Τhe Holy Cross Ο Τίμιος Σταυρός

STS. CONSTANTINE & HELEN GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF BROOKLYN ΚΑΘΕΔΡΙΚΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΑΓΙΩΝ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΕΛΕΝΗΣ 64 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201 Telephone: (718) 624-0595 Fax Telephone: (718) 624-2228 www.stconstantinecathedral.org Dean: Fr. John K. Lardas fatherjohn@afantis.org *** ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH OF THE WTC ΝΑΟΣ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΝΙΚΟΛΑΟΥ ΤΟΥ WTC Third Tone-11th Morning Gospel /Ήχος Γ Εωθινόν ΙΑ *********************************************************************************** Τhe Holy Cross Ο Τίμιος Σταυρός "The Cross is the guardian of the whole world; the Cross is the beauty of the Church, the Cross is the might of kings; the Cross is the confirmation of the faithful, the Cross is the glory of angels and the wounding of demons." (Exapostilarion of the Exaltation of the Cross) Τὸν Σταυρόν σου προσκυνοῦμεν Δέσποτα, καὶ τὴν ἁγίαν σου Ἀνάστασιν δοξάζομεν.

Κυριακή 3η Απριλίου, 2016 Κυριακή Γ των Νηστειών Σταυροπροσκυνήσεως). Νικήτα τοῦ Ὁμολογητοῦ, Ἡγουμένου τῆς Μονῆς τοῦ Μηδικίου. Του Ὁσίου Πατρὸς ἡμῶν Ἰωσὴφ τοῦ Ὑμνογράφου. Θεοδοσίου και Ειρήνης των Μαρτύρων. Αναστάσιμο Απολυτίκιον Ήχος Γ 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 ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Απολυτίκιον του Τιμίου Σταυρού Σώσον Κύριε τόν λαόν σου καί ευλόγησον τήν κληρονομίαν σου, νίκας τοίς Βασιλεύσι κατά βαρβάρων δωρούμενος καί τό σόν φυλάττων διά τού Σταυρού σου πολίτευμα. Απολύτίκιον Αγίων Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης Τοῦ Σταυροῦ σου τὸν τύπον ἐν οὐρανῷ θεασάμενος, καὶ ὡς ὁ Παῦλος τὴν κλῆσιν οὐκ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων δεξάμενος, ὁ ἐν βασιλεῦσιν, Ἀπόστολός σου Κύριε, Βασιλεύουσαν πόλιν τῇ χειρί σου παρέθετο ἣν περίσῳζε διὰ παντὸς ἐν εἰρήνῃ, πρεσβείαις τῆς Θεοτόκου, μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε. Απολυτίκιον Αγίου Νικολάου 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. Κοντάκιον Τὴ ὑπερμάχω στρατηγῶ τὰ νικητήρια, ὡς λυτρωθεῖσα τῶν δεινῶν εὐχαριστήρια, ἀναγράφω σοὶ ἡ Πόλις σου Θεοτόκε, Ἀλλ' ὡς ἔχουσα τὸ κράτος ἀπροσμάχητον, ἐκ παντοίων μὲ κινδύνων ἐλευθέρωσον, ἵνα κράζω σοί, Χαῖρε νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε. Sunday April 3rd, 2016 3rd Sunday of Lent. (Veneration of the Holy Cross). Nicetas, Abbot of the Monastery of Medicium. Joseph the Hymnographer. Theodosia and Irene the Martyrs. Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 3rd Tone Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm, He hath trampled upon death by death. The first-born of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us, and hath granted great mercy to the world. Apolytikion of the Holy Cross Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting our rulers to prevail over adversaries, and protecting Your commonwealth by Your Cross. Apolytikion of Sts. Constantine and Helen Having seen the image of Thy Cross in Heaven, and like Paul, having received the call not from men, Thine apostle among kings entrusted the commonwealth to Thy hand, O Lord. Keep us always in peace, by the intercessions of the Theotokos, O only Friend of man. Apolytikion of St. Nicholas The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, an icon of meekness, and a teacher of temperance; for this cause, thou hast achieved the heights by humility, riches by poverty. O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved. Seasonal Kontakion To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"

Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου. Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου. Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 4:14-16; 5:1-6 Ἀδελφοί, ἔχοντες οὖν 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 καθʼ ὁμοιότητα, χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας. Προσερχώμεθα οὖν μετὰ παρρησίας τῷ θρόνῳ τῆς χάριτος, ἵνα λάβωμεν ἔλεον, καὶ χάριν εὕρωμεν εἰς εὔκαιρον βοήθειαν. Πᾶς γὰρ ἀρχιερεύς, ἐξ ἀνθρώπων λαμβανόμενος, ὑπὲρ ἀνθρώπων καθίσταται τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεόν, ἵνα προσφέρῃ δῶρά τε καὶ θυσίας ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν μετριοπαθεῖν δυνάμενος τοῖς ἀγνοοῦσιν καὶ πλανωμένοις, ἐπεὶ καὶ αὐτὸς περίκειται ἀσθένειαν καὶ διὰ ταύτην ὀφείλει, καθὼς περὶ τοῦ λαοῦ, οὕτως καὶ περὶ ἑαυτοῦ, προσφέρειν ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν. Καὶ οὐχ ἑαυτῷ τις λαμβάνει τὴν τιμήν, ἀλλὰ καλούμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ, καθάπερ καὶ Ἀαρών. Οὕτως καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς οὐχ ἑαυτὸν ἐδόξασεν γενηθῆναι ἀρχιερέα, ἀλλʼ 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. O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance. Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God. St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 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, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek." Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 8.34-38, 9.1 Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος Εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν, 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. The Gospel of Mark 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."

Σταυροπροσκυνήσεως Η τρίτη Κυριακή των Νηστειών ονομάζεται <<Κυριακή της Σταυροπροσκύνησης>>. Μετά από τη μεγάλη Δοξολογία στον όρθρο, ο Σταυρός μεταφέρεται σε μια σεμνή πομπή στο κέντρο του ναού και παραμένει εκεί όλη την υπόλοιπη εβδομάδα, οπότε στο τέλος κάθε ακολουθίας γίνεται προσκύνηση του Σταυρού. Αξίζει να σημειωθεί ότι το θέμα του Σταυρού, που κυριαρχεί στην υμνολογία αυτής της Κυριακής, παρουσιάζεται όχι μέσα στα πλαίσια του πόνου, αλλά της νίκης και της χαράς. Βρισκόμαστε στη μέση της Μεγάλης Σαρακοστής. Από τη μια πλευρά η φυσική και πνευματική προσπάθεια, αν είναι συστηματική και συνεχής, αρχίζει να μας γίνεται αισθητή, το φόρτωμα να γίνεται πιο βαρύ, η κόπωση πιο φανερή. Έχουμε ανάγκη από βοήθεια και ενθάρρυνση. Α- πό την άλλη πλευρά, αφού αντέξουμε αυτή τη κόπωση και έχουμε αναρριχηθεί στο βουνό μεχρι αυτό το σημείο, αρχίζουμε να βλέπουμε το τέλος της πορείας μας και η ακτινοβολία του Πάσχα γίνεται πιο έντονη. Η Σαρακοστή είναι η σταύρωση του εαυτού μας, είναι η εμπειρία - περιορισμένη βέβαια - που αποκομίζουμε από την εντολή του Χριστού που ακούγεται στο ευαγγελικό ανάγνωσμα αυτής της Κυριακής: <<όποιος θέλει να με ακολουθεί, ας απαρνηθεί τον εαυτό του ας σηκώσει το σταυρό του, και έτσι ας με ακολουθεί>> (Μαρκ.8,34).Αλλά δεν μπορούμε να σηκώσουμε το σταυρό μας και ν' ακολουθήσουμε το Χριστό αν δεν α- τενίζουμε το Σταυρό που Εκείνος σήκωσε για να μας σώσει. Ο δικός Του Σταυρός είναι εκείνος που δίνει νόημα αλλά και δύναμη στους άλλους. Αυτό μας εξηγεί το συναξάρι της Κυριακής: Στη διάρκεια της νηστείας των σαράντα ημερών, κατά κάποιο τρόπο, και μείς σταυρωνόμαστε, νεκρωνόμαστε από τα πάθη, έχουμε την πίκρα της ακηδίας και της πτώσης, γι' αυτό υψώνεται ο τίμιος και ζωοποιός Σταυρός, για αναψυχή και υποστήριξή μας. Μας θυμίζει τα πάθη του Κυρίου και μας παρηγορεί.. Είμαστε σαν τους οδοιπόρους σε δύσκολο και μακρινό δρόμο που, κατάκοποι, κάθονται για λίγο να αναπαυθούν. Με το ζωοποιό Σταυρό γλυκαίνει την πίκρα που νοιώθουμε από τη νηστεία, μας ενισχύει στη πορεία μας στην έρημο έως ότου φθάσουμε στην πνευματική Ιερουσαλήμ με την ανάστασή Του.. Επειδή ο Σταυρός λέγεται Ξύλο Ζωής και είναι εκείνο το ξύλο που φυτεύτηκε στον Παράδεισο, γι' αυτό και οι θείοι Πατέρες τοποθέτησαν τούτο στο μέσο της Σαρακοστής, για να μας θυμίζει του Αδάμ την ευδαιμονία και την πτώση του α- πό αυτή, να μας θυμίζει ακόμα ότι με τη συμμετοχή μας στο παρόν Ξύλο δεν πεθαίνουμε πια αλλά ζωογονούμαστε>>. The Holy Cross The Holy Cross is celebrated by us Orthodox Christians annually on September 14th and during the 3rd Sunday of Great Lent. Why do we have a feast of the Holy Cross? What makes the Holy Cross so important for us Christians that we dedicate an entire Feast to it. So important, the church has established a strict fast day on September 14? The Feast of the Holy Cross begins as early as August 6. Forty days before the feast of the Holy Cross, on the day of the Transfiguration of Christ, the church prepares us for the big feast of September 14. In the Orthros service of August 6th, we sing the seasonal Katavasies of the Holy Cross. Once again we ask, why is such an significance placed on the feast of the Holy Cross? One non-christian individual may ask, why do we venerate and glorify the weapon that killed our God? One can say, we should despise the cross and treat it as a symbol that is against our religion instead of the symbol that defines our religion. Are they right? Should we be treating the cross the way we do in our present day lives?when we consider the Holy Cross being one of the most precious symbols of our faith, we underestimate its true meaning. We don t realize why we venerate and glorify the cross in the manner that we do. The Cross for us Christians is our key to eternal life. St. John Maximovitch tells us, Before the time of Christ, the cross was an instrument of punishment; it evoked fear and aversion. But after Christ's death on the Cross it became the instrument of our salvation. Through the Cross, Christ destroyed the devil; from the Cross He descended into hades and, having liberated those languishing there, led them into the Kingdom of Heaven. The sign of the Cross is terrifying to demons and, as the sign of Christ, it is honored by Christians. Through the resurrection of our Lord, the Cross became instrumental in our salvation. It is through the Holy Cross that we are able to hope for the salvation of our souls. What would our life be like today if we didn t have the hope of salvation after death? What would be our meaning in life? This is why the Holy Cross is a precious symbol of Christianity and why we venerate and glorify it in the manner that we do. The Crucifixion and the Resurrection together makes the symbol of the Cross as important as it is in our life. Without the Holy Cross, we would not know the feast of feasts in our faith, the Great and Holy Pascha.When we think of all these feasts 2014 years after the events took place, we sometimes view them as mere traditions and myths, and not as true events that actually took place. If we stop, think and take in the facts of these events as if they are happening today, would we treat them differently? Would we take them more seriously? Think of the fact that a human being was humiliated; was literally lifted and nailed to a cross as if it was happening today in the middle of Brooklyn. How would we treat the day it happened knowing it was our God on that cross? Lets always honor the day of the Holy Cross and all the feasts of our Lord the way we are expected to as Christians in the best way we truly are able too. Take a couple hours off of work in the morning and attend church if your work allows it, fast for the day to honor the Holy Cross. Lets always be active in the life of our church in the best way we can.

Καθημερινές Ακολουθίες 4 Απριλίου- Μέγα Απόδειπνο 3:00μμ. 6 Απριλίου - Προηγιασμένη Θεία Λειτουργία-6:30μμ -Μελέτη των Ασκητικών Έργων του Μεγάλου Βασιλείου, στην αίθουσα του Ναού. 8 Απριλίου -Δ Χαιρετισμοί-7:30μμ Σήμερα Ετήσιο Γεύμα Φασολάδας της Φιλοπτώχου μετά τη Θεία Λειτουργία στην αίθουσα της εκκλησίας. Προσεχώς Μνημόσυνο-10 Απριλίου Παναγιώτης Ζεπάτος 1 χρόνο Weekday Services April 4- Great Compline 3:00pm April 6 - Pre-Sanctified Divine Liturgy-6:30pm -Study of the Ascetical Works of St. Basil the Great in the church hall after the Divine Liturgy. April 8-4th Salutations to the Theotokos 7:30pm Today Philoptochos Annual Fasolada Luncheon in the church hall after the Divine Liturgy. Upcoming Memorial April 10 Panagiotis Zepatos 1 year Ανακοινώσεις 10 Απριλίου Εθνική Παρέλαση 15 Απριλίου Αγρυπνία Ακάθιστου Ύμνου 7:30μμ 17 Απριλίου- Αρχιερατική Θεία Λειτουργία υπό του Θεοφιλεστάτου Επισκόπου Ζήλων κ. Σεβαστιανού. Εκατοστή Επέτειος της τοποθέτησης του ακρογωνιαίου λίθου του Καθεδρικού μας ναού. 24 Απριλίου- Κυριακή των Βαΐων Ο Σύλλογος Γονέων και Διδασκάλων θα προσφέρει το ετήσιο γεύμα Μπακαλιάρου Announcements April 10 Greek Independence Day Parade April 15 Vigil of the Akathyst Hymn 7:30pm April 17 Hierarchical Divine Liturgy officiated by his Grace Bishop Sebastian of Zela. 100th year Anniversary of the Cornerstone Laying of our Cathedral April 24 -Palm Sunday- P.T.O. Annual Bakaliaro Luncheon Δωρεάν Παρκινγκ στον Καθεδρικό μας Τώρα μπορείτε να παρκάρετε στο Edison Park Fast απέναντι από την εκκλησία δωρεάν κάθε Κυριακή. Μετά την Θεία Λειτουργία, επικυρώσετε το εισιτήριο σας στο γραφείο της εκκλησίας από ένα μέλος του διοικητικού συμβουλίου. Free Parking at our Cathedral You can park your car at Edison Park Fast parking lot across the street from the church on Sundays for Free. Just come to the church office following Divine Liturgy to get your ticket validated by a board member.

Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan District Olympics May 27-29, 2016 Please visit www.goado.com to register! After you click on ON-LINE REGISTRATION CLICK HERE on the homepage, you will find two registration sections on the actual registration page. READ THE DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY!!! Section 1 - this is for families who have not participated in this past year's DADGOBL basketball program which did on-line registration. Basically this is a link to create a family profile with one ID and password for all your children. Every participant needs to have a baptismal and birth certificate uploaded, so these should be scanned to your computer prior to starting the registration process. If your baptismal includes your date of birth, you can scan it 1x and include it on both uploads (when required). This process takes about 5 minutes to create the family profile and another 2-3 minutes for each participant --- as long as you have your scanned docs ready. Section 2 - this is for families who have participated in this past year's DADGOBL basketball program and already have an on-line family profile. You will need to login and register each of your children. This process takes less than 2 minutes. Please remember that this is a new process for all of us so be patient and read before you click. If you do this correctly first time, then registering for new events is a breeze. ****** Hotel Registration Register Now! Hotel Rooms are filling up! https://bookings.ihotelier.com/upsky-long-island-hotel/bookings.jsp? hotelid=73590&groupid=1552524 At Suffolk County Community College (Brentwood Campus) If you need help, do not hesitate to contact the church office at 718-624-0595 or email churchassistant@afantis.org and we will walk you through the process.

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Ό Καθεδρικός Ναός των Αγίων Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένη θα πραγματοποιήσει προσκυνηματική εκδρομή στο Μοναστήρι του Αγίου Νεκταρίου 9 Απριλίου, 2016 Join the Cathedral of Sts. Constantine and Helen on a Pilgrimage to St. Nektarios Monastery in Roscoe, NY Please call the church office to reserve your seat 718-624-0595