September 13
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-09-13
Bulletin Contents
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
General Information
- Phone:
- 434-973-2500
- Web:
- 33-ad.org
- Street Address:
- 7581 Rockfish Gap Turnpike
- Charlottesville, VA 22906
- Mailing Address:
- PO Box 6981
- Charlottesville, VA 22906
Past Bulletins
- Publish Date:
- 2020-09-06
- Publish Date:
- 2020-08-30
- Publish Date:
- 2020-08-23
- Publish Date:
- 2020-08-16
- Publish Date:
- 2020-08-09
- Publish Date:
- 2020-08-02
Weekly Update
GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST! GLORY FOREVER!
Feast of the Elevation of the the Holy Cross
"The holy day of the Elevation of the Cross...has a place of great significance in the Church today. It remains with us as a day of fasting and prayer, a day when we recall that the Cross is the only sign worthy of our total allegiance, and that our salvation comes not by 'victories' of any earthly sort but by the only true and lasting victory of the crucifixion of Christ and our co-crucifixion with him. When we elevate the Cross and bow down before it in veneration and worship to God, we proclaim that we belong to the Kingdom 'not of this world,' and that our only true and enduring citizenship is with the saints in the 'city of God' (Eph 2.19; Heb 11.10; Rev 21–22)" (source). Read more about this feast of the Church here. At St. Nicholas we will celebrate the feast with the Vespers for the feast served on Sunday 13 September at 4pm and the Divine Liturgy on Monday 14 September at 8am.
Reminder: Safety Procedures in the Church
A reminder to all the faithful that in accordance with state law and public health directives, we have adjusted certain practices and procedures for your safety and the safety of your sisters and brothers in Christ. Everyone must wear a mask while in the church. Please remember to maintain at least 6 feet of social distance between you and others who do not live in your household. Masks and hand sanitizer are available in the Narthex, and Greeters will assist in helping you find a place to stand or sit. We will refrain from exchanging the kiss of peace, and we will venerate icons, the cross, the Gospel book and the priest's hand by bowing rather than kissing. The social hall and narthex have been reorganized to facilitate social distancing and safe ingress and egress -- please refrain from congregating in the narthex following Divine Liturgy. The Liturgy will continue to be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person. And as always, anyone who has a fever or is otherwise unwell should stay home, for the safety of others.
Signup Links
St. Nicholas Live Streaming Services
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A reminder that the Divine Liturgy is livestreamed each Sunday here on the St. Nicholas Greenwood YouTube channel -- don't forget to subscribe to the channel to receive updates
Opportunities to Serve Your Neighbor
As we celebrate the Lord's Resurrection each Sunday, we must continue to remember the critical importance of loving our neighbor (Mt 22:34-40), as the Lord commanded us to do ( "my neighbor is my salvation"). Love is demonstrated both in prayer and deed. Please remember your neighbors in this time of acute need. Here are some specific ways to help:
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Virginia hospitals across the state are experiencing a severe shortage of blood, and the UVA Medical Center is encouraging healthy and eligible individuals to contact the American Red Cross to make an appointment to donate. Our Archbishop Daniel and our seminarians have already done so!
- Cultivate Charlottesville, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and its network, Cville Community Cares, and Albemarle County’s Equity and Inclusion Office have worked together in various combinations to create the food availability schedules and a beautiful new online Food Map showing some of the food resources on our City and County. (Source: Charlottesville Community Cares' Newsletter June 23)
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Grace Grocery, our neighborhood food pantry at Crozet United Methodist Church, has several volunteer opportunities including set up, client help and clean up for food distributions, unloading food from truck, computer assistant, which are listed on the website. They provide training for first time volunteers. You can ask to be placed on their volunteer email list. Email: foodpantry@crozetunitedmethodist.org Phone: 434-823-4420
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Please also keep an eye on Support Charlottesville, which is a hub for opportunities to give (and receive) material support. This is a very good way to stay informed, get involved and help your neighbors in need.
Stewardship Reminder
Despite the current (temporary) modification to the parish's schedule of services, meetings, and events, all parishioners are reminded of the pledges they have made as part of their stewardship commitment of time, talent and treasure. Some parishioners may encounter financial hardship during this time of crisis, and we can only give as we are able. That said, the parish must continue to meet its budgetary obligations and operating expenses. Please continue sending your contributions by to the church via US Mail:
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
PO Box 6981
Charlottesville, VA 22906
Special Intentions, Needs and Requests
A reminder to contact Father directly (fr.charles@mailbox.org | 443-204-4542) with any special prayer requests, intentions or concerns/needs, and he will make sure these are addressed.
Recent Prayer Requests
+All who have reposed in the Lord this week due to the pandemic
+Marsha (friend of Sue M.)
+Allen (cousin of Karen G.)
George & Eugenia (parents of Fr. Gregory C., healing)
Stuart (friend of Sbdcn David, healing)
Mary (friend of Sbdcn David, health)
Wanda (friend of Sbdcn David, healing)
Lydia (Mother of Elaine B., healing)
Doina (Godmother to Florin M., healing)
Stephanie and the child she bears
Infant John David (healing)
Toby and family
Gabriel (catechumen)
Tatiana (illness)
Liubov (mother of Anya B., healing)
Nicholas (friend of Sue M., healing)
Karen B. (healing)
Dorian (health and protection)
Chaplain Robby (serving those in prison)
Chaplain Joseph (serving those in prison)
Bill (mission work)
Elaine (mission work)
Fr. Robert and Pani Dobrodyka Christine (retirement)
All those working in defense of human dignity, justice and equality during this time of unrest
The hungry and the homeless, and all those struggling with mental illness and infirmity
All children born and unborn and for their parents
All those struggling financially during the pandemic, and for those whose basic necessities are out of reach
All medical personnel, first responders and others ministering to the sick, and those rendering vital services to their neighbors
All those in high-risk populations during this pandemic
Schedule of Upcoming Services
Sunday 13 September
9am: 3rd & 6th Hours
9:30am: Divine Liturgy
4pm: Vespers for the Feast of the Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross
Monday 14 September
8am: Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross
Sunday 20 September
9am: 3rd & 6th Hours
9:30am: Divine Liturgy
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 5th Tone
Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born for our salvation from the Virgin; for He willed to be lifted up on the Cross in the flesh, to endure death, and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.
Apolytikion for Temple of the Resurrection in the 4th Tone
You have revealed the beauty of the holy dwelling place of Your glory on earth to be like the splendor of the heavenly firmament, O Lord. Through the prayers of the Theotokos, strengthen it for ever and ever and accept our supplication
which we ceaselessly offer to You therein, the life and resurrection of all!
Apolytikion for Forefeast of the Exaltation in the 2nd Tone
We offer in supplication the life-creating Cross of Your goodness, O Lord,
which You have granted to us although we are unworthy. Through the Theotokos, save all Orthodox Christians, O only Lover of man!
Resurrectional Kontakion in the 5th Tone
You descended into hell, O my Savior, shattering its gates as Almighty, resurrecting the dead as Creator, and destroying the sting of death. You have delivered Adam from the curse, O Lover of Man, and we cry to You: “O Lord, save us!”
Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Tone
The Church has been revealed to be a heaven filled with light, which enlightens all the faithful. Standing within it we cry: “Establish this house, O Lord!”
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Matins Gospel Reading
Third Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:9-20
When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.
Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table; and he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."
So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. 6th 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.
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."
Wisdom of the Fathers
For not in heaven only is He, but everywhere, and He fills all things; but yet He speaks according to the infirmity of His hearer, desiring to lead him up little by little ... For after having spoken of the very great benefaction that had come to man by Baptism, He proceeds to mention another benefaction, which was the cause of this, and not inferior to it; namely, that by the Cross ...
Homily 27 on John 3, 4th Century
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 as some noble champion by lifting on high and dashing down his antagonist, renders his victory more glorious, so Christ, in the sight of all the world, cast down the adverse powers, and ... delivered them from all venomous beasts that vexed them, by being hung upon the Cross.
Homily 27 on John 3, 4th Century
"He gave His Only-begotten Son," not a servant, not an Angel, not an Archangel. And yet no one would show such anxiety for his own child, as God did for His ungrateful servants ... He who giveth life to others, much more to Himself doth He well forth life ... For He calls the Cross the fountain of life; which reason cannot easily allow, as the heathens now by their mocking testify. But faith which goes beyond the weakness of reasoning, may easily receive and retain it.
Homily 27 on John 3, 4th Century
Saints and Feasts
September 13
Forefeast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross
September 13
Cornelius the Centurion & Martyr
Saint Cornelius was a Roman by race, a pagan by religion, a centurion in rank, an inhabitant of Caesarea of Palestine, a man pious and God-fearing who gave many alms to the people and prayed continually unto God. In accordance with an angelic vision granted to him, he sent to Joppa that they might bring the Apostle Peter. Saint Peter catechized him in the Faith of Christ and baptized all his household (Acts, ch.10). This became the beginning and the first fruits of the calling of the nations. It is said that, after this, he became a bishop, as some say, of Caesarea; but others say of Scepsis, which is not far from Troas; and that he died as a martyr.