Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Sixth Tone

Angelic powers were above Thy tomb, and they that guarded Thee became as dead. And Mary stood by the grave seeking Thine immaculate Body. Thou hast despoiled Hades and wast not tried thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst grant us life. O Thou Who didst arise from the dead, Lord, glory be to Thee.

ان القوات الملائكية ظهروا على قبرك الموقر والحراس صاروا كالاموات ومريم وقفت عند القبر طالبة جسدك الطاهر فسبيت الجحيم ولم تجرب منها وصادفت البتول مانحاً الحياة فيامن قام من الاموات يارب المجد لك.

Apolytikion for Forefeast of the Exaltation in the Second Tone

We offer Thee in mediation the life-giving Cross which, of Thy goodness, Thou hast given unto us, the unworthy, O Lord. Save Thy hierarchs and Thy flock, and grant Thou peace through the Theotokos, O only friend of man.

يا رب إننا نقدم إليك للإستشفاع صليب صلاحك المحيي الذي وهبته لنا نحن غير المستحقين فخلص الملوك ومدينتك متوسلين إليك لأجل والدة الإله يا محب البشر وحدك.

Apolytikion for Temple of the Resurrection in the Fourth Tone

Thou hast shown the earthly beauty of the holy tabernacle of Thy glory to be like unto the splendour of the heavenly firmament, O Lord. Strengthen it for ever and ever, and accept our prayers which we unceasingly offer therein unto Thee, through the Theotokos, O Thou Who art the Life and Resurrection of all.

كمثل بهاء الجلد العلوي أظهرت الجمال السفلي لمسكن مجدك الأقدس يا رب فثبته إلى دهر الداهرين وتقبل طلباتنا المقدمة لك فيه بغير فتور لأجل والدة الإله يا حياة الكل وقيامتهم.

Apolytikion for the Church in the Fourth Tone

As the deliverer of captives and defender of the poor, healer of the infirm and champion of kings, victorious great martyr George intercede with Christ our God for our souls salvation.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Tone

The Church is shown to be a many-lighted heaven that doth shine a guiding light upon all them that do believe; wherein while standing we cry aloud: Do Thou Thyself now establish this house, O Lord.

إن الكنيسة المقدسة قد ظهرت سماء كثيرة الأنوار منيرة المؤمنين جميعاً وإذ نحن فيها واقفون نصرخ هاتفين: ثبّت هذا البيت يا رب.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Sixth Tone. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 6:11-18.

Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

البروكيمنون. Sixth Tone. مزمور 27: 9، 1.
خلص يالله شعبك وبارك ميراثك
Verse: إليك يا رب صرخت، إلهي

فصل من رسالة بولس الاولى الى غلاطية 6: 11-18.

يَُّا إِخْوَة، اُنْظُرُوا، مَا أَكْبَرَ الأَحْرُفَ الَّتِي كَتَبْتُهَا إِلَيْكُمْ بِيَدِي! جَمِيعُ الَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَعْمَلُوا مَنْظَراً حَسَناً فِي الْجَسَدِ، هَؤُلاَءِ يُلْزِمُونَكُمْ أَنْ تَخْتَتِنُوا، لِئَلاَّ يُضْطَهَدُوا لأَجْلِ صَلِيبِ الْمَسِيحِ فَقَطْ. لأَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَخْتَتِنُونَ هُمْ لاَ يَحْفَظُونَ النَّامُوسَ، بَلْ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ تَخْتَتِنُوا أَنْتُمْ لِكَيْ يَفْتَخِرُوا فِي جَسَدِكُمْ. وَأَمَّا مِنْ جِهَتِي، فَحَاشَا لِي أَنْ أَفْتَخِرَ إِلاَّ بِصَلِيبِ رَبِّنَا يَسُوعَ الْمَسِيحِ، الَّذِي بِهِ قَدْ صُلِبَ الْعَالَمُ لِي وَأَنَا لِلْعَالَمِ. لأَنَّهُ فِي الْمَسِيحِ يَسُوعَ لَيْسَ الْخِتَانُ يَنْفَعُ شَيْئاً وَلاَ الْغُرْلَةُ، بَلِ الْخَلِيقَةُ الْجَدِيدَةُ. فَكُلُّ الَّذِينَ يَسْلُكُونَ بِحَسَبِ هَذَا الْقَانُونِ عَلَيْهِمْ سَلاَمٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ، وَعَلَى إِسْرَائِيلِ اللهِ. فِي مَا بَعْدُ لاَ يَجْلِبُ أَحَدٌ عَلَيَّ أَتْعَاباً، لأَنِّي حَامِلٌ فِي جَسَدِي سِمَاتِ الرَّبِّ يَسُوعَ.نِعْمَةُ رَبِّنَا يَسُوعَ الْمَسِيحِ مَعَ رُوحِكُمْ أَيُّهَا الإِخْوَةُ. آمِينَ.

Gospel Reading

Sunday before Holy Cross
The Reading is from John 3:13-17

The Lord said, "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."

Sunday before Holy Cross
يوحنا 3: 13-17

¹³ في ذلك الزمان قال يسوع َلَيْسَ أَحَدٌ صَعِدَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ إِلاَّ الَّذِي نَزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ، ابْنُ الإِنْسَانِ الَّذِي هُوَ فِي السَّمَاءِ.¹⁴((وَكَمَا رَفَعَ مُوسَى الْحَيَّةَ فِي الْبَرِّيَّةِ هَكَذَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُرْفَعَ ابْنُ الإِنْسَان، ¹⁵لِكَيْ لاَ يَهْلِكَ كُلُّ مَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِهِ بَلْ تَكُونُ لَهُ الْحَيَاةُ الأَبَدِيَّةُ. ¹⁶ لأَنَّهُ هَكَذَا أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ الْعَالَمَ حَتَّى بَذَلَ ابْنَهُ الْوَحِيدَ، لِكَيْ لاَ يَهْلِكَ كُلُّ مَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِهِ، بَلْ تَكُونُ لَهُ الْحَيَاةُ الأَبَدِيَّةُ. ¹⁷ لأَنَّهُ لَمْ يُرْسِلِ اللَّهُ ابْنَهُ إِلَى الْعَالَمِ لِيَدِينَ الْعَالَمَ، بَلْ لِيَخْلُصَ بِهِ الْعَالَمُ.

Wisdom of the Fathers

Our Redeemer and Maker, Who was Son of God before the ages, became Son of Man at the end of ages. Thus the One Who, through the power of His divinity, had created us to enjoy the happiness of everlasting life, might Himself restore us, through the weakness of our humanity, to recover the life we had lost.

St. Bede the Venerable

Homilies on the Gospels, 2.18. 7th Century. Taken from: Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Vol: John 1-10. Intervarsity Press, 2006, p. 126.

For since Nicodemus had said, "We know that Thou art a teacher come from God," on this very point He sets him right, all but saying, "Think Me not a teacher in such manner as were the many of the prophets who were of earth, for I have come from heaven (but) now. None of the prophets hath ascended up thither, but I dwell there."

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 27 on John 3, 4th Century

Saints and Feasts

September 13

The Consecration of the Church of the Holy Resurrection (Holy Sepulchre)

The church that is honoured far above all others is that of the Holy Resurrection, which Saint Constantine the Great constructed at the place of Golgotha, where our Saviour was crucified and buried. For a long time this place had been purposely buried beneath the earth by the Jews and heathen; furthermore, during the reign of Hadrian (117-138), a temple dedicated to Aphrodite was built over the site so that this sacred place might be even further desecrated and fall into utter oblivion. It was here that the Cross was hidden. However, at the command of the pious Emperor Constantine, excavations were made and the tokens of the saving Passion were found. It was here, then, that the very great and magnificent temple named in honour of Christ God's Resurrection-the Anastasis-was built under the supervision of the blessed Helen, while Dracilian was Eparch of Palestine and Macarius was Archbishop of Jerusalem. It was the latter, also, who exalted the venerable Cross and performed the consecration of this temple in the year 336.

September 15

Nikitas the Great Martyr

This Saint was of high birth among the Goths beyond the Danube River. He was taken by Athanaric, pagan ruler of the Goths, and after being tortured, was burned to death for his confession of Christ. According to some, this took place during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great; according to others, under the Emperor Gratian.

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.

September 17

Sophia & her three daughters: Faith, Hope, and Love

These Saints were from Italy and contested for the Faith about the year 126, during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian. Faith was twelve years old, Hope, ten, and Love, nine; each was tormented and then beheaded, from the eldest to the youngest. Their mother Sophia mourned at their grave for three days, where she also fell asleep in peace; because of her courageous endurance in the face of her daughters' sufferings, she is also counted a martyr. The name Sophia means "wisdom" in Greek; as for her daughters' names, Faith, Hope, and Love (Charity), they are Pistis, Elpis, and Agape in Greek, and Vera, Nadezhda, and Lyubov in Russian.

Upcoming Schedule

Friday, September 18

12:00PM St. Nicholas Homeschool Group

2:30PM Kitchen Cleaning

7:00PM Men's Group

Saturday, September 19

5PM Vespers

Sunday, September 20 - Sunday School Begins!

9AM Orthros

10AM Divine Liturgy

11:30AM Parish Council

Pastor's Ponderings

Today the Cross is carried solemnly through the church and placed in our midst—not merely to recall an event of the distant past, but to proclaim that Christ’s victory is present among His people. As the Cross moves in procession, we behold the instrument of shame transformed into the throne of the King, the weapon of peace, and the life-giving Tree of Paradise.

We bow before it, not worshiping wood, but adoring Jesus Christ, who willingly stretched out His arms upon it for the life of the world. Our procession also expresses the movement of Christian discipleship: Christ goes before us, and we follow Him by taking up our own cross in faith, repentance, and love.

Thus, surrounded by flowers and lifted before the faithful, the Cross declares the joyful paradox at the heart of our faith: through suffering comes glory, through self-emptying comes victory, and through death Christ has bestowed life upon the world.

“Before Thy Cross, we fall down in worship, O Sovereign Lord, and Thy holy Resurrection we glorify.”

Glory to God! Fr. Ephraim

Stewardship

Stewardship at the Foot of the Cross

The Cross reveals perfect stewardship: Jesus Christ withheld nothing from us, but freely offered His whole life for our salvation. As we exalt His precious Cross, we are called to answer His sacrificial love with an offering of our own lives. Our time, talents, and treasure are not possessions to be guarded, but gifts entrusted to us for the glory of God and the building up of His Church. Christian stewardship begins at the foot of the Cross, where gratitude becomes generosity and love becomes sacrifice.

“Freely you have received; freely give.” — Matthew 10:8

Parish Family Life

Sunday School Begins Next Sunday!

With great joy, we welcome our children back to Sunday School beginning next Sunday, September 20! Together, they will grow in their knowledge and love of Jesus Christ, discover the treasures of our Orthodox Faith, and deepen their friendships within our parish family. May God bless our students, teachers, and families as we begin a joyful new year of learning and growing in Christ!

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