Triodion

Sunday 7th of April 2024

Sunday of the Holy Cross Veneration

Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church & National Shrine

The original Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church was part of the vibrant multi-ethnic World Trade Center neighborhood. A centerpiece of the community since its founding in 1916, the Church was ultimately destroyed when the South Tower collapsed on 9/11/2001.

Now rebuilt and reopened as the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine, we welcome all people to the fullness of the Orthodox Faith and to join the continued mission of bringing light and life to Lower Manhattan.

STEWARDSHIP

LINK & QR CODE

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine

Philoptochos Chapter

After the tragic events of 9/11, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine is joyfully celebrating the re-forming of its historical Philoptochos Chapter this Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross.The first members pioneering the Philoptochos Chapter of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine continuing the mission and the legacy are:

Susan Papacostas, President

Maria Douvas, 1st VP

Anthoulas Vithoulkas, 2nd VP

Elena Sarkissian, Corr.Sec’y

Arianna Firpo, Rec.Sec’y

Stacey Tsapatsaris, Treasurer

Regina Katopodis, Asst.Treasurer

HOMELESS MINISTRY

Every month, a team of faithful volunteers assembles and delivers 80 bagged meals to New York City’s most vulnerable:

those without food and shelter.

We operate rain or shine.

We invite volunteers who would like to help us prepare and distribute meals to attend on the dates which will be forthcoming. Meals will be distributed near a select location close to the Shrine immediately following the Divine Liturgy.

We are actively looking for sponsors and volunteers to support this ministry. Here are a few ways to do so:

Donate the full amount to cover one month of our meals program: $350
Partial sponsor (share however much you can offer) or split with a friend
Volunteer to sponsor specific items (gloves, paper goods, and more)

If you are interested in sponsoring in one of the ways listed above

click the button below or scan the QR

HOMELESS MINISTRY

FLOWER DECORATION DONATION

As the Holy 40day Lent unfolds and Holy Week with Easter approaches, we invite you to partake in the cherished tradition of adorning St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine with beautiful flowers.

These floral offerings symbolize renewal, life, and the radiant glory of the Resurrection.

This year, we seek contributions for the Epitaphio flower decorations—a centerpiece of our Good Friday services, representing the Tomb of Christ—as well as for the general beautification of our church during this most holy time.

Your generous donations will help us create a fittingly beautiful environment for our worship and reflection, capturing the spirit of Easter in every bloom and arrangement.

How to Donate:

Please press our dedicated button below to make your contribution.

Every flower placed in our church is a testament to our community’s faith, love, and the shared joy of Easter.

Join us in this meaningful expression of devotion and celebration.

May the beauty of Easter fill your hearts as we together honor this sacred season.

FLOWER DONATION

EASTER TSOUREKI ORDER FORM

ORDER BY APRIL 15TH 2024

TAP TO ORDER

SERVICES OF THE COMING WEEK

Services on the Website

Monday 8th of April 2024

The Great Compline Service

12:30 PM - 1:15 PM

Wednesday 10th April 2024

Vesperal Presantcified Divine Liturgy

5:00 PM- 6:30 PM

Join us for the

Lenten Lecture Series

this Wednesday after the

Vesperal Presanctified Divine Liturgy.

Speaker: Fr. Bartholomew Mercado

"The Canons of the Church as Liberation"

7 PM - 8 PM

Friday 12th of April 2024

Annual Bowling Green Greek Flag Raising

Ceremony & Parade.

Join us for the official start to the

Parade Weekend with Doxology

at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine presided by

His Eminence Archbishop Eplidophoros of America

followed by a parade down Broadway and a flag raising ceremony.

Friday 12th of April 2024

The 4th Salutations to the Theotokos

Small Compline with the Akathist to the Theotokos Service

5PM- 6PM

4th Sunday of the Lent

Sunday 14th of April 2024

Sunday of St John of the Climacus

Matins 9:00 AM

Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great 10:30 AM

NAMES FOR COMMEMORATION

5 DAY CANDLE

You may offer names for commemoration and light a 5-day candle during any service.

We will light your 5-day candle in front of the icon of the Mother of God, of St. Nicholas or any other Feast of the Lord, the Mother of God or of a Saint we celebrate and commemorate those you want to offer prayers for during the service and send you back a photo moment.

Select one of the service you want prayers to be offered.
Click the button below.
Send in the names of those in life and of those departed.
We will share with you a photo moment of the candle lighting during the prayers after the service is completed.

CLICK HERE FOR NAMES COMMEMORATION AND TO LIGHT A 5 DAY CANDLE $20

ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΟΝ-SYNAXARION

Τῇ Ζʹ τοῦ αὐτοῦ μηνός, μνήμη τοῦ Ἁγίου Μάρτυρος Καλλιοπίου.
Τῇ αὐτῇ ἡμέρᾳ, μνήμη τοῦ ἐν Ἁγίοις Πατρὸς ἡμῶν Γεωργίου, Ἐπισκόπου Μυτιλήνης, τοῦ Σημειοφόρου (θαυματουργοῦ).
Τῇ αὐτῇ ἡμέρᾳ, μνήμη τοῦ Ἁγίου Μάρτυρος Ῥουφίνου Διακόνου.
Τῇ αὐτῇ ἡμέρᾳ, ἡ Ἁγία Μάρτυς Ἀκυλίνα, τὰς χεῖρας εἰς τοὐπίσω δεσμευθεῖσα καὶ τὴν κοιλίαν φλεχθεῖσα, τελειοῦται.
Τῇ αὐτῇ ἡμέρᾳ, μνήμη τῶν Ἁγίων διακοσίων Μαρτύρων τῶν ἐν Σινώπη, ξίφει τελειωθέντων.
Τῇ αὐτῇ ἡμέρᾳ, μνήμη τοῦ Ὁσίου καὶ Θεοφόρου Πατρὸς ἡμῶν Σάββα τοῦ νέου τοῦ ἑν Καλύμνῳ.

Τοῦ Τριωδίου.

Τῇ αὐτῇ ἡμέρᾳ, Κυριακῇ τρίτῃ τῶν Νηστειῶν, τὴν Προσκύνησιν ἑορτάζομεν τοῦ τιμίου καὶ ζωοποιοῦ Σταυροῦ.

Στίχοι

Τὸν Σταυρὸν γῆ σύμπασα προσκυνησάτω, διʼ οὗ περ ἔγνωκε σὲ προσκυνεῖν, Λόγε.

Τῇ αὐτοῦ δυνάμει, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, καὶ ἡμᾶς τῶν τοῦ πονηροῦ διαφύλαξον ἐπηρειῶν, καὶ τὰ θεῖά σου Πάθη, καὶ τὴν ζωηφόρον Ἀνάστασιν προσκυνῆσαι ἀξίωσον, τὸ τεσσαρακονθήμερον εὐμαρῶς διανύσαντας στάδιον, καὶ ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς ὡς μόνος ἀγαθὸς καὶ φιλάνθρωπος.

On April 7 we commemorate the holy martyr Kalliopios.
On this day we also commemorate our father among the saints George, Bishop of Mytilene, the worker of signs and wonders.
On this day we also commemorate the holy martyr Rufinus the deacon.
On this day the holy martyr Aquilina died after they tied her hands and burned her body.
On this day we also commemorate the holy two-hundred martyrs in Sinope who died by the sword.
On this day we also commemorate our devout and God-bearing father Savas the new of Kalymnos.

From the Triodion.

On this day, the third Sunday of Lent, we celebrate the veneration of the precious and life-giving Cross.

Verses

Let all the earth adore the Cross,

Through which it learned to adore You, the Word.

By the power of Your Cross, O Christ our God, guard us against the wanton assaults of the evil one, and make us worthy to worship Your divine Passion and life-bringing Resurrection, to finish the course of the forty-day fast with ease, and have mercy on us, as You alone are good and benevolent.

Matins Service

Link for the Matins Service Book

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Link for the Divine Liturgy Service Book

Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἀναστάσιμον.

Ἦχος γʹ.

Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος· ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον· πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο· ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐῤῥύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Resurrectional Apolytikion.

Mode 3.

Let the heavens be glad. Let the earth rejoice exceedingly. For the Lord has shown strength with his arm. He trampled death by death. He became the first-born of the dead. Out of the belly of Hades, He has rescued us, and to the world He has granted the great mercy.

Τῆς Ἑορτῆς.

Ἦχος αʹ.

Σῶσον, Κύριε, τὸν λαόν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου, νίκας τοῖς βασιλεῦσι κατὰ βαρβάρων δωρούμενος, καὶ τὸ σὸν φυλάττων διὰ τοῦ Σταυροῦ σου πολίτευμα.

For the Feast.

Mode 1.

Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting victory to the faithful over the enemy, and by Your Cross protecting Your commonwealth.

Ἀπολυτίκιον

Ἦχος δʹ.

Ἁγίου Νικολάου Ἀρχιεπισκόπου Μύρων τῆς Λυκίας

τοῦ θαυματουργοῦ

Κανόνα πίστεως καὶ εἰκόνα πραότητος, ἐγκρατείας διδάσκαλον, ἀνέδειξέ σε τῇ ποίμνῃ σου, ἡ τῶν πραγμάτων ἀλήθεια· διὰ τοῦτο ἐκτήσω τῇ ταπεινώσει τὰ ὑψηλά, τῇ πτωχείᾳ τὰ πλούσια, Πάτερ ἱεράρχα Νικόλαε· πρέσβευε Χριστῷ τῷ Θεῷ, σωθῆναι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν.

Apolytikion.

Mode 4.

Saint Nicholas the Wonder-worker

Archbishop of Myra in Lycia

A rule of faith are you, and an icon of gentleness, and a teacher of self-control. And to your flock this was evident, by the truth of your life and deeds. You were humble and therefore you acquired exalted gifts, treasure in heaven for being poor. O Father and Hierarch St. Nicholas, intercede with Christ our God, and entreat Him to save our souls.

Κοντάκιον.

Ἦχος πλ. δʹ. Αὐτόμελον.

Τῇ ὑπερμάχῳ.

Τῇ ὑπερμάχῳ στρατηγῷ τὰ νικητήρια,

Ὡς λυτρωθεῖσα τῶν δεινῶν εὐχαριστήρια,

Ἀναγράφω σοι ἡ Πόλις σου Θεοτόκε.

Ἀλλʼ ὡς ἔχουσα τὸ κράτος ἀπροσμάχητον,

Ἐκ παντοίων με κινδύνων ἐλευθέρωσον,

Ἵνα κράζω σοι· Χαῖρε νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε.

Kontakion.

Mode pl. 4. Automelon.

O Champion General, I your City now inscribe to you

Triumphant anthems as the tokens of my gratitude,

Being rescued from the terrors, O Theotokos.

Inasmuch as you have power unassailable,

From all kinds of perils free me, so that unto you

I may cry aloud: Rejoice, O unwedded Bride.

Epistle Reading

Εβρ 4:14-16, 5:1-6

Ἀδελφοί, ἔχοντες ἀρχιερέα μέγαν διεληλυθότα τοὺς οὐρανούς, Ἰησοῦν τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ, κρατῶμεν τῆς ὁμολογίας. οὐ γὰρ ἔχομεν ἀρχιερέα μὴ δυνάμενον συμπαθῆσαι ταῖς ἀσθενείαις ἡμῶν, πεπειραμένον δὲ κατὰ πάντα καθ᾽ ὁμοιότητα χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας. προσερχώμεθα οὖν μετὰ παρρησίας τῷ θρόνῳ τῆς χάριτος, ἵνα λάβωμεν ἔλεον καὶ χάριν εὕρωμεν εἰς εὔκαιρον βοήθειαν. Πᾶς γὰρ ἀρχιερεὺς ἐξ ἀνθρώπων λαμβανόμενος ὑπὲρ ἀνθρώπων καθίσταται τὰ πρὸς τὸν Θεόν, ἵνα προσφέρῃ δῶρά τε καὶ θυσίας ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν, μετριοπαθεῖν δυνάμενος τοῖς ἀγνοοῦσι καὶ πλανωμένοις, ἐπεὶ καὶ αὐτὸς περίκειται ἀσθένειαν· καὶ διὰ ταύτην ὀφείλει, καθὼς περὶ τοῦ λαοῦ, οὕτω καὶ περὶ ἑαυτοῦ προσφέρειν ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν. καὶ οὐχ ἑαυτῷ τις λαμβάνει τὴν τιμήν, ἀλλὰ καλούμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ, καθάπερ καὶ Ἀαρών. οὕτω καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς οὐχ ἑαυτὸν ἐδόξασε γενηθῆναι ἀρχιερέα, ἀλλ᾽ ὁ λαλήσας πρὸς αὐτόν· υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε· καθὼς καὶ ἐν ἑτέρῳ λέγει· σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδέκ.

Heb. 4:14-16; 5:1-6

Brethren, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; as he says also in another place, “You are a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

Gospel Readings

Μκ ηʹ 34 – θʹ 1

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· Ὅστις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἀκολουθεῖν, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι. ὃς γὰρ ἂν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι, ἀπολέσει αὐτήν· ὃς δ᾿ ἂν ἀπολέσῃ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, οὗτος σώσει αὐτήν. τί γὰρ ὠφελήσει ἄνθρωπον ἐὰν κερδήσῃ τὸν κόσμον ὅλον, καὶ ζημιωθῇ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ; ἢ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ; ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν ἐπαισχυνθῇ με καὶ τοὺς ἐμοὺς λόγους ἐν τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ τῇ μοιχαλίδι καὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ, καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπαισχυνθήσεται αὐτὸν ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐν τῇ δόξῃ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων τῶν ἁγίων. Καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι εἰσί τινες τῶν ὧδε ἑστηκότων, οἵτινες οὐ μὴ γεύσωνται θανάτου ἕως ἂν ἴδωσι τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐληλυθυῖαν ἐν δυνάμει.

Mk. 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.”

SUNDAY OF THE HOLY CROSS

April 7

THE GOSPEL READING

Mark 8:34-38; 9:1

[Take Up the Cross and Follow Him]

THE SERMON

The Lord Jesus and His disciples were traveling throughout the towns of Galilee, and He asked them, “Who do men say that I am?” The disciples said, “Some say John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets.” To this, Jesus replied, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” From this moment on, Jesus began to teach His disciples that the Son of Man must suffer many things, be rejected by the religious leaders, be killed, and after three days rise again.

When Peter heard this, he objected. Having recognized that Jesus was the Messiah (which is the meaning of “Christ”), he could only conceive that the Savior of Israel would triumph over all enemies through the exercise of power and not weakness, much less death. He could not yet understand that the Cross is the means through which death would be destroyed, and all spiritual enemies would be defeated. Therefore, this became the occasion when the Lord taught His disciples that the door to eternal life will always open on the other side of the cross. He said: “If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” This is an invitation for us to draw close to the Lord and become like Him. For if we die with Him, we will also live and reign with Him.

The cross was the Roman Empire’s tool for cruel punishment, torture, and execution. However, Christ transforms all things, and He turns even sorrow and pain into paths towards healing and redemption. He destroys death by death. The most significant symbol of death in the ancient world has become a symbol of life and resurrection for us. The Cross of our Lord was the means through which He triumphed over death and became a Sacrifice for our redemption. In this way, the cross is, for us, a symbol of our suffering in imitation of Christ and a promise of His victory. The Holy Cross is the sign and sacrament of the liberation and restoration we have been given because of Christ’s sacrifice. By the Cross, we are united to Him and protected by Him. In the Apolytikion of the Holy Cross, we chant, “Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance; grant victory to the faithful over their adversaries, and protect Your people, by the power of Your Cross.”

Trials and tribulations are inevitable in this world, but the Holy Spirit gives us His grace to persevere and, through endurance, to acquire faith, hope, and love. Jesus tells us that whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for His sake and the gospel’s will save it. As Saint John Chrysostom says, “For your soul, if you lose it, you will have no other soul to give: yea, though you had the world . . . you would not be able, by paying down all earthly goods, with the earth itself, to redeem but one soul.”

The greatest paradox of Christian living is that when we try to hold on to the things of this world in a selfish way, we lose them. We also lose eternal life because we have made earthly possessions and pleasures our ultimate treasure. On the other hand, paradoxically, when we center our lives on God and do everything as an expression of our love for Christ and our neighbor, we enter into fellowship with God in this life and we receive eternal life with Him in heaven as well.

We practice self-denial, especially during this time of Great Lent, out of our love for God and obedience to the Gospel. Therefore, taking up our cross is neither a punishment nor an end in and of itself, but rather how we overcome this fallen world for the Kingdom of God. Cooperating with the grace of God in the Holy Spirit, we crucify our “flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24), and we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit who lives in us so that we can walk by His power and according to His will.

We are called to carry our personal cross — a cross of desires, passions, sins, and challenges in life. When we set aside the things that take us farther from God and choose the path of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, we begin to bear the fruit of the Spirit, which is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). The Lord calls us to die to our broken selves so that we can be made new in Him. It is important to remember that even if our cross becomes heavy, we know that there is the resurrection behind every cross. The Divine Light of God shines in and through us on the other side of the cross. This is why the Lord revealed that light to His disciples in the Transfiguration, which took place right after He spoke these words.

The last sentence of this gospel reading — “there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power” — refers to the Holy Transfiguration. Indeed, Peter, John, and James saw the Kingdom of God as a power and as light at the Holy Transfiguration. We can experience this same power and light of the Kingdom of God during the Divine Liturgy as well as in our personal prayer, especially the Jesus Prayer (“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.”).

Bearing the cross of Christ takes work. It requires that we deny our selfish will so that we are ready to receive Christ. It requires that we empty our hearts so we can be filled with the Holy Spirit. At the same time, we need to remember to love ourselves as creations of God to help others who are also creations of God. We learn to live in faith, hope, and love by taking up our cross and following Him. In faith, we know He is with us even in trials. In hope, we know that the Light of the Resurrection awaits us on the other side of the cross. In love, we learn that, as it was with Christ, the way to God’s glory is through humility and perseverance.

The only way out is through. The way to glory passes through the cross daily. After having given Himself entirely and without reservation for our redemption, Christ was seated at the right hand of the Father in glory. We too will reign with Him if we take up our cross and follow Him.