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Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Afterfeast of the Elevation of the Cross
St. Nicholas Bulletin - October 2, 2022
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Christ is in our midst! Христос међу нама! Cristo está entre nosotros! | |
Homily on the Cross of Christ
by St. Ephraim the Syrian
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In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...
Death trampled our Lord underfoot, but He in His turn treated death as a highroad for his own feet. He submitted to it, enduring it willingly, because by this means he would be able to destroy death in spite of itself. Death had its own way when our Lord went out from Jerusalem carrying his cross; but when, by a loud cry from that cross, he summoned the dead from the underworld, death was powerless to prevent it.
Death slew Him by means of the body which He had assumed, but that same body proved to be the weapon with which He conquered death. Concealed beneath the cloak of his manhood, His godhead engaged death in combat; but in slaying our Lord, death itself was slain. It was able to kill natural life, but was itself killed by the life that is above the nature of man.
Death could not devour our Lord unless He possessed a body, neither could hell swallow him up unless He bore our flesh; and so He came in search of a chariot in which to ride to the underworld. This chariot was the body which he received from the Virgin; in it he invaded death’s fortress, broke open its strong room and scattered all its treasures.
At length He came upon Eve, the mother of all the living. She was the vineyard whose enclosure her own hands had enabled death to violate, so that she could taste its fruit; thus the mother of all the living became the source of death for every living creature. But in her stead Mary grew up, a new vine in place of the old. Christ, the new life, dwelt within her. When death, with its customary impudence, came foraging for her mortal fruit, it encountered its own destruction in the hidden life which that fruit contained. All unsuspecting, it swallowed Him up, and in so doing, released life itself and set free a multitude of men.
He who was also the carpenter’s glorious son set up His cross above death’s all-consuming jaws, and led the human race into the dwelling place of life. Since a tree had brought about the downfall of mankind, it was upon a tree that mankind crossed over to the realm of life. Bitter was the branch that had once been grafted upon that ancient tree, but sweet the young shoot that has now been grafted in, the shoot in which we are meant to recognize the Lord whom no creature can resist.
We give glory to You, O Lord, who raised up Your cross to span the jaws of death like a bridge, by which souls might pass from the region of the dead to the land of the living. We give glory to You who put on the body of a single mortal man, and made it the source of immortality for every other mortal man. You are incontestably alive. Your murderers sowed Your body in the earth as farmers sow grain, but it sprang up and yielded an abundant harvest of men raised from the dead.
Come then, my brothers and sisters, let us offer our Lord the great and all-embracing sacrifice of our love, pouring out our treasury of hymns and prayers before Him who offered His cross in sacrifice to God for the enrichment of us all.
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Commemorating the Afterfeast of the Elevation of the Cross, St Theodore of Tarsus Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyrs Trophimus, Sabbatius and Dorymedon of Synnada, St Theodore Prince of Smolensk and Yaroslav, and his sons Saints David and Constantine, Martyr Zosimas the Hermit of Cilicia, Right-believing Great Prince Igor of Kiev and Chernigov
RESURRECTIONAL TROPARION—TONE 7
By Your Cross You destroyed death. To the thief You opened Paradise. For the Myrrhbearers You changed weeping into joy. And You commanded Your disciples, O Christ God, to proclaim that You are risen, granting the world great mercy.
ELEVATION OF THE CROSS TROPARION—TONE 1
O Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance! Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries; and by virtue of Your Cross, preserve Your habitation!
HOLY FATHER NICHOLAS TROPARION—TONE 4
Truly, you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith, an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence; your humility exalted you; your poverty enriched you. Hierarch Father Nicholas, entreat Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
RESURRECTIONAL KONTAKION—TONE 7
On the mountain You were transfigured, O Christ God, and Your Disciples beheld Your glory as far as they could see it; so that when they would behold You crucified, they would understand that Your suffering was voluntary, and would proclaim to the world that You are truly the Radiance of the Father.
ELEVATION OF THE CROSS KONTAKION—TONE 4
As You were voluntarily raised upon the cross for our sake, grant mercy to those who are called by Your Name, O Christ God; make all Orthodox Christians glad by Your power, granting them victories over their adversaries, by bestowing on them the Invincible trophy, Your weapon of Peace.
Instead of “It is truly meet…”
Magnify, O my soul, the Most Precious Cross of the Lord.
You are a mystical paradise, O Theotokos, in which Christ blossomed, through you, the life-bearing wood of the Cross was planted on earth. Now, at its elevation, as we bow before it, we magnify you.
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~Scripture Readings of the Day~ | |
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READERS:
This Week: Matins: Milan Radanovic, Epistle: Wayln John
Next Week: Matins: Nick Ressetar, Epistle: Marijana Rocknage
EPISTLE: Galatians 2:16-20 (Sunday after Elevation)
DEACON: Let us pay attention.
PRIEST: Peace be unto all!
READER: And with your spirit!
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: The Prokeimenon in the Seventh Tone: The Lord shall give strength to His people. The Lord shall bless His people with peace.
CHOIR: The Lord shall give strength to His people. The Lord shall bless His people with peace.
READER: v: Offer to the Lord, O you sons of God! Offer young rams to the Lord!
CHOIR: The Lord shall give strength to His people. The Lord shall bless His people with peace.
READER: The Lord shall give strength to His people.
CHOIR: The Lord shall bless His people with peace.
DEACON: Wisdom!
READER: The Reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Galatians
DEACON: Let us attend!
READER: Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make 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 lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
PRIEST: Peace be unto you, reader!
READER: And with your spirit! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: God is our King before the ages; He has worked salvation in the midst of the earth.
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
АПОСТОЛ: Галаћанима 2:16-20
Ђакон: Пазимо
Свештеник: Мир свима!
Читач: I Духу Твоме!
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач : ПРОКИМЕН- глас 7 Господ ће дати силу народу Своме; Господ ће благословити народ Свој миром.
Хор: Господ ће дати силу народу Своме; Господ ће благословити народ Свој миром.
Читач: Принесите Господу, синови Божји, принесите му младе овнове.
Хор: Господ ће дати силу народу Своме; Господ ће благословити народ Свој миром.
Читач: Господ ће дати силу народу Своме;
Хор: Господ ће благословити народ Свој миром.
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач: читање прве посланице коринћанима светога апостола Галаћанима
Ђакон: Пазимо
Читач: Браћо, знајући да се човјек не оправдава дјелима закона него вјером Исуса Христа, и ми повјеровасмо у Христа Исуса, да се оправдамо вјером Христовом а не дјелима закона, јер се дјелима закона ниједно тијело неће оправдати. Ако ли се ми, који тражимо да се оправдамо у Христу, нађосмо и сами грјешници, је ли онда Христос слуга гријеху? Боже сачувај! Јер ако опет зидам оно што развалих, показујем се да сам преступник. Јер ја законом закону умријех, да Богу живим. Са Христом се разапех; А живим – не више ја, него живи у мени Христос; а што сад живим у тијелу, живим вјером Сина Божијега, који ме заволи и предаде себе за мене.
Свештеник: Мир свима Читачу!
Читач: I Духом Твоме! Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Опомени се сабора својега, којег си стекао од старине.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Бог је Цар наш прије вјекова, који твори спасење посред земље.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
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LITURGY GOSPEL:
Mark 8: 34-9:1 (Sunday after Elevation); Matthew 25: 14-30
When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
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ЈЕВАНЂЕЉЕ:
Марко 8: 34-9:1,
Матеј 25: 14-30
И дозвавши народ са ученицима својим рече им: Ко хоће за мном да иде нека се одрекне себе и узме крст свој, и за мном иде. Јер ко хоће живот свој да сачува, изгубиће га, а ко изгуби живот свој мене ради и јеванђеља онај ће га сачувати. Јер каква је корист човјеку ако задобије сав свијет а души својој науди? Или какав ће откуп дати човјек за душу своју? Јер ко се постиди мене и мојих ријечи у роду овоме прељуботворном и грјешном, и Син ће се Човјечији постидјети њега кад дође у слави Оца својега са светим анђелима. И рече им: Заиста вам кажем: има неки међу овима што стоје овдје који неће окусити смрти док не виде Царство Божије да је дошло у сили.
"Јер царство небеско је као човек који путује у далеку земљу, који је позвао сопствене слуге и испоручио им своју робу. И једном је дао пет талената, другом два, а другом, свакоме у складу са својим способностима; и одмах је кренуо на пут. Онда је онај који је добио пет талената отишао и трговао са њима, и направио још пет талената. И исто тако, он који је добио два такође је добио још два. Али онај ко је примио једног је отиљао и копао по земљи, и сакрио новац свог господара. После дужег времена господар тих слуга је дошао и измирио рачуне са њима. "Дакле, он који је добио пет талената је дошао и донео још пет талената, говорећи: 'Господе, испоручио си ми пет талената; Види , стекао сам још пет талената поред њих.' Његов господар му је рекао: 'Свака част, добри и верни слуго; Био си веран у неколико ствари, натераћу те да владаш многим стварима. Уђите у радост свог господара.' Такође је дошао и он који је добио два талента и рекао, "Господе, испоручио си ми два талента; Види , стекао сам још два талента поред њих.' Његов господар му је рекао: 'Свака част, добри и верни слуго; био си веран због неколико ствари, Натераћу те да владаш над многим стварима. Уђите у радост свог господара.' "Онда је дошао онај који је добио једини таленат и рекао: 'Господе, знао сам да си тежак човек, да убираш тамо где ниси сејао, и да се окупљаш тамо где ниси расуо семе. И плашила сам се, и отишла и сакрила твој таленат у земљу. Види , ето ти шта је твоје.' "Али његов господар је одговорио и рекао му: 'Ти зли и лењи слуго, знао си да ја пожњем тамо где нисам сејао, и да се окупим тамо где нисам расуо семе. Требало је да уплатите мој новац банкарима, а на мом доласку бих примио свој са каматом. Зато узми таленат од њега, и дај му га који има 10 талената. 'За све који имају, биће дато више, а он ће имати изобиље; али од њега који нема, чак и оно што има биће одузето. И баци непрофитабилног слугу у вансеричну таму. Биће јецања и гњечења зуба.'
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~ The Week Ahead: Scriptures and Services ~ | |
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~Prayers for the Faithful~
In Our Prayers
The Newly Illumined Misha Aleksander Bowser, his parents and sponsors, Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop Youhanna, Protopresbyter Srboljub and Protinica Ljubica Jockovic, Protopresbyter Rodney Torbic, Popadija Sara Golic, Matushka Barbara Ealy, the child Katie Elizabeth and her parents Mileva and Michael Repasky, the child Metodija and his parents Fr. Dn. Milan and Mira Damljanovic, the child Danijela and her parents Mark and Jennifer Belo, Melissa Thomason and the child newly born of her, Clare Jurkovic and the child newly born of her, Jazmin Cruz and the child newly born of her, Lauren Spangler and the child newly born of her, Mara Bebeau and the child newly born of her, Addy Andy, Louise Bare, Dori Bert, Jonathan Bertsch, Darlene & Larry Black, Carole Blitva, Stephan and Barbara Blitva, Walter “Bud” Brown, Guiliana & Aleksandar Carricato, Leann Cox, Joseph Derk, Art Dils, Draga Donato, Tommy and Kara (Blitva) Dorsey, Anaya Garvin, Christian & Melanie Geib, Michael Geppert III, Dr Andrea Govelovich, Nick & Terry Govelovich, Kata Gruich, Dan Hazlett, Basil Havalchak, Travis Heilman, Adam Herigan, Edith Herigan, Nicole Stefan Imschweiler, Susan Jacobs, Tijana Jaksic, Slobodan Jovicic, Spencer Klinge, Ljuban Kosovac, Dorothy Krnjaich, Henry Laichak, Peter Lalic, Dragan Lalovic, Stella Wren Lappas, Catherine Lewis, Dick Livingston, Maggie Livingston, Stephen Lundingrin, Dianne & Jim Martin, Rowan Martin, Jack McFall, Annabelle McLaughlin, Marija Miljkovic, Daria Milletics, Infant of God Ryan Leigh Moffitt, Peter Mrgich, George Myers, Patty Navarro, Bosiljka Ninkovic, Eva Orr, Lila Packer, Daniel Paddock, Ljubomir Pejanovic, Vid & Marica Pejcic, Hope Pesner, Tracy Petrovich, Logan Roszkowski, Greg Selman, Michael Schaffner, Michael Semic, Steven Semic, Benjamin Shaffer, Tessa Shaffer, John Sheffer, Pat Shoemaker, Branko Smitran, Tracey Stanovich, Tim Stefan, Josephine Svitchan, Patricia & Joseph Sypniewski, Leonard Tepsich, Leroy Tepsich Jr, Edie & Michael “Bo” Venesevich, Rita Vorkapich, Kristina Vukalo, Steve Vulich, Paula Werner, Draga Worman, Dewey Yetter, Mileva “Millie” Yezdimir, Demetrios & Eleni Ziogas, Miriam “Mim” Codan Ziolkowski
Those Who Need Special Care
COUNTRY MEADOWS HERSHEY: Eva Stimac; COUNTRY MEADOWS MECHANICSBURG: Florence Ivanoff; MASONIC HOME ELIZABETHTOWN: Ray Foltz; RS: Cedo Lukic; SPRING CREEK: Chuck Belic
Those to be Baptized
Sloane Ivey & Berkeley Blythe Semic, Emilia Renee Peterson, Barrett Scott, Divna and Danica Mitrovic, Nora Katherine Van Huysen, Sloane York, Logan Michael Livingston, Bennett Noah Spangler, Ethan and Lauren Bebeau
Our College Students
Anastasija Gligorevic, Cayden Healy, Matthew Hoover, Sophia Mummert, Kobe Petrovich, Christina Radanovic, Ioanna Radanovic, Kyranna Radanovic, Maxim Reznitchenko, Madison Vorkapich
Our Dearly Departed Loved Ones
Matushka Anna Hopko, Protinica Miryana Trbuhovich, Protinica Donna Merick, Elizabeth Rupich, Margaret Radanovic, Nenad ‘Nesho’ Pantelich, Mark Gruin, Slobodanka Balaban, Mihailo Novakovic, Ljubica Tajkovic
~Vigils Offered~
BENNETT NOAH SPANGLER
Offered on the joyous occasion of his birth (September 12, 2022). May God always watch over you, cherish you, and keep you safely in his care. Congratulations to Lauren and Ross Spangler and big brother Ryan. May God grant you all many years! Given with love by Gram Doni, Grandpa Steve, Aunt Meghan, Uncle Brad, Mila and Logan.
BILL & BOBBI WENNER Offered as we celebrate the 34th Wedding Anniversary (October 1) of The Honorable William & Mrs Bobbi Wenner with great joy and pray God grants them Many More Blessings for Many More Years! Mnogaja Ljeta! Offered with love by grandson Baylor and the rest of the family and Kumovi.
SONORA VIOLA MAE CRUZ Offered for her 12th birthday (Oct 2) with prayers that our Lord continues to bless her with a life of joy, wisdom and achievement. She is our blessing! Given with love by Mommy, Ashtyn, Endora, GaGa, Aamaw, Kum Danilo, Kuma Emily, cousin Baylor and the rest of the family and Kumovi. Mnogaja Ljeta! Many Years!
TOOTSIE KRNJAICH Offering vigils and prayers for our Kuma Tootsie. May God’s blessings be with her during her rehab period. From her Godchildren, Kat and families.
DARLENE BLACK Offered with love by the Barber & Geib Families for God’s Blessings during her recovery. We pray that He will bless her with good health. Our Love & Prayers are with her.
MICHAEL GEPPERT Offered prayerfully by Mom & Dad for improvement in health and God’s blessings and loving care during his recovery.
†FLORENCE BRESCIA Offered in loving memory of Frank’s mother (30 years—Oct 5) by Frank and Marie Brescia and family. Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!
†JOSEPHINE SVITCHAN Offered in loving memory of Jane's mother who passed yesterday morning. May her soul dwell with the righteous and be numbered among the just. Vjecnaja Pamjat! Memory Eternal!
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Please continue to pray for all of those currently being persecuted for Christ's sake in Kosovo, Metohija, Montenegro, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the Sudan, China, North Korea, for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ suffering throughout the world, especially in Ukraine, that they might be comforted with the Joy of our Lord, and for all of those suffering from the pandemic, for those who minister, and for those who are unjustly persecuted that they may be strengthened by the love of Christ which knows no race.
LET US PRAY TO THE LORD!
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Stewardship Offering Information
Date 9/25/2022
Collection: $1,180.00
Date 9/18/2022
Collection: $1,306.00
Date 9/11/2022
Collection: $4,350.00
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October Birthdays
Caroline Donato (Oct 2), Dave Milletics (Oct 2), Sonora Viola Mae Cruz (Oct 2), Adeline & Peter Meadow (Oct 3), Marcia Breinich (Oct 4), Kate Nation (Oct 4), Madison Vorkapich (Oct 5), Lenny Tepsich (Oct 6), Craig Heilman (Oct 6), Alex Filepas (Oct 6), Owen Kingsbury (Oct 8), Dejan Raic (Oct 11), Arlene Barber (Oct 12), Dennis Ruff (Oct 12), Milan Yovic (Oct 15), Yovanka Hoover (Oct 17), Andrea Govelovich (Oct 17), Nicole Petrovich (Oct 18), Anastasija Gligorevic (Oct 18), Nina Gilroy (Oct 19), Mira Lukic (Oct 26), John Nicholas Hernjak (Oct 27), Carole Radosinovich (Oct 29), Jimi Werner (Oct 29), Marijana Rocknage (Oct 30), Brad Kingsbury, David Christ, Ognjen Pejanovic
October Anniversaries
Bobbi & William Wenner (Oct 1), Katya Kotchnyeva & Eric Garvin (Oct 10), Jean & Paul Martin (Oct 11), Angie & Jim Bagley (Oct 12), Daria & Dave Milletics (Oct 16), Mackenzie & Stefan Lazarevic (Oct 21), Janis & Greg Meadow (Oct 29)
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ANNUAL KSS PULLED PORK & PALACINKE SALE (DEADLINE TODAY)
The Kolo Srpskih Sestara/Circle of the Serbian Sisters will hold their annual fundraiser on Sunday, October 9. All sales are PRE-ORDER by TODAY, Oct 2. The menu will include pulled pork sandwiches for $6, cheese palacinke for $2, strawberry and apple butter palacinkes for $1.50. Pick up will be from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm on October 9. Forms are available on the tutors stand, or call Linda Yandric at 717-939-5309, or turn into the office today.
LIVING THE FAITH
A class dedicated to answering the questions of how to live a Life in Christ according to the Orthodox Faith. The third class will be on Wednesday, October 5 after Vespers (6:30pm). Each Wednesday, we will meet, pray together, and explore some of the beauty of a life well lived: a Life in Christ.
SAINT NICHOLAS SENIORS
The next meeting/luncheon for the Seniors will be Tuesday, October 11 at 12 noon in the Church Social Hall. Hope to see you there. Bring a friend or check with our parishioners who might be interested in joining. We meet the 2nd Tuesday of every month, except July and August, and the only criteria to join is you have to be 50 years or older.
SOTAYA ČEVAPI SALE
Our SOTAYA Group is once again selling frozen packs of cevapi at $15/pack (2 pounds, 32 pieces). To order see Dn. Bojan Gligorevic or call the office at 717-939-3872
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SPECIAL THANKS TO GOD
Bill and Ruth Yovanovich express their deep appreciation and thanks to all our church family at St Nicholas who remembered us with cards, letters, notes, prayers and other forms of encouragement during Bill’s recent surgery and hospitalization. We are blessed beyond measure and thank God for everything.
Thank you! The Seniors would like to thank everyone for supporting the Book Sale! The remaining books will be in the social hall until October 6. Please feel free to browse the tables while enjoying fellowship after Diving Liturgy or any time you are at the Church.
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October Charity
Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF)
OCF celebrates October as Orthodox Awareness Month and is the official campus ministry program established by the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) to support Orthodox Christian student organizations on university and college campuses. OCF offers support to 270 campus chapters in the US and Canada, convenes conferences and service projects, and encourages students to develop deeper connections to our faith. Visit the OCF website at www.ocf.net to learn more about their worship, service, and fellowship programs and to check on specific campus chapters. Penn State University at State College formed one of the earliest OCF chapters and continues to have an active agenda. Other Pennsylvania chapters include Hershey Medical School, F&M College, Millersville, Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg, Penn, Pitt, and Bucknell. There are also chapters at Delaware and Ohio State. Encourage college students in your family to participate with the OCF chapter on their campuses or to contact OCF for assistance in organizing a chapter. Participation is a great pan-Orthodox experience.
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MOTHER’S CLUB NUT ROLL SALE
It’s time again for the Mother’s Club
Nut and Poppy Seed Roll sale
Rolls are $20 each and the last day to order will be
Sunday, October 30th
Order forms are available at the tutors stand and can be turned in to Popadija Andreja.
Or call her at 717-939-0251
Pick Up will be Saturday, Nov 12 from 10 am - 12 noon
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The Elevation of the Precious an
and Life-Creating Cross of our Lord
From the Prologue of Ochrid
By St. Nikolaj
On this day are commemorated two events connected with the Precious Cross of Christ: the first, the finding of the Cross on Golgotha and the second the returning of the Cross to Jerusalem from Persia.
Staying in the Holy Land, the holy Empress Helena decided to took for the Precious Cross of the Lord. An old Jew called Judah was the only person who knew the whereabouts of the Cross, and, under pressure from the Empress, he revealed that the Cross was buried under the Temple of Venus that the Emperor Hadrian had built on Golgotha. The Empress ordered that this idolatrous temple be pulled down, and then, digging deep below it, she found three crosses. While the Empress was in uncertainty about how to recognize which cross was the Lord's, a funeral procession passed by. Then Patriarch Macarius told them to place the crosses one by one on the dead man. When they placed the first and second on him, the dead man remained unchanged, but when they placed the third on him, he was restored to life. By this, they knew that this was the Precious and life-giving Cross of Christ. After that, they placed it on a sick woman, and she recovered. Then the Patriarch raised the Cross aloft for all to see, and the people sang with tears: 'Lord, have mercy!' The Empress Helena had a silver casing made, and placed the precious Cross in it.
Later, King Chozroes conquered Jerusalem, took the people into slavery and carried the Lord's Cross off to Persia, where it remained for fourteen years. In 628, the Greek Emperor Heraclius was victorious over Chozroes and brought the Cross back to Jerusalem with great ceremony. Entering the city, Heraclius was carrying the Cross on his back, but suddenly the aged Emperor was unable to take another step. Patriarch Zacharias saw an angel directing the Emperor to take off his imperial robes and walk beneath the Cross along the way that Christ had walked, barefoot and humiliated as He had been. He passed this vision on to the Emperor, who stripped himself of his raiment and, in poor clothing and barefoot, took up the Cross, carried it to Golgotha and placed it in the Church of the Resurrection, to the joy and consolation of the whole Christian world.
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