Church Bulletin - Septebmer 15 2002 - Sunday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Sunday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross - September 15, 2002
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Gal 2:16-20; Mk 8:34-9:1]
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THE FEAST OF THE ELEVATION OF THE HOLY CROSS

Soon after proclaiming Christianity to be the official religion of the Empire, Constantine the Great embarked on an ambitious project of building magnificent churches upon the holy places that marked significant events in the life of our Lord. Of primary interest to him was, not only constructing an edifice on the site of Christ's Crucifixion, but finding our Savior's Cross as well.

In 326 A.D. St. Helena, the Emperor's mother, led an expedition to Jerusalem to accomplish this purpose. It seemed like an impossible task, for the enemies of the Church had long since buried the Cross, covering it with debris and refuse and erecting a pagan temple on this sacred ground. Through the help of an elderly man (ironically named Judas), Helena was able to locate the area where the Cross was buried. Intense excavation unearthed three crosses: Christ's and that of the two thieves crucified with Him. But which was which?

It is the tradition of the Church that a sick woman and a dead man were placed on each cross. The miraculous and life-giving powers of the Cross of our Lord were soon made manifest, as the woman was healed instantly and the dead man immediately revived! The Cross had been found!
A great crowd had already gathered, and after properly venerating it, Patriarch Makarios stood on a high place and lifted up, or "elevated" the Cross so that everyone could see this precious relic. It is said that everyone immediately fell to their knees, praying repeatedly: LORD HAVE MERCY
True to his word, Constantine built an enormous church there, with the place of Christ's Crucifixion and His Burial contained under one roof. It was consecrated on September 13, 335 A.D.

KURIAKH META THN UYWSIN
TOU TIMIOU STAUROU
Nikhvta Megalomavrturo~

JAnastavsimon jApolutivkion

Eujfrainevsqw tav oujravnia, ajgalliavsqw tav ejpivgeia, o{ti ejpoivhse kravto~, ejn bracivoni aujtou`, oJ Kuvrio~: ejpavthse tw`/ qanavtw/ tovn qavnaton: prwtovtoko~ tw`n nekrw`n ejgevneto: ejk koiliva~ a/{dou ejrjrJuvsato hJma`~, kaiv parevsce tw`/ kovsmw/ tov mevga e[leo~.

SUNDAY AFTER THE ELEVATION
OF THE HOLY CROSS
Niketas the Great Martyr

Resurrection Dismissal Hymn

Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord, by His mighty Arm, has created a Dominion. He has conquered death by death, and become the firstborn of the dead. He has delivered us from the depths of Hades, and has granted the world great mercy.

jApolutivkion tou` Staurou`

jJSw`son Kuvrie, tovn laovn sou, kaiv eujlovghson thvn klhronomivan sou, nivka~ toi`~ basileu`si katav barbavrwn dwrouvmeno~, kaiv tov sovn fulavttwn, diav tou` Staurou` sou polivteuma.

Dismissal Hymn 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.

jApolutikion tou` JAgivou Nikolavou

Kanovna pivstew~ , kaiv eijkovna praovthto~, ejgkrateiva~ Didavskalon, ajnevdeixev se th`/ poivmnh/ sou, hJ tw`n pragmavtwn ajlhvqeia: diav tou`to ejkthvsw th`/ tapeinwvsei tav uJyhlav, th`/ ptwceiva/ tav plouvsia, Pavter iJeravrca Nikovlae: prevsbeue Cristw`/ tw`/ Qew`/, swqh`nai tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

Dismissal Hymn of St. Nicholas

An example of the Faith and a life of humility, as a teacher of abstinence you did inspire and lead your flock and through your truthfulness of your deeds were exalted by greatness through your humility uplifting all and by poverty gaining wealth. Father and hierarch Nicholas intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.

Kontavkion

JJO uJywqeiv~ ejn tw`/ Staurw`/ eJkousivw~, th`/ ejpwnuvmw/ sou kainh`/ politeiva/, touv~ oijktirmouv~ sou dwvrhsai Cristev oJ Qeov~: Eu[franon ejn th`/ dunavmei sou, touv~ pistouv~ basilei`~ hJmw`n, nivka~ corhgw`n aujtoi`~, katav tw`n polemivwn: thvn summacivan e[coien thvn suvn, o{plon eijrhvnh~ ajhvtthton trovpaion.

Kontakion

Lifted up on the Cross by Your free will, Christ God, grant mercies to the new commonwealth that bears Your name. Gladden our faithful rulers by Your power, giving them victory over their adversaries. May Your alliance be for them a weapon for peace, an invincible standard.

jjApovstolo~
Prokeivmenon. \Hco~ d j. (Yalmov~ rg j).
JW ejmegaluvnqh tav e[rga sou, Kuvrie: pavnta
ejn sofiva/ ejpoivhsa~.
Stivc. Eujlovgei, hJ yuchv mou, tovn Kuvrion.
Prov~ Galavta~ jEpistolh`~ Pauvlou tov jAnavgnwsma.
Kef. B j 16<20

jAdelfoiv, eijdovte~ dev o{ti ouj dikaiou`tai a[nqrwpo~ ejx e[rgwn novmou ejavn mhv diav pivstew~ jIhsou` Cristou`, kaiv hJmei``~ eij~ Cristovn jIhsou`n ejpisteuvsamen, I{na dikaiwqw`men ejk pivstew~ Cristou` kaiv oujk ejx e[rgwn novmou, diovti ouj dikaiwqhvsetai ejx e[rgwn novmou pa`sa savrx. Eij dev zhtou`nte~ dikaiwqh`nai ejn Cristw`/ euJrevqhmen kaiv aujtoiv aJmartwloiv, a[ra Cristov~ aJmartiva~ diavkono~; mhv gevnoito. Eij gavr a{ katevlusa tau`ta pavlin oijkodomw`/, parabavthn ejmautovn sunivsthmi. Ejgwv gavr diav novmou novmw/ ajpevqanon, I{na Qew`/ zhthvsw. Cristw`/ sunestauvrwmai: zw` dev oujkevti ejgwv, zh`/ dev ejn ejmoiv Cristov~: o{ dev nu`n zw` ejn sarkiv, ejn pivstei zw` th`/ tou` uiJou` tou` Qeou` tou` ajgaphvsantov~ me kai paradovnto~ eJautovn uJpevr ejmou`.

Epistle
Prokeimenon. Fourth Tone. Psalm 103.24, 1.
O Lord, how magnificent are your works.
You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
The reading is from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Galatians
Chapter 2: 16-20.

Brethren, yet who know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I built up again those things which I tore down, then I prove 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 who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Eujaggevlion
JEk tou` katav Markon.
Kef. h j (8), 34<38. q j (9), 1

Ei\pen oJ Kuvrio~: {Osti~ qevlei ojpivsw mou ejlqei`n, ajparnhsavsqw eJautovn, kaiv ajravtw tovn staurovn aujtou`, kaiv ajkolouqeivtw moi. {O~ gavr a[n qevlh/ thvn yuchvn aujtou` sw`sai, ajpolevsei aujthvn: o{~ d j a[n ajpolevsh/ thvn yuchvn aujtou` e{neken ejmou` kaiv tou` Eujaggelivou, ou|to~ swvsei aujthvn. Tiv gavr wjfelhvsei a[nqrwpon, ejavn kerdivsh/ tovn kovsmon o{lon, kaiv zhmiwqh`/ thvn yuchvn aujtou`_ h[ tiv dwvsei a[nqrwpo~ ajntavllagma th`~ yuch`~ aujtou`_ {O~ gavr ejavn ejpaiscunqh`/ me kaiv touv~ ejmouv~ lovgou~ ejn th`/ genea`/ tauvth/ th`/ moicalivdi kaiv aJmartwlw`/, kaiv oJ UiJov~ tou` ajnqrwvpou ejpaiscunqhvsetai aujtovn, o{tan e[lqh/ ejn th`/ dovxh/ tou` Patrov~ aujtou`, metav tw`n jAggevlwn tw`n aJgivwn. Kaiv e[legen aujtoi`~: ajmhvn levgw uJmi`n, o{ti eijsiv tine~ tw`n w|de ejsthkovtwn, oi{tine~ ouj mhv geuvswntai qanavtou, e{w~ a[n i{dwsi thvn Basileivan tou` Qeou` ejlhluqui`an ejn dunavmei.

Gospel
From the Gospel according to St. Mark
Chapter 8:34-38, 9:1

The Lord said, "If any man would 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 of 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 that the kingdom of God has come with power."

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
1260 Davis Street, San Jose, California 95126