PREMIER SCREENING — Father Nicola Yanney: Apostle of the Plains

On Sunday, December 16th, a Premier Screening of an hour-long, professionally produced documentary video on the life of Fr. Nicola Yanney of Kearney, Nebraska, titled,  Father Nicola Yanney: Apostle of the Plains, will be held at Holy Cross Orthodox Church in Omaha, Nebraska immediately following the morning Liturgy.

Fr. Nicola, who died one hundred years ago in 1918, lived a life of great sanctity and of commitment to advancing the Work of the Great Commission. A century after his repose, his sanctity and selfless ministry continues to have an impact on the Church today.

In the late 1800’s, Nicola Yanney and his wife immigrated from Syria to Nebraska. Nicola was seeking a quiet life on his farm near Kearney. A chance encounter with St Raphael of Brooklyn changed all that. Nicola would be the first priest ordained by St. Raphael. 

Fr. Nicola Yanney would go on to serve thousands of Orthodox Christians across the Great Plains as a circuit riding priest in the early 20th century. Fr. Nicola, a regular man placed in extraordinary circumstances, is an American example of the beauty of our Orthodox Catholic faith.  

Returning to Kearney after one of his trips, Fr. Nicola arrived just in time for the Spanish Fu outbreak to hit the town. The Spanish Flu spread in three waves — the first and least deadly wave came in the spring of 1918. The second began in late summer, peaking in October, when it killed 195,000 Americans in one month.

The local and state governments imposed a quarantine. Some of Fr. Nicola’s parishioners were sick, and despite the quarantine, Fr. Nicola took the reserved Sacrament and began going house to house, anointing them, and giving them Holy Communion. A young man in the parish died, and then a toddler. Fr. Nicola served the funerals. More and more people came down with the flu. Fr. Nicola’s own health continued to deteriorate — he was weak, his breathing worsened. He had to have known that he was dying.

He ministered to his people until he physically could not continue and literally collapsed. This calls to mind the Lord himself, whom Fr. Nicola imitated and served — having loved his own, he loved them to the end (John 13:1). His last words to his sons were, “Keep your hands and your heart clean.” He died at midnight, as October 28 turned to October 29.

Here is a link to a two minute trailer on the documentary. You will want to see it and share the trailer with others:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bquUNl46yD8&t=3s

Father Nicola Yanney: Apostle of the Plains will be screened immediately after the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist on Sunday, December 16th. The Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist is celebrated at 10:00 AM, and the documentary will be shown during our fellowship and refreshment time and should begin around Noon. 

You will not want to miss this professionally produced documentary on the life on Fr. Nicola Yanney, produced by our very own Chris Potratz. There is sanctity among us. Holiness is real and is achievable. Be sure to attend, and to invite family and friends. Hearts will be touched and lives changed…

We’ll be looking forward to seeing you on Sunday!

HOLY CROSS ORTHODOX CHURCH

7545 Main Street

Ralston, Nebraska 68127

www.holycrossomaha.net

(402) 573-6558

ALL SAINTS DAY AND ALL SOULS DAY — at Holy Cross Orthodox Church, November 14 and 15

ALL SAINTS DAY — Wednesday, November 14

Holy Mass will be offered on Wednesday, November 14th, at 11:55 AM for the Feast of All Saints. 

All Saints Day, also known as All Hallows Day, Hallowmas, the Feast of All Saints, or Solemnity of All Saints, is a Christian festival celebrated in honour of all the Saints, known and unknown. The celebration begins at Vespers on the Eve of All Saints Day — All Hallows Eve (All Saints Eve) — and is the day before All Souls' Day, which commemorates the faithful departed. All Saints' Day is part of the season of Allhallowtide, which includes three days: All Hallows Eve, All Saints Day and All Souls Day.

Thankfully, since we are on the Old Calendar we can keep All Hallows Eve without the profane practices by which it has been desecrated in more modern times. It is a time to remember the vast company of Saints, known and unknown, among whom we desire to be included, along with all whom we love. It is an evening for reflecting on the Saints, reading their lives, asking their intercession, and resolving to follow their examples.

ALL SOULS DAY — Thursday, November 15

Holy Mass will be offered on Thursday, November 15th, at 11:55 AM for All Souls Day.

All Souls Day or the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, follows All Saints Day. On All Souls Day, faithful Christians remember deceased relatives and friends, and pray for the repose of their souls. The annual celebration of All Souls Day is part of the season of Allhallowtide, and includes All Saints Day and its vigil, All Hallows Eve.

In the Holy Scriptures we read,

“For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead, and because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them. It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins” (2 Maccabees 12:44-46).

Please join us for the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist on All Saints Day, and on All Souls Day — “It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins” (2 Maccabees 12:44-46).

Everyone is invited and visitors are always welcome. We are a faithful, friendly and vibrant parish, and we have a place for you. 

See you on there!

HOLY CROSS ORTHODOX CHURCH

7545 Main Street

Ralston, Nebraska 68127

www.holycrossomaha.net

(402) 573-6558

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, HOLY MASS — Our Lady of Walsingham

We will be celebrating the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist at 11:55 AM, on Tuesday, October 30, for the Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham. This is a very important Feast for us as Orthodox Catholics, so please join us for Holy Mass if possible.

Our Lady of Walsingham is a title used for the Blessed Virgin Mary. The title derives from the appearance of Our Blessed Lady to Richeldis de Faverches, a devout Saxon noblewoman, in AD 1061 (when England was still part of the Orthodox Church), in the village of Walsingham in Norfolk, England. Let us never forget that when Rome fell away into heresy and schism in 1054, the Church in the British Isles remained Orthodox, and remained so until the Norman Invasion of 1066, which was preached as a Crusade to bring an “erring” English Church under Roman authority. 

Lady Richeldis had a Holy House built in Walsingham which became a shrine and place of pilgrimage, — and the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham is the most renowned and beloved sanctuary of the Mother of God in the whole of the British Isles. 

The Holy House, containing the simple wooden structure which Richeldis had been asked to build in imitation of the home in which the Annunciation occurred, became both a shrine and the focus of pilgrimage to Walsingham. The chapel was founded in the time of St. Edward the Confessor, about 1063, the earliest deeds naming Richeldis, the mother of Geoffrey of Favraches as the founder. An Augustinian priory was later established at the Shrine.

In 1538, at the direction of the Royal Tyrant Henry VIII, the priory was closed, the buildings were looted and largely destroyed, the sub-prior executed, and the image of Our Lady carried away to London and burned; but the memory of it was less easy to eradicate. Sir Roger Townshend wrote to Cromwell in 1564, that a woman of nearby Wells, had declared that a miracle had been done by the image of Our Lady after it had been carried away to London. He had her put in the stocks on market day to be abused by the village folk but concluded 'I cannot perceyve but the seyd image is not yett out of the sum of ther heddes’. The site of the priory with the churchyard and gardens was granted by the Crown to Thomas Sydney. All that remained of it was the gatehouse, the chancel arch and a few outbuildings.

Augustinian monk Fr. Alfred Hope Patten, appointed as the Anglican Vicar of Walsingham in 1921, ignited Anglican interest in the pre-Reformation pilgrimage. It was his idea to create a new image of Our Lady of Walsingham based on the image depicted on the seal of the medieval priory. In 1922, it was set up in the Parish Church of St Mary and regular pilgrimage devotion followed. From the first night that the image of Our Lady was placed there, people gathered around it to pray, asking the Mother of God to join her prayers with theirs.

Before the first World War, Russian Orthodox Archbishop Seraphim of Paris blessed a plot of land close to the nave of the Shrine Church, where it is hoped one day to establish a permanent place for Orthodox worship. Throughout the 1920s the trickle of pilgrims became a flood of large numbers for whom, eventually, the Pilgrim Hospice was opened (a hospice is the name of a place of hospitality for pilgrims) and, in 1931, a new Holy House encased in a small pilgrimage church was dedicated and the image of Our Lady translated there with great solemnity. In 1938 that church was enlarged to form the Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. At the consecration of this enlarged church, a delegation from the Russian Church, led by Archbishop Nestor and Archimandrite Nicolas Gibbes, was present. Father Patten combined the posts of Vicar of Walsingham and Priest Administrator of the Anglican shrine until his death in 1958.

At Pentecost 1944, a small and temporary Chapel for Orthodox worship within the walls of the Anglican Shrine was established by Polish Orthodox Archbishop Sava of Grodno. It is still being used by Orthodox pilgrims. Despite the small size, it has an icon screen and everything necessary for Eastern Rite Orthodox worship. 

Among the Orthodox who visited the Shrine after the war was the Serbian Orthodox bishop St. Nicholai Velimirovich. For several years, the Serbian Orthodox priest Fr. Nadjanovich lived permanently at Walsingham. Since 1961 there have been regular Orthodox pilgrimages to the Shrine. In 1964, the Orthodox Confraternity of Our Lady of Walsingham was set up, under the patronage of Metropolitan Athenagoras, with Greek, Russian, Serbian, and English Orthodox representatives on the Council. Today there are at least two Western Rite Orthodox parishes in America named after Our Lady of Walsingham.

The Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham falls on October 15 (October 28 on the Civil Calendar), but this year October 15/28 falls on a Sunday, so it has been transferred.

I hope that you will join us for Holy Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham on Tuesday, October 30, at 11:55 AM. 

Pray for us O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Our Lady of Walsingham — Pray for us!

HOLY CROSS ORTHODOX CHURCH

7545 Main Street

Ralston, Nebraska 68127

www.holycrossomaha.net

(402) 573-6558

FALL HAYRACK RIDE, BONFIRE AND POTLUCK — Saturday, October 20 at 5:00 PM

Our annual Fall Hayrack Ride, Bonfire and Potluck at Santa’s Woods will be held this coming Saturday, October 20. The Hayrack Ride begins promptly at 5:00 PM.

Santa’s Woods is located between Omaha and Blair, Nebraska on Highway 133. The address is: 3764 NE-133, Blair, NE 68008. When you arrive at Santa’s Woods just follow the signs for Holy Cross until you get to our private campfire area.

A beautiful Fall day is forecast for Saturday — Sunny, and in the 50s.

The cost is just $9.00 for adults, and $6.00 for children ages 5-12, with children under the age of 5 free. This is not a parish fundraiser. We are only charging what Santa’s Woods charges the church.

A Hayrack Ride, Bonfire and Potluck at Santa’s Woods has been a Fall tradition at Holy Cross parish for years, and is an annual event that everyone looks forward to.

Santa’s Woods is a working farm. Leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind you as you take in the sights and sounds of the relaxing countryside and the fresh country air. Spend time with friends and family before and after the ride in our very own private, wooded campfire area where we will have picnic tables, lights, electric outlets, a porta-potty and fresh water for our use. 

The Hayrack Rides is approximately 45 minutes long. We will roll along in a comfortable hay-filled wagon over 100+ acres of endless, scenic wooded trails! After the Hayrack Ride we will find a roaring fire in our campfire area, where we will enjoy a delicious Potluck meal under the stars. Logs will surround the campfire where we can sit and enjoy the fire, and roast hotdogs, marshmallows and smores. 

Our annual Fall Hayrack Ride, Bonfire and Potluck is always a fun time for everyone of all ages, with good food and warm fellowship out in the country on a working farm. This is an event that you will not want to miss! 

Bring a covered dish or a crock pot for everyone to enjoy. VISITORS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! Everyone, adults and kids alike, will have a great time. The Christian life is the Good Life at Holy Cross Orthodox Church. See you there!

BREAKING NEWS: WESTERN ORTHODOXY — Rapid Growth and Expansion

MORE ROCOR WESTERN RITE ORDINATIONS

On Monday, September 3, at the Parish church of St Joseph the Betrothed in Sarasota Florida (ROCOR Western Rite), His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion ordained Subdeacon Adam Warrenfels to the Diaconate. Deacon Adam took the ordination name of Basil.  Fr. Deacon Basil is assigned to St Thomas Orthodox Church in Mountain Home, Arkansas and serves on the Western Rite Communities Media Committee. 

Father Deacon David Prestridge of Chattanooga, Tennessee was ordained by Metropolitan Hilarion to the Presbyterate.  Father David will serve as rector of St Bartholomew Orthodox Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The candidates were presented for ordination by Archpriest Mark Rowe, rector of St. Joseph the Betrothed Orthodox Church and Vicar General of the ROCOR Western Rite Communities.

FIRST WESTERN RITE ORTHODOX MASS IN ICELAND IN ALMOST MILLENNIUM

My longtime friend and confrere Fr. Alban Waggener, rector of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, celebrated Holy Mass according to  the Liturgy of St. Tikhon at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church (Russian Orthodox Church — Moscow Patriarchate) in Reykjavik, Iceland on Sunday, September 2.  He was invited to celebrate the Western Rite Liturgy by the rector of the parish Fr. Timothy Zolotuskiy. St. Nicholas parish in Reykjavik is the only Orthodox Church in the city.  Fr. Timothy is a long-time Orthodox priest who was ordained in Russia by Patriarch Pimen of blessed memory. 

The Gospel arrived in Iceland in AD 1050, just a few years before the Papal Schism and the falling away of the Roman Patriarchate in 1054. This Mass on September 2, was the first Western Rite Orthodox Mass celebrated in Iceland in nearly a millennium. The congregation of St. Nicholas is made up of Russians, Romanians, Moldavians and Georgians, along with native Icelandic converts. Khouria Nancy, wife of Fr. Alban, served as the cantor for the sung Mass.  The congregation was was very gracious and enthusiastic, and the faithful received Holy Communion in the Western manner.  

In addition to parish rector Fr. Timothy Zolotuskiy, not many spoke very fluent English, and Fr. Alban had a translator for the homily. Everyone in attendance was very kind and appreciative, and it was a wonderful experience for all of the breadth of Orthodoxy.

METROPOLITAN HILARION’S VISIT TO OMAHA

On Saturday and Sunday August 25 and 26 Metropolitan Hilarion made an Episcopal Visit to Holy Cross Orthodox Church in Omaha, Nebraska. This was the fourth Episcopal Visit from three different bishops to Holy Cross parish in the past five years, and it was Metropolitan Hilarion’s second. Metropolitan Hilarion is the First Hierarch (Primate) of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) and the Ordinary of the ROCOR Western Rite Communities. 

All of the Services during the Episcopal Visit were celebrated with a Greater Prelate at the Throne. Metropolitan Hilarion fully participated in the Services from the Throne and preached. He knew the English Liturgy (Liturgy of St. Tikhon) so well that no one would have known that his primary rite is Eastern. Metropolitan Hilarion’s visit to Holy Cross parish was a great success and could not have gone better. 

There were fifty-one in attendance at Solemn Vespers, including five visiting Orthodox priests. After Vespers a Reception was held in the parish hall in honour of Metropolitan Hilarion’s visit. There was a wide variety of delicious refreshments served and everyone in attendance had a wonderful time. Anyone who wanted to speak with His Eminence had full access and many took  advantage of the opportunity to introduce themselves and to speak with him.

On Sunday morning Metropolitan Hilarion was formally received at the door of the church with the traditional bread and salt, followed immediately by a procession to the sanctuary while the Te Deum laudamus was sung as the Metropolitan sprinkled the congregation with holy water. Upon arrival in the sanctuary Solemn Matins was begun.

During Solemn Matins acolyte Fred Courey, was tonsured a cleric and ordained a Reader with the name of Ignatius, and was assigned to Holy Cross parish. The Order of Reader is the first step in the priesthood and is an important and very responsible ministry. 

Solemn Matins was followed by a Solemn Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist, commonly called a Solemn High Mass or Divine Liturgy. There were fifty-six in attendance, including one visiting Orthodox priest. Metropolitan Hilarion was at the Throne, and the celebrant was assisted by a deacon, subdeacon, acolytes, cantor and the parish schola cantorum.

After the Liturgy everyone enjoyed a delicious catered Luncheon in the parish hall. As at the Reception the evening before, anyone who wanted to speak with the Metropolitan had full access and many took advantage of the opportunity to speak with him. The entire weekend was a blessing and a joy, and the clergy and faithful of Holy Cross Orthodox Church look forward to Metropolitan Hilarion’s next Episcopal Visit.

A Photo Album of Metropolitan Hilarion’s visit to Holy Cross parish can be viewed here:

https://imgur.com/a/TR8qRyA

ANTIOCHIAN WESTERN RITE CONFERENCE

The Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate held its biennial Western Rite Conference from August 7 through August 10 at St Peter Orthodox Church in Fort Worth, Texas. It was an historic moment for the Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate for two important reasons: The Vicariate was celebrating its 60th Anniversary; and it was the first Antiochian Western Rite Conference that a Metropolitan had presided over. Both in his presence and in his words, Metropolitan Joseph matched the unhesitating, strong support for the Vicariate of his predecessors, Metropolitan Antony and Metropolitan Philip.

The Conference included two ordinations — one to the Diaconate and one to the Presbyterate. Both the Orthodox Roman and English Liturgies were celebrated. Two ROCOR priests were in attendance at the Conference — Fr. Joseph Mai of California and Fr. Aidan Keller of Texas. 

An in-depth article about the Antiochian Western Rite Conference titled, Metropolitan JOSEPH Presides at Western Rite Conference, by the Very Reverend John W. Fenton can be read on the official website of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese. The article includes a link to a Photo Album of the Conference. The article and the Photo Album  can be found here:

http://antiochian.org/regulararticle/138

OCA LAUNCHES ITS WESTERN RITE

The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) will inaugurate its Western Rite outreach on Saturday, September 8 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I first learned about this new Western Rite Work when I was contacted in January by Archpriest Michael Schaplowsky of the OCA who is heading up their new Western Rite outreach.

The initial church-plant is called Christ the King Orthodox Church. Christ the King will be meeting at St. Herman's Orthodox Church, 9930-167 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, T5P 4W7, Canada. Readers in the Alberta area can reach Fr. Michael Schaplowsky by phone at: 780-669-2783.

This new OCA Western Rite church-plant will be using the English Liturgy, commonly called the Liturgy of St. Tikhon. The inaugural Service is scheduled for Saturday, September 8. Evensong will be prayed at 4:30 PM. The public is invited to attend and everyone is welcome!

Christ the King Orthodox Church (OCA-Western Rite) has a very informative website. On the top right of the home page there is a link titled “MORE.” Click MORE and other links will drop down. The OCA Western Rite website can be found here:

http://www.icxc.ca

WESTERN RITE EXPANSION

There are now Western Rite congregations and monastic communities in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), the Antiochian Orthodox Church, the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), and (in Europe) in the Romanian and Serbian Orthodox Churches, with the ROCOR Western Rite Communities being the largest, most widespread and fastest growing. Western Orthodox congregations and monastic communities can now be found in the United States and Canada, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, France and Switzerland. 

SUMMER CHURCH PICNIC

Holy Cross Orthodox Church in the Ralston suburb of Omaha, Nebraska will hold its annual Summer Church Picnic on Sunday, September 9 at Halleck Park in Papillion, Nebraska. Halleck Park is just minutes from the church.

Halleck Park is in a beautiful setting with a pond, beautiful grounds and playground equipment for the kids. A covered pavilion has been reserved, and the men of the parish will be grilling hamburgers and hotdogs. 

There will be no Matins at Holy Cross parish on  Sunday, September 9, and the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist will begin a half hour early at 9:30 AM. The Summer Church Picnic will begin immediately after the Liturgy. Not sure where Halleck Park is? Directions will be available on Sunday morning. There is no charge for the Summer Church Picnic, and visitors are always welcome. Ya’ll come!

METROPOLITAN HILARION'S VISIT TO HOLY CROSS PARISH — A Report with Photos

Last weekend Metropolitan Hilarion made an Episcopal Visit to our parish. This was the fourth Episcopal Visit from three different bishops to our parish in the past five years, and it was Metropolitan Hilarion’s second. Metropolitan Hilarion is the First Hierarch (Primate) of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) and the Ordinary of the ROCOR Western Rite Communities. 

Metropolitan Hilarion’s visit to our parish could not have gone better. We had fifty-one in attendance at Solemn Vespers, including five visiting Orthodox priests. It was a joy and blessing to serve with these men — “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore” (Psalm 133:1-3).

All of the Services during the Episcopal Visit were celebrated with a Greater Prelate at the Throne. Metropolitan Hilarion fully participated from the Throne and preached. He knew the Western Rite so well that no one would have known that his primary rite is Eastern. 

After Vespers there was a Reception in our parish hall in honour of Metropolitan Hilarion’s visit. There was a wide variety of delicious refreshments served and everyone in attendance had a wonderful time. Anyone who wanted to speak with his Eminence had full access and many took  advantage of the opportunity to introduce themselves and to speak with him.

On Sunday morning we formally received the Metropolitan at the door of the church with bread and salt, followed immediately by a procession to the sanctuary while singing the Te Deum laudamus as the Metropolitan sprinkled the congregation with holy water. Upon arriving in the sanctuary we began Solemn Matins.

During Solemn Matins our acolyte, Fred Courey, was tonsured a cleric and ordained a Reader. The Order of Reader is the first step in the priesthood and is an important and very responsible ministry. 

Solemn Matins was followed by a Solemn Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist, commonly called a Solemn High Mass or the Divine Liturgy. We had fifty-six in attendance, including one visiting Orthodox priest.

After the Liturgy we enjoyed a delicious catered Luncheon in our parish hall. As at the Reception the evening before, anyone who wanted to speak with his Eminence had full access and many took advantage of the opportunity to speak with him. The entire weekend was a blessing and a joy, and we look forward to Metropolitan Hilarion’s next Episcopal Visit.

You can view photographs of Metropolitan Hilarion’s visit here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bNojMgDXyDVf9j_56JrD_dufft2XSkTB/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19UzgH8VTJ6nv20k09M82TAMtPZKDQKn3/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1THJ3jnLB99dXYmHaOOC53bJiua45kefS/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R5eNvDDRXn7x5LCtXqyM7TWACclPumGH/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11DFCvSQo6AdviyY6ziYXQvKCvvwc_vlX/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DisU6bFP-Gac8QdVHhkA-bZh-GIWWFsz/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SqCgmGYXKNPeE_v-0baIGPquTPA8Gbg5/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xP8gxhja_vrNvQo_JnrxPMgt_LMk82xP/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nW6DCRklzsd65RoNC42IErEi-Iu5SRVd/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nveQxEQ4FvASotF59OP2eL4tYJL7In2Z/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MWVLV5yMyAq8v6oS8wjaqa9E2v36ij1J/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zP4ZVmPVmEi6-zoWFstrVfRK5ot7ZXdP/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zEtxHaI7HPkWxTRd8dGREfdpVtg-O4cS/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/142gm2L7APMoyFEIwrjpXM75QI7aApAqU/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Mh-A-uMC-VC1X1j12bBWCr9bYIttvkkE/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PeGKVAqB1M9IkmPEpJWFv2uSUZAjzd89/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lhP94vJIY-W6Jb_2EvJftY7TFJhWKddK/view

OUR FAITH — Music Video

This is a Must See music video of the song OUR FAITH. It was written by St. Nikolai Velimirovich (d. 1965) who was canonized in 2003. St. John Maximovitch, who had been a young instructor at a seminary in Bishop Nikolai's diocese of Ohrid, called him "a great saint and Chrysostom of our day [whose] significance for Orthodoxy in our time can be compared only with that of Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky). ... They were both universal teachers of the Orthodox Church."

Throughout this beautiful and inspiring music video you will hear the refrain: “Nasha vera Pravoslavna!” (Our faith is Orthodox!).  Enjoy the video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvwnGneuydA

The Orthodox Church is the oldest Church in the world, the original Church. Why settle for a schism, splinter or a wholly man-made substitute? We love being Orthodox and you will too. Come and see why. Everyone is invited and visitors are always welcome. We are a faithful, friendly and vibrant parish, and we have a place for you. I hope to see you on Sunday!

YOU ARE INVITED: METROPOLITAN HILARION TO VISIT HOLY CROSS PARISH — SATURDAY, AUGUST 25 and SUNDAY, AUGUST 26

Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch (Primate) of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) and Bishop of the Orthodox Western Rite Communities will be making an Episcopal visit to Holy Cross Orthodox Church this Saturday and Sunday, and all of the scheduled events are open to the public. Holy Cross is a Western Rite parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. 

Everyone is invited to attend and Visitors are always welcome!

SATURDAY, AUGUST 25

5:00 PM  — Solemn Vespers with Metropolitan Hilarion preaching.

Solemn Vespers will be followed by a Reception with refreshments for the Metropolitan.

There is no charge for the Reception, but a free will offering will be taken.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26

9:15 AM — Formal reception of the Metropolitan at the door of the church with bread and salt, followed immediately by Solemn Matins and the Ordination of a Reader.

10:00 AM — Solemn Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist with Metropolitan Hilarion preaching.

The Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist will be followed by a catered Luncheon. Metropolitan Hilarion will speak at the Luncheon.

There is no charge for the Luncheon, but a free will offering will be taken.

Need some personal spiritual renewal? Interested in or curious about Western Orthodoxy? Been thinking about visiting Holy Cross parish, or haven’t visited in a while and thinking about taking another look? Long been drawn to the Orthodox Church, but do not feel at home in the Eastern Rite? Always wanted to meet and speak with an Orthodox bishop? This weekend is your opportunity. We love being Orthodox. Come and see why. We are a faithful, friendly and vibrant parish, and visitors are always welcome!

HOLY CROSS ORTHODOX CHURCH

7545 Main Street

Ralston, Nebraska 68127

www.holycrossomaha.net

(402) 573-6558

METROPOLITAN HILARION TO VISIT HOLY CROSS PARISH — Saturday August 25 and Sunday August 26

Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch (Primate) of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) and Ordinary of the ROCOR Western Rite Communities will make an Episcopal Visit to Holy Cross parish in the Ralston suburb of Omaha, Nebraska on Saturday and Sunday, August 25 & 26.

This will be Metropolitan Hilarion’s second Episcopal Visit to Holy Cross Orthodox Church. His first Episcopal Visit was in August of 2015.

The Episcopal Visit begins with Solemn Vespers sung at 5:00 PM on Saturday, August 25. A Reception for Metropolitan Hilarion in the parish hall will follow Solemn Vespers. Light refreshments will be served.

On Sunday morning, August 26, Metropolitan Hilarion will be formally received at the door of the church at 9:15 AM, and welcomed with the traditional bread and salt. Solemn Matins will immediately follow. 

A Solemn Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist, commonly called the Divine Liturgy or Holy Mass, with the Metropolitan at the throne will be celebrated at 10:00 AM. A catered Luncheon in the parish hall will follow the Liturgy.

Metropolitan Hilarion will be preaching at Solemn Vespers on Saturday and the Solemn Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist on Sunday. In addition, he will be the Luncheon speaker. Local Orthodox clergy will be joining us for Metropolitan Hilarion’s Episcopal Visit.

This will be an opportunity to worship God in the beauty of holiness, to meet and speak with the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and to experience and learn more about Western Rite Orthodoxy. The public is warmly invited and everyone is welcome to attend. There is no charge for the Saturday evening Reception or the Sunday catered Luncheon, but a free will offering will be taken.

For more information call the church office at (402) 573-6558, or email Fr. Victor at:  venovak@hughes.net

We will be looking forward to seeing you there!

HOLY CROSS ORTHODOX CHURCH

7545 Main Street

Ralston, Nebraska 68127

www.holycrossomaha.net