Christ the Savior-Holy Spirit Orthodox Church
Archpriest Steven C. Kostoff
4285 Ashland Ave, Cincinnati OH 45212 - (513) 351-0907

 

Christ is Risen!

Journey with us as we follow the Risen Christ and seek to grow in Him. Our 'Pascha to Pentecost' Resource Section is a good place to start, with special articles and media for this holy season where, 'Now all is filled with light!' And we hope you'll join us at our divine services... 'Come and see...!'

Remember,

In our prayers and services we do not offer the opening prayer to the Holy Spirit, "O Heavenly King, O Comforter," until Pentecost! Instead we sing "Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling down death by death! And upon those in the tombs bestowing life!" This Paschal Troparion is sung until Ascension Thursday.

THE HOURS OF PASCHA  - The special prayers prescribed to be read in place of the usual Morning and Evening Prayers, the Hours, and the Prayers of Thanksgiving After Holy Communion from Pascha Sunday to Thomas Sunday. 

PASCHA MEDITATIONS, by our pastor, Fr. Steven Kostoff.  Fr. Steven's own meditations, interspersed with brief insights from saints and fathers of the Orthodox Church, present a golden thread through the Paschal Season, nowhere more evident than in this featured article:

 

Indeed He is Risen!

 


Explore our Ascension Resource Section
Explore our Ascension Resource Section

 

'God has gone up with a shout!

The Lord with the sound of a trumpet!' (Psalm 47)

 

Following the Great Feast of the Ascension, in our prayers and services we do not offer the opening prayer to the Holy Spirit, "O Heavenly King, O Comforter," until Pentecost! Instead we sing the Ascension Troparion.

Explore our Pascha to Pentecost Section, for resources and articles on Resurrection of Christ, the Sundays of Pascha, Ascension, and much more.

MEDITATIONS by our pastor, Fr. Steven Kostoff.  Fr. Steven's own meditations, interspersed with brief insights from saints and fathers of the Orthodox Church, present a golden thread through the Paschal Season, nowhere more evident than in these featured articles:

 


 

ST KATHERINE SISTERHOOD

A Lenten retreat to Dormition Monstery in March, special area ministry opportunities, our Women's Book Club news, and our meeting schedule through May make for a vibrant and enriching season for our parish women. We hope you can join us!

Learn more on our St Katherine's Society page...

 

 

 


 

GREAT FEAST OF PENTECOST

 


 

ALL SAINTS OF NORTH AMERICA

Join us the weekend of June 17-18 as we commemorate those who have shown forth in North America:

Saturday, June 17, 6:00pm - Great Vespers; Includes special hymns commemorating those Orthodox Christians, known and unknown, who have faithfully labored in North America.

Sunday, June 18, 9:30am - Divine Liturgy, preceded by the Hours at 9:10am

And be sure to explore our Special Resource Section on the Saints of North America!

 


ICONOGRAPHY WORKSHOP 2017

JUNE 26 - JULY 1 — There is something for everyone at this year’s Prosopon Icon workshop in Cincinnati!

If you have some experience to do the gilding ahead of the workshop, paint the icon St. Simeon, God Receiver, from the Presentation in the Temple.  Students who want to complete their icon during the workshop may choose Mary, Mother of God, or the beginner icon, St. Michael the Archangel. 

The teachers will be Tatiana and Dmitrii Berestov.  This is the first icon workshop at Iconic’s new location: 7886 Camargo Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45243!  Housing available at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center.

Registration FormHousing FormProsopon Website
Contact Jenny Ward at Iconic Studio with any questions.


INTERCESSORY PRAYER SERVICE

From Fr Steven:

"[On Thursday, June 22,] we had a Service of Intercessory Prayer during which we prayed for hundreds of persons by name, and for many we included their particular need - from a terrible illness to asking God for their health and wellness... The service itself was very moving, because we have to acknowledge that our prayer lists are often long chronicles of human suffering and need..."

Read Fr Steven's reflection, and download the Intercessory Prayer of St Paisios the Athonite here...


 

ST HERMAN OF ALASKA (Aug 9)

Explore our extensive resource section for the Elder and Wonderworker of Alaska, Venerable Herman.

Beginning his monastic life at Sarov Monastery in Russia, arriving at the same time as another great saint of the Orthodox Church, Seraphim of Sarov, Monk Herman later transferred to Valaam Monastery in Lake Ladoga, north of Petersburg. From there he was selected for the Russian Mission to Alaska, arriving in North America with several other monastics in 1794, where they began spreading the Orthodox Gospel among the Aleuts, Inuits, and other native peoples.

The rest of the monks eventually died, returned to Russia, or, in the case of Juvenaly, were martyred. Monk Herman faithfully persevered in solitude, tending with great love and compassion to the native population, protecting them from disease, famine, flood, and from the depradations of the Russian fur traders. Monk Herman reposed in 1836. His holy life began to be published in Russia within thirty years of his death; he was eventually glorified and entered into the calendar of saints by the OCA in 1970.

Our website hosts one of the most extensive online collections of materials on this beloved saint, the first to shine forth in the 'New World'. St Herman is commemorated on August 9 (glorification) and December 13 (repose).


 

SUMMER BIBLE STUDY

Join us! ~ Final Session Wed. Aug 16:

  • 7:30pm - Bible Study (No Service)

Announcing our Summer Bible Study, beginning on Wednesday, June 7!  Sounds very exciting to me as we will continue and complete what we began last summer - a study of the Gospel According to St. John.  We will take a careful look at  all of those lengthy discourses that we hear each year during Holy Week; and then the Passion and Resurrection narratives (JN. 12-21).

~ Fr. Steven

 


ORTHODOXY AT 'CROSS THE BRIDGE FOR LIFE'

On the afternoon of Pentecost Sunday, June 4, several members of Christ the Savior-Holy Spirit participated in the annual 'Cross the Bridge for Life' event, dedicated to the Sanctity of Life at every stage.

 

From the event's desciption:

Sponsored by pro-life groups on both sides of the Ohio River, including the [Roman Catholic] Archdiocese of Cincinnati and the Diocese of Covington, this family friendly event features talks, live music by Easter Rising, children's activities, food, and a walk across the "Purple People Bridge" and back led by pipes and drums from the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, and other organizations. Informational booths from pro-life organizations; free t-shirts. Site is the Newport Festival Grounds, directly below Newport on the Levee in Northern Kentucky. No protest, a peaceful celebration of life. Learn more and view extensive photo galleries on the official website...