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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2021-08-15
Bulletin Contents
Parish News
Special Announcements
Hymns of the Day
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Dormitio
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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

“..ζωήν προμνηστεύεται θάνατος”  “...death is the espousal of life”

Η επί γης ζωή των Αγίων της Εκκλησίας μας είναι διαποτισμένη από την ελπίδα της μέλλουσας. Ο Άγιος, και μαζί του κάθε Πιστός, ζει, κινείται και εγκαταλείπει τον κόσμο με την βεβαιότητα ότι τον περιμένουν τα αγαθά της αιώνιας ζωής εκεί που δεν υπάρχει πόνος, θλίψη και στεναγμός. Αυτό που για τον κοσμικό ονομάζεται θάνατος, για τον Πιστό είναι κοίμηση. Δύο είναι οι γιορτές που τονίζουν εμφατικά αυτή την ελπίδα. Η Ανάσταση του Κυρίου, δηλ. το Πάσχα, και η Κοίμηση της Θεοτόκου, την οποία κάποιοι ονομάζουν Πάσχα του Καλοκαιριού. Όπως η εορτή της Ανάστασης έχει έντονα πανηγυρικό χαρακτήρα, έτσι και η εορτή της Κοίμησης της Θεοτόκου. Δεν ονομάζεται θάνατος. Η λέξη Κοίμηση φανερώνει ότι το γεγονός είναι προσωρινό και αναμένουμε την αφύπνιση. Στα τροπάρια ονομάζεται “αθάνατη Κοίμηση”.

Ο θάνατος, όπως το έχουν σημειώσει, εκτός από τους θεολόγους, και οι ψυχαναλυτές, ψυχοθεραπευτές και ψυχολόγοι, συνδέεται με την βαθιά κρίση την οποία περνά ο άνθρωπος. Γνωρίζουμε ότι ο άνθρωπος στην ζωή του περνά μέσα από διαδοχικές κρίσεις θανάτου. Από την παιδική του ηλικία, μέσα από τις διάφορες καταστάσεις που βιώνει, συνειδητοποιεί ότι ο θάνατος είναι ένα γεγονός τελικό και αμετάκλητο. Αυτό του δημιουργεί τα πρώτα ερωτήματα για την ζωή και τον θάνατο. Στη συνέχεια, οι διάφορες καταστάσεις που περνάει, δημιουργούν ανασφάλειες και προβλήματα που συνδέονται με την αβεβαιότητα της ζωής και του θανάτου. Τα ναρκωτικά, οι βλαβερές συνήθειες και οι εθισμοί είναι χίμαιρες, δηλαδή απραγματοποίητα όνειρα, με τα οποία προσπαθεί να μεταφερθεί σε κόσμους φανταστικούς χωρίς την παρουσία της φθοράς και του θανάτου. Η υπερκατανάλωση, η εναπόθεση της ελπίδας στην Επιστήμη και Τεχνολογία, ακόμα και η οικολογική καταστροφή του πλανήτη, είναι τα αποτελέσματα των προσπαθειών του να στεγάσει τις ανασφάλειές του σε ψεύτικα καταφύγια.

Η εορτή της Κοίμησης, μέσα από την υμνολογία της Εκκλησίας, βεβαιώνει ότι ο θάνατος της Παναγίας είναι ο αρραβώνας για την αιώνια ζωή όπου τώρα βρίσκεται και από όπου ευχόμαστε να πρεσβεύει για την σωτηρίας μας.

“Nενίκηνται τῆς φύσεως οἱ ὅροι, ἐν σοί, Παρθένε ἄχραντε· παρθενεύει γάρ τόκος, καί ζωήν προμνηστεύεται θάνατος· Ἡ μετά τόκον Παρθένος, καί μετά θάνατον ζῶσα, σώζοις ἀεί, Θεοτόκε τήν κληρονομίαν Σου.”

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Assumption

“...death is the espousal of life”

The earthly life of the Saints of our Church is imbued with the hope of the future one. The Saint, and with him every Faithful, lives, works and leaves the world with the certainty that the goods of eternal life await him where there is no pain, sorrow and sigh. What for the secular man is called death, to the Faithful is just sleep. There are two celebrations that emphatically manifest this hope. The Resurrection of the Lord, ie Easter, and the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which some call the Easter of Summer. Just as the feast of the Resurrection is intensely solemn, so is the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin. It is not called death. The word Sleep reveals that the fact is temporary and we await awakening. In the troparia it is called "immortal Sleep".

Death, as noted by not only theologians but also psychoanalysts, psychotherapists and psychologists, is associated with the deep crisis that man goes through. We know that man in his life goes through successive death crises. From his childhood, through the various situations he experiences, he realizes that death is a final and irreversible event. This raises his first questions about life and death. Then, the various situations he goes through, create insecurities and problems associated with the uncertainty of life and death. Drugs, bad habits and addictions are chimeras, that is, unfulfilled dreams, with which he tries to be transported to imaginary worlds without the presence of decay and death. Overconsumption, the pinning of hope on Science and Technology, and even the ecological catastrophe of the planet are the results of his efforts to house his insecurities in fake shelters.

The feast of the Assumption, through the hymnology of the Church, confirms that the death of the Virgin Mary is the espousal for the eternal life where she is now and from where we wish and pray to her to intercede for our salvation.

“The bounds of nature are overcome in you, O immaculate Virgin; for your childbirth is virginal, and your death is the espousal of life. O you who after childbirth are virgin, and after are living, do you O Theotokos, ever save your inheritance.”

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church

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, Michael and Ingrid Fotianos, Bill Duddy-ankle, Susan Stone - surgery, Margo Kelley's mother, Maria, 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., Thanos Nikolopoulos and prayers for George Ritsi who fell asleep in the Lord,  Remember also our missionary families: Fr. Stephanos, Pr. Alexandria, Moses & Athan Ritsi serving in Albania.

August and September Memorials

  • August 8th – Three Year memorial for Steve Sarris (Efsthathios),

husband of Gerry Sarris and father of Ellen Sarris Kelbert

  • August 15th – Two Year Memorial for George Nichols, husband of Cynthia Nichols.
  • September 5th – One Year Memorial for Mary Spanos, mother of Gail Jones.
 
Philoptochos:  Kimisis tis Theotokou luncheon will be held Sunday, August 15th, 2021 after Liturgy. Cost is $12.00 and $5.00 for children under 12. Please help us celebrate the nameday of our chapter.

      Kimisis Luncheon 1back to school supplies

School starts August 16th in St. John's. County. The Philoptochos is conducting a drive to collect school supplies for area Title 1 schools. 

Items requested include folders with pockets, one subject notebooks both wide ruled and college ruled, headphones, #2 pencils, mechanical pencils, colored pencils, crayons, glue sticks, pencil cases and similar supplies.  If you are interested in buying bulk supplies, if you enter bulk school supplies in the search line you will get a list of companies including Amazon.

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:

Important dates:

Aug 15 – blessing of the backpack. 

Aug 22 – first day of Sunday School. 

Sunday School Registration begins August 1.  Please print and fill in the attached Registration Form and bring it to Church on Sunday.  All kids should be registered.

“God does not begin by asking our ability, only our availability, and if we prove our dependability, He will increase our capability.” Neal Maxwell.  Are you available?  Holy Trinity Sunday School needs a few volunteers to assist with Sunday School this year.  We’re pretty sure if you are available, and prove our dependability, He will certainly help make you the best Sunday School Teacher imaginable.  Please contact Carman Gaetanos 904 540-0367 or Presbytera Renee Ritsi 904 377-2591. 

backpacks

 

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

fellowship coffee
Coffee Hour Hosts and Hostesses needed!

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

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

HTGOC

August

1-14      Dormition Fast

13        Small Paraklesis Fri. 6 p.m.

15        Dormition of the Theotokos

15        Two year memorial for George Nichols, husband of Cynthia Nichols

15        Blessings of Backpacks

15        Philoptochos Nameday Luncheon (Kimisis tis Theotokou luncheon) following liturgy

20th    DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING ARTICLES FOR THE SEPT./OCT. NEWSLETTER TO CHURCH OFFICE

29        Beheading of St. John the Baptist (strict fast)

Sept:

3          Rehearsal for Eddings/Harwood Wedding 5:30 pm

4          Destination Wedding - Ariana Eddings & Katon Harwood 11 a.m. (Fr. Dimitrios Pappas officiating)

5         1 yr. Memorial for Mary Spanos, mother of Gail Jones (Fr. Michael Byars will conduct service)

20       Parish Council Meeting (3rd Monday, monthly)

 

Giving:

  • 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.

Parish Announcements:

(If you are not receiving your electronic church bulletin or notices ... or you know of someone who has not received theirs ... PLEASE CONTACT THE CHURCH OFFICE DIRECTLY via email <holy3goc@gmail.com> with your correct email so it can be corrected on listserv.  Thank you,)

Aug. 16 thru Sept. 13, Fr. Maximos is on vacation (Fr. Michael Byars will fill-in as parish priest).

  • 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 normal deadline for the Church bulletin e-mail articles is before 12pm on Wednesday weekly.

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

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Tone

By means of Your Cross, O Lord, You abolished death. To the robber You opened Paradise. The lamentation of the myrrh-bearing women You transformed, and You gave Your Apostles the order to proclaim to all that You had risen, O Christ our God, and granted the world Your great mercy. Κατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τὸν θάνατον, ἠνέῳξας τῷ Λῃστῇ τὸν Παράδεισον, τῶν Μυροφόρων τὸν θρῆνον μετέβαλες, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις κηρύττειν ἐπέταξας· ὅτι ἀνέστης Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for Dormition of the Theotokos in the 1st Tone

You gave birth yet preserved your virginity. You fell asleep in death yet did not desert the world, O Theotokos. You were transported to life, as you are Mother of Life and, by virtue of your intercessions, deliver our souls from death. Ἐν τῇ Γεννήσει, τὴν παρθενίαν ἐφύλαξας. Ἐν τῇ Κοιμήσει, τὸν κόσμον οὐ κατέλιπες Θεοτόκε. Μετέστης πρὸς τὴν ζωήν, Μήτηρ ὑπάρχουσα τῆς ζωῆς, καὶ ταῖς πρεσβείαις ταῖς σαῖς λυτρουμένη, ἐκ θανάτου τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 2nd Tone

The Theotokos is undying in intercession. Immovable is our hope in her for protection. Neither death nor burial prevailed over her. As she is Mother of Life, she was removed to life by Him, the Lord who lived in her ever-virgin womb. Τὴν ἐν πρεσβείαις ἀκοίμητον Θεοτόκον, καὶ προστασίαις ἀμετάθετον ἐλπίδα, τάφος καὶ νέκρωσις οὐκ ἐκράτησεν· ὡς γὰρ ζωῆς Μητέρα, πρὸς τὴν ζωὴν μετέστησεν, ὁ μήτραν οἰκήσας ἀειπάρθενον.
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Saints and Feasts

Dormitio
August 15

The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary

Concerning the Dormition of the Theotokos, this is what the Church has received from ancient times from the tradition of the Fathers. When the time drew nigh that our Savior was well-pleased to take His Mother to Himself, He declared unto her through an Angel that three days hence, He would translate her from this temporal life to eternity and bliss. On hearing this, she went up with haste to the Mount of Olives, where she prayed continuously. Giving thanks to God, she returned to her house and prepared whatever was necessary for her burial. While these things were taking place, clouds caught up the Apostles from the ends of the earth, where each one happened to be preaching, and brought them at once to the house of the Mother of God, who informed them of the cause of their sudden gathering. As a mother, she consoled them in their affliction as was meet, and then raised her hands to Heaven and prayed for the peace of the world. She blessed the Apostles, and, reclining upon her bed with seemliness, gave up her all-holy spirit into the hands of her Son and God.

With reverence and many lights, and chanting burial hymns, the Apostles took up that God-receiving body and brought it to the sepulchre, while the Angels from Heaven chanted with them, and sent forth her who is higher than the Cherubim. But one Jew, moved by malice, audaciously stretched forth his hand upon the bed and immediately received from divine judgment the wages of his audacity. Those daring hands were severed by an invisible blow. But when he repented and asked forgiveness, his hands were restored. When they had reached the place called Gethsemane, they buried there with honor the all-immaculate body of the Theotokos, which was the source of Life. But on the third day after the burial, when they were eating together, and raised up the artos (bread) in Jesus' Name, as was their custom, the Theotokos appeared in the air, saying "Rejoice" to them. From this they learned concerning the bodily translation of the Theotokos into the Heavens.

These things has the Church received from the traditions of the Fathers, who have composed many hymns out of reverence, to the glory of the Mother of our God (see Oct. 3 and 4).

Dormitio
August 15

The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary

Concerning the Dormition of the Theotokos, this is what the Church has received from ancient times from the tradition of the Fathers. When the time drew nigh that our Savior was well-pleased to take His Mother to Himself, He declared unto her through an Angel that three days hence, He would translate her from this temporal life to eternity and bliss. On hearing this, she went up with haste to the Mount of Olives, where she prayed continuously. Giving thanks to God, she returned to her house and prepared whatever was necessary for her burial. While these things were taking place, clouds caught up the Apostles from the ends of the earth, where each one happened to be preaching, and brought them at once to the house of the Mother of God, who informed them of the cause of their sudden gathering. As a mother, she consoled them in their affliction as was meet, and then raised her hands to Heaven and prayed for the peace of the world. She blessed the Apostles, and, reclining upon her bed with seemliness, gave up her all-holy spirit into the hands of her Son and God.

With reverence and many lights, and chanting burial hymns, the Apostles took up that God-receiving body and brought it to the sepulchre, while the Angels from Heaven chanted with them, and sent forth her who is higher than the Cherubim. But one Jew, moved by malice, audaciously stretched forth his hand upon the bed and immediately received from divine judgment the wages of his audacity. Those daring hands were severed by an invisible blow. But when he repented and asked forgiveness, his hands were restored. When they had reached the place called Gethsemane, they buried there with honor the all-immaculate body of the Theotokos, which was the source of Life. But on the third day after the burial, when they were eating together, and raised up the artos (bread) in Jesus' Name, as was their custom, the Theotokos appeared in the air, saying "Rejoice" to them. From this they learned concerning the bodily translation of the Theotokos into the Heavens.

These things has the Church received from the traditions of the Fathers, who have composed many hymns out of reverence, to the glory of the Mother of our God (see Oct. 3 and 4).

Allsaint
August 16

Manuel and John the New Martyrs

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 3rd Tone. Luke 1: 46-48.
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Verse: For he has regarded the humility of his servant.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians 2:5-11.

Brethren, have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Gospel Reading

The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary
The Reading is from Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28

At that time, Jesus entered a village; and a woman called Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve you alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her." As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!" But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

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