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Holy Trinity Church
Publish Date: 2017-03-19
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Holy Trinity Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (724) 266-5336
  • Fax:
  • (724) 266-0703
  • Street Address:

  • 2930 Beaver Road

  • Ambridge, PA 15003
  • Mailing Address:

  • 2930 Beaver Road

  • Ambridge, PA 15003


Contact Information




Services Schedule

Sunday Summer Hours - from first Sunday after Memorial Day

Orthros 8:30 am

Divine L:iturgy 9:30 am

Sunday Winter Hours - from first Sunday after Labor Day

Orthros 9:00 am

Divine Liturgy 10:00 am

Saturday Vespers 6:00 pm

Week Day Divine Liturgy 9:00 am


Past Bulletins


Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Second Tone

When the angelic powers appeared at your tomb and those who guarded You became as though dead, and standing by Your sepulchre was Mary seeking Your pure and sacred body. For You did vanquish Hades and uncorrupted by its touch You came unto the virgin woman, bestowing the gift of life O You who rose from the dead. Lord we give glory to You.

Apolytikion for Sun. of the Holy Cross in the First Tone

Save O Lord, O Lord Your people, and bless Your inheritance. Grant victory to the faithful against the adversaries of the Faith, and protect Your people through Your Holy Cross, Your Holy Cross.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Tone

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Tone. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-6.

BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek."


Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1

The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."


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Worship Services this Week

WORSHIP SERVICES THIS WEEK

Wednesday, March 22 - Presanctified Liturgy at 6pm

Friday, March 24 - Fourth Salutations to the Mother of God at 7pm

Saturday, March 25 - The Annunciation Divine Liturgy at 9am

No Vespers

 

 

 

 

 


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Parish News and Events

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ST. PHOTIOS AWARDEES

We are happy to announce that our 2017 St. Photios Awardees are Mrs. Helen Zinkham and Mr. Harry Flaskos. They will be honored with their fellow Pittsburgh Metropolis Awardees at the St. Photios Banquet on Saturday, April 22, at the Station Square Sheraton Hotel. Congratulations, Helen and Harry!


LENT AND PASCHA DONATIONS

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far to the beauty of Our Lord's house for this Lenten and Pascha season. Thank you to Helen Zinkham and Presvytera Panagiota Katras for the flowers for the third and fourth Salutations, and to the Kalcevic, Kontoulis and Sickles families for the Holy Cross Flowers and candles.


PHILOPTOCHOS MEETING TODAY

The Ladies Philoptochos will meet during Coffee Hour today to discuss important topics.


GEORGE'S FAMOUS FASOLATHE

As a fundraiser for the Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery in Saxonburg, we have another "Soup-To-Go" Sale for next Sunday, March 26. George Spiropoulos is graciously making and donating his famous Fasolathe for this effort. Hand in your orders for $6 quarts by TODAY to Harriet or Presbytera Anna, for pick-up on the 26th. Thank you!


THE MISSION BOXES ARE OUT THERE!

The Sunday School children have their Mission Coin Boxes to raise funds for OCMC, the Orthodox Christian Mission Center. This collection goes to the many programs and missionaries who are supporting the Orthodox Churches all over the world! Full coin boxes should be brought back on Palm Sunday. Thank you, kids!


ORDER YOUR PASCHA SWEETS

Ordering Andersons Candies for Pascha helps the Ladies Philoptochos. Please give your orders to Mary Menis by April 2 to receive your candy on Palm Sunday, April 9.

The Dancers are offering the Easter Breads and Koulourakia this year from Hellas Bakery of Tarpon Springs. Order forms are in the Narthex and downstairs and pick-up date will be Palm Sunday.

The Ladies Philoptochos will be baking and selling their famous Nutrolls for Pascha as well. Those order forms are also in the Narthex and at Coffee Hour. Thank you. Ladies, come and bake with us on Monday morning, April 3.


PROSKINITARIA FOR THE NARTHEX

One of our students, Alayna Aspiotes, a sophomore at Quaker Valley, has chosen our Holy Trinity as the recipient of her Senior Project. Students are expected to start their Senior Projects early, and Alayna has decided to raise funds for two Proskinitaria for the Narthex. Orthodox Churches traditionally have these in the Narthex, one for Panagia, and one for the Patron Saint of the Church. We thank everyone who donates to this project and to Alayna for her efforts. God bless you.


IOCC SYRIAN RELIEF DINNER

The International Orthodox Christian Charities was the first in Syria to help the desperate people suffering in their war-torn country. The IOCC continues to be their main source of aid. Please support this effort by attending the IOCC Syrian Relief Dinner to be held April 2 at St. Nick's Cathedral. Volunteers are desperately needed for serving this dinner if you feel so inclined. Flyers for this event are everywhere.


DATES TO REMEMBER:

ONGOING: Cash and coins for the OCMC Mission Boxes

     Food Items for Center for Hope Pantry and FOCUS West Central

     Collecting Aluminum Cans for FOCUS West Central

Saturday, March 25 - Feast of the Annunciation Divine Liturgy at 9am

     GOYA Gathering at the Youth House at 7pm

Sunday, March 26 - Monastery Fundraiser "Soup-To-Go"

Friday-Sunday, March 31-April 2 - GOYA Spring Retreat at Camp Nazareth

Saturday, April 1 - Philoptochos Daffodil Luncheon in Columbus, Ohio

Sunday, April 2 - IOCC Syrian Relief Dinner at St. Nick's

Monday, April 3 - Philoptochos baking Nutrolls

Sunday, April 16 - Pascha Easter Egg Hunt after 11am Agape Vespers

Saturday, April 22 - St. Photios Awards Banquet

Lenten and Pascha Dates:

Fourth Salutations to the Mother of God at 7pm on Friday, March 24

Presanctified Liturgies at 6pm on Wednesdays, March 22 and April 5

Saturday, March 25 - The Annunciation Divine Liturgy at 9am

Friday, March 31 - Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God

Sunday, April 9 - Palm Sunday, start of Holy Week

Sunday, April 16 - Great and Holy Pascha

 

 

 


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Wisdom of the Fathers

And see how He also makes His discourse unexceptionable: not saying at all, "whether you will, or no, you must suffer this," but how? "If any man will come after me."
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century

"I force not, I compel not, but each one I make lord of his own choice; wherefore also I say, 'If any man will.' For to good things do I call you, not to things evil, or burdensome; not to punishment and vengeance, that I should have to compel.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century

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Saints and Feasts

03_calvary
March 19

Sunday of the Holy Cross

With the help of God, we have almost reached the middle of the course of the Fast, where our strength has been worn down through abstinence, and the full difficulty of the labour set before us becomes apparent. Therefore our holy Mother, the Church of Christ, now brings to our help the all-holy Cross, the joy of the world, the strength of the faithful, the staff of the just, and the hope of sinners, so that by venerating it reverently, we might receive strength and grace to complete the divine struggle of the Fast.


Chrysanthos
March 19

The Holy Martyrs Chrysanthus and Daria

Saint Chrysanthus, who was from Alexandria, had been instructed in the Faith of Christ by a certain bishop. His father, who was a senator by rank and a pagan, had him shut up in prison for many days; then, seeing the unchanging disposition of his mind, he commanded that a certain young woman named Daria be brought from Athens. She was a very beautiful and learned maiden, and also an idolater, and Chrysanthus' father wedded him to her so that he might be drawn away from the Faith of Christ because of his love for her. Instead of this however, Chrysanthus drew Daria unto piety, and both of them boldly proclaimed Christ and received the crown of martyrdom in 283, during the reign of Numerian, when they were buried alive in a pit of mire.


Allsaint
March 20

Photini the Samaritan Woman

Saint Photini lived in 1st century Palestine and was the woman that Christ met at the well in Samaria as recorded in the Gospel according to John (4:4-26). After her encounter with Christ, she and her whole family were baptized by the Apostles and became evangelists of the early Church. Photini and her children eventually were summoned before the emperor Nero and instructed to renounce their faith in Christ. They reused to do so, accepting rather to suffer various tortures. After many efforts to force her to surrender to idolatry, the emperor ordered that she be thrown down a well. Photini gave up her life in the year 66.


Allsaint
March 20

Righteous Fathers slain at the Monastery of St. Savas

The Righteous Martyrs were put to death by the barbarians during the reign of Emperor Heraclius, when Saint Modestus was Patriarch of Jerusalem (632-634).


Allsaint
March 21

James the Confessor

This Saint took up the monastic life from his youth in the Monastery of Studium, where he became a disciple of Saint Theodore the Studite. Later he became bishop and suffered many afflictions and torments at the hands of the Iconoclasts. Saint Theodore composed a homily in honour of this Saint James (PG 99, 1353-1356).


Allsaint
March 20

Cuthbert the Wonderworker, Bishop of Lindisfarne

Saint Cuthbert was born in Britain about the year 635, and became a monk in his youth at the monastery of Melrose by the River Tweed. After many years of struggle as a true priest of Christ, in the service both of his own brethren and of the neglected Christians of isolated country villages, he became a solitary on Farne Island in 676. After eight years as a hermit, he was constrained to leave his quiet to become Bishop of Lindisfarne, in which office he served for almost two years. He returned to his hermitage two months before he reposed in peace in 687. Because of the miracles he wrought both during his life and at his tomb after his death, he is called the "Wonderworker of Britain." The whole English people honoured him, and kings were both benefactors to his shrine and suppliants of his prayers. Eleven years after his death, his holy relics were revealed to be incorrupt; when his body was translated from Lindisfarne to Durham Cathedral in August of 1104, his body was still found to be untouched by decay, giving off "an odour of sweetest fragrancy," and "from the flexibility of its joints representing a person asleep rather than dead." Finally, when the most impious Henry VIII desecrated his shrine, opening it to despoil it of its valuables, his body was again found incorrupt, and was buried in 1542. It is believed that after this the holy relics of Saint Cuthbert were hidden to preserve them from further desecration.


Allsaint
March 22

Basil the Holy Martyr of Ancyra

Saint Basil strove in martyrdom during the short reign of Julian the Apostate, from 361-363. The Saint was denounced as a Christian to Saturninus, Governor of Ancyra, who, when Basil would not deny Christ, had him hanged from a post and scraped on his sides, then beaten, and cast into prison. A few days later, when Julian himself came through Ancyra, the Saint was brought before him and was asked to deny Christ, Whom he rather confessed the more. Julian then had strips cut in his flesh, so that they were left hanging from his body in front and in back. The valiant Martyr tore one of these strips off of his body and cast it into Julian's face. At this Julian commanded that iron spits be heated fiery hot; Saint Basil's belly, his back, and all his joints were pierced with them, and he received the crown of martyrdom.


Allsaint
March 23

The Holy Righteous Martyr Nicon and His 199 Disciples

Saint Nicon was from Neapolis (Naples) in Italy. His father was an idolater and his mother a Christian. At first he was a soldier, but later he went to the East, where he was baptized and in time became a bishop. After some years, he returned to the West and came to Sicily, where he and many of his disciples were put to death by beheading because they would not worship the idols.


Annuncia
March 25

Annunciation of the Theotokos

Six months after John the Forerunner's conception, the Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth, a town of Galilee, unto Mary the Virgin, who had come forth from the Temple a mature maiden (see Nov. 21). According to the tradition handed down by the Fathers, she had been betrothed to Joseph four months. On coming to Joseph's house, the Archangel declared: "Rejoice, thou Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." After some consideration, and turmoil of soul, and fear because of this greeting, the Virgin, when she had finally obtained full assurance concerning God's unsearchable condescension and the ineffable dispensation that was to take place through her, and believing that all things are possible to the Most High, answered in humility: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." And at this, the Holy Spirit came upon her, and the power of the Most High overshadowed her all-blameless womb, and the Son and Word of God, Who existed before the ages, was conceived past speech and understanding, and became flesh in her immaculate body (Luke 1:26-38).

Bearing in her womb the Uncontainable One, the blessed Virgin went with haste from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea, where Zacharias had his dwelling; for she desired to find Elizabeth her kinswoman and rejoice together with her, because, as she had learned from the Archangel, Elizabeth had conceived in her old age. Furthermore, she wished to tell her of the great things that the Mighty One had been well-pleased to bring to pass in her, and she greeted Elizabeth and drew nigh to her. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, she felt her six-month-old babe, Saint John the Baptist, prophesied of the dawning of the spiritual Sun. Immediately, the aged Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and recognized her as the Mother of her Lord, and with a great voice blessed her and the Fruit that she held within herself. The Virgin also, moved by a supernatural rejoicing in the spirit, glorified her God and Savior, saying: "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour," and the rest, as the divine Luke hath recorded (1:39-55)


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