“..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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“...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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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 August 19, 2021, His Eminence Metropolitan of Atlanta Alexios wrote: "it is important to consider that late last week, the CDC published its latest guidelines which reads: “Use masks to slow the spread of COVID-19 in which they state that masks should be worn by those, “including children older than 2, who are not fully vaccinated [and] fully vaccinated people with weakened immune systems.”  Finally, the CDC writes “To maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possible spreading it to others, fully vaccinated people should wear a mask indoors in public ..........” I strongly encourage all parishioners to resume wearing masks to slow the spread of the Delta variant.

Please see complete letter in ANNOUNCEMENTS section.

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:

• September 5^th – One Year Memorial for Mary Spanos, mother of Gail Jones.

Philoptochos:  Thank you from the Philoptochos

The Philoptochos would like to thank everyone who made the Kimisis luncheon a big success. 

This was the very first luncheon for our parish family since the onset of Covid., and we couldn’t have done it without the help of everyone.

• Thanks to our kitchen staff, Niko Kelley, Chris Burke, Theo Bersu, and Faith Castro for preparing and plating the chicken and rice, and the salad.
• Thanks to Pres. Renee for the lovely presentation about the Theotokos.
• Thanks to Philoptochos members who contributed the spanakopita, karitopita, cookies, watermelon, salad, rolls, and drinks.
• Thanks to everyone who helped serve and clean up afterward.
• Thanks to everyone who attended, and to everyone who made donations.

We will be able to continue our support to the Outreach committee and to groups and persons in need.  Thank you! Irene Pergeorelis, Philoptochos President

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 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.

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

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

• go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c44aeac2ba0fec25-coffee 
• click on the blue box that says SIGN UP, then on the brown box at the bottom of the screen that says SUBMIT AND SIGN UP
• it will take you to the next screen, that says SIGN ME UP, and click on SIGN UP NOW
• any questions or need help, contact Carmela ctardo@gmail.com

Thank you from the Parish Council

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

August:

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

Sept:

1          Ecclesiastical New Year

3          Rehearsal for Eddings/Harwood Destination Wedding 5:30 p.m.

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

8         Nativity of the Theotokos

14       Exaltation of the Holy Cross - 9 a.m. Orthros/ 10 a.m. Liturgy

20       St. Photios Shrine - Paraklesis -12:30 p.m.

20       Parish Council Meeting (3rd Monday, monthly)

29       Small vespers with newcomers reception - 6 p.m.

Oct:

8-9     Greek Fest To Go

18      Parish Council (3rd Monday, monthly)

26      St. Demetrios

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.

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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).