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Welcome to St. Cyril of Jerusalem Orthodox Church!
Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!
Blessed Pascha to all! Located in The Woodlands, Texas, St. Cyril's an Orthodox Christian Church of the Orthodox Church in America and located in the Diocese of the South. We are a pan-Orthodox community comprised of Americans from virtually every ethinic background. As Orthodox Christians we have received the ancient Christian Faith "once delivered to the saints" Jude 1:3, and are the historic Church continuing empowered by the Holy Spirit, unchanged and uninfluenced by worldly trends. We welcome everyone to join us as we live out the gospel of the God-man, Jesus Christ. Join us as we worship "in Spirit and truth" (John 4:24,) the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, ONE God. Christ is in our midst! Come and see! (John 1:46.)
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Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!
Click on "Orthodox Houston" to find contact information for all the local Orthodox Churches and clergy of the Greater Houston area. Orthodox Houston is the website of the Orthodox Clergy Association of Southeast Texas.
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COMING EVENTS: WEEKLY
Vespers, Wednesdays at 7pm Akathist Friday, 7pm
Adult Ed. Saturdays at 4:30pm
Great Vespers Saturdays at 6pm
Divine Liturgy Sundays at 9:30am
Come and worship the Living God with us!
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| PLEASE BE ADVISED! COMING SOON
We are preparing to introduce our new website.
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| Please pray for Metropolitan Paul and Bishop John, who were abducted this week by militants. Many are concerned for their well being and safety. They were kidnapped at gunpoint in Aleppo, Turkey, after their driver, a reverend Deacon, was shot and killed.
 
LINK TO ARTICLE
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| This Sunday March 25, many of the local Orthodox Churches gathered at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral to celebrate pan-Orthodox Great Vespers for the Feast fo the Annunciation. It was an incredibly blessed time with representatives from every congregation, clergy and laity! Thanks be to God for such fellowship in the Greater Houston area!
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| It is with great joy that we offer the following weekly services to God. 7 p.m.: Presanctified Liturgy: Followed by Soup Supper and Lenten Orthodoxy Class (returning to Vespers after Lent)
7 p.m.: Akathist Hymn
Please see April calendar for HOLY WEEK schedule.
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| We recently updated and revised our website. Please feel free to explore!
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Orthodox Christianity — Preserving the Apostles' Doctrine
Frequently Asked Questions -from Holy Resurrection Church, MS.
- What does “Theotokos” mean? Theotokos (Mother of God) is a title for the Virgin Mary. Orthodox love and honor (but do not worship) her because of our union with her Son. The attention given her in the Church also expresses our faith that Jesus Christ is truly human, born of a woman as we are, yet mysteriously has always been God, so His human mother can be called the Mother of God. In many hymns she is a sign of the Church as the beloved bride of God (Rev. 21:2); her exaltation as “more glorious than the Seraphim” is a sign of the exaltation awaiting all who “hear the Word of God and keep it” as she did.
- What are Icons? Icons are paintings of Christ and the Saints. They must be painted according to a strict tradition because they are an important way the Faith is handed down and taught. Icons and crosses are kissed (“venerated”), but not worshipped, as a sign of our belief that in Christ God took a physical body, became part of our physical world so we could know Him. Other human beings who unite themselves with Christ become holy and the image of God becomes visible in them so we honor their icons, as well.
Icons Idolatry? Article- Incense, vestments, and candles are part of the imagery of heavenly worship in the Book of Revelation. In the Liturgy we participate while still in this world in the worship of the angels and saints in heaven. Many people buy candles and place them in the church as an offering of light to the Lord, who told us to let our light shine.
- Standard prayers and hymns are used rather than extemporaneous or modern ones because they contain the accumulated insights of many centuries of Christians, and most of them are packed with Biblical quotations. They are repetitious because that way they become rooted in our minds. They are chanted or sung rather than spoken so we are less conscious of the personality of the individual reader.
- Body Worship Orthodox worship with their bodies as well as with words, so you will see that people at times bow, make the sign of the Cross, etc. If you are not Orthodox, of course no one expects you to do these things – just sit or stand and listen, and participate to the degree that you wish.
- Standing (and kneeling) are the Biblical postures for prayer and Orthodox traditionally stand at Sunday services. But for most people this takes some “getting in shape”, feel awkward, or are physical limitations, so feel free to sit as much as you wish. We have chairs and benches for those who need to sit. We don’t normally kneel on Sundays, as Sunday is the Day of Resurrection and kneeling is considered penitential; we kneel a good bit at weekday services during Lent
- Children – we don’t have a nursery because we believe it is appropriate and beneficial for children to be in the services as much as possible. It may take a few visits, but young children can learn to settle down, and it’s surprising how much even toddlers absorb. It’s no problem if they move about quietly, but please be considerate and take them out briefly if they become very noisy, especially during the scripture readings and sermon..
| | How Can I Join this Church? We don’t rush anyone to join; many people “visit” for years. After some time as a visitor and if you wish to become Orthodox, speak to the priest. Those wishing to become Orthodox Christians are received as catechumens (learners), and spend from nine months to three years attending the services and learning the Faith. The duration of the catechumenate varies from person to person and depends on their individual situation. If one has not already received Christian baptism the person is baptized. In every case every person is chrismated (anointed with oil - the “Seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit”) and receives the holy eucharist, thus becoming full members of the Body of Christ.
Orthodoxy can be captured and explained in textbooks to a certain degree but the theology of the Church is best experienced and understood by immersing in Her prayer and worship. The first step for anyone interested in Orthodoxy is to begin the journey of "knowing God" by attending services frequently. Not only does it bring one close to God and teach, it demonstrates ones seriousness in considering the Orthodox Church. |
.By all means, look around and send us email if you have questions. .
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Saturday Evening at 6:00 pm: Great Vespers
Sunday Morning: 9:10 am: 3rd & 6th Hours 9:30 am: The Divine Liturgy (followed by Fellowship Hour)
. Priestmonk John, Priest-in-Charge
Office: (281)298-3232
Mailing Address
St. Cyril of Jerusalem Orthodox Christian Church
P. O. Box 133234
The Woodlands, TX 77393-3234
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| "Is not this the fast that I choose... to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them...?" Isaiah 58:6-7
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 Orthodox Church in America
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