What's New
07/23/2026
Divine Services
* Saturday, September 12 - 4:30 PM - Vespers / Confessions: 4 PM - 4:20 PM
* Sunday, September 13 - 10 AM(!) - Divine Liturgy / Prayers for the Departed (40th Day): +Esther Avdakov
* Sunday, September 13 - 4:30 PM - Vespers (Litiya + Procession of the Cross) / Confessions: 4 PM - 4:20 PM
* Monday, September 14 - 9:30 AM - Divine Liturgy: “Elevation of the Cross” / Confessions: 9AM - 9:15 AM
* Saturday, September 19 - 4:30 PM - Vespers / Confessions: 4 PM - 4:20 PM
* Sunday, September 20 - 10 AM - Divine Liturgy / Prayers for the Departed (4th Year): +Ann Ehnatko
* This coming Monday, the spiritually moving Holyday of the “Elevation (Exaltation) of the Cross,” is a STRICT FAST DAY - - no meats or dairy products are consumed as we remind ourselves of the sacrifice of the Son of God on the Precious Cross for the sake of our salvation. Please remember to properly VENERATE THE PRECIOUS CROSS that will rest on the tetrapod table during the Holyday festal period that begins with the solemn “Procession of the Cross” during this Sunday’s (4:30PM) Vespers. This means to approach the tetrapod, make three poklons (i.e., bow your head to the floor) while making the sign of the Cross on yourself reverently, venerate the Cross, and then the other icons in the nave as you routinely do when entering the church. As is true throughout the year concerning the veneration of the blessing cross held by the priest as well as icons, please remove “heavy” lipstick before venerating the Precious Cross. Parents with small children are reminded to please “coach” your children about this - and all other Orthodox liturgical practices - throughout the year! (P.S. - Holyday Liturgy - Monday - 9:30 AM!)
* We THANK the parish’s Ladies Altar Society for donating the fresh flowers that will adorn the Precious Cross during the upcoming Holyday festal period.
* As we begin this special period honoring the Holy Cross, it seems most appropriate to remind ourselves of the proper ORTHODOX ETIQUETTE about MAKING THE SIGN OF THE CROSS upon ourselves. Please take time to CLICK HERE and read this article concerning this ancient Orthodox spiritual practice.
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Sunday Liturgy Laity Functions
SEPTEMBER 13: THIRD HOUR: N. Domitrovic
SEPTEMBER 13: EPISTLE: N. Domitrovic
SEPTEMBER 13: COLLECTION: T. Fleck / R. Grano
SEPTEMBER 20: THIRD HOUR: A. Lauer
SEPTEMBER 20: EPISTLE: N. Yakich
SEPTEMBER 20: COLLECTION: A. Lauer / P. McKeown
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* [PROJECT ENDS THIS SUNDAY] We are now concluding the second annual BABY BOTTLE OUTREACH CAMPAIGN. Please bring your contributions with you to this Sunday’s Liturgy and give them to a parish officer in the vestibule. THANKS to all who have participated!
* Sunday Liturgies return to a 10 AM START TIME this Sunday (September 13). (Church School/Teen Group sessions resume on September 27 (9 AM) with a Molieben service.)
* There is no COFFEE HOUR following this Sunday’s Liturgy.
* BIBLE STUDY is tentatively scheduled downstairs in the church hall on Wednesday, September 16 (6:30 PM). Please inform Fr. Bill no later than Tuesday evening, September 15 if you plan to attend so he can determine if there’s a “quorum” to do the session. Invite a visitor, too!
* Our LADIES ALTAR SOCIETY is scheduled to have a brief meeting downstairs in the church hall immediately following the September 20 Divine Liturgy. We hope current L.A.S. members can attend and also invite prospective members to come as well! The L.A.S. needs help to be successful! (Note that there is no shared coffee hour on September 20 due to this meeting.)
* [Plan ahead!] The annual PARISH BREAKFAST FUND RAISER sponsored by our Ambridge Sr. FOCA chapter is scheduled downstairs following the September 27 Liturgy. (Y’all come!!
* The parish gratefully acknowledges the recent MEMORIAL FUND DONATIONS given in honor of the recently departed servant of God +Michaelene Scheponik. +MEMORY ETERNAL!+
* We have been asked to announce that the ST. SAVA SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH of McKeesport-Duquesne will be celebrating the milestone 125th anniversary with a weekend of activities November 6 - 8. Anyone in our parish desiring to attend the Anniversary Banquet at Strategos Banquet Center on November 7th following the 10 AM Hierarchal Divine Liturgy should contact Fr. Bill about ordering information - or use the web site included here. Adults tickets are $75 while children (under 12) are $25. You can also find much more information at: https://stsavapa.org/125years
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☦ï¸ELEVATION OF THE CROSS - VESPERS STIKHIR:☦ï¸
Today the holy saying of David truly has come to pass,
for behold, in the sight of all,
we venerate the footstool of Thine undefiled feet,
and, putting our hope in the shadow of Thy wings,
we cry aloud to Thee, O all-compassionate Lord:
“May the light of Thy countenance be marked as a sign upon us!
Exalt the horn of Thine Orthodox people
by the Exaltation of Thy precious Cross,//
O Christ of many mercies!
👉 HOLYDAY VESPERS - SUNDAY: 4:30 PM / LITURGY - MONDAY: 9:30 AM 👈
Welcome to Holy Ghost Orthodox Church, located in Ambridge Borough, Beaver County, Pennsylvania! We are a parish in the Archdiocese of Western Pennsylvania of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). The over 115 year old parish has over 140 adult members with a mix of ages, in addition to approximately 20 children.
Parish programs include church school, teen group, adult choir, Liturgical Chanting Class, Fellowship of Orthodox Christians of America (FOCA) Chapter #5, and a Ladies Altar Society.
Responses to the services are done both with the choir and congregation. Responses are mainly in English with a small amount of Church Slavonic.
The parish has been involved in various community outreach programs during the past few years including feeding the homeless, charity food collections, aid to displaced fire victims, donations to the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) and Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC). The Holy Ghost parish is also a member of the Fellowship of Orthodox Stewards (FOS) of the OCA.
We are a handicap accessible facility by means of an elevator lift into the church nave via the vestibule front entrance.
