Ένας από τους άθλους του Ηρακλή, στην αρχαία Ελληνική μυθολογία αναφέρεται στην πάλη του με τον Ανταίο. Ο Ανταίος, γιος του Ποσειδώνα, προκαλούσε όλους τους διαβάτες να παλέψουν μαζί του και πάντα τους νικούσε. Κατά την εκτέλεση του ενδεκάτου από τους δώδεκα Άθλους του, ο Ηρακλής έπρεπε να πάει στον Κήπο των Εσπερίδων αφού πρώτα νικούσε τον Ανταίο. Ο Ηρακλής κατά τη διάρκεια της πάλης πρόσεξε ότι ο αντίπαλος ήταν ανίκητος όσο είχε επαφή με την γη. Μόλις ο Ηρακλής κατάφερε να τον σηκώσει και να τον κρατήσει στα χέρια του μπόρεσε να τον νικήσει. Ο μύθος αναφέρεται στην επαφή του ανθρώπου με την πατρίδα και τις ρίζες του. Χωρίς αυτήν γίνεται ευάλωτος σε κάθε είδους εχθρό. Για τον Χριστιανό, Πατρίδα, Γη και στέρεο έδαφος είναι η επαφή με τον Χριστό και την Εκκλησία. Όπως μια ηλεκτρική συσκευή, για παράδειγμα μια λάμπα, είναι αδύνατο να λειτουργήσει χωρίς την επαφή με την πηγή της ενέργειας έτσι και ο Χριστιανός.

Η φυσική παρουσία στην εκκλησία είναι απαραίτητη για μια υγιή λειτουργική ζωή. Κατά τη διάρκεια των πολεμικών συγκρούσεων οι άνθρωποι πηγαίνουν και μένουν στα καταφύγια. Αλλά γνωρίζουν ότι η κανονική ζωή βιώνεται στο σπίτι. Το ίδιο συμβαίνει και με έναν άρρωστο. Θα μείνει στο νοσοκομείο όσο χρειάζεται. Αλίμονο αν νομίσει ότι αυτή είναι η αληθινή ζωή. Πρέπει να γυρίσει στο σπίτι. Την περίοδο της πανδημίας η λατρευτική ζωή έπρεπε να διεξαχθεί μακριά από την εκκλησία, με τη βοήθεια της τεχνολογίας. Η αληθινή λατρεία του Θεού τελείται κυρίως στην εκκλησία και, όταν είναι ανάγκη, εκτός. Δεν υπάρχει κανένας λόγος ο Χριστιανός να νομίσει ότι η φυσιολογική προσευχή γίνεται με τη βοήθεια της τηλεόρασης και της τεχνολογίας. Ο Θεός επιτρέπει και ευλογεί τη χρήση όλων των μέσων όταν είναι ανάγκη. Όταν παρέλθει η ανάγκη ο Πιστός καλείται να ανακτήσει την φυσιολογική επαφή με την Εκκλησία. Ο μύθος του Ανταίου ας μας βοηθήσει να κρατηθούμε στο φυσικό μας έδαφος, το σπίτι μας, την εκκλησία.

One of the Labors of Hercules, in ancient Greek mythology, refers to his fight with Antaeus. Antaeus, son of Poseidon, challenged all passers-by to fight with him and always defeated them. During the execution of the eleventh of his twelve Labours, Hercules had to go to the Garden of Hesperides after first defeating Antaeus. Hercules during the fight noticed that the opponent was invincible as long as he had contact with the ground. As soon as Hercules managed to hold him aloft he was able to defeat him. The myth refers to man's contact with his homeland and his roots. Without it he becomes vulnerable to any kind of enemy.

For the Christian, Homeland, Earth and solid ground is the contact with Christ and the Church. Like an electrical appliance, for example a light bulb, it is impossible for a Christian to function without contact with the energy source.

Physical presence in the church is essential for a healthy liturgical life. During wars, people go and live in shelters. But they know that normal life is experienced at home. The same thing happens with a sick person. He will stay in the hospital as needed. Alas if he thinks this is real life. He has to go home. During the pandemic, worship was to be performed away from the church, with the help of technology. True worship of God is performed mainly in the church and, when necessary, outside. There is no reason for a Christian to think that normal prayer is done with the help of television and technology. God allows and blesses the use of all means when needed. When the need passes, Faithful is called to regain physical contact with the Church. Let the myth of Antaeus help us to stay in our spiritual homeland, our home, the church.

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Welcome to all of our Visitors: 

“Welcome one another just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Romans 15:7   We pray that your worship experience with us today will be inspirational and uplifting. Please introduce yourself to a parish ambassador.  We are happy that you are with us today!

“I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people….  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

We pray for mercy, life, peace, and healing of all parishioners -prayers for the family and friends of Mikae Gaetanos.  Prayers for Gary Peterson who is fastly recovering from surgery; Michael Colburn; Chris Bersu; Michael and Ingrid Fotianos; Ruza Basimamovic; Chresanthe Lemieux; Zoe Kauttu; Maryann Bolt; James Day; Margaret, James, Kyriake; Joseph, Alex Aclim; Jane Anderson; Gwen H.; and Thanos Nikolopoulos.  Remember also our missionary families: Fr. Stephanos, Pr. Alexandria, Moses & Athan Ritsi serving in Albania. 

Stewardship:

We enter our spiritual home not to be entertained, but to be a part of a community of believers. We receive Jesus Christ in Holy Communion. As we pray, worship and serve together, we become His Body. To be truly a member of the Church as Body of Christ requires our presence and our engagement with one another -- in worship, study and service to others. We grow spiritually as a family. We give sacrificially as we acknowledge that all we have comes from God.

The stewardship theme for this year is "Our Church, Our Spiritual Home" and it bears repeating as we work toward reaching the stewardship goals that fully support the needs of our parish.  The Stewardship segment of our weekly bulletin will now include some additional information regarding our progress.  This information will include the number of families that are active stewards, the total amount pledged and the amount contributed to date.  Please note that the total amount pledged is twenty five percent below what we have budgeted for stewardship income, which makes staying focused on our goals even more important. 

• Number of Steward Families: 91
• Total Pledged to Date: $108,882.00
• Total Contributed to Date:  $84,663.00

To be stewards of the Gospel, we need to be stewards of our parish.  We are called to apply our abilities and resources to the tasks that God places before us.  If we do this humbly and prayerfully, the body of Christ will function to its full potential. To all who faithfully contribute to their stewardship commitment, thank you.

Update St. Francis House:
 If are not able to help right now? Please look to help us another day -- we help deliver dinners the 2nd Monday of every month.
Online:  Please visit us online at http://www.facebook.com/holytrinityoutreach   Blessings in Christ, Richard

Re-Opening Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Bookstore: 

We are blessed to announce the reopening of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church bookstore and gift shop on September 11, 2022. As we pray for those who have fallen asleep in the Lord during the tragedy of 9/11, we are reminded of the love of God for us through His Body, the Church.  Subdeacon Michael Fotianos and his lovely wife Ingrid, who are leaving our Parish after many years, have given their lives to the Church. We have all been deeply enriched as a result.  In their honor, the bookstore/gift shop will be aptly called the “Michael and Ingrid Fotianos Bookstore.” Axios! (See flyer in SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT section). In Christ! Paula Marchman Lekas and Melissa Kauttu Strange

Parish Council 9/11 Memorial Luncheon Ministries Fundraiser September 11, 2022:  Celebrating - The Dedication and Naming of the Parish Bookstore Gift Shop Ministry!  Menu: Nick Kelley’s Famous Pasta & Meat Sauce, Bill Lulias’ Famous Spinach and Kale Salad;Phenomenal Baklava by Stella Bigelow (Suggested donation $10.00)

AGORA at Holy Trinity: 

We are pleased to announce the opening of our very own Agora, featuring delicious imported Greek food items like cheeses, olives, olive oil, oregano, frozen tiropites and spanakopites, phyllo, chocolates, lentils, orzo and pastichio noodles, halvah, spoon sweet preserves, and household items like Greek coffee and soap. Gift baskets will soon be available.

All proceeds benefit Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of St Augustine. Please contact holytrinityagora@gmail.com to place an order or see us after church at the Agora in the church hall. Online pre-ordering for pickup on Sundays at church will be available soon.   Stacy Symeonides & Stephanie Danikas & The Agora Team

Calling All Men and Boys (6 years and Older): 

Have you noticed your head chanter, Nick Lekas, hustling between the chanters stand and the altar to help Father Maximos during a service? On occasion, it has been others in the congregation who saw the need and were moved to help. This happens because we lack altar help on a consistent basis.

• I’m calling for volunteers to commit to being at church in time for Orthros on a set schedule. With enough volunteers, we can create a schedule that will not be a burden to anyone and will instead be a blessing to all of us. Once we have a list of volunteers (hopefully 8-10 at least), we will work with Father Maximos to schedule training day(s) as needed for the group, so that we can all learn how to do these tasks comfortably, consistently, and enthusiastically. To put this in perspective, with 10 volunteers, each volunteer will be committed to being trained and then “on-duty” about eight times during a normal year.

Greek Festival:

The annual Holy Trinity Greek Festival is October 7-9, 2022.  Our popular festival will begin with "Friday to go" with pre-orders only.  Saturday and Sunday will include music, dance and on-site dining.  https://www.staugustinegreekfestival.com/

• Our “Light a Candle & Say a Prayer” ministry lets you to light a candle during divine services.  Your request will be forwarded to a Council member in the Narthex to light your candle.  If  you wish to provide names of loved ones to be prayed for, those will be provided to Fr. Maximos.

• Celebrations:  Are you celebrating a special day? Birthday, Anniversary, Seasonal House Cleaning? Whatever the event, please consider celebrating it with others and making it a fundraiser for our church. People have raised $6 billion USD on Facebook and Instagram for causes they care about. Create a fundraiser and Facebook will take care of the donation processing with no fees.  You can also place the PayPal giving link for the church in your on-line message for donations to be made directly to our account. This can be a fun way to share your happy day with your friends and community and an effective fundraiser for our church. Please reach out to Fr. Maximos or Nick Lekas for details.

Giving by Check:  Please be sure to include a notation on the memo line to allows us to identify your intentions (i.e. stewardship, candles, trays, memorials, etc.).

Weekly Offering:  The Lord's day is to be the time for a weekly offering for the support of His cause.  Make your offering today and enable our Church to continue to enhance the spiritual growth of the Orthodox Christians entrusted to our care.  Your offering can be made at the collection basket as you exit the service.

• NOTE:  If you would like Faye Peterson or Angela Lekos to prepare the Koliva for a memorial, remember there is a fee, usually $100 for time, supplies, etc. for the preparation.

• 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.

• Note:  Fr. Maximos will be in Greece August 17 to September 13.  Fr. Michael Byars will officiate at holy services on August 21, 28 and September 4. Fr. Martin Ritz will officiate on September 11.