Holy Cross Orthodox Church

His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH of the Orthodox Church in America presided and delivered this homily at the Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers service 4 March 2012 held at Holy Cross.

The Challenge of Uniting the Orthodox in America from Holy Cross Orthodox Church on Vimeo.

The Holy Cross Sisterhood of St Nina Cordially invite you to a "Lunchless Luncheon" to support the Convent of St Thekla at the Antiochian Village.

This special event will be held throughout Great Lent in an ordinary envelope. The appropriate attire will be a contrite and humble heart seeking an avenue for your Lenten Almsgiving.

All women of the Antiochian Archdiocese are collectively known as 'The Antiochian Women.' Once a year we use our collective numbers to support a special project brought to our attention by Metropolitan PHILIP and others. For many years, Metropolitan PHILIP has had a vision that one day we would have a convent at Antiochian Village. With this goal in mind he gave us a new project for 2010, "The Convent of St Thekla," which will be built on the grounds of Antiochian Village. It is again our project for 2012. Last year Holy Cross raised $1528. Please help us not only meet, but surpass this total. The vision for the future of the Convent and all that it has to offer will be absolutely wonderful!

Upon the arrival of Mother Alexandra at the Village on 7 July 2009 much has transpired. From the implementation of Metropolitan PHILIP's early vision of a monastery for the Antiochian Archdiocese, to Mother Alexandra being asked to serve as the abbess, to the selection of a site, to the retention of an architect, Doug Shoop, and, most recently, Doug's magnificent renderings of the Convent, one of which graces our 2011–2012 Project poster. Additional information and photographs are located on the Archdiocese's website. Please join the North American Board of Antiochian Women in working on this exciting and worthwhile project. With faith, love, and determination, please help us make this vision a reality.

Please make checks payable to Holy Cross with St Thekla Convent designated in the memo line, and return via the mail or offering basket by 3 April.

Three Orthodox Churches in the Baltimore area will host Pan–Orthodox Passion Vespers Services on Sunday evenings during the Great Fast. The service is an expanded Sunday Lenten Vespers service during which we read the entire Passion account from one of the Holy Gospels. This beautiful service inspires us to continue with the Fast, in spite of the many temptations, difficulties and trials we face as we try to bring fruits of repentance and prepare ourselves for the Bright and Holy Pascha of our Lord. Please join us for these very unique and beautiful services. All Orthodox parishes in the region are invited.

• 6:00pm Sunday, 11 March at Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church (1723 E. Fairmount Ave., Baltimore 410-276-6171)
• 6:00pm Sunday, 18 March at Holy Cross Antiochian Orthodox Church (105 N Camp Meade Road, Linthicum, 410-850-5090‎)
• 4:00pm Sunday, 1 April at St. Andrew Orthodox Church (2028 East Lombard Street, Baltimore, 410-276-3422)

This Sunday Is "Missions Sunday". For 2000 years the Church has shown as the light of truth in our world, serving as a hospital for those seeking salvation, and calling all humankind to a deep intimate relationship with God. In recognition of Missions Sunday (26 February), we will have a short presentation/activity during Coffee Hour on our role in answering the call to make disciples of all nations. (K. Mowers is our liaison with the Orthodox Missions Center.)

Sacred Presence presents an Intensive Iconography Course, 27-29 April, 9:30 to 5:00; Sunday, 1:00 until finished. Do you wish to learn iconography, or to build upon beginning lessons you have already received? This intensive weekend is ideal for you. You will receive step-by-step instructions on the ancient technique of the egg tempera method of iconography. Beginning and intermediate students will paint a half figure on a masonite board of St. Bridget. Learn more, or to sign up contact us online, or call 301 977 7297 .Cost: $350 ($300 + $50 deposit) + optional prepared board (bring your own or buy at class, $75)

On Saturday, March 3rd St. James Orthodox Church in Westminster will host Hierodeacon Herman, choir director at St. Vladimir's Seminary, as he delivers a talk entitled "The role of sacred music in Orthodox Worship." The talk will be at 6:00pm preceded by Great Vespers at 5:00pm. Learn more…

This Sunday, 19 February, lunch will be provided by several students from S.t John's College, Annapolis, who are raising funds for a mission trip to work at an orphanage in Romania. Included will be starters, entrees, desserts, and specialty drinks, some of which will be Romanian. As is our custom, lunch is free. However, if you'd like to make a donation to the students' mission fund, there will be a basket to receive checks and cash. Checks should be made out to Holy Cross Church and noted as "Romania trip".

Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers will be served this year at Holy Cross, and we are honored to be the host parish. This is an annual Pan-Orthodox event that celebrates the triumph of the full Orthodox Faith at the Seventh Council and brings together the faithful of all the Baltimore area churches. The Vespers will be served 6:00pm on Sunday, 4 March and a reception in the parish hall will follow. His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah will preside and preach on the topic, "The Challenge of Uniting the Orthodox in America."

Please join the Greek Cathedral of the Annunciation for their 18th annual Lenten Retreat — The Triumph of the Early Church: A Historical-Spiritual Approach 64 – 363 A.D. — to be held 17 March 2012 at the Cathedral (24 W. Preston St, 21201) from 9:00am to 3:30pm. This year's Retreat Master is Constantine Zalalas, noted theologian, translator and publisher. For complete schedule and registration information, please see the retreat flyer.

;Did you know that according to the FBI, over 170,000 minors who are US citizens are forced into the commercial sex industry each year? This practice, known commonly as human trafficking, is the third most common type of organized crime activity in the US. Even locally in the Baltimore/Washington area, legislators, educators, healthcare professionals, and law enforcement officials have expressed tremendous concern over the growing activity of the trafficking of minors for commercial sex.

Araminta Freedom Initiative is a Christian organization in the Baltimore area seeking to take a stand against this horrible practice. They will be holding an Action Event on Friday, February 17th, where those interested can learn more about how to get engaged in ending human trafficking in this area. This event will be held at the Synergy Center, at 6419 York Road in Towson, MD. Registration starts at 6:30pm, and presentations will end at 8:30pm. RSVP is encouraged but not required. For more information, contact Jeff Mount at jmount@kravmd.com.