὺς πιστεύοντας. Ἐπειδὴ καὶ Ἰουδαῖοι σημεῖον αἰτοῦσιν, καὶ Ἕλληνες σοφίαν ζητοῦσιν· ἡμεῖς δὲ κηρύσσομεν Χριστὸν ἐσταυρωμένον, Ἰουδαίοις μὲν σκάνδαλον, Ἕλλησιν δὲ μωρίαν· αὐτοῖς δὲ τοῖς κλητοῖς, Ἰουδαίοις τε καὶ Ἕλλησιν, Χριστὸν θεοῦ δύναμιν καὶ θεοῦ σοφίαν.


Gospel Reading

The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross
The Reading is from John 19:6-11, 13-20, 25-28, 30

At that time, when the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no crime in him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he has made himself the Son of God."

When Pilate heard these words, he was the more afraid; he entered the praetorium again and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore he who delivered me to you has the greater sin." When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called the Pavement, and in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!" They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross; it read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek.

But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. Then when Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished"; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 19:6-11, 13-20, 25-28, 30

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, συμβούιον ἐποίησαν οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ ὑπηρέται, ἐκραύγασαν λέγοντες· σταύρωσον σταύρωσον αὐτόν. λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Πιλᾶτος· λάβετε αὐτὸν ὑμεῖς καὶ σταυρώσατε· ἐγὼ γὰρ οὐχ εὑρίσκω ἐν αὐτῷ αἰτίαν. ἀπεκρίθησαν αὐτῷ οἱ ᾿Ιουδαῖοι· ἡμεῖς νόμον ἔχομεν, καὶ κατὰ τὸν νόμον ἡμῶν ὀφείλει ἀποθανεῖν, ὅτι ἑαυτὸν Θεοῦ υἱὸν ἐποίησεν. 

῞Οτε οὖν ἤκουσεν ὁ Πιλᾶτος τοῦτον τὸν λόγον, μᾶλλον ἐφοβήθη, καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸ πραιτώριον πάλιν καὶ λέγει τῷ ᾿Ιησοῦ· πόθεν εἶ σύ; ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἀπόκρισιν οὐκ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ. λέγει οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ Πιλᾶτος· ἐμοὶ οὐ λαλεῖς; οὐκ οἶδας ὅτι ἐξουσίαν ἔχω σταυρῶσαί σε καὶ ἐξουσίαν ἔχω ἀπολῦσαί σε; ἀπεκρίθη ᾿Ιησοῦς· οὐκ εἶχες ἐξουσίαν οὐδεμίαν κατ᾽ ἐμοῦ, εἰ μὴ ἦν σοι δεδομένον ἄνωθεν· διὰ τοῦτο ὁ παραδιδούς μέ σοι μείζονα ἁμαρτίαν ἔχει. ὁ οὖν Πιλᾶτος ἀκούσας τοῦτον τὸν λόγον ἤγαγεν ἔξω τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν, καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος εἰς τόπον λεγόμενον Λιθόστρωτον, ἑβραϊστὶ δὲ Γαββαθᾶ· 

ἦν δὲ παρασκευὴ τοῦ πάσχα, ὥρα δὲ ὡσεὶ ἕκτη· καὶ λέγει τοῖς ᾿Ιουδαίοις· ἴδε ὁ βασιλεὺς ὑμῶν. οἱ δὲ ἐκραύγασαν· ἆρον ἆρον, σταύρωσον αὐτόν. λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Πιλᾶτος· τὸν βασιλέα ὑμῶν σταυρώσω; ἀπεκρίθησαν οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς· οὐκ ἔχομεν βασιλέα εἰ μὴ Καίσαρα. τότε οὖν παρέδωκεν αὐτὸν αὐτοῖς ἵνα σταυρωθῇ. Παρέλαβον δὲ τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν καὶ ἤγαγον· καὶ βαστάζων τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ ἐξῆλθεν εἰς τὸν λεγόμενον κρανίου τόπον, ὃς λέγεται ἑβραϊστὶ Γολγοθᾶ, ὅπου αὐτὸν ἐσταύρωσαν, καὶ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἄλλους δύο ἐντεῦθεν καὶ ἐντεῦθεν, μέσον δὲ τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν. ἔγραψε δὲ καὶ τίτλον ὁ Πιλᾶτος καὶ ἔθηκεν ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ· ἦν δὲ γεγραμμένον· ᾿Ιησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖος ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων. τοῦτον οὖν τὸν τίτλον πολλοὶ ἀνέγνωσαν τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων, ὅτι ἐγγὺς ἦν τῆς πόλεως ὁ τόπος ὅπου ἐσταυρώθη ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· καὶ ἦν γεγραμμένον ῾Εβραϊστί, ῾Ελληνιστί, ῾Ρωμαϊστί. 

Οἱ μὲν οὖν στρατιῶται ταῦτα ἐποίησαν. εἱστήκεισαν δὲ παρὰ τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ ᾿Ιησοῦ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἡ ἀδελφὴ τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ, Μαρία ἡ τοῦ Κλωπᾶ καὶ Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνή. ᾿Ιησοῦς οὖν ἰδὼν τὴν μητέρα καὶ τὸν μαθητὴν παρεστῶτα ὃν ἠγάπα, λέγει τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ· γύναι, ἴδε ὁ υἱός σου. εἶτα λέγει τῷ μαθητῇ· ἰδοὺ ἡ μήτηρ σου. καὶ ἀπ᾽ ἐκείνης τῆς ὥρας ἔλαβεν ὁ μαθητὴς αὐτὴν εἰς τὰ ἴδια. Μετὰ τοῦτο εἰδὼς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ὅτι πάντα ἤδη τετέλεσται, ἵνα τελειωθῇ ἡ γραφή, λέγει· διψῶ. ὅτε οὖν ἔλαβε τὸ ὄξος ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπε, τετέλεσται, καὶ κλίνας τὴν κεφαλὴν παρέδωκε τὸ πνεῦμα.


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Saints and Feasts

September 14

The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross

Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine the Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole. Consequently, the precious Cross was lifted on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, "Lord have mercy." It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerable Cross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in the magnificent church built by Saint Helen, until the year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross to their own country (see Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Late, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constantinople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place.

Rest from labour. A Fast is observed today, whatever day of the week it may be.


September 14

The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross

Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine the Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole. Consequently, the precious Cross was lifted on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, "Lord have mercy." It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerable Cross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in the magnificent church built by Saint Helen, until the year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross to their own country (see Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Late, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constantinople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place.

Rest from labour. A Fast is observed today, whatever day of the week it may be.


September 14

Commemoration of the 6th Ecumenical Council


September 16

Euphemia the Great Martyr

Saint Euphemia was from Chalcedon and lived in virginity. According to some, she suffered martyrdom during the reign of Diocletian, in 303; according to others, in 307. Her sacred relics are preserved in the Patriarchate in Constantinople.


September 16

Ninian the Enlightener of Scotland

Saint Ninian was born in Cumberland in Britain around the year 360, about a half century after the Emperor Constantius Chlorus died in the British city of York, and his son Constantine, who was with him when he died, was proclaimed Emperor. Ninian was born of Christian parents of noble lineage, at a time when paganism was still strong in his native land. As a young man he went to Rome, where he spent many years in study and ascetical struggles. At Rome, Saint Ninian was consecrated some time after the death of Pope Damasus in 384, and was sent back to his native island about the end of the fourth century. On his return journey, it is likely that he passed through Tours and met Saint Martin; what is certain is that many churches and cells associated with Saint Ninian, including his own cathedral in Whithorn, were named in honour of Saint Martin. When Saint Ninian returned to Cumberland, he established monasteries that fostered both the life of prayer and missionary labours. By his preaching, his godly life, and his miracles, he ministered to his own countrymen, the Britons, and also converted many of the pagan Picts, who inhabited the northern regions (in today's Scotland). He reposed in peace at his see of Whithorn in Galloway in 432.

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Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion for Elevation of the Holy Cross in the First Mode

Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; grant Thou unto the faithful victory over adversaries. And by the power of Thy Cross do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth.
Σώσον Κύριε τόν λαόν σου καί ευλόγησον τήν κληρονομίαν σου, νίκας τοίς Βασιλεύσι κατά βαρβάρων δωρούμενος καί τό σόν φυλάττων διά τού Σταυρού σου πολίτευμα.

Apolytikion for the Church in the First Mode

Hymn of the Apostle Saint Andrew: As first called of the Apostles and brother of Peter the Preeminent, O Andrew, intercede with the Master of all to grant peace to the whole world, and great mercy to our souls.

Απολυτίκιο του Αποστόλου Ανδρέου: Ως των Αποσόλων πρωτόκλητος, και του κορυφαίου αυτάδελφος, τον Δεσπότην των όλων Ανδρέα ικέτευε, ειρήνην τη οικουμένη δωρήσασθαι, και ταις ψυχαίς ημών το μέγα έλεος

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

Lifted up on the Cross by Your free will, Christ God, grant mercies to the new commonwealth that bears Your name. Gladden our faithful rulers by Your power, giving them victories over their adversaries. May Your alliance be for them a weapon for peace, an invincible standard.
Ο υψωθείς εν τώ Σταυρώ εκουσίως, τή επωνύμω σου καινή πολιτεία, τούς οικτιρμούς σου δώρησαι, Χριστέ ο Θεός, Εύφρανον εν τή δυνάμει σου, τούς πιστούς Βασιλείς ημών, νίκας χορηγών αυτοίς, κατά τών πολεμίων, τήν συμμαχίαν έχοιεν τήν σήν, όπλον ειρήνης, αήττητον τρόπαιον.
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Wisdom of the Fathers

A MARVELOUS thing is longsuffering; it places the soul as in a quiet harbor, fleeing it from tossings and evil spirits. And this everywhere Christ hath taught us, but especially now, when He is judged, and dragged, and led about ....
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century

But why was it that Pilate made the enquiry not in their presence, but apart, having gone into the judgment hall? He suspected something great respecting Him.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century

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