Holy Cross Orthodox Church

Recorded at the Greek Cathedral of the Annunciation during their 15th annual Lenten Retreat on April 4, 2009.

Recorded at the Greek Cathedral of the Annunciation during their 14th annual Lenten Retreat on April 5, 2008. Topics include genetics, cloning, stem cell research, euthanasia and end-of-life care.

This recording is from the March 2, 2008 special visit by Fr. Peter Gillquist, project leader for the New Orthodox Study Bible. Fr. Peter speaks frankly about the NOSB, the challenges of managing the project and provides many answers to questions presented regarding what is and is not included in this volume.

In February of 2008, Kh. Frederica Mathewes-Green spoke at a parish adult education class on the Kontakion of St. Romanos the Melodist, beginning with the Natity Kontakion and then the Akathist Hymn.

Four speakers from the 2007 Annual Lenten Retreat at the Annunciation Cathedral gave presentations on applying the Apostolic Tradition to pop culture.

In early November, 2006, the Orthodox Christian Laity held a conference in Baltimore, MD to discuss issues of and relating to administrative unity among the Orthodox jurisdictions in America.

Holy Cross parishioners were blessed to have Fr. John Oliver come to speak at our Nativity Retreat 2005. His knowledge, meekness and insight were an inspiration to all. We pray these mp3 downloads of his three sessions with us will equally deepen your own knowledge of Christ, the world and those around you.

At the 2005 summer convention of the Antiochian Archdiocese, Dr. Kyriacos Markides delivered a fascinating presentation on Christian Spirituality in the desert tradition; and how it relates to Orthodox laypersons. This mp3 was originally posted on the Antiochian Archdiocese website. Dr. Markides also has a new book available in our online bookstore, Gift of the Desert, speaking to the same subject.

This Akathist, also called the "Akathist of Thanksgiving," was composed by Protopresbyter Gregory Petrov shortly before his death in a prison camp in 1940. It is said that Father Gregory was murdered while in the prison camp, but not before he was able to pen the poignant hymn, giving to the Church and to the world light from great darkness, reminding us that even in the midst of frightful suffering true Christian conviction and courage are unconquerable. Holy Cross serves this Akathist the night before the American Thanksgiving Holiday.

The Divine Liturgy is the primary worship service of the Church. The Divine Liturgy is a eucharistic service containing two parts: the Liturgy of the Catechumens, sometimes called the Liturgy of the Word, at which the Scriptures are proclaimed and expounded, and the Liturgy of the Faithful, sometimes called the Liturgy of the Eucharist, in which the gifts of bread and wine are offered and consecrated. The Church teaches that the gifts truly become the body and blood of Jesus Christ, but it has never dogmatized a particular formula for describing this transformation.

Sunday Matins is the longest of the regular matins services. If this service is celebrated in its entirety it can last up to three hours. It usually contains a combination of canons taken from the Octoechos, Menaion, Triodion, and/or Pentecostarion. As a result, in parishes, abbreviations are often made, as they are at Holy Cross.

A hymn recalling the song of the three youths in Daniel 3.

This is a recording of the Paraklesis to the Mother of God by some of the parish chanters. Holy Cross offers the Paraklesis services the first Thursday of each month outside of Great Lent.