Today's Scripture | Today's Saints | Today's Prologue
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THE NATIVITY FAST BEGINS NOV. 15
This forty-day fast prepares us for the great feast day of the Lord's Nativity in the flesh. Visit our special Nativity Section for articles, videos, and more.
View and print our monthly calendar above, and be sure to sync your smartphone, tablet or PC to our calendar to have all our services and parish events on your devices.
From Fr. Steven -
The Nativity Fast is here! Commit yourselves individually and as a family to embrace the “Orthodox Way” of preparing for Christmas.
This is a time of year that many of you will be coming to Confession. Following my usual practice, on Saturday mornings, beginning next Saturday, November 18, I will schedule confessions from between 9:00 a.m. - Noon. Please contact me to schedule an appointment for Confession on one of those Saturdays if that is what works best for you. Of course, I will hear confessions at all other times - before or after Great Vespers; weekday services; or during the day, when possible.
For more on how to keep the Nativity Fast - and the Christmas Season - centered on Jesus Christ through the Orthodox Tradition, read Fr Steven's meditation, Forty Shopping (and Fasting) Days Until Christmas.
And be sure to explore our extensive Nativity Resource Section.
Come and See! We hope you can join us for the Nativity Fast and Feast!
(Dec 6)
From Fr. Steven: We have received an invitation from Holy Trinity/St. Nicholas to celebrate one of their parish feast days on Tuesday evening, December 5. This will, of course, be the Great Vespers with Artoclasia (Blessing of the Loaves) for St. Nicholas. The service is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. We are also invited to a reception in their church hall following the service. Presvytera and I plan on attending, and hopefully others will join us!
We will serve the Liturgy for St. Nicholas on Wednesday morning at 9:30 a.m. here in our church. The Akathist for St. Nicholas will therefore be transferred to Thursday morning at 7:00 a.m. The parish online calendar has been updated with these schedule changes.
Be sure to explore our extensive St Nicholas Resource Page, featuring an excellent recent documentary film on the "Real" St Nicholas, plus additional videos, the Life of St Nichlas, articles, children's books, plus news stories on his Relics in Italy, and how they were recently brought ot Russia for the faithful to venerate.
PLEDGE DEADLINE EXTENDED
TO DECEMBER 3, 2023
Learn about our Stewardship Program on this special page.
As in recent years, we again provide our Online Pledge Form which is quick and secure.
Fill out your pledge in under a minute!
Thank you for your prayerful support of our parish!
(Dec 13)
Join us for the Winter feast of our beloved St. Herman of Alaska:
- Tue. Dec 12, 6:00pm - Vesperal Liturgy
- Wed. Dec 13, 7:00pm - Akathist to St Herman and the reading of his Life
And be sure to exlore our extensive St Herman Resource Section, with videos, audio, suggested books, artcles, icons, and much more on this humble and beloved saint, 'the North Star of Christ's Holy Church," as one of his troparia proclaims.
Sacraments of Healing
by Metropolitan Kallistos Ware
Six Monday evenings,
beginning October 30
NEW! - Discussion questions posted for Session 2
Our book of choice for this year's Fall Adult Education Class (beginning on October 30), Sacraments of Healing, has arrived. We received 20 copies, five of which were reserved. Visit our Fall Adult Class Page for full info and book description...
Joyous News - The Orthodox Church in America has issued an official proclamation announcing the glorification of Matushka Olga of Alaska. She is now numbered among the saints whose names are on the ecclesiastical calendar! Her feast day is November 10, and she is also commemorated on the Second Sunday After Pentecost when the OCA celebrates All the Saints of North America. Please read the Proclamation on our Midwest Diocese website.
Explore our new Special Resource Page for Matushka Olga, with more info, icons, and video, and which we hope to greatly expand over the coming year.
Our
is now
'TORCH'
Teen Orthodox
Revealing Christ’s Hope
Introducing our newly-organized Parish Youth Group, 'TORCH.' This ministry is led by Jacob & Adalia Boehne, and Rhett & Jenny Harkins. From their mission statement:
"In an effort to better express the spirit of our youth group’s identity and mission, we’re introducing “TORCH” — Teen Orthodox Revealing Christ’s Hope — as our name. We see it as an apt icon of our role as members of the Body of Christ..."
- Learn more on the TORCH page
- TORCH Schedule for 2023-2024
- Contact Jacob & Adalia, or Rhett & Jenny for more info
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Our Parish Family, Autumn 2023! |
PARISH FAMILY PHOTO PROVIDES 'TEACHABLE MOMENT'
Hope you were here this past Sunday, October 22, for the taking of our parish photo, our first one since 2017! A large group was indeed present, and the results are posted here, and on our Welcome Page, Photo Gallery, and Stewardship Page.
Following the photo, a perhaps understandable outburst of cheering and clapping broke out since it took some patience to set things up "just right," but here is a reminder that neither cheering nor clapping is appropriate for any services or events in the nave of the church.
Special thanks to Subdeacon Ron (Myron) Skulas for his photographic skills.
- NEW FOR AUTUMN 2023
- Six sessions via Zoom (or Google Meetings)
- Tuesday evenings beginning Sept. 19, at 7:00pm
- For all those seeking to learn more about the Orthodox Christian Faith.
- We will be using Fr Thomas Hopko's book, The Orthodox Faith.
- Full info and how to register here...
CHURCH SCHOOL
This year we are studying:
the Epistles, the Feasts, & the Sacraments
Late registrations welcome! Please contact Fr Steven or our Church School Director Terrie Sauer for more info.
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From our 2022 Pilgrimage |
MONASTERY PILGRIMAGE
St. Katherine Sisterhood is blessed to offer the opportunity to visit Holy Dormition Monastery October 13-15th.
A maximum group of 12 women can attend the retreat. The pilgrimage is coordinated by Lisa Meyers, our new monastery organizer. The plan is to leave on Friday October 13th around noon, come back Sunday evening after the Divine Liturgy. At least one meeting will be scheduled before the trip. Please sign up by September 16th. Lisa will follow up with the group.
We livestream on our YouTube channel most of our services, including Great Vespers on Saturday evenings at 6:00pm, and the Hours & Divine Liturgy at 9:10am on Sunday mornings. As always, we invite you to "come and see" and join us in person, but we hope our livestream ministry may be a help and blessing whenever needed.
FOCUS Cincinnati Chapter
Dear Parish Faithful,
As it appears that we are creating a FOCUS Cincinnati pan-Orthodox group, please view this presentation on what a FOCUS Chapter in Cincinnati would look like. You can learn more about FOCUS North America on their website. Please contact me if you would like more info on this initiative.
In Christ,
Fr. Steven
NEW MINISTRY INVITES ALL TO HELP . .
This link leads to a series of reflections from our Oaks of Mamre Ministry by Kevin Rains. Learn how the practice of parish hospitality is an essential component to assisting visitors and inquirers to experience the fulness of life offered in an Orthodox Christian community.
- Message from Met. Tikhon on Peace in the Ukraine
- UNICEF Update; ways to donate to aid for children in Ukraine
- Articles & Commentary on the war
- Suggested prayers for the suffering during the conflict,
- Visit our UKRAINE RELIEF PAGE...
Read Fr. Steven's important new article, an "apologia" and guidepost on some of the great Orthodox writers and books of the 20th century, those pillars on whom our contemporary Church and writers stand. — Excerpt:
Contemporary Classics of Orthodox Literature
by Fr. Steven Kostoff
...A steady Orthodox reading discipline/program is essential in today's world perhaps more than ever. We are so ideologically bombarded from so many disparate quarters, that we need to remember who we are and what we believe! I am writing, though, with a particular concern in mind: Perhaps we are only - or mostly only - reading the most contemporary literature...
I want to make a heartfelt plea for the great writers who nurtured me, who nurtured an entire earlier generation or two, and who wrote the classics of twentieth century Orthodox literature. This is a great literature that placed Orthodoxy on the "map" both in America and in Europe and beyond - into Russia and other parts of the world. I strongly believe that we need to read these classics of the twentieth century, because these are the very books that served as the foundation for others to build on. These were books that allowed Orthodoxy to emerge from its sheltered ethnic communities; books which revived an abiding and lasting focus on the Fathers of the Church; books which completely restored the apostolic vision of the Liturgy and the Eucharist; and books that penetrated deeply into our genuine spiritual Tradition with the insights and practices that lead us to lives of holiness...
Read the complete article, with an extensive book list and brief line about each title...
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Get to know us through recent parish news and feature articles...
Our thanks to Mary Ellen Mitchell for coming to speak to us of Lydia's House on Sunday, April 30, following the Divine Liturgy.
You can learn more about the ministry and community of Lydia's House through the info on this page, and help support their wonderful work via their website.
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click to enlarge |
The mission of Lydia’s House is to provide a supportive and stable environment for women and children in crisis. Each guest and her children will be helped to move into long term housing at the end of her stay; however, housing at Lydia’s House is as stable as possible in nature. It is a place of hope and healing as well as a springboard from which guests can seek training, new skills, and work that will provide for their needs. Women live in community, share life and meals with one another, and are encouraged in their personal spiritual journeys.
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER:
Mary Ellen Mitchell, co-founder of Lydia’s House
Mary Ellen Mitchell is a co-founder of Lydia’s House. As a collegiate volunteer, she became interested in the root causes of homelessness at the Open Door Community in Atlanta. Shortly after her graduation from Emory University, she moved back to Cincinnati, her home, and became an on-site volunteer at Grace Place, a provider of transitional housing for women and children. Professional development continued for her in Washington, DC where she worked for Jubilee Housing, a nonprofit provider of housing and supportive services. She returned to Cincinnati in 2006 and went on to hone skills in fundraising and development and complete her MA at Xavier University. Mary Ellen has been married to Ben since 2008, is a member of Bellarmine Chapel and is the mother of three children. She lives in Norwood where she's helped renovate 5 houses, 2 parks and sometimes preaches at local churches.
Download and share our flier for this special talk.
UPDATE, NOV. 11, 2022 (OCA) - His Grace Bishop Daniel elevated to the dignity of Archbishop
Read Bishop Daniel's first official letter to the Midwest Diocese, Aug. 15, 2022: 'Grow a Mission' - Letter from His Grace, Bishop Daniel
On Tuesday, August 23, Bishop Daniel was interviewed by Fr. Thomas Soroka on Ancient Faith Today LIVE! This long-form interview and conversation (1 hour, 15 minutes) provides an excellent in-depth introduction to our new bishop. You can listen to the interview here.
- Read the full news report on Bishop Daniel's election here
- Meet our new diocesan hierarch, Bishop Daniel, through his bio on the OCA website
- Recent News of Bishop Daniel and the Diocese of the Midwest
- Full info on the Enthronement of Bishop Daniel
After the repose of our beloved hierarch, Archbishop Paul, on Great and Holy Pascha of this year, Bishop Daniel of Santa Rosa, California, Auxiliary Bishop to His Eminence Archbishop Benjamin, Diocese of the West, was named Locum Tenens, to oversee the Diocese of the Midwest until the formal selection of our new hierarch.
Please note that you can always access both the Orthodox Church in America's national website, and our Diocese of the Midwest website, through the permanent links at the top/right of every page on our parish website.
Please join us in welcoming Bishop Daniel to the Diocese of the Midwest, and keep him in your prayers as he leads our parishes, missions, monasteries and evangelism.
NEW! Special Resource Page on St Nektarios
Widespread interest in the film, MAN OF GOD, has prompted us to create a new page:
St Nektarios the Wonderworker Resource Page,
- featuring his Life, plus links to extensive additional resources on his ministry, writings, miracles, and more,
- PLUS our special features on the film, MAN OF GOD, including movie trailer, film info, where to order, interviews, soundtrack, and much more, here.
MAN OF GOD now available to watch for free on YouTube, with ads. Scroll down for links to order digital download, DVD or BluRay.
Link to Ancient Faith Store, which has many books by and about St. Nektarios...
'MAN OF GOD' now available on VOD, DVD & Blu-ray in the U.S. & Canada!
Get your digital copy on one of the major platforms here!
https://linktr.ee/manofgodfilm
Get your physical DVD/Blu-ray copy from Amazon here!
For DVD: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YKPNFTH
For Blu-ray: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YK4QPGH
The film is also available on demand through the major cable and satellite networks across the U.S. and Canada including Comcast, Spectrum, AT&T, Direct TV, Altice, Cox, Verizon, Frontier, Suddenlink, Mediacom, Armstrong, Shaw, Telus and Bell.
Excerpt from Fr Steven's review:
Everything about the film was of the highest quality - the script, the acting, the recreation of late 19th - early 20th c. Egypt and Greece, the musical score, and a fine eye from the director for the larger narrative and those details that leave a lasting impression. The director, by the way, is Yelena Popovich, a Serbian-American, who is an Orthodox believer. She has made a film unapologetically focusing on a "holy man" (the actual meaning of the word "saint") of deep faith and piety - St. Nektarios of Aegina (+1920) The Orthodox scholar, Constantine Cavarnos has described St. Nektarios in the following manner: "Metropolitan of Pentapolis, great Theologian, Philosopher, Moralist, Educator, Ascetic, Mystic, Miracle-Worker and Healer." His written legacy is quite prolific . . .
Proceed to our special page for St Nektarios and the film, 'MAN OF GOD' . . .
Our webservant has been catching up on a momentous and full year, and the results are starting to be posted on our Photo Gallery page!
First up is a delightful look back at a year of new beginnings, with highlights from weddings, baptisms, new members, feasts, and more. Watch for additional galleries to be posted in the days ahead.
On June 30, 2020, the parish celebrated Fr Steven & Presvytera Deborah's 30 years of ministry here at Christ the Savior-Holy Spirit. View some wonderful images from the special program and meal, and read some of Father Steven's reflections on this significant anniversary.
AXIOS! and Thank you, Father Steven and Presvytera, and may God grant you Many Years!!!
View photos on our Photo Gallery...
Today's Scripture, Saints & Prologue
- The daily readings right here on our website
PODCASTS on the SCRIPTURES:
The Path - Daily scripture & commentary, inspired by the Saints
Search the Scriptures - Accessible Bible study for busy people
Daily Orthodox Scriptures - Reading Through the Bible in One Year
The Whole Counsel of God - Verse By Verse Through The Scriptures
PARISHIONER DELIVERS TALK AT ORTHODOX CONFERENCE
Christ the Savior parishioner Natasha Frasch delivered a talk at the 2019 conference, Speaking the Truth in Love, held at St Tikhon's Orthodox Seminary in South Canaan PA over the November 7-9 weekend.
You can learn more about the conference here, and listen to and download the presentations at Ancient Faith Radio.
SPECIAL VIDEO ON OUR ICONOGAPHER,
FR. ANDREW TREGUBOV
Fr Steven's book is available through the church office/bookstore, and online.
"For almost twenty years now, parishioners at Christ the Savior-Holy Spirit in Cincinnati, and friends in Christ from places near and far, have been receiving from Father Steven his 'Monday Morning Meditations' via email, or have been visiting his Orthodox Christian Meditations Blog. Now at long last a selection of Father Steven's reflections have been published in book form by Kaloros Press!"
Learn more on this special page, and purchase at the church, or order online here.
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The Patronal Icon of our Parish, by the hand of Fr. Andrew Tregubov |
The 'Image Not Made By Hands'
Celebrated on August 16 - Learn about our Parish Patronal Feast, the Miraculous Image of Christ associated with it and its amazing story, through these special resources:
Read this OCA article about the history and feast of the 'Image Not Made By Hands', the 'Holy Mandylion'.
UPDATED FOR 2022! - Download our Orthodox bibliography on the Holy Mandylion and the Shroud of Turin
This special PDF handout was originally produced for our 2019 Fall Retreat on the Shroud of Turin, and contains embedded links to books, articles, videos and more.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION — From our Church School program, to our Summer Bible Study, Fall Adult Classes, and Spiritual Retreats, and more, Christ the Savior-Holy Spirit offers many opportunities for deepening our faith while growing in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Come and join us! 
MONASTIC MATTERS — Monasticism is essential to the life of the Orthodox Church. Did you know there are about 100 Orthodox monasteries in North America, several within only a 3-4 hour drive from us? Explore some unique features, videos and articles on Orthodox monastic life, including our annual Parish Monastery Retreats, and much more. On our Monasteries page...  |
An Ideal Guide to the Liturgy . . . 
The DIVINE LITURGY of the ORTHODOX CHURCH by Archpriest Steven C. Kostoff
Third Edition, with a new Epilogue by the author
Seekers, catechumens and Orthodox faithful alike will be blessed by this trustworthy and inspiring guide to the Divine Liturgy and the Life in Christ, composed by our pastor, a faithful presbyter of the Orthodox Church in America.
Paperback, 64 pages, full color cover. 
WELCOME - LET'S GET ACQUAINTED! — Get to know us through photos of parish life and of new members to Christ the Savior-Holy Spirit. Also, photos honoring Fr Steven's 30 years at Christ the Savior-Holy Spirit. All this and much more on our Photo & Video Gallery page. 
PARISH MINISTRIES — Christ the Savior-Holy Spirit members serve in various capacities within the church, and our parish helps support various ministries in our local neighborhood, as well as regionally and even internationally. Our Ministries page describes this vibrant area of parish life in more detail. Select ministries have their own pages with additional information. If you're wondering where you might put your God-given talents to work, this is a good place to start! |