Friday, March 30, 2018

HOLY WEEK SERVICE SCHEDULE


PALM SUNDAY, April 1

9:15 AMSolemn Matins
10:00 AMBlessing of Palms and the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist                     

SPY WEDNESDAY, April 4

11:00 – 11:25 AM Confessions
11:30 AM              Matins
11:55 AM             Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified


TRIDUUM SACRUM — The Sacred Triduum

MAUNDY THURSDAY, APRIL 5

6:30 PM Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist, Procession, Vespers, and the Stripping of the Altar

GOOD FRIDAY, April 6

10:00 AM Matins
Noon Stations of the Cross
6:30 PM Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified and Vespers (Burial of Christ)

GREAT VIGIL OF PASCHA (EASTER), Saturday, April 7

11:00 PM Vespers, Blessing of the New Fire and Paschal Candle, the Prophecies, Reception of Catechumens, Litany, and the Paschal Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist


HOLY CROSS ORTHODOX CHURCH
7545 Main Street
Ralston, Nebraska 68127
www.holycrossomaha.net
(402) 573-6558

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Pope: “It is an Honor to be called a Revolutionary” (La Repubblica, Mar. 29, 2018)

The Chair of New Testament Studies at the Jesuit-run College of the Holy Cross is Professor Tat-Siong Benny Liew. He was appointed Chair of New Testament Studies at Holy Cross College in 2013. Breitbart reports that Professor Liew claims that Jesus was a “drag king.” Liew says that Jesus is not only “king of Israel” and “king of the Jews,” but “also a drag king,” as presented in the New Testament Gospel of John. Saint John’s constant references to Jesus wanting water, giving water, and leaking water “speak to Jesus’ gender indeterminacy and hence his cross-dressing and other queer desires,” Liew contends. You can read all about it here:

HOLY CROSS THEOLOGY PROFESSOR SAYS JESUS WAS A “DRAG QUEEN” WITH “QUEER DESIRES"


But there is no need to worry about blasphemy and the danger of hell because Pope Francis now says there is no hell! Perhaps the pope was just misunderstood,… yet again. You can read about it from Newsweek here:

DOES HELL EXIST? POPE FRANCIS SAYS NO IN NEW INTERVIEW THAT COULD CHANGE CATHOLIC CHURCH FOREVER


The Pope said, “It is an Honor to be called a Revolutionary” (La Repubblica, Mar. 29, 2018). God forbid! We are called to “guard the Deposit" of Faith, to “earnestly contend for the faith which once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3), and NOT TO BE REVOLUTIONARIES. This is very serious and cannot be ignored. The Second Vatican Council was indeed the French Revolution in the Roman Church. People can only continue in the Roman Church at great peril to their souls. Extramural Roman Catholicism such as the SSPX or Sedevacantism is not the answer as they are at best lifeboats and are not the Church. 

Genuine Catholicism can be found in the Orthodox Catholic Church, and no where else. The Orthodox Church is the oldest Church in the world, the original Church that was established by our Lord Jesus Christ in Jerusalem, and she is still rooted in Jerusalem and the Holy Land. The Orthodox Church has never experienced a Reformation, Counter-Reformation or a Vatican II-style Revolution. In the Orthodox Church it is an honor to be called faithful, not to be called a revolutionary. After some 2,000 years the Orthodox Church remains thoroughly Orthodox, and is unchanged and unchanging in Faith and Morals.  

For more information you will want to read:

AN APPEAL TO TRADITIONAL ROMAN CATHOLICS FROM AN ORTHODOX CATHOLIC PRIEST


It is time to come home to the fullness of the Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Faith. Please, share this with family and friends, and invite them to join us for Holy Mass this Sunday at 10:00 AM.  Make no mistake about it, souls are at stake. We are a faithful, friendly and vibrant parish and we have a place for everyone.

Blessings,

Father+

Fr. Victor Novak
Rector
HOLY CROSS ORTHODOX CHURCH
7545 Main Street
Raston, Nebraska 68127
(402) 573-6558

Friday, March 9, 2018

THE ORTHODOX WAY OF LIFE

“From this day, from this hour, from this minute, let us strive to love God above all, and fulfill His holy will” — St. Herman of Alaska

Orthodox Christianity is much more than a system of beliefs — it is a Way of Life. Every member of the Orthodox Church should strive to be fully involved in the life and witness of the Church as an intentional disciple of Jesus Christ. In order to live the Orthodox Way of Life as a disciple of Christ, each Orthodox Christian should strive to: 

Follow the example of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in daily life, both publicly and privately, and to bear personal witness to Him.

Engage in private prayer at least mornings, evenings and at meals; and to make intercessions for the living and the dead.

Read the Holy Scriptures and spiritually edifying books regularly.

Hold the fullness of the Orthodox Christian Faith without addition or diminution, and speak to one’s pastor should questions or doubts arise.

Be a faithful member of ones parish, and attend Services there at least every Sunday and major feast day. 

Hear the Church, accept her authority in matters spiritual, and support and pray for the clergy of the Church.

Make a sacramental Confession regularly.

Receive Holy Communion frequently and with careful preparation.

Keep the fasts and feasts of the Church.

Be hard working, earning one’s own living.

Be honest and trustworthy in actions and relationships, live up to one’s personal and family responsibilities, and live chastely according to ones state in life.

Return a tithe to the parish in support of its work, and give offerings in support of the parish and the wider Church, the poor and the most vulnerable in society. 

Give personal service to the parish and to the community.

Be a good citizen and pray for the civil authorities, rendering unto caesar what is caesar’s and unto God what is God’s. 

As far as is possible, live in peace with all men.

Uphold the standard of marriage as entrusted by Christ to His Church.

Take care that children are raised with love and are brought up to know, love and serve the Lord.

Receive the last rites of the Church and Christian burial at the end of ones earthly pilgrimage. 

Leave a bequest to the parish in support of its continued work.

Do you want to live a life of serious discipleship as an intentional disciple of Jesus Christ? The Orthodox Church is the oldest Church in the world, dating back some 2,000 years to Jesus Christ and his apostles. The Orthodox Church is the original Church, the one and only Church founded by our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and she is still firmly rooted in Jerusalem, the Holy Land and the East. Jesus Christ is the Truth Revealed. Orthodox Christianity is the Truth Lived. The Orthodox Way of Life is the Way of Life in Jesus Christ our Lord. We love being Orthodox. You will too. Come and see. Everyone is welcome…