Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal 1st Mode

Let us the faithful give praise and worship to the Logos, coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation; for of His own goodwill he consented to ascend the cross in the flesh and endured death and raised the dead by His glorious resurrection.

Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον Πατρὶ καὶ Πνεύματι, τὸν ἐκ Παρθένου τεχθέντα εἰς σωτηρίαν ἡμῶν, ἀνυμνήσωμεν πιστοὶ καὶ προσκυνήσωμεν, ὅτι ηὐδόκησε σαρκί, ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ, καὶ θάνατον ὑπομεῖναι, καὶ ἐγεῖραι τοὺς τεθνεῶτας, ἐν τῇ ἐνδόξῳ Ἀναστάσει αὐτοῦ.

Apolytikion for Gregory the Wonderworker in the Plagal 4th Mode

By vigilance in prayer, and continuance in the working of wonders, thou didst acquire thine achievements as a surname; wherefore, intercede with Christ our God, O Father Gregory, to enlighten our souls, lest we sleep in sin unto death.

Εν προσευχαίς γρηγορών, ταίς τών θαυμάτων εργασίαις εγκαρτερών, επωνυμίαν εκτήσω τά κατορθώματα, αλλά πρέσβευε Χριστώ τώ Θεώ, Πάτερ Γρηγόριε, φωτίσαι τάς ψυχάς ημών, μή ποτε υπνώσωμεν, εν αμαρτίαις εις θάνατον.

Apolytikion for the Church in the Plagal 4th Mode

O blessed are You, O Christ our God, who by sending down the Holy Spirit upon them made the fishermen wise and through them illumined the world and to You the universe was ever drawn, all glory to You, O Lord.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Mode

Ο καθαρώτατος ναός τού Σωτήρος, η πολυτίμητος παστάς καί Παρθένος, τό Ιερόν θησαύρισμα τής δόξης τού Θεού, σήμερον εισάγεται, εν τώ οίκω Κυρίου, τήν χάριν συνεισάγουσα, τήν εν Πνευματι θείω, ήν ανυμνούσιν Άγγελοι Θεού, Αύτη υπάρχει σκηνή επουράνιος.

The sacred treasury of God's holy glory, the greatly precious bridal chamber and Virgin, the Savior's most pure temple, free of stain and undefiled, into the house of the Lord on this day is brought forward and brings with herself the grace of the Divine Spirit; her do God's angels hymn with songs of praise, for she is truly the heavenly tabernacle.

Saints and Feasts

November 17

9th Sunday of Luke

November 17

Gregory the Wonderworker & Bishop of Neo-Caesarea

Saint Gregory was born in Neocaesarea of Pontus to parents who were not Christians. He studied in Athens, in Alexandria, in Beirut, and finally for five years in Caesarea of Palestine under Origen, by whom he was also instructed in the Faith of Christ. Then, in the year 240, he became bishop of his own city, wherein he found only seventeen Christians. By the time the Saint reposed about the year 265, there were only seventeen unbelievers left there. Virtually the whole duration of his episcopacy was a time of continual, marvellous wonders worked by him. Because of this, he received the surname "Wonderworker"; even the enemies of the truth called him a second Moses (see Saint Basil the Great's On the Holy Spirit, ch. 29).

November 17

Righteous Mother Hilda of Whitby

Our righteous Mother Hilda was of noble birth, being a kinswoman of Saint Edwin, King of Northumbria (celebrated Oct. 12). At the age of thirty-three she renounced the world, and lived another thirty-three years as a nun and abbess. The last six years of her life she suffered a burning fever with patience and nobility, and reposed in peace in the year 680.

November 18

Plato the Great Martyr of Ancyra

Saint Plato contested in martyrdom in 266, when Agrippinus was proconsul. He was from the city of Ancyra in the province of Galatia.

November 18

Holy Martyr Romanus

Saint Romanus, who was from Antioch, lived during the reign of Maximian. He presented himself before Asclepiades the Eparch, and rebuked him, saying, "The idols are not gods; even a little child could tell you that." Then the Saint asked that a child be brought in from the market, that he might be the judge of the matter at hand. Therefore, when the child was asked, "Which God must we worship?" he replied, "Christ." The child was beaten mercilessly and beheaded at the command of the tyrant. As for Saint Romanus, his tongue was cut out, and then he was cast into prison, where he was strangled in the year 305.

November 20

Gregory the Righteous of Decapolis

Saint Gregory who was from Irenopolis of the Decapolis of Asia Minor, was the son of Sergius and Mary. He became a monk as a young man, and after struggling for many years in virtue and prayer under obedience to a wise spiritual father, he was informed by revelation that it was the will of God for him to live, like the Patriarch Abraham, with no certain dwelling, moving from place to place. His journeyings took him to Ephesus, Constantinople, Corinth, Rome, Sicily, Thessalonica, and again to Constantinople, where, after many labours in defence of Orthodoxy against Iconoclasm, he reposed in peace in the first half of the ninth century. He had two disciples, one of whom was Saint Joseph the Hymnographer (see Apr. 3), who wrote the Menaion service for Saint Gregory, his father in Christ.

November 21

The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple

According to the tradition of the Church, the Theotokos was brought to the Temple at three years of age, where she was consecrated to God and spent her days until she was fourteen or fifteen years old; and then, as a mature maiden, by the common counsel of the priests (since her parents had reposed some three years before), she was betrothed to Joseph.

November 22

Holy Martyr Cecilia and those with her

Saint Cecilia was of an illustrious Roman family. On being betrothed to Valerian, she drew him to the Faith of Christ, and he in turn drew his own brother Tiburtius to the same. They contested in martyrdom during the reign of Diocletian, in the year 288.

November 23

Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium

Saint Amphilochius, who was born in Cappadocia, shone forth in asceticism and divine knowledge even from his youth. He was consecrated Bishop of Iconium in 341, he struggled courageously against the blasphemies of Eunomius, Macedonius the enemy of the Holy Spirit, and the followers of Arius. He was present at the Second Ecumenical Council of the 150 Fathers, which took place in Constantinople, convoked during the reign of Theodosius the Great in the year 381. In 383 Amphilochius wished to persuade the Emperor Theodosius to forbid the Arians from gathering in Constantinople and to commit the churches to the Orthodox, but the Emperor was reluctant to do such a thing. The next time that Amphilochius entered the palace, he addressed Theodosius with proper honour, but slighted his young son Arcadius in his presence. Theodosius was indignant, and said the dishonour shown to his son was equally an insult to himself. To this Saint Amphilochius answered that as he would not suffer an insult to his son, so he ought to believe that God is wroth with those who blaspheme His Only-begotten. Saint Theodosius understood and admired Amphilochius' ingenious device, and he issued the desired edict in September of the same year. Saint Amphilochius, having reached deep old age, reposed in peace about the year 395. Saint Basil the Great wrote many letters to Saint Amphilochius, his friend and Fellow champion of the Faith, and at his request wrote his treatise On the Holy Spirit, which besides demonstrating the divinity of the Holy Spirit and His equality with the Father and the Son, defends the Church's unwritten ancient traditions, such as making the sign of the Cross, turning towards the East in prayer, no kneeling on Sunday, and so forth.

November 23

Gregory, Bishop of Agrigentum

Saint Gregory, the son of pious parents named Chariton and Theodora, was born in Agrigentum, a city of Sicily, and was great in virtue from his childhood. He was baptized, brought up, and tonsured reader by Bishop Potamion during the reign of Justinian II, in the seventh century. At the age of eighteen he made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where he was ordained deacon by Macarius, Bishop of Jerusalem. He traveled to Constantinople, and then to Rome where he was consecrated Bishop of his native Agrigentum. As Bishop of Agrigentum he worked many miracles and shone brilliantly in virtue, but also suffered many great temptation; from the priests Sabine and Crescentius, who so envied him that they slandered him to the Pope as a fornicator and had him cast into prison for two and a half years. In the end, however, he vindicated himself by casting the demon out of the woman who had falsely accused him of committing sin with her. Saint Gregory reposed in peace in deep old age.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Προκείμενον. Plagal 1st Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 11.7,1.
Σὺ Κύριε, φυλάξαις ἡμᾶς καὶ διατηρήσαις ἡμᾶς.
Στίχ. Σῶσον με, Κύριε, ὅτι ἐκλέλοιπεν ὅσιος.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Γαλάτας 6:11-18.

Ἀδελφοί, ἴδετε πηλίκοις ὑμῖν γράμμασιν ἔγραψα τῇ ἐμῇ χειρί. Ὅσοι θέλουσιν εὐπροσωπῆσαι ἐν σαρκί, οὗτοι ἀναγκάζουσιν ὑμᾶς περιτέμνεσθαι, μόνον ἵνα μὴ τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ Χριστοῦ διώκωνται. Οὐδὲ γὰρ οἱ περιτετμημένοι αὐτοὶ νόμον φυλάσσουσιν, ἀλλὰ θέλουσιν ὑμᾶς περιτέμνεσθαι, ἵνα ἐν τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ σαρκὶ καυχήσωνται. Ἐμοὶ δὲ μὴ γένοιτο καυχᾶσθαι εἰ μὴ ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ· διʼ οὗ ἐμοὶ κόσμος ἐσταύρωται, κἀγὼ τῷ κόσμῳ. Ἐν γὰρ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ οὔτε περιτομή τι ἰσχύει, οὔτε ἀκροβυστία, ἀλλὰ καινὴ κτίσις. Καὶ ὅσοι τῷ κανόνι τούτῳ στοιχήσουσιν, εἰρήνη ἐπʼ αὐτούς, καὶ ἔλεος, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ θεοῦ. Τοῦ λοιποῦ, κόπους μοι μηδεὶς παρεχέτω· ἐγὼ γὰρ τὰ στίγματα τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματί μου βαστάζω. Ἡ χάρις τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματος ὑμῶν, ἀδελφοί. Ἀμήν.

Prokeimenon. Plagal 1st Mode. Psalm 11.7,1.
You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 6:11-18.

Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

Gospel Reading

9th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 12:16-21

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· Ἀνθρώπου τινὸς πλουσίου εὐφόρησεν ἡ χώρα· καὶ διελογίζετο ἐν ἑαυτῷ λέγων· τί ποιήσω, ὅτι οὐκ ἔχω ποῦ συνάξω τοὺς καρπούς μου; καὶ εἶπε· τοῦτο ποιήσω· καθελῶ μου τὰς ἀποθήκας καὶ μείζονας οἰκοδομήσω, καὶ συνάξω ἐκεῖ πάντα τὰ γενήματά μου καὶ τὰ ἀγαθά μου, καὶ ἐρῶ τῇ ψυχῇ μου· ψυχή, ἔχεις πολλὰ ἀγαθὰ κείμενα εἰς ἔτη πολλά· ἀναπαύου, φάγε, πίε, εὐφραίνου. εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Θεός· ἄφρον, ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτὶ τὴν ψυχήν σου ἀπαιτοῦσιν ἀπὸ σοῦ· ἃ δὲ ἡτοίμασας τίνι ἔσται; οὕτως ὁ θησαυρίζων ἑαυτῷ, καὶ μὴ εἰς Θεὸν πλουτῶν.

9th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 12:16-21

The Lord said this parable: "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." As he said these things, he cried out: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Parish News and Events

Fellowship Hour

Today is our Community Pot Luck Fellowship. Please bring a dish to feed about 8 people. Thanks!

The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple

November 21, the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple (Eisodia) is one of the twelve great feasts of the year. It is, in a sense, the "kick-off" of our preparation for Christmas. We will be celebrating the feast with Great Vespers on Wednesday, November 20 at 7:00 pm, and Divine Liturgy on Thursday, November 21 at 10:00 am. Please try to come if you are free!

Parish Council Nominations

It's that time of year again; we are gearing up for the Fall General Assembly on December 8, together with elections for the Parish Council. We are looking for people who love their Parish and want to see it as a healthy part of the Body of Christ. Take a risk and be part of the future of our Parish! Everyone should at some point serve on the Council. It is the best way to come to understand more profoundly what it takes to keep the church running.

RE-CATECHISM OPPORTUNITIES

Different and Interesting Ways to Get to Know More About Your Faith

The New Testament You Never Knew: Exploring the Context, Purpose and Meaning of the Story of God

Can you identify John, George, Paul and Ringo, but not Matthew, Mark, Luke and John? Do you sometimes entertain the idea that the Resurrection is just an adaptation of a Greek vegetation myth into the Jesus story? Or maybe you can name all 27 books of the New Testament; do you know why there are 27, and why this decision was made? You can’t understand the New Testament unless you understand the greater context of the stories, and how they all came together. In this 8 week study we will see videos of Professors NT Wright and Michael Bird discussing various aspects of the world of the New Testament and its influence on these writings and their reception in the Church. The meetings consist of a video lecture and a discussion, as well as a study of selected Scripture passages. A workbook will be provided. No need to have any prior knowledge!

Our next meeting is Tuesday, November 12 at 6:30 pm in the Church Hall. Even if you didn't make it to the first meeting, you are welcome to join us!

A Journey to Fullness

We will have another session of Fr. Barnabas Powell’s video introduction to Orthodoxy, A Journey to Fullness. Even if you could not make the first meeting, you are invited to join at any time! This 16 part series (you don’t have to commit to being at all 16 sessions!) is the first step toward getting to know the Orthodox Faith. Even if you have been Orthodox all your life, Fr. Barnabas will surprise you will insights you never knew. Everyone is invited—whether you have been Orthodox all your life, or you just want to get to know the Orthodox Faith better because you have Orthodox relatives or friends. There will be discussion and a question and answer period as well. Our next session is Thursday, November 21 at 6:30 pm.

Interested in a Little Adventure?

We are looking for some brave souls who would like to try a new adventure--an Orthodox Book Study on line. We will use the platform Zoom, which you can acquire free with the app for your phone. Our first book is an interesting look at the Orthodox Church under the last days of Communism in Russia, Everyday Saints. If you would be interested in joining our adventure, please see Father so that we can pick a good time for our cyber study.

Ask the Priest

Sometimes we have questions, but cannot seem to find time to ask Father. Now there is opportunity to leave these questions in the "Ask the Priest Box" located in the Church Hall (it's bright green--you can't miss it!). Father will field the questions once a month in the sermon, as well as in the weekly and monthly bulletins. You can sign your name or not, it doesn't matter. No question is unworthy of attention!

New Ministry Opportunities

Nothing is more important for the life of Parish than the engagement of the Parish Family members in the life of the Parish. Faith only has meaning if it is manifested in works; otherwise, it is nothing more than an acceptance of propositions. As a result of the talks the Stewardship Ministry Team has had, we are inaugurating some new ministries and revitalizing others.

The Visitation Ministry

Would you like to bring some cheer and company and the love of Christ to the sick and shut-ins? Please see Fr. Constantine to become a member of the Visitation Ministry.

The Welcome Ministry

There is nothing better than a smile and a helping hand when you first come into the church. This is true both for guests and for regulars. If you would like to be a part of the welcoming spirit of our Parish, making sure everyone has a bulletin and knows where to go, please see Elena Painchaud or Freda Spiro.

The Readers Ministry

At every Divine Liturgy and at almost every other of our Services there are readings from the Epistles or from the Old Testament. We would like to have a regular schedule of readers for these sacred readings. If you are interested in being part of this ministry, please see Gary Ambelas.

Mark Your Calendar

Our Fall General Assembly and Elections for the Parish Council will take place on Sunday, December 8, after Liturgy. Your presence is important for the Stewardship of our Parish.

Our annual Orthodox Service of Lessons and Carols will take place on Sunday, December 8, at 5:00 pm. Please come and enjoy this beautiful preparation for Christmas! There will be a Fellowship Hour after the Service. Please invite your friends and family to come as well.

This Month's Item Collection

One of the Fall projects of the Mother Maria of Paris Outreach Ministries is to provide convenient “bags of help”, filled with hygiene items and some snacks, for our parishioners to take and to give to the many people we see on street corners or sidewalks asking for help. In order to fill these bags, we are asking for you help in collecting hygiene items, such as regular bars of soap, travel size shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, mouth wash, etc., toothbrushes, dental floss, and other such items, as well as snacks such as granola bars, protein bars, etc. There will be a basket in the Church Hall for your generous donations. Thank you once again from “the least of our brothers and sisters.”

There are now a number of "bags of help" prepared and ready for you to take into your cars. Please feel free to take a couple of them, so that, whenever you see someone in need on a street corner, you can hand them this bag. Please remember to pray for the people that you help with these "bags of help"!

Banner (Lavara) Icons

To your right and left along the walls of the church, you will notice two banner in beautiful red velvet which were brought back from Greece last year. Such a banner is called a lavaron, which was the identifying banner of the Roman legions, and now serve as our war banners in the fight against sin and death. There is a space in these banners to change the icon according to the season or feast. Some of these icons were also brought back from Greece last year; this year we have ordered the rest of the Great Feast Day icons to complete the collection. If you would like to donate one of these icons for $10 a piece, please see Barbara Kalioras to pick out which one(s) you would like to donate.

Looking for Good Presents for Children, Godchildren or Grandchildren?

Are you in need of devotional items, like censers, incense, oil lamps, prayer ropes (koumboskinia)? Could you use a small, simple presentation of the life of a Saint in English or in Greek? Check out our new Holy Trinity Store. Please put the money in the basket; we are using the honor method. Make checks payable to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.

Parish Events of the Week

Sunday, November 17

9:00 am--Orthros

10:00 am--Divine Liturgy

Choir Practice after Liturgy

Community Pot Luck Fellowship

Tuesday, November 19

6:00 pm--Stewardship Ministry Meeting

Wednesday, November 20

7:00 pm--Vespers of the Entrance of the Theotokos

Thursday, Novemver 21--Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple

10:00 am--Divine Liturgy

6:30 pm--A Journey to Fullness--Mindset Matters

Saturday, November 23

10:00 am--Divine Liturgy at Holy Transfiguration Church, Franklin

Sunday, November 24--13th Sunday of Luke

9:00 am--Orthros

10:00 am--Divine Liturgy

Philoptochos Memorial

Bulletin Inserts

Journey to Fullness

New Testament Bible Study

The New Testament You Never Knew

General Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal 1st Mode

Apolytikion for Gregory the Wonderworker in the Plagal 4th Mode

Apolytikion for the Church in the Plagal 4th Mode

Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Mode

Saints and Feasts

9th Sunday of Luke

Gregory the Wonderworker & Bishop of Neo-Caesarea

Righteous Mother Hilda of Whitby

Plato the Great Martyr of Ancyra

Holy Martyr Romanus

Gregory the Righteous of Decapolis

The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple

Holy Martyr Cecilia and those with her

Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium

Gregory, Bishop of Agrigentum

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

Parish News and Events

Parish Events of the Week

Bulletin Inserts

Journey to Fullness

New Testament Bible Study