a a strike us, as Scripture says. St. Gregory’s Journal It is a raising up for those September, 2019 - Volume XXIV, Issue 8 who lie fallen, a support for those who stand, a staff for the infirm, a crook for the St. Gregory the Great Orthodox Church shepherded, a guide for the A Western Rite Congregation of the Antiochian Archdiocese wandering, a perfecting of 13407 Roxbury Rd., Silver Spring, MD -- stgregoryoc.org the advanced, salvation for soul and body, an averter of very action of Christ and all His all evils, a cause of all good From working of miracles were truly very things, a destruction of sin, E a plant of resurrection, and great and divine and wonderful, but of The Orthodox a tree of eternal life. all things the most wonderful is His Faith by honorable Cross. For by nothing else o, then, that honorable and most truly venerable tree upon St. John of except the Cross of our Lord Jesus Swhich Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice for us is itself to be Christ has death been brought low, the adored, because it has been sanctified by contact with the sacred Damascus sin of our first parent destroyed, hell body and blood. So also are the nails, the lance, the garments, and plundered, resurrection bestowed, the such sacred resting places of His as the manger, the cave, saving d.749 power given us to despise the things of Golgotha, the life-giving tomb, Zion the citadel of the churches, this world and even death itself, the and others. . . . Now, if the house, the bed, and the clothing of our road back to the former blessedness made smooth, the gates loved ones are dear to us, then how much more the things of our of paradise opened, our nature seated at the right hand of God, God and Savior by which we also have been saved! and we made children and heirs of God. nd we also adore the likeness of the honorable and life-giving Cross, even though it be made of another material, not that we his we have been given as a sign on our forehead, just as Israel A honor the material—God forbid!—but the likeness as a symbol of was given the circumcision, for by it we faithful are set apart T Christ. Thus, when He explained to His disciples, saying: “Then from the infidels and recognized. It is a shield and armor and a shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven” [Matt 24:30], trophy against the Devil. It is a seal that the Destroyer may not He meant the Cross. . . . Therefore, the sign of Christ is to be adored, for, wherever the sign may be, there He, too, will be. If, Inside: however, the form should happen to be destroyed, the material of which the likeness of the Cross was composed is not to be adored, St. Cornelius, & ...... 3 even though it be gold or precious stones. Thus, we adore Parish News...... 5 everything that has reference to God, although it is to Him that we From Kh. Becky...... 5 direct the worship. Calendar...... 7 2 ishop of Carthage and the other African took St. Cornelius, Pope & Martyr Bthe same position on forgiveness. When the pope called for a Feast Day ~ in 251 and ordered that those who had relapsed could be received back into the Church, the decision was accepted.

Behold, how good and pleasant a thing it is when brethren dwell ersecutions returned later that year under the Emperor Gallus, together in unity. [Psalm 133:1] Pwho sent Pope Cornelius into exile where he died in 254. Some accounts say that his death was due to the hardships he suffered in he psalmist’s ideal has always been that of the Church but it exile and others say that he was beheaded. Whatever the actual Thas taken many struggles in many different times to achieve facts of his death, Cornelius is venerated as a martyr for the faith. the ideal. In the 3rd century, particularly, the unity of the Church was challenged from within and without. St. Cornelius experienced nlike his friend Cyprian, St. Cornelius did not leave these challenges during his papacy. Uwritings - theological treatises, sermons, expositions of Scripture. But his letters reveal much about the organization of the ornelius’ predecessor, St. Fabian, Church in 3rd century . For the first time, the office of Cwas martyred during the persecutions is mentioned and we learn from the letters that the Roman instigated by Emperor . Rome was church had 46 , seven , seven , 42 then without a bishop for over a year and over 1500 widows and other persons in need. The fact until 251, in a temporary period of quiet, that his letters from exile are written in the colloquial Latin instead Cornelius, a Roman , was elected of classical Latin or Greek suggests that Cornelius was not from a pope. Almost immediately, the newly- wealthy family who had provided him with an excellent education. elected pontiff was challenged by another Roman priest, , who had himself o for a brief period, until another priest, Arius, stirred up consecrated as a rival bishop of Rome. Sanother controversy, unity was established in the Church - unity that was: like the precious ointment that ran down upon the he issue which prompted this extreme head, that ran down upon the beard even Aaron’s beard. [Ps. 133:2] Taction was whether those who had weakened and given tribute to the Roman gods or produced false isagreements and even differences in theological documents saying that they had, could be readmitted to the Church. Dinterpretations are bound to arise in the Church and some of Novation and his followers took a hard line on this issue and these have resulted in schisms from the Church. But the major declared that no one who had apostatized could be received back controversies were settled in the seven Ecumenical Councils, and into the fold of the Church. But Pope Cornelius, remembering the the conciliar approach to the resolution of disagreements was teachings of Christ and the Gospel stories about forgiveness, established, following the example of the Apostles at the Council declared that anyone who was truly repentant, confessed their sin, of Jerusalem [Acts 15]. and spent an appropriate period of time in , could return to full communion. ow, as Christians face renewed persecutions from without, let Nus strive to maintain unity among ourselves beginning on the 3 4 Address Correction Requested Si c/

S o t. parish level. We must avoid stirring up conflict, judging the l v 8 er Sp Gr Orthodoxy of others, criticizing our bishops, for these are the first 0 4

steps in destroying the unity of the Church. Holy Cornelius, pray E. Ran egor for us in our efforts at maintaining this unity. ri n g y , M

d O o D l Parish News r p thodox 2 h 0 Rd 9

wo important feast days fall on 0 . Sundays this month: the Nativity 4

T

of the on September 8 and C the feast of St. the hu

on September 29. The Exaltation of r c the Holy Cross, on Saturday, h September 14, will be celebrated with Matins at 9:30AM and Mass at 10AM. The annual Parish Picnic will follow with good food and fellowship.

r. Nicholas and Kh. Becky have Fnow moved next to the church. Thanks to all who provided help with packing, lifting and moving. In time the church may be allowed access from Randolph Road via the driveway of the house.

Thank You! From Kh. Rebecca

ear Friends, thank you for all the prayers which you have Doffered for my recovery. Surgery, an infection, another surgery and a long recovery at a rehab facility prevented me from being in church with you for a long time. It is a very humbling experience to have to re-learn how to stand and walk but I have made progress and will move to our new home on September 13. Thanks to everyone who stepped in to help with whatever was needed. We give thanks to God for our church family! Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Sunday Services: Matins at 9AM, September 2019 Mass at 9:30AM

Eleventh Sunday St. Stephen of Consecration of St. Gorazde of St. Cloud, C, 560; 1after Pentecost; St. 2Hungary, KC, 3St. Gregory the 4Prague, BM, 1942 5 6 7St. Sergius I, PC, Giles, Ab, 708; 1038 Great, 590 701 Twelve Holy Brothers, Mm, c. 303 G (Labor Day) Vespers at 6pm

Nativity of the St. Gorgonius, M, Ss. Protus & Exaltation of the 8Blessed 9304 10 11Hyacinth, Mm, 12 13 14Holy Cross Mary; Twelfth c. 257; St. Mass at 10am Sunday after Paphnutius, BC, 4th R Pentecost c. W Vespers at 6pm

Thirteenth Ss. Cornelius, St. Lambert, Ember St. Theodore of Ember Friday; St. Matthew, 15Sunday after 16PM, 254 & 17BM, 705 18Wednesday 19Canterbury, 20Ss. Eustace & 21Evangelist & Pentecost; St. Cyprian, BM 258; St. BC, 690; Ss. comp., Mm, c. 118 Apostle, 1st c.; Ember Nicomedes, M, 4th c. Ninian, BC, 5th c. Januarius & comp., Saturday Mm, c. 305 G Vespers at 6pm

Fourteenth St. Thecla of Ss. Juvenaly, Ss. Cyprian, Ss. Cosmas & St. Wenceslas, 22Sunday after 23Iconium, VM, 24PrM, 1796 & 25 26BM & Justina, 27Damian, Mm, 28M, 938 Pentecost; St. 1st c.; St. Linus, PM, Peter the Aleut, M, VM, c. 303 c. 303 Maurice & comp., c. 80 1815 Mm, 3rd c.; St. Lioba of Mainz, V, 781 G Vespers at 6pm

Dedication of St. 29St. Michael the 30PrCD, 420; St. Archangel; Fifteenth Gregory the Sunday after Illuminator, BC, c. Pentecost 323 W Confessions are heard after Vespers, during the Coffee Hour follows Mass. Psalms at Matins, and by appointment. Sunday School is during Coffee Hour.