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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2017-05-21
Bulletin Contents
Hymns of the Day
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Bulletin Inserts
Wisdom of the Fathers
Parish News and Events
Calendar of Events
Jcblind1
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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (412)366-8700
  • Fax:
  • (412)366-8710
  • Street Address:

  • 985 Providence Blvd.

  • Pittsburgh, PA 15237-5951

Contact Information

Rev. Fr. John Touloumes, Protopresbyter
Proistamenos

fjt@HolyTrinityPgh.org | 412-366-8700
Rev. Fr. Radu Bordeianu
Assistant Priest

FrRadu@HolyTrinityPgh.org
Mary Portellos
Office Administrator

office@HolyTrinityPgh.org | 412-366-8700

Services Schedule

Worship Schedule

8:15 a.m. Orthros

9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Worship Locations:

Sunday worship location: Holy Trinity Church, 985 Providence Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15237

Weekday/Feast Day worship location: St. George Chapel, 8941 Ringeisen Rd., Allison Park, PA

Past Bulletins


Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Fifth Tone

English: Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. Greek: Χριστός ανέστη εκ νεκρών, θανάτω θάνατον πατήσας και τοις εν τοις μνήμασιν, ζωήν χαρισάμενος. Phoenetics: Christós anésti ek nékron, thanáto thánaton patísas, ke tis en tis mnímasi zoín harisámenos. (Page 74)

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fifth Tone

To the Word, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation, let us, the faithful, give praise and worship. Of His own will He mounted the Cross in the flesh, He suffered death and raised the dead by His glorious resurrection. (Page 53)

Apolytikion for Constantine and Helen in the Eighth Tone

Having seen the image of Your Cross in Heaven, and like Paul, having received the call not from men, Your apostle among kings entrusted the commonwealth to Your hand, O Lord. Keep us always in peace, by the intercessions of the Theotokos, O only Friend of man.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Eighth Tone

Though You descended into the grave, O Immortal One, yet You destroyed the power of Hades, and arose as victor, O Christ God, calling to the myrrh-bearing women "Rejoice," and giving peace to Your Apostles, O You Who grants resurrection to the fallen. (Page 74)
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Saints and Feasts

Jcblind1
May 21

Sunday of the Blind Man

The Lord Jesus was coming from the Temple on the Sabbath, when, while walking in the way, He saw the blind man mentioned in today's Gospel. This man had been born thus from his mother's womb, that is, he had been born without eyes (see Saint John Chrysostom, Homily LVI on Matthew; Saint Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book V:15; and the second Exorcism of Saint Basil the Great). When the disciples saw this, they asked their Teacher, "Who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" They asked this because when the Lord had healed the paralytic at the Sheep's Pool, He had told him, "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee" (John 5:14); so they wondered, if sickness was caused by sin, what sin could have been the cause of his being born without eyes. But the Lord answered that this was for the glory of God. Then the God-man spat on the ground and made clay with the spittle. He anointed the eyes of the blind man and said to him, "Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam." Siloam (which means "sent") was a well-known spring in Jerusalem used by the inhabitants for its waters, which flowed to the eastern side of the city and collected in a large pool called "the Pool of Siloam."

Therefore, the Saviour sent the blind man to this pool that he might wash his eyes, which had been anointed with the clay-not that the pool's water had such power, but that the faith and obedience of the one sent might be made manifest, and that the miracle might become more remarkable and known to all, and leave no room for doubt. Thus, the blind man believed in Jesus' words, obeyed His command, went and washed himself, and returned, no longer blind, but having eyes and seeing. This was the greatest miracle that our Lord had yet worked; as the man healed of his blindness himself testified, "Since time began, never was it heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind," although the Lord had already healed the blind eyes of many. Because he now had eyes, some even doubted that he was the same person (John 9:8-9); and it was still lively in their remembrance when Christ came to the tomb of Lazarus, for they said, "Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have caused that even this man should not have died?" Saint John Chrysostom gives a thorough and brilliant exposition of our Lord's meeting with the woman of Samaria, the healing of the paralytic, and the miracle of the blind man in his commentaries on the Gospel of Saint John.

21_conshel
May 21

Constantine and Helen, Equal-to-the Apostles

This great and renowned sovereign of the Christians was the son of Constantius Chlorus (the ruler of the westernmost parts of the Roman empire), and of the blessed Helen. He was born in 272, in (according to some authorities) Naissus of Dardania, a city on the Hellespont. In 306, when his father died, he was proclaimed successor to his throne. In 312, on learning that Maxentius and Maximinus had joined forces against him, he marched into Italy, where, while at the head of his troops, he saw in the sky after midday, beneath the sun, a radiant pillar in the form of a cross with the words: "By this shalt thou conquer." The following night, our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him in a dream and declared to him the power of the Cross and its significance. When he arose in the morning, he immediately ordered that a labarum be made (which is a banner or standard of victory over the enemy) in the form of a cross, and he inscribed on it the Name of Jesus Christ. On the 28th Of October, he attacked and mightily conquered Maxentius, who drowned in the Tiber River while fleeing. The following day, Constantine entered Rome in triumph and was proclaimed Emperor of the West by the Senate, while Licinius, his brother-in-law, ruled in the East. But out of malice, Licinius later persecuted the Christians. Constantine fought him once and again, and utterly destroyed him in 324, and in this manner he became monarch over the West and the East. Under him and because of him all the persecutions against the Church ceased. Christianity triumphed and idolatry was overthrown. In 325 he gathered the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, which he himself personally addressed. In 324, in the ancient city of Byzantium, he laid the foundations of the new capital of his realm, and solemnly inaugurated it on May 11, 330, naming it after himself, Constantinople. Since the throne of the imperial rule was transferred thither from Rome, it was named New Rome, the inhabitants of its domain were called Romans, and it was considered the continuation of the Roman Empire. Falling ill near Nicomedia, he requested to receive divine Baptism, according to Eusebius (The Life of Constantine. Book IV, 61-62), and also according to Socrates and Sozomen; and when he had been deemed worthy of the Holy Mysteries, he reposed in 337, on May 21 or 22, the day of Pentecost, having lived sixty-five years, of which he ruled for thirty-one years. His remains were transferred to Constantinople and were deposed in the Church of the Holy Apostles, which had been built by him (see Homily XXVI on Second Corinthians by Saint John Chrysostom).

As for his holy mother Helen, after her son had made the Faith of Christ triumphant throughout the Roman Empire, she undertook a journey to Jerusalem and found the Holy Cross on which our Lord was crucified (see Sept. 13 and 14). After this, Saint Helen, in her zeal to glorify Christ, erected churches in Jerusalem at the sites of the Crucifixion and Resurrection, in Bethlehem at the cave where our Saviour was born, another on the Mount of Olives whence He ascended into Heaven, and many others throughout the Holy Land, Cyprus, and elsewhere. She was proclaimed Augusta, her image was stamped upon golden coins, and two cities were named Helenopolis after her in Bithynia and in Palestine. Having been thus glorified for her piety, she departed to the Lord being about eighty years of age, according to some in the year 330, according to others, in 336.

St_pachomios
May 21

Pachomios the Righteous New Martyr

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Tone. Psalm 18.4,1.
Their voice has gone out into all the earth.
Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 26:1, 12-20.

IN THOSE DAYS, King Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: "I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining round me and those who journeyed with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.' And I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and bear witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles-to whom I send you to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' "Wherefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and perform deeds worthy of their repentance."

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Blind Man
The Reading is from John 9:1-38

At that time, as Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man's eyes with the clay, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is he"; others said, "No, but he is like him." He said, "I am the man." They said to him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash'; so I went and washed and received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, "He put clay on my eyes and I washed, and I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, "What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself." His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess him to be Christ he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age, ask him."

So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become his disciples?" And they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out.

Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you." He said, "Lord, I believe": and he worshiped him.

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Bulletin Inserts

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Wisdom of the Fathers

But I assert that he even received benefit from his blindness: since he recovered the sight of the eyes within.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 56 on John 9, 4th Century

When, then, have they taken place, save when the Word of God Himself came in the body? Or when did He come, if not when lame men walked, and stammerers were made to speak plain, and deaf men heard, and men blind from birth regained their sight? For this was the very thing the Jews said who then witnessed it, because they had not heard of these things having taken place at any other time.
St. Athanasius
Incarnation of the Word 38, 4th Century

The work of God is, after all, the forming of man. He did this by an outward action, as Scripture says, 'And the Lord took clay from earth, and formed man.' Notice here too how the Lord spit on the earth, and made clay and smeared it on his eyes, showing how the ancient creation was made. He was making clear to those who can understand, that this was the [same] hand of God through which man was formed from clay.
St. Irenaeus
Against Heresies. 5.15.2. Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Vol: John 1-10. Intervarsity Press, 2006, p. 324.

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Parish News and Events

TODAY’S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

 

Church School Graduation Today 
The Church School ministry will hold its graduation ceremony today following the Divine Liturgy. Students and staff are asked to set together in the designated rows in the front left of the church. The graduation ceremony will take place at the end of the service. Thank you to all the support provided by the families throughout the year and especially to the dedicated offerings of love and talents made by the Church School staff. Following the dismissal today, there will be refreshments and snacks in the designated area of the Grand Room for the Church School students. And remember, classes are over but worship goes on, so...SEE YOU ALL NEXT SUNDAY!!

 

Philoptochos Meeting Today 

The Ladies Philoptochos philanthropic ministry will be holding their monthly meeting today in the Fireside Room following Liturgy. They will be discussing upcoming events and new business. Please join them!

 

Greek Dance Practice Today

Greek dancing practice will be held in Conference Rooms A & B during the Coffee Hour today. The Hope dance group (kindergarten through second grade) will be taught by Eleni Dedousis (412-953-3699) and the Joy and Goya dance group will be taught by Victoria Andromalos Dale (412-496-9128).

 

POYA “Orthodoxy on Tap” Tonight

The Pittsburgh Orthodox Young Adults (POYA) will host their next "Orthodoxy on Tap" tonight at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Sharp Edge Beer Emporium in Shadyside.  The guest speaker will be Father Stephen Loposky, the director of Camp Nazareth in Mercer, Pa.  All young adults ages 21-39 are welcome!

 

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Festival Cooking Schedule: May and June

It’s time! Festival cooking is here. Please mark these dates on your calendar, put them in your phone, hand them on your refrigerator, or do whatever you need to be sure to be there…and remember to invite some friends! Watch for more dates all the way through July in the May-June edition of the Holy Trinity Herald!

Date

Day

Times

Food Item Being Prepared

May 23

Tuesday

9am-9pm

Kourambiethes

June 6

Tuesday

9am-9pm

Souzoukakia

June 23

Friday

9am-5pm

Moussaka

June 24

Saturday

9am-5pm

Moussaka

June 25

Sunday

After Liturgy

Moussaka

 

[May 23] Festival Cooking This Week – Kourambiethes

We’re on a roll, and we can’t do it without you all! Attention Holy Trinity Volunteers, Stewards and Festival Fans: Please be there this Tuesday for the weekly Festival Cooking Session as we prepare Kourambiethes. Hours are from 9:00am to 9:00pm or as much of it as you can make. Everyone is welcomed and everyone’s help is needed. On the job training is free! Questions? Contact Joyce Athanasiou at 412-292-4206.

 

[May 25] Weekday Services – The Holy Ascension of the Lord

Please plan to join us at the St. George Chapel this Thursday, May 25 as we celebrate the feast day of the Holy Ascension of the Lord. Orthros begins at 8:30 am followed by Divine Liturgy at 9:30 am.

 

[May 28] Pittsburgh Regional AHEPA Sunday at Holy Trinity Church

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese established in 1999 the third Sunday in May to be AHEPA Sunday to celebrate the accomplishments of this Greek fraternal organization and to remember those members who have passed. Last year, the Pittsburgh AHEPA Chapter embarked on an idea to a combined AHEPA Sunday at a different local area church each year and to have the entire AHEPA Family attend (AHEPAns, Daughters, Sons, and Maids). We will be welcoming the members of the AHEPA family on May 28 and we thank them for honoring Holy Trinity Church as their host parish this year. May the memory of your departed loved ones be eternal, and may your good works continue to honor our Greek Orthodox Faith and Hellenic heritage.

 

[May 29] Memorial Service for Veterans at Holy Trinity Cemetery

The tradition of Memorial Day started in 1866 as local observance of honoring those who died in the Civil War. In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be observed on the last Monday of May to honor our heroes who gave their lives in battle. Please join together in front of the Holy Trinity Cemetery War Memorial at 9:30 am on Memorial Day (May 29) as we hold a special ceremony to honor those who have defended our country and given their lives in defense of the United States, the Constitution and the cause of freedom they so cherished. Please note: this service is to commemorate veterans; it is not a general memorial service for all the departed — that will be held according to Orthodox tradition on the Pentecost weekend Saturday of Souls (June 3 this year) with a Divine Liturgy & Memorial at the Saint George Chapel at Holy Trinity Cemetery. May their memories be eternal!

 

[Jun. 8] Orthodox Movie Night

You won’t want to miss our final Orthodox Movie Night of the season on Thursday, June 8 beginning at 7:00 pm. “A Touch of Spice” tells the story of a young Greek boy who grows up to become a talented cook after political turmoil forces his family to leave their home. Mostly in Greek, with English subtitles. Admission is Free! Come and share in the fellowship!

 

[Jun. 26] Holy Trinity Golf Classic

It’s time once again for the annual Holy Trinity Golf Classic, to be held this year on Monday, June 26, at Diamond Run Golf Club. The event features a “Million Dollar Shootout” and a Silent Auction. If you are unable to golf, please consider joining us for a delicious dinner and the opportunity to bid on some exciting Silent Auction items. Proceeds benefit the Holy Trinity Capital Campaign. Contact Anthony Loomis for information at anthonytloomis@gmail.com.  See the registration form included in the May/June Holy Trinity Herald or additional copies can be found at the Church Office information window.

 

Upcoming Memorials

May 28: AHEPA members, Dean Metropulos (40 days) and Connor Patsilevas (1 year); June 11: Julia Welsh (11 years); June 18: James Phaturos (1 year).

 

Festival Ad Book Volunteers Needed

The Festival season is quickly coming upon us. Last year's Festival was a banner event for our Holy Trinity community. With your help, we made tremendous strides last year. We are seeking volunteers to join the 2017 Festival Ad Book committee. Please contact Al Backeris or Connee Bistolas to join the Ad Book campaign or email inquiries and interest to festivalads@HolyTrinityPgh.org.

 

Holy Trinity’s Taste of Greece - Labor Day Weekend – August 30-September 3

Please mark Wednesday, August 30, through Sunday, September 3 on your calendar for the next “Taste of Greece” festival. The Festival Committee is asking everyone, new members and old hands, young and young at heart, to pledge a donation of their time and talents so that we can continue to grow both the success of the festival and the fellowship with all our Holy Trinity church family members!

 

Visitation Ministry Team is in search of volunteers!

The Visitation Ministry is always in need of volunteers to share their talent and time. We need volunteers who enjoy the following: visiting our homebound family members, designing crafts, baking cookies, transporting individuals to doctor appointments, reading the Bible at the bedside of one who is sick or has poor vision, offering grocery shopping or medication pickup at the local pharmacy, praying for those who are in need, providing a listening ear to those grieving loss, mailing cards to those who need encouragement, and so much more. If you are interested and want to learn more about our Visitation Ministry, please contact Amy Armanious at 412-628-0973 or email visitation@holytrinitypgh.org.

 

 Want the Weekly Bulletin sent to your email box? Sign Up Today!

Want to receive the Sunday Bulletin directly via email? Want announcements on Holy Trinity events? Go to www.HolyTrinityPgh.org and sign up today using the sign-up box on the left side of any page!

 

Note for Summer Travel - Don’t Forget Church! 

Where we travel, whenever we go, we take our faith with us, for as it says in the Psalms, "God is with us!" Keeping that in mind, please remember to plan ahead and check for the location of the nearest Orthodox Christian Church if you will be staying over a Sunday. There are two great web sites to check: our own Archdiocese (www.goarch.org) and Orthodoxy in America (www.OrthodoxyInAmerica.org), a multi-jurisdictional listing of all Orthodox parishes. Also, for major trips such as overseas travels, please feel free to stay following antidoron and ask Father John to offer a special blessing to your family for your travels. Remember, "God is with us" always. Let’s not forget to invite Him!

 

Online Giving Reminder

Did you know Holy Trinity Church’s online giving program makes it possible to make contributions of various kinds to Holy Trinity Church from the convenience of your computer or smartphone? Our secure system allows you to conveniently make donations online. You can choose to make a one-time contribution or establish a recurring weekly or monthly contribution. Best of all, you don’t need to remember to write a check or bring your offering to church - it’s already taken care of! Payments can be made via checking account, savings account, credit card or debit card. Visit www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/give to get started!

 

Welcome, Holy Trinity Guests!

We welcome all our guests to Holy Trinity Church today, whether as visitors from out of town, family members joining others here for worship today or even soon-to-be members here for the first time. No matter what the reason the Holy Spirit brought you here today, we welcome you with open arms and hearts filled with the love of Christ. Please help us welcome you by signing in at the hospitality table in the Narthex, where you will be presented with a yellow lapel Cross to help our Holy Trinity family know you're here. Please fill out an information card so we can contact you with any information you may need concerning life here at Holy Trinity Church.

 

About Receiving Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church

As an extension of our hospitality and outreach ministries, we welcome all who have come to worship with us today. Whether you are an Orthodox Christian, an inquirer to the faith or a first-time guest in an Orthodox Church, we are pleased to have you with us and thankful for the opportunity to share and bear witness to this ancient and timeless Faith. In accordance with the holy canons and traditions of the Church, please note that Holy Communion and the other Holy Mysteries (Sacraments) are received only by those who are baptized and chrismated (confirmed) Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared through prayer, fasting and confession. All others are invited receive the antidoron (blessed bread) and a blessing from the priest at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. The antidoron is not a sacramental offering, but is blessing and a reflection of the agape (love) feast that followed worship in the ancient Christian Church. Please join our parish family for hospitality after the holy services and allow us to meet and welcome you. Interested in joining or learning more about the Orthodox Christian Faith? Please see one of our priests or complete a visitor’s card today!

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Calendar of Events

  • Upcoming Holy Trinity Church Events

    May 21 to June 5, 2017

    Sunday, May 21

    8:15AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    10:45AM Church School Last Class Session and Graduation

    6:30PM POYA "Orthodoxy on Tap" - Young Adult Ministry Social

    Thursday, May 25

    OFFICE CLOSED

    8:30AM Orthros/9:30a Liturgy - The Ascension of the Lord (SG)

    Sunday, May 28

    FOCUS North America Leadership Conference

    AHEPA Sunday & Memorial

    8:15AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    10:45AM + Dean Metropulos - 40 day Memorial + Coffee Hour

    10:45AM + Connor Patsilevas - 1 yeat Memorial + Coffee Hour

    Tuesday, May 30

    6:30PM GOYA Senior Dinner

    Saturday, June 3

    8:30AM Orthros/9:30am Liturgy: Saturday of Souls (SG)

    6:30PM Great Vespers: The Great and Holy Pentecost (HT)

    Sunday, June 4

    THE HOLY AND GREAT PENTECOST

    THE GREAT AND HOLY PENTECOST

    8:15AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    Monday, June 5

    Office Closed - Church Feast Day

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