September 11
St. Andrew Church
Publish Date: 2022-09-11
Bulletin Contents
Services at St. Andrew
Announcements
Fr. John's Message
Daily Calendar
News - Flyers - Registrations - Other
Prayer List
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Saints and Feasts
Hymns of the Day
Wisdom of the Fathers
St. Andrew Church
General Information
- Phone:
- (973) 584-0388
- Fax:
- (973) 584-3573
- Email:
- info@standrewgonj.org
- 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
- Publish Date:
- 2022-09-04
- Publish Date:
- 2022-08-28
- Publish Date:
- 2022-08-21
- Publish Date:
- 2022-08-14
- Publish Date:
- 2022-08-07
- Publish Date:
- 2022-07-31
Services at St. Andrew
Friday 9/9
+The Holy & Righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna +Orthros @8am & Divine Liturgy @9am
Trisagion Service will be held for the repose of the soul of +Stamatia Kovas, beloved wife of Antonio and mother of Maria Kovas.
Funeral Service for the repose of the soul of +Evangleos "Angelo" Karnegis, beloved husband of Paula Colombaris Karnegis, father of: Nicholas and Kelly (Daniel) Santero, grandfather of Colton and brother of: George, Anna Mardas, Connie Schmidt, Maria Karapanagiotis and Pad Bzdek.
Saturday 9/10
at 11:00am Ryan and Katerina (Constantinou) Brooks will baptize their daughter.
at 11:00am Jarred and Melissa (Rotsides) Bakker will baptize their daughter.
Sunday 9/11
The Sunday before Holy Cross +Orthros @8:15am & DL @9:30am of SJC
A Trisagion Service will be held for the repose of the souls of all those who perished in the Terrorist Attack on The United States of America on September 11, 2001.
A Four-Year Memorial Service for the repose of the soul of +John Ιωάννου E. Giokas, father of Katherine Giokas-Marshall, Anthula Giokas & Argie Sokoli. As well as a Four-Year Memorial Service for the repose of the soul of +Maria Μαρίας Aivaliotis (Giokas), wife of John Aivaliotis; and mother of Elena Tsatsaros and Stacey Aivaliotis. Friends and relatives are invited to join the family for refreshments in the Social Hall in honor of +John and Maria’s blessed memory.
May their memory be eternal. Αιωνία η μνήμη αυτών
AGIASMOS for Religious Education School students and Families
Wednesday 9/14
+The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross +Orthros @8am & Divine Liturgy @9am
Friday 9/16
+Saint Euphemia the Great Martyr +Orthros @8am & Divine Liturgy @9am
Sunday 9/18
No Services at Saint Andrew
8:00 am Orthros - 9:30 am Archiepiscopal Divine Liturgy at The Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, New Jersey
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
Announcements
SUNDAY’S COFFEE Hour is hosted by PTA and sponsored by the families of +John Giokas and + Maria Aivaliotis in honor of their blessed memory.
Bagels are donated by Jimmy Psaras of ALFA BAGELS on Route 10 in Randolph, NJ
Coffee is donated by Aristotle Leontopoulos of Coffee Associates in Edgewater, NJ
Coffee Hour ON Sunday: 9/18 at Asbury Park, 9/25 DOP, 10/2 Philoptochos, 10/9 PTA, 10/16 DOP, 10/23 GOYA, 10/30 Bakaliko, 11/6 Philoptochos, 11/13 PTA, 11/20 DOP, 11/27 Bakaliko, 12/4 Philoptochos, 12/11 PTA, 12/18 DOP, 12/25 Christmas
Religious Education : AGIASMOS in Church on September 11th
Register by completing the “Family and Youth Information” Form
https://sagocrnj.orthodoxws.com/files/Family-and-Youth-2022-2023--Information.pdf
Agiasmos Service will be held on Sunday 9/11/22 for Sunday School students and families. After Holy Communion please return to your pew for Agiasmo. The students will then be blessed and proceed to the Social Hall where they will be met by the Religious Education teachers.
GREEK DANCE Program will begin Thursday September 15th
INFO & REG GREEK SCHOOL | St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church (orthodoxws.com)
Please complete: Family & Student Information Form 2022-23
and indicate dance level
Group 1 (ages K thru age 7) 6:30pm
Group 2 (ages 8-11) 7:15pm
Group 3 (ages 12-18) 8:00pm
Annual Rummage Sale on Sept 9-11
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED before to sort and price,
duringto sell and pack up for customers and
after to pack unsold items for distribution to various organizations.
Questions? please contact Irene iLaoudis@yahoo.com or Mary mmichailidis@yahoo.com
GOYA
Please use the link below to register. ..... ... Registration costs $125 for the first child and $100 for siblings. Please pay the registration on the WeShare Link, under GOYA Event. Registration helps subsidize many of our events: Volleyball, Basketball, District and Youth Commission fees, Pizza socials, Mr & Miss GOYA, Religious Retreats, Olympics Snacks, Senior Send Off (just to name a few events).
WE SHARE LINK
St. Andrew GOYA Registration 2022-2023
Kick Off Meeting and Pizza Social 9/13/2022 7:00pm
Greek Dance begins 9/15/22 at 8pm /please contact office to register
Monthly Meeting 9/22/2022 6:30 pm
Volleyball/Basketball first game: 9/25/2022
Harvest Dance 9/30/2022
RAFFLE!
2022 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 W4 MSRP $53, 395
STARLING BLUE | ALL-WHEEL DRIVE | REMOTE START | PARKING ASSISTANT | NAVIGATION|
TICKETS $25 EACH | DRAWING SEPTEMBER 25, 2022, 1PM
We need your help to make this raffle everything our church needs it to be this year!
Sign up for JUST 2 HOURS at our roadside. Sit, read, bring your laptop because we have wireless access out there, or even just relax
People pull up and buy tickets -- it can't get any easier, you just need to be there. Any day, any time. We need coverage from 8am to 8pm to schedule times email info@standrewgoj.org or call 973-584-0388
It is an easy way to help our church meet our annual budget and unforeseen expenses. We have made over $1,000 in just one day by manning the curbside raffle ticket sales. Please consider helping out in this easy way. Your church needs your support.
save the dates
GYRO SALE Saturday September 24th see flyer below
CAR RAFFLE Sunday September 25th see flyer below
AHEPA Cigar Night at the Meadowood Wednesday September 28th @7pm see flyer below
National Faith & Blue at St Andrew Friday October 7 see flyer below
60th Anniversary Gala Sunday November 13th at the Meadow Wood in Randolph NJ see flyer below
Fr. John's Message
Lord’s Voice 9-11-2022
THE SERMON OF THE CROSS
Today is the second Sunday of the month of September, and our holy Church is marching towards the great feast of the Elevation of the Precious and lifegiving Cross of our Lord. In today's gospel passage, Christ is conversing with Nicodemus, who was from the class of the Pharisees. Christ explains to him that only he who came down from heaven can make known the word and the will of God. The Son of God, being in the bosom of the Father, is the one who alone has the ability to speak to people about the heavenly mysteries, which no one in the world knows "except he who came down from heaven".
We know from our experience that Christ offers himself in every way for the purpose of our spiritual cultivation and, of course, our salvation. At this point, He talks about the crucifictional sacrifice that is to follow, in order to eliminate the sins of people and, of course, to fulfill the "preeternal" plan of God. There are many occasions when Christ announces what is about to happen, that is related to the Crucifixion and His resurrection. In order to explain to Nicodemus and the rest of the Jews, what is about to happen, He uses a passage from the Old Testament. It refers to Moses, who hung a bronze serpent on a very high point in the desert, with the intention of safeguarding the people of Israel from the poisonous snakes. And so, he also is going to hang on the Cross for the salvation of the human race. With His Crucifixion, Christ showed His infinite love for His creature and assumed "the likeness" of sin, but not having Himself even a trace of it.
The desire of His Kingdom
In the continuation of the passage, the Evangelist gives us to understand that he who will believe in the only begotten Son of God, will gain Heaven and eternal life. He who believes in Christ, he who keeps what Christ said, he who walks the steps where Christ walked, unites with Him and lives daily the great mystery of love and communion with God. God wants from us to rid ourselves of evil and sin, to put on the "new man" and return to our prefallen state, enjoying the good things of Paradise. He seeks from us our repentance, our personal struggle that will strengthen our faith, for which all humans are destined, so that, as the Apostle of the Gentiles Paul says, "we are justified by faith". The Evangelist reminds us that we are all children of God and all - regardless of ethnicity, class or gender - can be saved, so long as we confess Jesus Christ. In the new condition of the New Testament, we no longer need to follow specific commandments, but we have been freed ourselves from every formality, and our faith is now alive and capable of redeeming us from the harms that came from the preancestral sin.
The union with God
The Church today, a few days after the Feast of the Mother of God, of the Birth of the Most Holy Theotokos, marching towards the feast of the Elevation of the Precious Cross of our Lord, wants to teach us precisely that through the Cross, this supreme sacrifice, we were able to escape from sin and to unite with God.
She reminds us that life in her, is a constant joy, a constant communion of love, which is achieved by our participation in the Body and Blood of the Lord and gives the possibility to those "completed in faith" to obtain a place at the festive table of the Kingdom of the Heavens.
Archim. A. A.
Daily Calendar
Friday 9/9
The Holy & Righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna +Orthros @8am & DL @9am of SJC
Rummage Sale 9am-6pm
Saturday 9/10
Rummage Sale 9am-6pm
LOOK FOR OUR Furniture Resale in Tent in the back parking Lot
@11am Baptism (2)
Sunday 9/11
Sunday before Holy Cross +Orthros @8:15am & DL @9:30am of SJC
Agiasmos for Religious Education students and Families
Rummage Sale 12-4pm
Monday 9/12
@7:30pm Parish Council Meeting
Tuesday 9/13
@7pm GOYA KICK OFF MEETING & Pizza Social
Wednesday 9/14
The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross +Orthros 8am & DL @9am of SJC
Thursday 9/15
Greek Dance Group 1 @6:30pm & Group 2 @7:15pm & Group 3 @8pm
Friday 9/16
Saint Euphemia the Great Martyr +Orthros @8am & DL @9am of SJC
Saturday 9/17
Renaissance and Middle Ages re-enactment / The Barony of Settmour Swamp / St Andrew
Marriage Enrichment Conference / Rev. Dr. Nicholas G.Louh & Dr. Roxanne Louh at the Hyatt Regency Morristown NJ see flyer
Saint Basil’s Walk-a thon for more information email l.biniaris@sbagoa.org
Sunday 9/18 No Services at Saint Andrew
8:00 am Orthros - 9:30 am Archiepiscopal Divine Liturgy at The Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, New Jersey followed by the Holy Cross ceremony in the waters of Atlantic Ocean - Immediately after the ceremony, a Barbeque for all will be held outside the Auditorium.
Send email to info@standrewgonj.org if you and or your family plan to attend.
Monday 9/19
@7:30pm Parish Council Meeting
Thursday 9/22
+St. Phocas the Martyr /Relics +Orthros @8am & DL @9am of SJC
Friday 9/24
+The Conception of St. John the Baptist +Orthros @8am & DL @9am of SJC
News - Flyers - Registrations - Other
Religious Education
Agiasmos on Sunday September 11 in church REGISTRATION FORM : https://sagocrnj.orthodoxws.com/files/Family-and-Youth-2022-2023--Information.pdf
car raffle
2022 MERCEDES-BENZ | C300 W4 MSRP $53, 395 | TICKETS $25 EACH | DRAWING SEPTEMBER 25, 2022, 1PM
Holy Cross Celebration - Asbury Park
8:00 am Orthros - 9:30 am Archiepiscopal Divine Liturgy at The Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, New Jersey followed by the Holy Cross ceremony in the waters of Atlantic Ocean - Immediately after the ceremony, a Barbeque for all will be held outside the Auditorium. |Send email to info@standrewgonj.org if you and or your family plan to attend.
AHEPA
CIGAR NIGHT on Wednesday Sept 28th @7pm at the Meadowood in Randolph
Faith & Blue
Friday, October 7th 4-8pm hosted by: Saint Andrew Greek Orthodox Church & The Morris County Sheriff’s Office | A collaborative effort to build bridges and break biases
60th Anniversary
Saint Andrew celebration on Sunday Novermber 13th 2022
FAITH & BLUE
NATIONAL FAITH & BLUE: Friday, October 7th 4-8pm hosted by: Saint Andrew Greek Orthodox Church & The Morris County Sheriff’s Office A collaborative effort to build bridges and break biases
Marriage Enrichment Conference
Sept 17, 2022 9am-5pm |Rev. Dr. Nicholas G. Louh & Dr. Roxanne Louh will be sharing their unique perspective to provide you with the type of inward reflection that leads to lasting outward transformation. email: copticwomenfellowship@gmail.com to reserve your seats
Lord's Voice
9/11/22 FGONI KYRIOU in Greek
Greek Dance
GREEK DANCE Program starts on Thursday, September 15th INFO & REG GREEK SCHOOL | St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church (orthodoxws.com) Please complete: Family & Student Information Form 2022-23 and indicate dance level : Group 1 (ages K thru age 7) 6:30pm | Group 2 (ages 8-11) 7:15pm | Group 3 (ages 12-18) 8:00pm |
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
David, Barbara, Cesar, Angeliki, Maria, Demetri, Karen, Andrew, Stan, Vasiliki, Marios, Theodore, Gregory, Fr. Konstantine, Mary, Eftihia, Ioannis, David , Andreas, Robert, Antonis, Susan, Alexandros, Gregory, Sophia, Tara, children and families of Ukraine, Ioanna, Landon, Lueda, Evangelia, Christine, Vasiliki, Anastasia, Aikaterini, Cynthia, Demetrios, Robin, Paraskevi, Theodore, Eleni, Athena, Katerina, Sophia, Eleni, Corinne, Maria, Ioannis, Eleana, Demetra, Kenneth, Eleni, Anastasios, Gregory, John, Marny, Chari, Nikolaos, Janet, Melissa, Marty, Andreas, Fotini, Georgia, Pamela, Haralambos, Photeine, Christina, Michael, Adrianne, George, Anastasia, Nicholas, Michael, Alexandra, Sofia, Joseph, Vasilios…
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 info@standrewgonj.org
Names will be kept on this list for approximately 3 months. Please resubmit Names if needed. Fr. John will pray for the Names above during the Proskomide “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.
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Matins Gospel Reading
Second Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:1-8
When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back - it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, He is not here; see the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him, as He told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Second Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 16:1-8
Διαγενομένου τοῦ Σαββάτου, Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία ἡ τοῦ Ἰακώβου καὶ Σαλώμη ἠγόρασαν ἀρώματα, ἵνα ἐλθοῦσαι ἀλείψωσιν τὸν Ἰησοῦν. Καὶ λίαν πρωῒ τῇ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων ἔρχονται ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον ἀνατείλαντος τοῦ ἡλίου. Καὶ ἔλεγον πρὸς ἑαυτάς· Τίς ἀποκυλίσει ἡμῖν τὸν λίθον ἐκ τῆς θύρας τοῦ μνημείου; καὶ ἀναβλέψασαι θεωροῦσιν ὅτι ἀποκεκύλισται ὁ λίθος· ἦν γὰρ μέγας σφόδρα. Καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον, εἶδον νεανίσκον καθήμενον ἐν τοῖς δεξιοῖς, περιβεβλημένον στολήν λευκήν, καὶ ἐξεθαμβήθησαν· ὁ δὲ λέγει αὐταῖς· Μὴ ἐκθαμβεῖσθε, Ἰησοῦν ζητεῖτε τὸν Ναζαρηνὸν τὸν ἐσταυρωμένον, ἠγέρθη, οὐκ ἔστιν ᾧδε· ἴδε, ὁ τόπος ὅπου ἔθηκαν αὐτόν, ἀλλ' ὑπάγετε, εἴπατε τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ Πέτρῳ, ὅτι προάγει ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν· ἐκεῖ αὐτὸν ὄψεσθε, καθὼς εἶπεν ὑμῖν. Καὶ ἐξελθοῦσαι ταχὺ ἔφυγον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου, εἶχε δὲ αὐτὰς τρόμος καὶ ἔκστασις, καὶ οὐδενὶ οὐδὲν εἶπον· ἐφοβοῦντο γάρ.
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. 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.
Προκείμενον. Plagal Second Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 27.9,1.
Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου.
Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Γαλάτας 6:11-18.
Ἀδελφοί, ἴδετε πηλίκοις ὑμῖν γράμμασιν ἔγραψα τῇ ἐμῇ χειρί. Ὅσοι θέλουσιν εὐπροσωπῆσαι ἐν σαρκί, οὗτοι ἀναγκάζουσιν ὑμᾶς περιτέμνεσθαι, μόνον ἵνα μὴ τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ Χριστοῦ διώκωνται. Οὐδὲ γὰρ οἱ περιτετμημένοι αὐτοὶ νόμον φυλάσσουσιν, ἀλλὰ θέλουσιν ὑμᾶς περιτέμνεσθαι, ἵνα ἐν τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ σαρκὶ καυχήσωνται. Ἐμοὶ δὲ μὴ γένοιτο καυχᾶσθαι εἰ μὴ ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ· διʼ οὗ ἐμοὶ κόσμος ἐσταύρωται, κἀγὼ τῷ κόσμῳ. Ἐν γὰρ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ οὔτε περιτομή τι ἰσχύει, οὔτε ἀκροβυστία, ἀλλὰ καινὴ κτίσις. Καὶ ὅσοι τῷ κανόνι τούτῳ στοιχήσουσιν, εἰρήνη ἐπʼ αὐτούς, καὶ ἔλεος, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ θεοῦ. Τοῦ λοιποῦ, κόπους μοι μηδεὶς παρεχέτω· ἐγὼ γὰρ τὰ στίγματα τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματί μου βαστάζω. Ἡ χάρις τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματος ὑμῶν, ἀδελφοί. Ἀμήν.
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
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 3:13-17
Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· καὶ οὐδεὶς ἀναβέβηκεν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εἰ μὴ ὁ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καταβάς, ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ὁ ὤν ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ. καὶ καθὼς Μωϋσῆς ὕψωσε τὸν ὄφιν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, οὕτως ὑψωθῆναι δεῖ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ' ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. Οὕτω γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ' ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἵνα κρίνῃ τὸν κόσμον, ἀλλ' ἵνα σωθῇ ὁ κόσμος δι' αὐτοῦ.
Saints and Feasts
September 11
Theodora of Alexandria
This saint lived in the fifth century. Out of remorse for the adultery that she committed with another man, she fled from her husband's house, renamed herself Theodore, clothed herself as a man, and pretending to be a eunuch, entered a monastery of men. Her identity as a woman was discovered only after her death.
September 11
Euphrosynos the Cook
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 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 18
Sunday after Holy Cross
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode
Having learned the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the Angel, and having cast off the ancestral condemnation, the women disciples of the Lord spake to the Apostles exultantly: Death is despoiled and Christ God is risen, granting great mercy to the world.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον· Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Greek Standard Text
Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos in the Fourth Mode
Thy Nativity, O Theotokos, hath procliamed joy to the whole world; for from thee hath dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, annulling the curse and bestowing the blessing, abolishing death and granting us life everlasting.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Η γέννησίς σου Θεοτόκε, χαράν εμήνυσε πάση τή οικουμένη, εκ σού γάρ ανέτειλεν ο ήλιος τής δικαιοσύνης, Χριστός ο Θεός ημών, καί λύσας τήν κατάραν, έδωκε τήν ευλογίαν, καί καταργήσας τόν θάνατον, εδωρήσατο ημίν ζωήν τήν αιώνιον.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Greek Standard Text
Apolytikion for the Church in the First Mode
Hymn of the Apostle St. Andrew: As first of the Apostles to receive the call, and very brother of the prince of them, intercede O Andrew, with the Master of all of us, peace to all the world to grant, and to our souls His great mercy.
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
In your holy birth, Immaculate One, Joachim and Anna were rid of the shame of childlessness; Adam and Eve of the corruption of death. And so your people, free of the guilt of their sins, celebrate crying: "The barren one gives birth to the Theotokos, who nourishes our life."
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press
Ιωακείμ καί Άννα όνειδισμού ατεκνίας, καί Αδάμ καί Εύα, εκ τής φθοράς τού θανάτου, ηλευθερώθησαν, Άχραντε, εν τή αγία γεννήσει σου, αυτήν εορτάζει καί ο λαός σου, ενοχής τών πταισμάτων, λυτρωθείς εν τώ κράζειν σοι, Η στείρα τίκτει τήν Θεοτόκον, καί τροφόν τής ζωής ημών.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Greek Standard Text
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.
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."
Homily 27 on John 3, 4th Century