Sunday, September 14, 2025

Elevation (Exaltation) of the Holy Cross

This feast is celebrated as one of the most important in the Church Year because it commemorates two events of great significance. After St. Helen had found at Jerusalem the cross upon which Christ was crucified, she built a Church on Mount Calvary to hold the precious relic. The Christians held the Holy Cross in such high regard that they soon began to celebrate this feast in honor of the finding of the Cross.

In the year 614, the Persians invaded the Empire and took Jerusalem, and sent the case containing the Cross back to their country. For fifteen years the Greek Emperor Heraclius waged war against the Persians, and finally in 629 defeated them, forcing them to make peace, and to restore the Holy Cross to him. It is said that the case containing the sacred relics was returned to him with the seals still unbroken. The Relics were replaced in the Church with great rejoicing, and to the original Feast in honor of the finding of the Cross was added another, in honor of its safe return to Jerusalem.

A special feature of the Church Services on this day, is the procession in which the Cross is borne aloft on a tray of flowers and placed in the midst of the Church; the Priest then elevates it to the four corners of the compass, blessing thrice with it as he does so, and praying that God will protect and preserve the President and the Civil Authorities of our country and the Armed Forces, and guard and guide the Hierarchs and clergy of the Church, and protect and preserve all His faithful people from every evil.

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.

John 19:6-11, 13-20, 25-28, 30-35: At that time, the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death. And they came to Pontius Pilate saying, “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 art Thou from?” But Jesus gave no answer. Pilate therefore said to Him, “Wilt Thou not speak to me? Knowest Thou not that I have power to release Thee, and power to crucify Thee?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over Me unless it had been given you from above. 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 led him away, 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, with 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. Now standing by the Cross of Jesus were His mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, 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. After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now fulfilled, said, “It is finished’; and He bowed His head and gave up the spirit. Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. So, the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him; but when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true.

Troparion of the Holy Cross: O Lord, save thy people and bless thine inheritance, granting to thy people victory over all their enemies, and by the power of thy Cross preserving thy kingdom.

Kontakion of the Holy Cross: Do thou, who of thine own good will wast lifted up upon the Cross, O Christ our God, bestow thy bounties upon the new nation which is called by thy Name; make glad in thy might those who lawfully govern, that with them we may led to victory over our adversaries, having in thine aid a weapon of peace and a trophy invincible.

The Anti-Trisagion Hymn: Before Thy Cross we bow down in worship, 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 ages of ages. Amen. And we glorify Thy Holy Resurrection…Dynamis! Before Thy Cross we bow down in worship, Master, and we glorify Thy Holy Resurrection.

Calendar

Sunday, September 14, 2025 (Elevation of the Holy Cross)

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Monday, September 15, 2025

Father Herman off

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

No Services

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

6:30 PM – Daily Vespers

Thursday, September 18, 2025

NO Services

Friday, September 19, 2025

No Services

Saturday, September 20, 2025

6:00 PM – Great Vespers

Sunday, September 21, 2025 (Sunday after the Elevation of the Holy Cross)

8:50 AM – Orthros

9:00 AM – Christian Education

10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy

Special Announcements

The Eucharist Bread was provided by the Algoods for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

September 14 Algood

(Elevation of the Holy Cross) Karam/Snell/Meadows

September 21 Schelver Algood/Schelver

September 28 Jones Baker/Jimmy Jones/Rodriguez

Schedule for Epistle Readers – Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of Epistles) located on the chanters’ stand at the front of the nave. Please be sure to use book when you read.

Reader Reading Page#

September 14 Reader Basil Baker I Cor 1:18-24 311-312

September 21 Reader Chad Miller Gal 2:16-20 193

September 28 Brandon Strain II Cor 6:1-10 168

Congratulations and many years to Jaylon Dear and Harrison Bobbit who were received as catechumens last Sunday. Please keep them in your prayers as they make their journey into the “One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church”.

Potluck Meals: Everyone who attends the potluck meals during the month is encouraged to bring a dish to share with everyone. This is to ensure that there is enough food for all to partake. Over the past several months we have been running out of food before everyone has an opportunity to go through the line. This also applies to the Festal Liturgies that may be served during the week and the Soup Suppers after Presanctified Liturgies during Lent. Thank you all for your help with this.

Please remember the following in your prayers: Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Lamia Dabit and her family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Jay and Joanna Davis; Fr. Leo and Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver and their family; Marilyn (Kyriake) Snell; Jack and Jill Weatherly; Dn.Terry Algood and their family; Fr. Joseph Bittle; Rick Carlton; Very Rev. Fr. Nicholas and Kh. Jan Speier; Lee Greene; Fr. John and Kh. Janet Henderson and their family; Galina Singletary; Emily and Cole Parker.

Please remember that we still need your tithes and offerings which may be placed in the tray that is passed during Divine Liturgy, in the tithe box at the back of the nave or be mailed to: St. Peter Orthodox Church, P.O. Box 2084, Madison, MS 39130-2084.

The dates for the upcoming Fall Retreat at St. Ignatius in Franklin, TN are September 19-20. An email containing this information has been emailed out. Registration is now open. Please check your email for the link.

As a friendly reminder, in regards to coffee hour, the church will provide beef sticks, cheese cubes, crackers, cookies, and orange juice. For sponsors of baptisms/chrismations a reception may be held after the service and may have whatever food the sponsors would like to provide in celebration of this occasion. If you wish to bring a snack for your children, please be responsible for the clean up of those items. Coffee hour is not meant to be a meal, but a means to break the fast with a snack and visit with each other. Also, as a friendly reminder, please make sure kids are not getting ice in the kitchen without adult supervision.

Calendar Items

* The men of the parish meet for lunch at 11:00 a.m. on the first Thursday of the month

* The Ladies meet for dining on the last Tuesday of the month. Times will vary.

* The Ladies meet at the church at 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month to pray the

Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children on behalf of our children.

* The Ladies of St Peter will meet every third Sunday during Coffee Hour. The next scheduled

date is September 21st .

* The DOMSE Fall Retreat will be September 19-20

* Church Work Day – Saturday, September 20th at 8:30

* The remaining date for serving at Stewpot Ministries is Saturday, September 27th

Fasting Discipline for September

The traditional fasting discipline is observed on Wednesdays and Fridays. The Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross, September 14 is a strict fast day.

Major Commemorations for September

September 14 Elevation of the Precious Cross

September 23 Conception of the Forerunner

September 24 Proto-martyr Thekla

September 26 Apostle John the Theologian (repose)

September 28 Venerable Chariton

Quotable: “Understand the words of Holy Scripture by putting them into practice, and do not fill yourself with conceit by expatiating on theoretical ideas. He who neglects action and depends on theoretical knowledge holds a staff of reed instead of a double-edged sword; and when he confronts his enemies in time of war, ‘it will go into his hand, and pierce it’ (2 Kgs. 18:21), injecting its natural poison.”

+ St. Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain

Worship: September 21, 2025 (Sunday after the Elevation of the Holy Cross)

Scripture: Gal 2:16-20; Mark 8:34-9:1

Epistle Reader: Reader Chad Miller

Prosphora: Schelver

Coffee Hour: Algood/ Schelver