Happy New Ecclesiastical Year in the Orthodox Church

September 01 is the beginning of the new Church year for all Orthodox Christians.

It is also known as the Indiction, as this was a decree introduced by Saint Constantine the Great, in AD 312, after he saw the Cross in the heavens, and conquering Maxentius, became Emperor.

In Holy Tradition, the Church also celebrates our Lord’s entry into the synagogue in Nazareth to begin His Mission.    He was handed the Book of Isaiah to read and He opened to where it was written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me…"  Luke 4: 16-22

Our Church has the following feast day celebrations, among many others, for the month of September:

• The Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary
  September 8

• The Holy & Righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna
  September 9

• The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross                    September 14

This Feast day is celebrated for two historical reasons.   In 325 AD, Saint Helen, the mother of the Emperor and Saint Constantine the Great, went to Jerusalem to seek the Cross of Christ.  On Golgotha, a pagan temple had been erected to Aphrodite, which St. Helen had destroyed and after digging,  three crosses were unearthed.  Unsure which cross belonged to our Lord, St. Macarius, the Archbishop of Jerusalem at that time, presented the three crosses to a woman, who was on her death bed from a certain disease.   When she was given the true Cross she was healed immediately.  The Cross was elevated for the first time, and the people cried out, “Lord have mercy.”   The Cross was placed in a beautiful church built by St. Helen until 614 AD, when Jerusalem was pillaged and the Cross was taken by the Persians.   In 628 AD, Emperor Heraclius of Constantinople, attacked the Persians and upon retrieving the Cross, he returned it to Jerusalem, where it was elevated for the second time.

September also begins the many youth and adult programs of our church and we encourage anyone who wishes to join to contact us.  

The various programs and their starting dates are

SUNDAY SCHOOL begins September 22

GREEK SCHOOL begins September 16

GOYA BASKETBALL                                                                            Attention all children going into the 7th grade or later, if you are interested in joining the basketball teams. Paper work needs to be completed ASAP! Additionally, for all interested players there are summer practices being held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 to 9:30 in the gym. Hope to see you there!

ALTAR BOYS                                                                                           Attention parents, please contact Father George ASAP if your sons want to join the altar boys in September.

BIBLE STUDY                                                                                           Bible Study will resume on Tuesday, September 24th at 7:00 pm.

BIBLICAL GREEK                                                                                           Starting Thursday, October 3rd George Plamantouras will offer a class for better understanding of the Greek language of the Divine Liturgy.

For more information please visit our website at www.holytrinityeggharbor.com