SUNDAY AFTER HOLY CROSS
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PROSFORA: Demos Ioannou
EPISTLE READING: Galatians 2:16-20
GOSPEL: Mark 8:34-38, 9:1 (Greek text, p. 204, black books)
LITURGY: 9:30 a.m.
MEMORIAL: 40 Day Memorial for Stella Paparizos, mother of Cynthia Pigman (Edwin), Victoria Karakasis (Nick). Cherished Yiayia of Andrew (Amy) Pegman, Christopher (Carli) Karakasis, Michael Pegman, Tammy (Matthew) Oliver, and Kristen Pegman (deceased). Great Yiayia to Andrew Pegman.
Fourth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:1-12
On the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered in to the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened.
Prokeimenon. Plagal 2nd 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 2:16-20.
Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Sunday after Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1
The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."
Mon, September 21st - 8:00 p.m. - Gamblers Anonymous
Weds September 23rd - 9:30 a.m. - Liturgy (St John the Baptist)
Sat, September 26th - 3:00 p.m. - Wedding: Alyssa Giannirakis
5:00 p.m. - Vespers
Sts. Constantine & Helen Cathedral invites you to a
Virtual Retreat
Saturday October 3, 2020 - 10am-12pm
Speaker: Reverend Dr. Nicholas Louh - “Finding Christ in the Crisis”. Registration is Free. If you wish to donate to defray expenses, please make checks out and send to:
Sts. Constantine and Helen
3352 Mayfield Rd
Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118
Please write “retreat” in the memo line. To register please visit this link: https://forms.gle/s5yW63tMAMqHGPdZ9
Our parish strives "To lead people to God through Orthodox Christianity and to provide ways for them live and share God's love." It does so in good days and in bad, such as we now experience. Church attendance may be difficult or impossible for you, but we endeavor to spread the "good news" as best we can. Any financial help that you might offer is deeply appreciated.
Tithe.ly is an online giving tool that makes it simple to safely/securely give to your church. You can download the Tithe.ly app onto your phone, or click "give online" from their website. Your gift goes directly to the church.
We have closed our livestreaming service on Facebook in favor of using YouTube for all future livestreaming of services. To continue participating with our livestream services, please visit, subscribe, and bookmark our channel at http://YouTube.com/stsconstantine.
Please join the St.Makrina group as we begin discussing (2019 Retreat speaker!) Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis' excellent book "Let All Creation Rejoice: Reflections for Advent, The Nativity, and Epiphany". In this unusual year, our journey to the Nativity can be more meaningful. Fr. Stavros reminds us of the typical advent period that emphasizes decorations and shopping (along with elevated stress levels). In his book, he offers us a journey of faith to follow Christ. Instead of the letdown when Christmas has passed, "There will be joy and joy is what overcomes sadness. There will be hope and hope is what overcomes sorrow".
We meet every Wednesday via Zoom from 10:00-11:30 a.m. To join us in this journey, please contact Melissa Manos by email at melmanos29@gmail.com or call Heidi Peters at 216 570-5393 for more information.
2) Online registration for 2020-2021 youth ministry programs (HOPE/JOY, GOYA, Young Adults) are now live. Interested families should sign up by September 30th. Email Ted Cherpas tcherpas@stscosntantine.com for the links or with any questions.
Fr. Dimitris Moraitis will be on Zoom with us on September 20th at 2:30 pm; with a second meeting this evening at 8:30 p.m. Parents of younger children can attend and pass on the information at their children's level.
Fr. Dimitri will speak on the miracles at St. Paraskevi Shrine; specifically on the blind man who received his sight. This man who received his sight may also be called in to talk with students and parents. Parents, please check your e-mails for the zoom invites.
Future zoom events:
October 4th -- Speaker Fr. Chris Shadid, Director of Antiochian Village
October 18th -- or week thereof (tentative) Papa Ephraim Abbot of St. Nilus Island Skete in Alaska
Contact Maria at orthodox_education@stsconstantine.com with any questions or suggestions.
The Orthodox Christian tradition presents many opportunities for worship outside of Sunday morning services, especially Liturgies on the feast days of beloved saints. In light of the current crisis, the number will increase to at least one Liturgy per week in addition to the Sunday service. As the restrictions on Sunday attendance are loosening up, those with special concerns may consider attending a weekday service, where the typical attendance is in the range of 10-20.
FAITH IN ACTION - Upcoming Activities
Bible Study
You can join us for 30 minutes for Bible Study - all are welcome. If you are interested in an invite, or for current dates and topics, please email peter.poulos@case.edu.
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Prayer Team
You can join the prayer team and keep others in your daily prayers. If you are interested, you should either email pmp17@case.edu or text (216) 288-1972 ahead of time to receive the link. You will need to provide your name and email address to receive the Zoom invite. If you have any requests for our prayer team, or if you have questions about other activities, please send them to peter.poulos@case.edu
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St. Herman's Dinner
As a change of pace for the St. Herman's community, instead of assembling sandwich dinner bags, we are going to raise money to buy Guy's pizza from the downtown Cleveland store and then deliver it to St. Herman's for a dinner meal on September 26th. As part of the meal, we also want to buy styrofoam containers, chocolate bars, and a small water bottle. We can then caravan the supplies to St. Herman's to arrive by 4:45 P.M. with the pizza (hot out of the oven) so that Carl Cook from St. Herman's can assemble the styrofoam meal package to be handed out.
If you are interested in donating money for the food and/or helping to purchase any of the food, please contact us at peter.poulos@case.edu.
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Zelma George Family Shelter
If you are interested in supporting the families of the Zelma George Family Shelter, please email peter.poulos@case.edu to discuss volunteer opportunities.
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Thank you and keep the faith!
“Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18)
Candles are one way to express our prayers and our presence in worship. During the crisis, you may light a candle several different ways:
1. come to the church during office hours (M-F, 9:00 – 5:00) and purchase a candle to take with you or leave the candle, lit or not, in the candle stands
2. email request to office@stsconstantine.com, no later than 3:00 pm on a day of regular business hours
3. call the church office during regular hours
4. make a request through the Facebook live stream during a service. This is an honor system in which we trust that you will make a monetary gift for your candle.
5. Make a Tithe.Ly donation from our website button. You can add a note with any special candle request.
Reusable, reversible, washable cloth masks made by our own Philoptochos ladies are available for sale in the church lobby! Masks have a gentle nose clip for proper fit, and a side opening to add extra filtering if one chooses. Make checks payable to Philoptochos or purchase with $10.00 cash (sorry, we cannot make change at this time). For more information, email Christina at ctcallos@gmail.com.
With recent increases in attendance at the church, we have once again begun collecting forgotten possessions. A rain hat, t-shirt, and princess flip phone are among the items on hand. Please contact the office if you think we might have something of yours.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Cross Press
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Your Apostle among the Rulers, St. Constantine, who once beheld in the sky the image of Your Cross, and who like Paul received his calling not from man, once entrusted the Ruling City into Your hand. We entreat You to restore it in peace forever, at the intercession of the Theotokos, O Lord who loves humanity. (Copyright Fr. Seraphim Dedes, used by permission. All rights reserved)
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press