We are a parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, and all are welcome to worship with us! Our services are in English. Please join us at our coffee hour downstairs after the service.

                                         Weekly Schedule
                                         Saturday Vigil                   5:00pm
                                         Sunday Divine Liturgy      9:30am
                                         Sunday Bible Study          after coffee hour
                                         Monday Inquirers Class    6:00pm
                                         Wednesday Akathist         6:30pm
                                         Friday Small Compline      6:30pm




Troparion of the Holy Cross, Tone 1: O Lord, save Thy people * and bless Thine inheritance. * Grant Thou victory unto Orthodox Christians * over their enemies, * and by the power of Thy Cross * do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth.

Kontakion of the Holy Cross, Tone 4:  O Thou Who wast lifted up willingly on the Cross, * bestow Thy mercies upon the new community named after Thee, O Christ God; * gladden with Thy power the Orthodox Christians, * granting them victory over enemies; * may they have as Thy help the weapon of peace, the invincible trophy.

Instead of the Trisagion: 

               Before Thy Cross we bow down in worship, O Master,
                    and Thy holy  Resurrection we glorify. Thrice
               Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
                   both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.  Amen. 
               And Thy holy Resurrection we glorify.
               Before Thy Cross we bow down in worship, O Master,
                    and Thy holy  Resurrection we glorify.

Today’s Readings
Epistle: 1st Corinthians 1:18-24
Gospel: John 19:6-11, 13-20, 25-28, 30-35

Instead of “It is truly meet…” we chant the Irmos of the 9th Ode of the First Canon of the feast, Eighth Tone:
 
    Refrain:  Magnify, O my soul, * the most precious Cross of the Lord.

     Irmos:   O Theotokos, thou art a mystical Paradise, * who untilled hast brought forth Christ. * He hath planted upon the earth the life-giving Tree of the Cross: * therefore at its exaltation on this day, * we worship Him and thee do we magnify.


+ Today, the Exaltation of the Cross, is a major feast, but it is also a day of strict fasting. Only lenten foods should be served at coffee hour today. The leavetaking of the feast is next Sunday, so please include the festal hymns in your daily prayers this week.

+ The Sunday Bible study will resume today after coffee hour.

+ The Inquirers Class continues Monday at 6:30pm.

+ This Tuesday is Lyudmilla Ibarra’s nameday, and Wednesday is the nameday of Nadezhda Ziablova, Sophia (Sonia) Marinaccio, Sophia (Emmie) Hammond, and Galina Bahanovich’s granddaugher Vera Hadzi-Antich. Many years!

+The icon of the Theotokos “Softener of Evil Hearts” from Russia is touring the US and will be at Holy Protection Church in Rochester this Wednesday. An akathist will be served before it at 6:30pm. There will be no regularly scheduled akathist here at Sts. Theodore this week. All are encouraged to go to Rochester!

+ Phocas Damiano’s surgery went well last week, thanks be to God. Please remember him in your prayers as he recovers.

+ Please remember in your prayers those traveling: Marcus Bursik is on sabbatical, and Larissa Samotowka’s son Michael is on a medical mission in Kenya.

"  Why do we honor the Cross with such reverence that we make mention of its power in our prayers after asking for the intercession of the Mother of God and the Heavenly Powers, before asking for that of the Saints, and sometimes even before asking for that of the Heavenly Powers? Because after the Saviour's sufferings, the Cross became the sign of the Son of Man, that is, the Cross signifies the Lord Himself, incarnate and suffering for our salvation.  "

            St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ


If you are visiting today:

+ There are service books underneath the candle stand that you may borrow and follow along in. If you get lost, ask your neighbor to help you find the page.

+ As you can see, we stand for most of the service. If you are not accustomed to this, please feel free to sit if you feel the need. No one will mind! You should still stand during the Scripture readings and when the priest comes through.

+ In the Orthodox tradition, women cover their heads in church, and extra scarves can be borrowed from the candle stand at the entrance.

+ You will see people making the sign of the cross and bowing. Feel free to follow suit or not, however you are comfortable. Again, no one will mind either way.

+ Feel free to venerate (kiss) the icons and purchase a candle to light. Commemoration slips for Orthodox, living and reposed may be placed on the tray by the candle stand. Please write down how many prosphora you would like (suggested donation: $1/ea.)

+ At the end of the service, you may come forward to venerate the hand-cross if you wish.

+ At our parish we do not pass a collection plate. Gifts are voluntary and can be left at the candle stand.

+ Anyone who wishes to receive Holy Communion must be an Orthodox Christian and make their Confession beforehand. Please speak with Fr. Peter for more information.

Confessions are heard at every evening service.