February 17
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2019-02-17
Bulletin Contents
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
General Information
- Phone:
- (904)-829-0504
- Fax:
- (904)829-0507
- Email:
- HOLY3GOC@gmail.com
- Street Address:
- 2940 CR-214
- St. Augustine, FL 32084-2718
Contact Information
Services Schedule
Sunday Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Fr. John Hays, Interim Priest
Past Bulletins
- Publish Date:
- 2019-02-10
- Publish Date:
- 2019-02-03
- Publish Date:
- 2019-01-27
- Publish Date:
- 2019-01-20
- Publish Date:
- 2019-01-13
- Publish Date:
- 2019-01-06
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal 1st Tone
Let us worship the Word who is unoriginate * with the Father and the Spirit, and from a Virgin was born * for our salvation, O believers, and let us sing His praise. * For in His goodness He was pleased * to ascend the Cross in the flesh, and to undergo death, * and to raise up those who had died, * by His glorious Resurrection.
Apolytikion for the Church in the 1st Tone
8th Tone
Blessed are You, O Christ our God; You made wise men of poor fishermen by sending down upon them Your Holy Spirit, and through them You caught the whole world, O Lover of mankind, glory to You.
Εύλογητός εἶ Χριστὲ ὁ Θεος ἡμῶν ὁ πανσόφους τοὺς ἁλιεῖς ἁναδείξας καταπέμψας αὐτοῖς τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον καὶ δι᾽ αὐτῶν τῆν οἰκουμένην σαγηνεύσας φιλάνθρωπε δόξα Σοι.
Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Tone
Let us flee from the boasting of the Pharisee and learn through our own sighs of sorrow the humility of the Publican. Let us cry out to the Savior, "Have mercy on us, for through You alone are we reconciled."
Saints and Feasts
February 17
Hermogenes (Germogen), Patriarch of Moscow
Our Father among the Saints Hermogenes (Germogen), Patriarch of Moscow, was born about 1530 in Kazan. While yet a layman, he lived as a clerk in the Monastery of the Transfiguration in Kazan. In 1569, the year that Metropolitan Philip of Moscow was slain in Tver (see Jan. 9), Saint Barsanuphius, Bishop of Tver, fled to Kazan fearing the wrath of Ivan the Terrible. So Hermogenes became a spiritual son of Saint Barsanuphius. He was made priest of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Kazan, and was a witness of the miracles of the newly-appeared icon of our Lady of Kazan (see July 8). Later he became Abbot of the Monastery of the Transfiguration, and in 1589 was consecrated Metropolitan of Kazan, in which capacity he converted and baptized many pagan Tartars and heterodox.
In late 1604, the so-called false Dimitry, a pretender to the Russian throne who claimed to be the son of Ivan the Terrible (who had died in 1584), crossed the Russian border, having the support of the Jesuits and King Sigismund III of Poland, who hoped through Dimitry to force Papism upon the Russian people; a few cities, such as Chernigov, soon surrendered to him. Shaken by these calamities, Tsar Boris Gudonov died suddenly, and in June, 1605, the pretender entered Moscow and took the Russian throne. He then declared his intention to marry a Polish woman without her receiving Baptism in the Orthodox Church; when the authorities and the hierarchy remained silent out of fear, it was Metropolitan Hermogenes alone who fearlessly rebuked him and demanded that she renounce Papism and be baptized according to the rites of Orthodoxy. For this, Hermogenes was banished to Kazan. In 1606 Prince Basil Shuisky led the people in the overthrow of Dimitry, and Basil was elected Tsar in Moscow; Hermogenes was made Patriarch of Moscow. The overthrow of Dimitry did not end the endeavours of the Poles to subject Russia to themselves, and in those times of upheavals, treachery, and bloodshed, the valiant Patriarch Hermogenes showed himself to be a great spiritual leader of the people, and, like Saint Philip of Moscow almost half a century before, the conscience of Orthodox Russia in times of betrayal and terror.
In 1609 King Sigismund succeeded in setting his son upon the Russian throne, and Patriarch Hermogenes again insisted that the new Tsar be baptized in the Orthodox Church, marry an Orthodox Christian, and have no dealings with the Pope. The Poles, together with rebel boyars who supported them, imprisoned Patriarch Hermogenes in an underground chamber of the Chudov Monastery during Holy Week of 1611, where they slowly starved him to death; he gave up his holy soul on February 17, 1612.
In 1653, his holy relics were found incorrupt; in 1812, when Napoleon captured Moscow, the Saint's tomb was desecrated in the search for treasure; when the French withdrew, the Patriarch's holy body was found intact on the floor of the cathedral; in 1883 his holy relics were again found whole. Saint Hermogenes was glorified on May 12, 1913, and added to the choir of holy hierarchs of Moscow, whose feast is celebrated on October 5; at the time of his glorification a multitude of miracles were wrought through his incorrupt relics.
February 17
Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today
The Pharisees were an ancient and outstanding sect among the Jews known for their diligent observance of the outward matters of the Law. Although, according to the word of our Lord, they "did all their works to be seen of men" (Matt. 23:5), and were hypocrites (ibid. 23: 13, 14, 15, etc.), because of the apparent holiness of their lives they were thought by all to be righteous, and separate from others, which is what the name Pharisee means. On the other hand, Publicans, collectors of the royal taxes, committed many injustices and extortions for filthy lucre's sake, and all held them to be sinners and unjust. It was therefore according to common opinion that the Lord Jesus in His parable signified a virtuous person by a Pharisee, and a sinner by a Publican, to teach His disciples the harm of pride and the profit of humble-mindedness.
Since the chief weapon for virtue is humility, and the greatest hindrance to it is pride, the divine Fathers have set these three weeks before the Forty-day Fast as a preparation for the spiritual struggles of virtue. This present week they have called Harbinger, since it declares that the Fast is approaching; and they set humility as the foundation for all our spiritual labors by appointing that the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee be read today, even before the Fast begins, to teach, through the vaunting of the Pharisee, that the foul smoke of self-esteem and the stench of boasting drives away the grace of the Spirit, strips man of all his virtue, and casts him into the pits of Hades; and, through the repentance and contrite prayer of the Publican, that humility confers upon the sinner forgiveness of all his wicked deeds and raises him up to the greatest heights.
All foods are allowed the week that follows this Sunday.
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Plagal 1st Tone. 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 Second Letter to Timothy 3:10-15.
TIMOTHY, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at lconion, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Gospel Reading
Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today
The Reading is from Luke 18:10-14
The Lord said this parable, "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Parish News
Special Prayer Requests: For His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios, and all who visited last weekend, and for their safe return home. We pray for mercy, life, peace, and healing for His Grace Bishop Dimitrios, Mike Chelikas, Irene Hastalis, Jim Manos, Chresanthe Lemieux, Jane Anderson, Betty & Fred Day, Despina Xynidis, George P. Nichols, and for their families; for continued growth of the parish family and for those the Lord receives, serves, and sends through her lifesaving ministry. We pray for the prospects traveling to OCMC this week for missionary training and for our two missionary families: Dn. Stephanos, Dka. Alexandria & Moses Ritsi serving Albania; and Michael, Lisa & Liam Colburn serving translators worldwide.
In Times of Need:When challenging times come upon us and especially in times of illness, hospitalization, emergency, or loneliness, ask for intercession and visitation. Please be sure to call and notify Father John through the church office, ore--mail prayer requests and updates to holy3goc@gmail.com. The 24-hour emergency phone number is: (602) 617-2467.
Hostess Schedule:Carman Gaetanos (904) 540-0367 or carmgaet@gmail.com
- Today, February 17th Faye Peterson; Constandina/Marissa; Joan Manias
- February 24th Last Sunday Potluck
Parish Council Announcements:
- The Oath of Office for the 2019 Parish Council:We are grateful for your endorsement of, participation with, and continued prayers for those standing before you today as one: your 2019 Parish Council. Pray for their immediate Election of Executive Officers and all that The Lord intends for the coming year. Contact information of each member is available through the Church Office
- The Holy Trinity Parish Council met with His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios on Sat, February 9 to discuss having a full-time priest. His Eminence inquired about our community and was pleased to learn that our parish is “poised” for a full-time priest. He noted, “The parish has to become the focus: the priest takes care of the parishioners; the parishioners take care of the priest.” We must continue to show the spirit of love; to be a welcoming and warm community.
In order to be ready for a full-time priest, certain items need to be in place, including resources to support a priest and to strengthen ourselves spiritually. At this time, His Eminence does not have a priest, but will work with us to find one!
- Sacrificial Offerings - Weekly Offering:
- February 10 - Candles $378; Tray $209; Stewardship $3508
Iconography Committee Update: As announced with great joy, we are ready to go forward with iconography of the Pantocrator and Prophets in the dome of our church. Hopefully it will be completed before Pascha. As a parish family, we are grateful for the generous contributions and prayers that made this possible. The next phase of the Iconography Project will include Evangelists on the pendentives and medallions of the Apostles on the band below the dome; examples are displayed on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall.
Buy-a-Brick: Ordering bricks soon! Now that the church has been power washed, and the commemorative walkway cleaned, we will be ordering new bricks this month. Prices have not changed: $100 for an engraved 4”x8” paver, and $250 for an engraved 8”x8” paver. Order forms are on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall or on our website. We will contact you before the order is placed to confirm the engraving. If you have questions, or cannot find a brick paver that you previously ordered, please contact the office, 904.829.0504 or Holy3GOC@gmail.com, or contact Carmela at 904.471.2490 or ctardo@bellsouth.net.
Stewardship and the Vision of our Parish:
- Our formal vision -
"To foster an Orthodox Christian environment that encourages parishioner engagement, to increase public awareness of our faith and of our parish as a spiritual home, and to nurture and grow our stewardship commitments."
- To be stewards of the Gospel, we need to be stewards of our parish. This requires the vision and inspiration to see the parish not as it is but as it could be. We are called to offer ourselves and our treasure to make our local church all that it can be. Please ensure that you are part of the vision and planning process of our parish by submitting a stewardship commitment card.
Philoptochos:
- Philoptochos meeting today, February 17th, after church.
- Fashion Show sold out! The 12th Annual Fashion Show on Saturday, February 23 at 11:30 AM is sold out! This is the major fundraiser of the Philoptochos, and we will welcome over 120 persons for Greek hospitality and tours of our beautiful church. Over 80 of our guests will come from outside of our church family. We would still appreciate items for our raffle table, or small gifts that can be used as door prizes. If you have any items to donate or re-gift, please drop them off at church, or contact Carmela at 904.471.2490 or ctardo@bellsouth.net to arrange pickup.
April 5th – 7th Y.E.S. Weekend: St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church in Jacksonville will be hosting Y.E.S. (Youth Equipped to Serve) for teens. The youth program of FOCUS North America will be based at the church and travel around Jacksonville doing good works of service and love. Registration is at www.yesnorthamerica.org with a gift of $175 per person which covers all trip expenses. If you have questions, please contact Larissa Hatch or Rob Neda at: larissahatch07@gmail.com or robertneda@gmail.com.
PLEASE NOTE – Feb 18th – 20th Hall Floors will be stripped and cleaned.
Bulletin Submission:Please submit your articles weekly by Wednesday, or at the latest, Thursday. Please note that all submissions will be reviewed and edited by Father John and Margo Kelley.
Weekly Offering:We support this Church by sharing of our time, talents, and treasures. If each of us gives in proportion to God’s blessings upon us, our Church will continue to flourish. Your offering can be made at the collection basket as you exit the service.