Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church Middletown, Ohio

09/14/2026

🔸 September 14 - The Exaltation of the Honorable and Life-Giving Cross ☦️🌿🔸

Today, we commemorate the Great Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross. This Feast celebrates the triumph of the Cross over the powers of the world, and the glory of the Cross as a source of light, hope and victory for Christ’s people. It is also a time to celebrate the work of redemption accomplished through the Cross by the Lord for the salvation of mankind. In 326, the first Christian Emperor of the Roman Empire St Constantine the Great sent his mother St Helen to Jerusalem on a mission to consecrate the holy sites, and to search for the True Cross upon which the Lord was crucified.

He also wrote a letter to the Jerusalem Patriarch Macarius I requesting his assistance with this task. In Jerusalem, St Helen destroyed many pagan temples and erected magnificent churches in their place. Her search for the True Cross however was fruitless for a long time. After time, an elderly Hebrew man told St Helen that the Cross was buried beneath the pagan temple of Venus, and when the empress ordered for the site to be excavated, they found beneath the ground the Lord’s Tomb.

Close by, they also found 3 crosses (including those of the thieves crucified on either side of Christ), a board with the inscription written by Pilate (John 19:19), and the 4 nails which pierced the Lord. With no way to determine which of these was the True Cross of Christ, a terminally ill woman was brought to the site, and each of the three crosses were placed upon her. The first two had no effect, but when the third Cross touched her, she was immediately healed, confirming that this was the Life-Giving Cross.

In the presence of the Empress Helen, Patriarch Macarius went up onto the ambon and exalted the True Cross before the faithful, raising it high for all to see and venerate. And thus the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross was established. On this day, the Cross is placed on a tray surrounded by branches of basil - since basil plants were growing over the spot where the True Cross was found. The Cross is then taken in procession through the church to the chanting of the Hymn of the Feast.

09/01/2026

The Beginning of the Indiction – The Beginning of the New Ecclesiastical Year (1 September)

Today, my beloved, is a feast! It is the 1st of September, when Christians, as at the beginning of every month, ask God to grant that they may pass through the month with His blessing and without sin!

Amid the darkness, a heavenly rainbow appeared: Christ came and proclaimed “the acceptable year of the Lord”; He opened the door of repentance and gave us the opportunity to be saved — if only we follow Him!

For wherever Christ is, falsehood, slavery, despair, sorrow, injustice, poverty and hatred depart; and there come truth, freedom, hope, joy, compassion, mercy, abundance, love and Paradise!

If, therefore, He reigns in our hearts, let us devote “the remaining time of our life” (Divine Liturgy) to works of REPENTANCE!

And then, children of the Greeks, praise and exalt Jesus the Nazarene unto the ages of ages. Amen.

~ Bishop Augustinos Kantiotis ☦︎

May the new Ecclesiastical Year be blessed and unto salvation! ☦️

08/19/2026

💐This past weekend, we were blessed to celebrate the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos as we gave thanks to God for the blessings of worship, fellowship, and community.

Thank you to our Ladies Philoptochos Society for hosting a wonderful brunch to honor Panagia and also to mark Fr. Andrew's 21st year in the priesthood!

On Sunday, Fr. Andrew prayed over our Parish's teachers and students at the start of a new school year.

May the Most Holy Theotokos continue to intercede for all of us and guide us ever closer to her !💐

08/17/2026

08/13/2026

08/06/2026

🔸 August 6 - The Transfiguration of the Lord ⛰️ 🔸

Today, we commemorate the Transfiguration (Metamorphosis) of our Lord. This Great Feast commemorates the revelation of Jesus Christ’s divine glory to the Apostles Peter, James, and John on Mount Tabor. There, He appeared with the Holy Prophets Moses and Elijah, shining with the uncreated divine light. The event of the Transfiguration is recorded in all three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-9, Luke 9:28-36).

Six days after speaking of His coming Passion, the Lord took His disciples Peter, James, and John up Mount Tabor, where He was transfigured before them: “His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light” (Matthew 17:2). The Holy Prophets Moses and Elijah then “appeared in glory” and spoke with Him about His coming Passion and sacrifice for the salvation of mankind: “[they] spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem” (Luke 9:31).

According to Saint John Chrysostomos, the appearance of Moses and Elijah reveals the fullness of the Old Testament—the Law and the Prophets. Moses received the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai, while Elijah, the fiery wonderworker, stands as the foremost representative of the prophets. Together they also signify the dead and the living: Moses passed through death, while Elijah was taken alive into heaven in a fiery chariot.

Christ stands between them as the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17). Beholding this glorious vision, the Apostle Peter expressed the desire to build three tabernacles for Christ, Moses, and Elijah. While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and the voice of the Father came from the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”.

When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. Then Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” When they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. As they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”

07/31/2026

As we prepare to enter the Dormition Fast (Aug 1-14), we pray that this blessed season will be a time of prayer, repentance and spiritual renewal for each of us. We wish all of our parish a blessed and fruitful Dormition Fast. 🙏🏼

07/30/2026

We are so grateful to members of the St. Herman Mission Team of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral Carmel, IN. They spent the week of July 20 with our Parish working tirelessly and cheerfully on many much needed repair projects. Thank you, dear friends and may your efforts continue to be blessed!🥰✝

07/28/2026

Tomorrow we celebrate Saint Irene Chrysovalantou!🍎