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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-07-19
Bulletin Contents
Hymns of the Day
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Parish News
Allsaint
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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (904)-829-0504
  • Fax:
  • (904)829-0507
  • Street Address:

  • 2940 CR-214

  • St. Augustine, FL 32084-2718

Contact Information

Ms. Nelda Hann


holy3goc@gmail.com | 9048290504

Services Schedule

Sunday Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am    Fr. John Hays, Interim Priest

Past Bulletins


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. 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 Sun. of the Holy Fathers in the Plagal 4th Tone

Supremely blessed are You, O Christ our God. You established the holy Fathers upon the earth as beacons, and through them You have guided us all to the true Faith, O greatly merciful One, glory be to You. Ὑπερδεδοξασμένος εἶ, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ φωστῆρας ἐπὶ γῆς τοὺς Πατέρας ἡμῶν θεμελιώσας, καὶ δι' αὐτῶν πρὸς τὴν ἀληθινὴν πίστιν, πάντας ἡμᾶς ὁδηγήσας· πολυεύσπλαγχνε, δόξα σοι.

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 2nd Tone

O Protection of Christians that never falls, intercession with the Creator that never fails, we sinners beg you, do not ignore the voices of our prayers. O good Lady, we implore you, quickly come unto our aid, when we cry out to you with faith. Hurry to intercession, and hasten to supplication, O Theotokos who protect now and ever those who honor you. Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, μεσιτεία, πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀμετάθετε, μὴ παρίδῃς, ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι· Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιμώντων σε.
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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
July 19

Saint Theodore, Bishop of Edessa

Our Father among the Saints Theodore was born in Edessa of Mesopotamia. At the age of about nineteen, he became a monk at the Monastery of Mar Sabbas in Palestine. After he had spent some twenty-four years there, he was chosen to become Bishop of Edessa, about the year 836. The city of Edessa at that time was beleaguered with many heresies, among them the Arian, Nestorian, Eutychian, and Manichean. Wishing to free the Orthodox of Edessa from the injustices of the many heretics, he undertook a journey to Babylon in Persia - that is, Baghdad - to ask the Persian King, who then ruled over all Syria, to use his power to protect the Orthodox of Edessa. When he arrived he learned that the King was gravely sick; but gaining admission to him, the holy Bishop Theodore restored him to health through prayer, and, after speaking to him many days in secret about the dispensation of God, converted him to Christ, baptizing him with the name of John. Returning to Edessa having accomplished his purpose, Theodore later learned by revelation that King John, with his three Arab body-guards who had been baptized with him, had professed their faith openly and received martyrs' crowns at the hands of the Persian Moslems. This was in the days when the blessed Theodora and her son Michael reigned in Constantinople. Not long thereafter, Theodore retired to the Monastery of Mar Sabbas, and ended his days.

Hlyfthrs
July 19

Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council

On the Sunday that falls from the 13th to the 19th of the present month, we chant the Service to the 630 Holy and God-bearing Fathers who came together for the 4th Ecumenical Council who assembled in Chalcedon in 451, to condemn Eutyches, who taught that there was only one nature, the divine, in Christ after the Incarnation, and Dioscorus, Patriarch of Alexandria, who illegally received Eutyches back into communion and deposed Saint Flavian, Patriarch of Constantinople, who had excommunicated Eutyches.

In the Slavic tradition, on this Sunday, the Fathers of the first six Ecumenical Councils are all commemorated.

Allsaint
July 19

Macrina the Righteous, sister of St. Basil

Saint Macrina, the elder sister of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa, was sought after by many as a bride because of her beauty, wisdom, and illustrious birth, and in tender youth was espoused by her parents to a bridegroom of fitting nobility. When her betrothed died, Macrina refused any other suitors, and devoted herself to a life of virginity, asceticism, and prayer. When her brother Basil returned from a brilliant career in the best schools of Constantinople and Athens, puffed up with not a little youthful pride-for knowledge puffeth up-it was the ardent admonitions and holy example of his blessed sister that persuaded him to turn from seeking worldly glory to the service of God. Saint Macrina founded a convent, where she ended her earthly life in the year 379, and was buried by her brother Gregory, who wrote a moving account of her last days and his grief at seeing such a light pass out of the world.

Allsaint
July 19

Dius, Abbot of Antioch

Saint Dius, who was from Antioch in Syria, later came to Constantinople and established a monastery there, and wrought many wonders. He flourished in the time of Saint Theodosius the Great (379-395).

Seraphimsarov
July 19

Translation of the Holy Relics of Righteous Seraphim of Sarov

The uncovering of the holy relics of Saint Seraphim of Sarov on July 19, 1903 was attended by many thousands, among them the foremost of the clergy and royalty; the holy Tsar Nicholas II (see July 4) was one of the bearers of the relics in procession, and the Grand Duchess Elizabeth (see July 5) wrote an eyewitness account of the many miracles that took place. Not only had the Saint foretold the coming of the Tsar to his glorification, and that from joy they would chant "Christ is Risen" in summer, but he had also left a letter "for the fourth sovereign, who will come to Sarov." This was Nicholas II, who was given the letter when he came in 1903; the contents of the letter are not known, but when he had read it, the Tsar and future Martyr, though not a man to show his emotions, was visibly shaken. For the life of Saint Seraphim, see January 2.

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal 2nd Tone. Psalm 31.11,1.
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous.
Verse: Blessed are they whose transgressions have been forgiven.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to Titus 3:8-15.

Titus, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.

When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.

All who are with me send greeting to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council
The Reading is from Matthew 5:14-19

The Lord said to his disciples, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

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Parish News

 

A Word from Fr. John:

While doing some “deep study” in a book by Fr. John Meyendorff of blessed memory, I came across this fantastic summary of Orthodox spirituality. This is from his book Christ in Eastern Christian Thought.

 

“Having become mortal through the sin of Adam, man, so to speak, attaches himself to the lower realms of material existence, gives way to the needs of the flesh, and lets the ‘prince of this world’ rule him. The struggle against the passions goes well beyond the simple negative commands that made up the essentials of the Old Testament Law and were only concerned with actions. It supposes a return to the original balance between mind and matter, between man and the world, and finally between man and God. This balance is realized in Christ, the new Adam, in whom the Christian recovers his true existence.

 

The conception of sin as above all the expression of a corresponding passion explains the role of the “spiritual father,” the holy “elder” in the East. He is a charismatic [that is, “spiritually gifted” – Fr. John] guide and physician, rather than a judge with the power of the keys.”

 

Also, for perspective, here is Bishop Kallistos Ware’s definition of “passion” from the English edition of the Orthodox spiritual classic The Philokalia: “... in Greek, the word signifies literally that which happens to a person or thing, an experience undergone passively; hence an appetite or impulse such as anger, desire, or jealousy, that violently dominates the soul. Many Greek Fathers regard the passions as something intrinsically evil, a ‘disease’ of the soul.... Other Greek Fathers, however, look on the passions as impulses originally placed in man by God, and so fundamentally good, although at present distorted by sin.... On this second view, then, the passions are to be educated, not eradicated; to be transfigured, not suppressed; to be used positively, not negatively.”

 

His definition is the background to the “struggle against the passions” explained above, and it is a necessary definition to grasp in order to begin to understand the Orthodox goal of “dispassion,” or “passionlessness.”

 

Special Prayer Requests: 

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  (Phil. 4:6-7)

We pray for mercy, life, peace, and healing of all parishioners, especially: Margo and Niko Kelley, Vasso Poulos, Uncle Pike, Chresanthe Lemieux, Zoe Kauttu, Maryann Bolt, James Day, Kostas Lantzounis, Fr. Nikitas and Pres. Mary Theodosion (in assisted living in Gainesville), His Grace Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos, Margaret, James, Kyriake, Mike and Ingrid (Evangelia) Fotianos, Irene Hastalis, Jane Anderson. Remember also our missionary families: Fr. Stephanos, Pr. Alexandria, Moses & Athan Ritsi serving in Albania; and Michael, Lisa & Liam Colburn.

 

2020 Stewardship – “Partner and Grow in Faith with Us”

Your Orthodox Christian Stewardship commitment in support of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church is a vital part of advancing the work of Christ and our Orthodox Faith in our Parish and our Church at large.  We thank you for your continued support.

 

July 12th General Assembly:

Thirty-nine stewards participated in a special virtual General Assembly on Sunday, July 12, 2020. The main issue considered was an offer of $343,000 in lieu of further monthly rental on the communication tower on our property. The majority of stewards were in favor of accepting this offer. The majority also approved the following utilization of the money: $54,750 to pay our Clergy Pension Fund debt, $200,000 to be added to the Full Time Priest Reserve Fund, and $88,250 to be designated in the future.   After the deal is finalized, the next steps will be to seek guidance for a full-time priest from Metropolitan Alexios, and to form a committee to recommend utilization of the designated money.

 

On-Line Giving:

  • The Parish Council has added a link “Make a Donation” on our Church’s web page www.HolyTrinityGOC.com for on-line giving.

This is a secure way to give to your Church.  Giving categories have been set up to allow giving to specific funds within the Church – for instance, Stewardship, Easter, Memorials, etc.  You can give via credit card, Paypal and you also have the ability to set up recurrent giving.  Of course, you can also set up recurrent giving through your bank if you wish.  Please be sure that a specific notation (ex: stewardship) is included for each transaction.

This new service allows us to light a candle during our divine services on-line. 

Your request will be forwarded to the Parish Council in the narthex during the service and they will pray for you and light your candle.  Also, if you wish to provide names of loved ones to be prayed for, those will be provided to Fr. John as well.

 

Giving by Check:

Each time you contribute funds to the parish by check, the notation on the memo line of your check allows us to identify your intentions:  Stewardship, Candles, Trays, Memorials, etc.                                       

 

Weekly Offering: 

Sacrificial Offerings….July 12th - Candles $139; Tray $28; Memorial $220; Stewardship $495

 

Philoptochos:

  • During the month of July, Philoptochos is conducting a non-perishable food drive to benefit local food banks.  St. Johns Food Bank is specifically asking for boxed macaroni and cheese, canned fruits and vegetables, and pasta and pasta sauces.  We are also asking for donations of gas cards to benefit the Assist program of St. Johns County.  Donations can be delivered to the church during hours Nelda is there, brought to the St. Photios Shrine, brought to the church on Sundays during church hours or picked up from your front door.  For home pick up please contact Polly Hillier, Susan Stone or Lisa Colburn (World Golf Village area).  As you know, many people are without jobs because of Covid 19 and our food banks are desperate for donations.  If you are in a position to help, it would be greatly appreciated.  

 

  • Philoptochos is also collecting school supplies for Title 1 schools in our area.  The lists are pretty generic and would include items such as hand sanitizer and disinfectants (if these can be found), backpacks, headphones, #2 pencils, colored pencils, crayons, folders, notebooks, glue, erasers, notebook paper, composition notebooks, dry erase markers, colored construction paper, and copier paper. A labeled box has been placed in the church hall.  If you are able to donate, please bring your items to church on Sunday or drop them off at the church office when Nelda is there between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on weekdays.  We will be collecting items until the end of July.

 

Wednesday Night Adult Bible Study:

The adult Bible Study of the Gospel of John occurs each Wednesday from 8 to 9 PM online through Zoom.  The meeting can be accessed by going to https://theColburns.us and clicking on the menu item that says “Online”.  You can also see what verses will be studied each Sunday so you can read them ahead of time.

 

Save the Date!  - October 9-11, 2020

 HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

 23RD ANNUAL GREEK FESTIVAL

If you are interested in volunteering to help plan this year’s festival, please reach out to Mikae Gaetanos <mickgae@aol.com>, Nick Lekas <nslekas@gmail.com> or any Parish Council member.  There is a lot of planning that goes into making our festival successful each year and we need everyone to get involved.  If you have any ideas or a passion for planning, cooking, fellowship, outreach and community involvement, please join us.    

www. Stauggreekfest.com

 

December 6th, 2020 (tentatively) 4-7 p.m., Christmas Open House at St. Photios National Shrine:

Last year over 500 people passed through the gate of St. Photios Shrine to share in holiday cheer as we ushered in the Christmas holidays with the St. Photios Shrine Inaugural Christmas Open House.  This year, God willing, we will be able to safely do so again. 

On behalf of Shrine Hierarchal Proistamenos, Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos, you are invited to be part of the Christmas Open House Committee and to add this Shrine event to your calendar.  And to consider ways in which you and organizations from your communities can assist in bringing our religious (St. Nicholas Day!) and cultural (Christmas customs!) to witness in 2020.

Praying you all remain safe and that you will pray for me as well,  Polly Hillier, St Photios

 

Contact Information:

The parish council has been making phone calls to every parishioner for which we have such contact information. If you have not received a phone call, please call (904 829-0504) or email (holy3goc@gmail.com) the office and give Nelda your phone number – we will happily check in on you.  Also, if you know of anyone who doesn’t receive our emails but would like to, please encourage them to let Nelda at holy3goc@gmail.com  know their contact information so we can update our records and keep them informed.

                       

Reminder:  Deadline for Church bulletin e-mail articles is by Wednesday weekly. Thank you.

 

 
 

HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

PLEASE JOIN US!

WE HAVE RE- OPENED

Orthros 9 a.m.   -    Divine Liturgy 10 a.m.

Thanks be to God!

 

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