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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2021-06-20
Bulletin Contents
Parish News
Special Announcements
Hymns of the Day
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
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  Divine Liturgy 10:00am    V. Rev. Father Maximos Politis, Priest

Past Bulletins


Parish News

A Word from Fr. Maximos
 

Η Κοινωνία του Αγιου Πνεύματος

Η κάθοδος του Αγίου Πνεύματος κατα την Πεντηκοστή, σηματοδοτεί την ίδρυση της Εκκλησίας αλλά ταυτόχρονα την αφετηρία της αναζήτησης της επικοινωνίας του ανθρώπου με το Άγιο Πνεύμα. 

Κατά τη διάρκεια της Θείας λειτουργίας, ο ιερέας ευλογεί τους Πιστούς που συμμετέχουν στο Μυστήριο λέγοντας: “Ἡ χάρις τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ Θεοῦ καί Πατρὸς καὶ ἡ κοινωνία τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος εἴη μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν”.

Στην ευχή του καθαγιασμού των Τιμίων Δώρων γίνεται επίκληση του Θεού να πέμψει το Άγιο Πνεύμα στους Πιστούς και στα Τίμια Δώρα ώστε να έλθει στην ψυχή νήψη, άφεση αμαρτιών, πληρότητα της Βασιλείας των Ουρανών και ακατάκριτο θάρρος προς τον Κύριο. Ώστε γενέσθαι τοις μεταλαμβάνουσιν εις νήψιν ψυχής, εις άφεσιν αμαρτιών, εις κοινωνίαν του Αγίου σου Πνεύματος, εις Βασιλείας ουρανών πλήρωμα, εις παρρησίαν την προς σε, μη εις κρίμα ή εις κατάκριμα”.Ο καθένας μας καλείται να αναρωτηθεί αν αυτή η εργασία γίνεται μέσα του. Στην Παραβολή του σπορέως βλέπουμε ότι ο ίδιος σπόρος πέφτει παντού. Δεν φέρνει όμως παντού τον ίδιο καρπό. Σε κάποια σημεία το χωράφι έχει πέτρες ή ακάνθια ή άλλα προβλήματα. Με το Μυστήριο της βάπτισης, της χρίσης και της Θείας Κοινωνίας το ίδιο Άγιο Πνεύμα έρχεται σε όλους μας. Όλοι μεταλαμβάνουμε την ίδια Θεία Κοινωνία. Έρχονται τα αποτελέσματα στα οποία αποβλέπει η ευχή; 

Και το τροπάριο του Αγίου Συμεών του Νέου Θεολόγου τονίζει ότι το έργο του Αγίου ήταν να πείθει τους ανθρώπους να αναζητούν την Χάρη του Αγίου Πνεύματος. 

Θείαν έλλαμψιν, Συμεών Πάτερ, εισδεξάμενος, εν τη ψυχή σου, φωστήρ εν κόσμω εδείχθης λαμπρότατος, δια­σκεδάζων αυτού την σκοτόμαιναν, και πάντας πείθων ζητείν ην απώλεσαν, χάριν Πνεύματος. Αυτό εκτενώς ι­κέτευε, δωρήσασθαι ημίν το μέγα έλεος.

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Τhe communion of the Holy Spirit

The descent of the Holy Spirit during Pentecost marks the founding of the Church but at the same time is the beginning of man’s struggle to receive communication with the Holy Spirit.

During the Divine Liturgy, the priest blesses the Believers who participate in the Sacrament, saying: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all."

In the prayer for the sanctification of the Holy Gifts, God is invoked to send down the Holy Spirit to the Faithful and to the Holy Gifts so that vigilance of soul, remission of sins, fullness of the Kingdom of Heaven and courage without condemnation come to the soul. ".So that they may be for those who partake of them for vigilance of soul, remission of sins, communion of Your Holy Spirit, fullness of the Kingdom of Heaven, boldness before You, not for judgment or condemnation. "Each one of us is encouraged to wonder if this work is done within ourselves. In the Parable of the Sower we see that the same seed falls everywhere. But it does not bear the same fruit everywhere. In some places the field has stones or thorns or other problems. With the Sacrament of Baptism, Chrismation and Holy Communion, the same Holy Spirit comes to all of us. We all receive the same Holy Communion. Does the prayer bring the result that it aims?

And the troparion of Saint Symeon the New Theologian emphasizes that the Saint's work was to persuade people to seek the Grace of the Holy Spirit:

Oh Symeon Father, having received Divine radiance in your soul, you proved to be a major enlightener in the world, scattering its darkness, and persuading all to ask for the Grace of the Holy Spirit that they had lost. Beg this extensively for it to grant us great mercy.

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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Liturgical Services: Welcome parishioners and visitors for on-site services.We continue Live Stream Services on Facebook, please visit our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/HolyTrinityGOC/)

  • On May 19, 2021, His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios wrote: "it is important to consider the full text of the CDC's guideline, which reads: “...fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.”The Metropolis will continue to ask our parishes to abide by the recommended CDC, as well as federal, state, and local guidelines in a spirit of good  faith."   

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, Bill Duddy-ankle surgery, Ruza Basimamovic, Mikae Gaetanos, Faye Peterson, Chresanthe Lemieux, Zoe Kauttu, Maryann Bolt, James Day, Kostas Lantzounis (is at Bayview Rehab Center and  welcomes visitors); Fr. Nikitas and Pres. Mary Theodosion, His Grace Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos, Margaret, James, Kyriake, Joseph, Alex Aclim, Irene Hastalis, Jane Anderson, Gwen H., and Thanos Nikolopoulos, and Lubov - the mother of Kristina Wilkes. Remember also our missionary families: Fr. Stephanos, Pr. Alexandria, Moses & Athan Ritsi serving in Albania; and Michael, Lisa & Liam Colburn.

FATHERS

Koliva Provided on Father's Day:  Faye and Gary Peterson will be providing Koliva on Sunday, June 20th, in memory of all fathers who have fallen asleep unto the Lord.   May their beloved memories be eternal.

Philoptochos and Outreach Committees:  Philoptochos has set aside money to help pay the registration fee for St. Stephen's camp.  Unfortunately, the slots for girls are full.  If you have a middle school or older boy who would like to attend, please contact Irene Pergeorelis.

Stewardship: We invite you to join us in person for Sunday services!  Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of our faith -- incense, iconography, hymns, and prayers.  Stay after liturgy to meet new parishioners and to greet those you already know and have missed!  

Thank you to all who have continued to be active stewards in 2021.  For those that have not already done so, please go to our website (http://holytrinitygoc.com) and make a Stewardship contribution (under 'Make a Donation") to ensure that this place of faith, its priest and its ministries will be adequately supported.  Thank you!

Sunday School News:  Our parish honored the Sunday School students and all our children on Sunday May 30th following services.  It has been a challenging year and we are heartened by the number of children who participated in the Easter Services. An activity will be provided for children following services on August 15, 2021!  We will resume classes in September.

Adult Bible Study:  Bible study will resume in the fall.

Greek Fest To Go:  The Holy Trinity Church Greek Fest To Go was a success!  Thank you to the kitchen crew, runners and all the volunteers for your hard work.  You helped make our 2nd Greek Fest To Go a successful event!   Preliminary figures show that we netted ~$8700.  This event also allowed many visitors to come and see our beloved church.  We look forward to planning the next event not only to include our delicious food, but Greek music, dancing, culture and more.  Opa!

Coffee Hour Hosts and Hostesses needed!

coffee host

Now that we are gathering after Liturgy, we invite everyone to offer snacks or refreshments after Liturgy.

What is needed?

  • bring snacks or refreshments for 40-50 persons,  pre-wrapped or pre-plated is not essential, but makes distribution and clean up easier
  • help will be available to wrap or set out what you offer
  • paper goods, coffee, and sugar will be provided
  • help will be available to make the coffee

How to sign up? it’s easy no need to enter any personal information

Thank you from the Parish Council

SERVICE/EVENT SCHEDULE  (Sunday Orthros 9am, Divine Liturgy 10am)

JUNE

18th….....Final submission date for July/August newsletter articles

19th………Saturday of Souls

20th………Pentecost; Father’s Day

21st………Day of the Holy Spirit (Nameday);

                    St. Photios Shrine – Paraklesis, 12:30pm                 

                    Parish Council Meeting (3rd Monday)

26th………St. Photios Shrine Greek Landing Day

27th………All Saints

29th………Apostles Peter & Paul

30th………Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles

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On-Line Giving:  Click “Donate Now” on our Church’s web page www.HolyTrinityGOC.com to make a gift. Giving categories – stewardship, memorials, etc. – have been set up to allow giving to specific funds.

Our “Light a Candle & Say a Prayer” ministry lets you to light a candle during divine services on-line.  Your request will be forwarded to a Council member in the Narthex to light your candle.  Also, if you wish to provide names of loved ones to be prayed for, those will be provided to Fr. Maximos. Give via credit card, PayPal, or set up recurrent giving through your bank.  Please be sure a specific notation (ex: stewardship) is included for each transaction. 

Giving by Check:  When contributing by check, the notation on the memo line allows us to identify your intentions (i.e. stewardship, candles, trays, memorials, etc.).

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Ministry Needed - Parish Webmaster and FaceBook:  We are searching for someone who may have the talent and desire to post news onto the church website and Facebook pages.  This may be a once or twice a week activity.  If you have the talent and wish to give of your time in this way, please let the church office know.  This is a very important and needful ministry for the life of our Parish.

 WEBPAGE

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Contact Information:  Please call (904 829-0504) or email (holy3goc@gmail.com) Nelda to update your contact information.  Also, if you know of anyone who doesn’t receive parish emails but would like to, please encourage them to contact the parish office with their contact information.

Announcements:

  • If you have a request for a special service such as a memorial, please email the church office at holy3goc@gmail.com or call 904 829-0504 (if you do not have access to email) in advance of requested date with details.
  • If you would like any of the following, please contact Fr. Maximos via email at fathermaximusa7@gmail.com  or text him at 347 500-8176: 
    • To receive a phone message from Father Maximos about services, special events or other subjects.
    • To arrange an appointment for a House Blessing.
    • To offer Holy Communion to someone in need at a hospital, nursing home, in hospice care, or at home.       
  •  The deadline for the Church bulletin e-mail articles is before 12pm on Wednesday weekly.
  • Office administrator will be out of the office on July 1 & 2.

If you want your announcements on the master calendar, please remember to e-mail them to the office at holy3goc@gmail.com (please note if the article/announcement is recurring or one time).  


 

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Special Announcements

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Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion for Pentecost in the Plagal 4th Tone

Blessed are You, O Christ our God. You made the fishermen all-wise, by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, and through them You drew the world into Your net. O Lover of mankind, glory to You. Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ πανσόφους τοὺς ἁλιεῖς ἀναδείξας, καταπέμψας αὐτοῖς τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον, καὶ δι' αὐτῶν τὴν οἰκουμένην σαγηνεύσας, φιλάνθρωπε, δόξα σοι.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal 4th Tone

When the Most High God came down and confused the tongues, * He divided the nations. * When He distributed the tongues of fire, * He called all to unity. * And with one voice we glorify the all-holy Spirit. Ὅτε καταβὰς τὰς γλώσσας συνέχεε, διεμέριζεν ἔθνη ὁ Ὕψιστος· ὅτε τοῦ πυρὸς τὰς γλώσσας διένειμεν, εἰς ἑνότητα πάντας ἐκάλεσε, καὶ συμφώνως δοξάζομεν τὸ πανάγιον Πνεῦμα.
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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
June 20

Kallistos I, Patriarch of Constantinople

Pentecost
June 20

Holy Pentecost

After the Saviour's Ascension into the Heavens, the eleven Apostles and the rest of His disciples, the God-loving women who followed after Him from the beginning, His Mother, the most holy Virgin Mary, and His brethren-all together about 120 souls returned from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem. Entering into the house where they gathered, they went into the upper room, and there they persevered in prayer and supplication, awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit, as their Divine Teacher had promised them. In the meanwhile, they chose Matthias, who was elected to take the place of Judas among the Apostles.

Thus, on this day, the seventh Sunday of Pascha, the tenth day after the Ascension and the fiftieth day after Pascha, at the third hour of the day from the rising of the sun, there suddenly came a sound from Heaven, as when a mighty wind blows, and it filled the whole house where the Apostles and the rest with them were gathered. Immediately after the sound, there appeared tongues of fire that divided and rested upon the head of each one. Filled with the Spirit, all those present began speaking not in their native tongue, but in other tongues and dialects, as the Holy Spirit instructed them.

The multitudes that had come together from various places for the feast, most of whom were Jews by race and religion, were called Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and so forth, according to the places where they dwelt. Though they spoke many different tongues, they were present in Jerusalem by divine dispensation. When they heard that sound that came down from Heaven to the place where the disciples of Christ were gathered, all ran together to learn what had taken place. But they were confounded when they came and heard the Apostles speaking in their own tongues. Marvelling at this, they said one to another, "Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" But others, because of their foolishness and excess of evil, mocked the wonder and said that the Apostles were drunken.

Then Peter stood up with the eleven, and raising his voice, spoke to all the people, proving that that which had taken place was not drunkenness, but the fulfilment of God's promise that had been spoken by the Prophet Joel: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that I shall pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy" (Joel 2:28), and he preached Jesus of Nazareth unto them, proving in many ways that He is Christ the Lord, Whom the Jews crucified but God raised from the dead. On hearing Peter's teaching, many were smitten with compunction and received the word. Thus, they were baptized, and on that day about three thousand souls were added to the Faith of Christ.

Such, therefore, are the reasons for today's feast: the coming of the All-holy Spirit into the world, the completion of the Lord Jesus Christ's promise, and the fulfilment of the hope of the sacred disciples, which we celebrate today. This is the final feast of the great mystery and dispensation of God's incarnation. On this last, and great, and saving day of Pentecost, the Apostles of the Saviour, who were unlearned fishermen, made wise now of a sudden by the Holy Spirit, clearly and with divine authority spoke the heavenly doctrines. They became heralds of the truth and teachers of the whole world. On this day they were ordained and began their apostleship, of which the salvation of those three thousand souls in one day was the comely and marvellous first fruit.

Some erroneously hold that Pentecost is the "birthday of the Church." But this is not true, for the teaching of the holy Fathers is that the Church existed before all other things. In the second vision of The Shepherd of Hermas we read: "Now brethren, a revelation was made unto me in my sleep by a youth of exceeding fair form, who said to me, 'Whom thinkest thou the aged woman, from whom thou receivedst the book, to be?' I say, 'The Sibyl.' 'Thou art wrong,' saith he, 'she is not.' 'Who then is she?' I say. 'The Church,' saith he. I said unto him, 'Wherefore then is she aged?' 'Because,' saith he, 'she was created before all things; therefore is she aged, and for her sake the world was framed."' Saint Gregory the Theologian also speaks of "the Church of Christ ... both before Christ and after Christ" (PG 35:1108-9). Saint Epiphanius of Cyprus writes, "The Catholic Church, which exists from the ages, is revealed most clearly in the incarnate advent of Christ" (PG 42:640). Saint John Damascene observes, "The Holy Catholic Church of God, therefore, is the assembly of the holy Fathers, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Evangelists, and Martyrs who have been from the very beginning, to whom were added all the nations who believed with one accord" (PG 96, 1357c). According to Saint Gregory the Theologian, "The Prophets established the Church, the Apostles conjoined it, and the Evangelists set it in order" (PG 35, 589 A). The Church existed from the creation of the Angels, for the Angels came into existence before the creation of the world, and they have always been members of the Church. Saint Clement, Bishop of Rome, says in his second epistle to the Corinthians, the Church "was created before the sun and moon"; and a little further on, "The Church existeth not now for the first time, but hath been from the beginning" (II Cor. 14).

That which came to pass at Pentecost, then, was the ordination of the Apostles, the commencement of the apostolic preaching to the nations, and the inauguration of the priesthood of the new Israel. Saint Cyril of Alexandria says that "Our Lord Jesus Christ herein ordained the instructors and teachers of the world and the stewards of His divine Mysteries ... showing together with the dignity of Apostleship, the incomparable glory of the authority given them ... Revealing them to be splendid with the great dignity of the Apostleship and showing them forth as both stewards and priests of the divine altars . . . they became fit to initiate others through the enlightening guidance of the Holy Spirit" (PG 74, 708-712). Saint Gregory Palamas says, "Now, therefore ... the Holy Spirit descended ... showing the Disciples to be supernal luminaries ... and the distributed grace of the Divine Spirit came through the ordination of the Apostles upon their successors" (Homily 24, 10). And Saint Sophronius, Bishop of Jerusalem, writes, "After the visitation of the Comforter, the Apostles became high priests" (PG 87, 3981B). Therefore, together with the baptism of the Holy Spirit which came upon them who were present in the upper chamber, which the Lord had foretold as recorded in the Acts, "ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence" (Acts 1:5), the Apostles were also appointed and raised to the high priestly rank, according to Saint John Chrysostom (PG 60, 21). On this day commenced the celebration of the Holy Eucharist by which we become "partakers of the Divine Nature" (II Peter 1:4). For before Pentecost, it is said of the Apostles and disciples only that they abode in "prayer and supplication" (Acts 1:14); it is only after the coming of the Holy Spirit that they persevered in the "breaking of bread,"that is, the communion of the Holy Mysteries-"and in prayer" (Acts 2:42).

The feast of holy Pentecost, therefore, determined the beginning of the priesthood of grace, not the beginning of the Church. Henceforth, the Apostles proclaimed the good tidings "in country and town," preaching and baptizing and appointing shepherds, imparting the priesthood to them whom they judged were worthy to minister, as Saint Clement writes in his first Epistle to the Corinthians (I Cor. 42).

All foods allowed during the week following Pentecost.

Allsaint
June 20

Nicholas Cabasilas

 

Saint Nicholas Cabasilas was born in 1322 A.D. in Thessaloniki. Very little is known about his life, but he is remembered through two texts he wrote: The Life in Christ and The Exposition of the Divine Liturgy. He lived at the same time as Saint Gregory Palamas (see 11/14 and the 2nd Sunday of Great Lent) and was an ally of his during the Hesychastic Controversy on Mount Athos in the 14th century.

Allsaint
June 20

Methodios the Martyr, Bishop of Olympus

Because of his wisdom and virtue, this Saint was surnamed Eubulus ("of good counsel"). He was an eminent theologian and one of the first to oppose and refute the heretical writings of Origen. According to Jerome (De vir. ill., 83) and Socrates the historian (Eccl. Hist., 6:13), he was bishop, not of Patara (as a sixth century work by Leontius the Byzantine wrongly asserts), but of Olympus in Lycia, and later, of Tyre in Phoenicia. It appears he was called Bishop of Patara by later writers because his famous dialogue concerning the resurrection takes place in that city. He underwent a glorious death as a martyr in Chalkis of Greece in the year 311, under Emperor Maximinus. Among his extant writings is one called Symposium of Virgins.

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal 4th 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 2:1-11.

WHEN THE DAY of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were amazed and wondered, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontos and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God."

Gospel Reading

Holy Pentecost
The Reading is from John 7:37-52; 8:12

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, "If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, 'Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.'" Now this he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

When they heard these words, some of the people said, "This is really the prophet." Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the scripture said that the Christ is descended from David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

The officers then went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why did you not bring him?" The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this man!" The Pharisees answered them, "Are you led astray, you also? Have any of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, who do not know the law, are accursed." Nikodemos, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?" They replied, "Are you from Galilee too? Search and you will see that no prophet is to rise from Galilee." Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

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