Contents

The Orthodox Messenger

Vol. II, No. 37 – Sunday, September 14, 2003

Ecumenical Patriarchate + Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America + Metropolis of Atlanta

Services Held at St. Nicholas Chapel, 13460 Olympic Village Lane, Brooksville, FL -  (352) 796-8482

Website: http://orthodoxhernandocountyfl.org

Fr. Stanley S. Harakas,  Th.D, D.D., (352) 688-2382; Cell (352) 263-3005; Fax (352) 688-9846; Email: Rharakas@aol.com

==================================================================

THE ELEVATION OF THE HOLY CROSS

SEPTEMBER 14

The Elevation of the Holy Cross, celebrated on the fourteenth of September, commemorates the finding of Christ's Cross by Saint Helen, the mother of the Emperor Constantine in the 4th century. After the Cross was taken by the Persians in the 7^th century, the Emperor Heraclius recovered it. It was "elevated" in the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem. From this latter event the "universal elevation" of the Cross was celebrated annually in all of the churches of the Byzantine Christian Empire.            

    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 we receive over sin by the crucifixion of Christ.

   When we elevate the Cross and bow down before it in veneration and worship to God, we proclaim that we belong to God’s Kingdom that is "not of this world." As a result, our only true and enduring citizenship is with the saints in the "city of God" (Eph 2:19; Heb 11:10; Rev 21-22).

   That is why this day is a day of renewal of our Christian Faith. It is a day of re-commitment to Christ. Let us venerate the Holy Cross as it is elevated during services today, but also, let us learn to “elevate” the Holy Cross each day in our lives, keeping before us the message of the Gospel, the “Good News” of our Faith:

  “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.”  

                       Service Hours: Sundays and Feast days: Orthros at 9:30 am.; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am.

Sunday OF THE ELEVATION OF THE HOLY CROSS

                                    CHANGES OF HYMNSFOR THE FEAST

After the Doxology -  Dismissal Hymn of the Elevation of the Holy Cross

   (Sing) in Greek “Soson Kyrie ton laon Sou” Hymnal, 107

   Translation: “Save O Lord, Your people, and bless Your inheritance. Grant victory to the faithful against the adversaries of the Faith, and protect your people through Your Holy Cross.”

Second Antiphon, Hymnal, 18

   (Sing) “Save us, O Son of God, who was crucified on the Cross, we sing to you, alleluia.”

Gospel Entrance Dismissal Hymn

   (Sing) in Greek before the Entrance “Soson Kyrie ton laon Sou” Hymnal, 107

Entrance Hymn: Priest: Wisdom, arise! Exalt the Lord, our God, worship at His footstool; for He is holy. Priest and People: Save us, O Son of God, who was crucified in the flesh, as we sing to you. Alleluia.

Gospel Entrance Dismissal Hymn

    (Sing) in English after the Entrance “O Your Cross do we venerate” Hymnal, 107

Kontakion of the Elevation of the Cross

    Leaders sing in Greek “O eepsothees en to stavro ekousios”  

    (Read) You who were lifted on the Cross voluntarily, / O Christ our God, / bestow Your tender compassion / upon Your new community / to which You gave your name.

In place of “Holy God”

    (Sing) in Greek “Ton Stavron Sou” and in English “O your Cross”  Hymnal, 108

   EPISTLE  (Elevation of the Cross) –  1 Corinthians 1:18-24 + Brethren, the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

   GOSPEL (Elevation of the Cross) – John 19:6-11, 13-20, 25-28,30 + At that time, when the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no crime in him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he has made himself the Son of God." When Pilate heard these words, he was the more afraid; he entered the praetorium again and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore he who delivered me to you has the greater sin." When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called the Pavement, and in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!" They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King!" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross; it read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. Then when Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished"; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

   In the Place of “Axion Esti” the Leaders sing in Greek “Mystikos ee Theotoke”

   Translation: O Mother of God, you became a Mystical Paradise, when without tilling you brought forth Christ our God, by whom the life-giving Tree of the Cross was planted on earth. Therefore seeing Him on the Cross, we adore Him and we magnify you.

   In the Place of the Communion Hymn “Praise the Lord” (sing) in Greek “Eseimiothe ef’emas” and in English “Upon us shines” Hymnal, 91

   In the Place of “We have seen the true light,” (sing) in Greek “Soson Kyrie ton laon Sou” and in English “O Your Cross do we venerate” Hymnal, 107.

     CHRISMATION: Today, Patricia Lilore will be anointed in the Sacrament of Holy Chrismation so as to become a full member of the Orthodox Church. Congratulations!                                                 

     FOR THE RECORD:  Sunday, September 7- Attendance was 36; Candles - $57; Offering Tray – $63; Hospitality - $38.  Thanks to all for your support!  

     P.E.P CLASSES RESUME! Our Parish Educational Program resumes this coming Friday, September 19: “How to live the Orthodox Christian life in relation to the world.”

     THANKS TO Betty Roussos and her crew for a very successful “Cool Summer Luncheon,” held on Sunday, August 31. Everyone in attendance enjoyed the tasty event!

   PROSFORON BAKERS: Fran Triantafilon 9/14 (Feast of the Cross); Fran Mather 9/21; Betty Roussos 9/28 (New Prosforon baker! Welcome!) Presbytera Emily Harakas 10/5; Connie Mourgides 10/12 Venice Cosmadelis 10/19; George Nikas 10/26.

Come To Church Regularly!

HELLENIC ORTHODOX MISSION

OF HERNANDO COUNTY

P.O. BOX 5566

SPRING HILL, FL 34611

“A Pan-Orthodox Christian Community”

• Bulletins
• Contact
• Directions
• Education
• Events
• Fr. Harakas
• Links
• Newspaper
• Photos