The Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross

September 27, 2015 – 15th Sunday after Pentecost

With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, the orthodox parishioners of St. Sergius of Radonezh Orthodox Church Sargodha Pakistan venerated the Life-Creating Holy Cross of the Lord. The celebration was started with procession of Holy Cross, followed by Divine Liturgy, Sermon and kissing of the Holy Cross of Jesus.

After the Divine Liturgy Fr. Joseph preached to the faithful that the pagan Roman emperors tried to completely eradicate from human memory the holy places where our Lord Jesus Christ suffered, crucified and was resurrected for mankind. In 117-138 the Emperor gave order to cover over the ground of Golgotha and the Sepulchre of the Lord, and upon the hill fashioned there to set up a pagan temple of the pagan goddess Venus and a statue of Jupiter. Pagans gathered on this place and offered sacrifice to idols there. Eventually after 300 years, by Divine Providence, the great Christian sacred remains – the Sepulchre of the Lord and the Life-Creating Cross were again discovered and opened for veneration. This occurred under the Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine the Great (306-337).

Fr. Joseph that the Holy Cross of Christ is always the source of strength, hope and victory for the oppressed and suffering Christian minority in Pakistan. It is his personal experience that whenever our faithful look at the Cross they find hope in the power of the Cross and when they say the prayer to the Holy Cross with trust and they feel comfort and are spiritually healed.

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Funds are distributed from the ROCOR Fund For Assistance and directly distributed to the mission

12th Sunday after Pentecost The Beheading of the Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Saint John the Baptist

With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, on September 11, 2016, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated at St. Sergius of Radonezh Orthodox Church Sargodha Pakistan and beside this on regular basis the ROCOR Mission arranges a catechism classes for the new members who showed their love and passion to embrace the holy orthodoxy!

After the Divine Liturgy Fr. Joseph Farooq preached about the Beheading of the Prophet, Forerunner of the Lord, John the Baptist. Fr. Joseph told the faithful that in memory of the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, the feast day was established by the Church and this particular feast day is observed as a strict fast day, – as an expression of the grief of Christians at the violent death of the holy saint. On this day the Church makes remembrance of soldiers, killed on the field of battle, as established in 1769 at the time of a war of Russia with the Turks and the Poles.

In his preaching Fr Joseph told the faithful that these sacrifices and martyrdom of the holy saints strengthen us to live a good Christian life with pure faith by following the sacred traditions of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

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Funds are distributed from the ROCOR Fund For Assistance and directly distributed to the mission

Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos

With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, on Sunday August 28, 2016 the Dormition Feast of the Most Holy Theotokos was celebrated at St. Sergius Orthodox Church in Sargodha, Pakistan.

PROCESSION
The solemn celebration opened with the procession followed by the festive Divine Liturgy. The prayers were offered for the health and many blessed years of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia Shepherd of the Russian Orthodox Church, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (Ruling Bishop of Pakistan), for the Orthodox clergy and faithful, peace, unity, brotherhood and solidarity throughout the world. The faithful entered the place of worship holding Ikons of the Mother of God.

During the procession the faithful with great reverence and joy chanted the hymn of the Most Holy Theotokos.

BLESSINGS OF THE HOLY WATER
The Holy Water was sprinkled on the faithful and members of the Orthodox Church felt joy and true blessings of the feast day!!

DIVINE LITURGY
With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, on Sunday August 28, 2016 the Dormition Feast of the Most Holy Theotokos was celebrated at St. Sergius Orthodox Church in Sargodha, Pakistan.

SERMON AND PREACHING
After the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Joseph Farooq preached comprehensively about the Earthly Life of the Most Holy Theotokos according to the Holy Traditions of the Mother Church (Russia) and explained the faithful about the Dormition fasting and preparation of the Feast in the Eastern Orthodox Churches.

FAITHFUL SEEK HELP, PRAYER AND KISSED
THE IKON THE MOST HOLY MOTHER OF GOD
Help and prayer before the Ikon of the Most Holy Mother of God!
After the sermon, people were given time and they were instructed to ask for the help from the Most Holy Mother of God for their problems, any family sickness and sufferings because we all are saved through the powerful intercessions of the Most Holy Mother of God!! With honour and true devotion faithful kiss the Ikon of the Mother of God!!!

Humble Request
Please support the challenging orthodox mission in Pakistan with you kind donations and charity. Dear donors and friends, I extend my heartfelt thanks for your generous support, prayers and spiritual unity and with your kind love and help the Holy Orthodoxy is moving ahead day by day! Glory to God!

Donate to the Mission

Funds are distributed from the ROCOR Fund For Assistance and directly distributed to the mission