Services during this coming week:

Wednesday, March 19, 5:30 pm: Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Friday, March 21, 5:30 p.m.: Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos (Reader’s Service)

Saturday, March 22, 5:30 p.m.: Great Vespers

Sunday, March 23rd

The Third Sunday of Great Lent – The Sunday of the Holy Cross

Divine Liturgy is at 10:00 am Sunday morning,

  preceded by Matins (Orthros) at 9:00 am

Sunday Resurrection Hymn (Tone 6): Click here to listen, here for sheet music

When Mary stood at thy grave looking for thy sacred body,
angelic powers shone above thy revered tomb, and the soldiers who were to keep
guard became as dead men. Thou led Hades captive and wast not tempted thereby.
Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world. Thou who art risen
from the dead, O Lord, glory to Thee.

For 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 commonwealth.

What it looks like. What it sounds like.

THE EPISTLE

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.”

THE GOSPEL

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.”