Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Second Mode

When the angelic powers appeared at Your grave, the soldiers guarding it feared and became as dead. And standing by the sepulcher was Mary who was seeking Your immaculate body. You devastated Hades, not afflicted by it. You went to meet the virgin, and granted eternal life. You resurrected from the dead. O Lord, glory to You.

Apolytikion for 1st and 2nd Finding of the Head of the Forerunner in the Fourth Mode

The Forerunner's sacred head, having dawned forth from the earth, doth send incorruption's rays unto the faithful, whereby they find healings of their ills. From on high he gathereth the choirs of the Angels and on earth he summoneth the whole race of mankind, that they with one voice might send up glory to Christ our God.

Apolytikion for the Church in the Plagal Fourth Mode

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.

Eυλογητός εί, Χριστέ ο Θεός υμών, ο πανσόφους τούς αλιείς αναδείξας, καταπέμψας αύτοις το Πνεύμα το Άγιον, καί δι αυτών την οικουμένην σαγηνεύσας, Φιλάνθρωπε, δόξα σοι!

Evloyitós i, Hristé o Theós imón; o pansófous tous aliís anadhíxas, katapémpsas aftís to pnévma to áyion, ke dhi aftón tin ikouménin sayinéfsas, Filánthrope, dhóxa si.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Mode

O Father, foolishly I ran away from Your glory, and in sin, squandered the riches You gave me. Wherefore, I cry out to You with the voice of the Prodigal, "I have sinned before You Compassionate Father. Receive me in repentance and take me as one of Your hired servants."

The translations of hymns are under copyright and used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on other websites or in any other form, without the prior written authorization of the copyright holder:

Resurrectional Apolytikion in Plagal of the Second Tone © Fr. Seraphim Dedes

Apolytikion for 1st & 2nd Finding of the Head of the Forerunner in the Fourth Tone © Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Tone © Narthex Press - Northridge, CA

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 63.11,1.
The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord.
Verse: Oh God, hear my cry.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 4:6-15.

Brethren, it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Prodigal Son
The Reading is from Luke 15:11-32

The Lord said this parable: "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his belly with the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

Weekly Calendar

Holy Trinity Calendar

February 24 to March 3, 2019

Sunday, February 24

8:50AM Matins

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

11:15AM Memorials

Tuesday, February 26

9:00AM Matins

10:00AM Bible Study

Wednesday, February 27

6:00PM Vespers

6:30PM Bible Study

6:30PM Choir Practice

7:30PM Inquirer's Class

Saturday, March 2

8:00AM Matins

9:00AM Divine Liturgy

10:00AM Memorial

5:00PM Vespers

Sunday, March 3

Judgment Sunday - Meatfare Sunday

8:50AM Matins

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

11:15AM Memorial

11:20AM Forty day blessing

11:30AM Parish Oratorical Festival

Announcements

Altar Team: Mark

Parish Council Members on Duty: Jim Gaddis, Mike Delvizis, Helen Rogers & Tim Weeks

We wish a warm welcome to Steve Christoforou and Christian González from Y2M, the Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Archdiocese, who are leading the local BeeTreat here at Holy Trinity this weekend. We are happy to have you with us and hope you have enjoyed your time in Nashville!

2019 Festival - The Festival Committee is looking for individuals interested in serving as Booth Captains for the Festival. If interested, please email Andrew Miller at andrewm594@gmail.com.

Message on Stewardship from Georgette Kennedy - Have you remembered to turn in your Stewardship pledge card? We have 357 families on the roll at Holy Trinity but have only received 95 Stewardship cards back to date. We have not even hit 50% yet. Please take the time to fill out your card and return to the Church, a parish council member or myself. We need every family to help us to get to 100% participation. I know that this family at Holy Trinity can set the bar for all Orthodox communities by hitting that mark! Take the time to make a pledge. Every little bit helps us to do great things here at Holy Trinity. Holy Trinity is truly a special family. Thank you for your support!

Philoptochos is collecting dues for membership in 2019. Philoptochos is open to all Orthodox ladies 18 years of age and older. Please print your name, address, phone number and email and attach to your payment ($30 and $25 for seniors). Dues can be given to any Philoptochos Board member.

The Book Group is now reading, “Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos – The Spiritual Elder of America.” It is available in the bookstore for $14. Please stop by the bookstore and pick up your copy today! We will be meeting sometime in the next few months to discuss – TBA.

PARISH PRAYER LIST

Anatoliy (Tony); Dimitri; Judson Phillips; Joel Rivera; Malcolm; Evan Parhas; Alyssa; Keith Singley; Evie; Ann; David Ward; Bill (Vasilios) Katsaitis; Fr. George Vaporis; Eleni Taylor; Isabella Marie Fuller; Bryan; Jeff; Gary; Dorothy Nicklas; Mary Beth; Karen Ingraham; Mick Elias Kuttab; Byron Dwight Wallace; Fred Preuss; Michael; Anna; Nicholas; Patrick; Elli; Eleni; Rhea & Juan Carlos; Lazarus; Subdeacon Victor & Robin Poletajev; Rod Caulkins; Christos Tsiodras; James Vaughn; Marie; George Pierides; Christina; George S.; Anastasia; Christoforos; Ekaterina; Emily; Jacob Sotiriadis; Twila; Teresa; George; Basil; Heather Ritscher; Matt, Ali, Lucas & Olivia Ritscher; James & Wesley Austin; Gary Andrew; Andreas; Klitos; Kleo; Erica; Susan; Antonia; Glenda; Maggi; Dorcas; John Timothy; Abigail; Lisa; John; Olivia; Jakob

CHURCH ETIQUETTE FAQs

Who may receive Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church?

Holy Communion is a Sacrament within the Orthodox Church and therefore is offered to Baptized and/or Chrismated Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves to receive the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Everyone is welcome to receive the Blessed Bread (Antidoron) at the end of the Divine Liturgy.

How should I dress in the Orthodox Church?

Wear modest and appropriate attire. Common sense and good judgment should prevail. Avoid wearing lipstick when venerating the icons and receiving Holy Communion. Also, please refrain from chewing gum.

Why do the Ushers/Parish Council ask us to wait before entering at certain times of the service?

There are several parts of the Liturgy where all movement within the Sanctuary should be restricted, including entering the Nave from the Narthex. These parts are:

1) Procession of the Priest and Acolytes with the Gospel

2) The reading of the Epistle and Gospel

3) The priest’s homily (sermon)

4) The Great Procession of the Priest and Altar Boys with the Holy Gifts

5) The recitation of the Nicene Creed

6) The prayers of offering and consecration (From “Thine own of thine own…” until “Especially for our most Holy Lady….”

7) The recitation of the Lord’s Prayer

8) Special services (40 day blessings, memorials, processions…)

My child is being noisy. What should I do?

Children are a great blessing in Church. It is very special to hear our young people begin to participate in the Liturgy, by reciting the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer and singing along with our hymns. It is also important that children are present from a very young age to absorb the holy atmosphere of the Divine Liturgy. But sometimes, children have a hard time being quiet or sitting still. Little noises here and there are not worrisome, but in those times when the situation becomes very boisterous, there is a cry room located in the back of the Sanctuary in addition to a foyer with a monitor to watch the Liturgy while the child calms down.

Saints and Feasts

February 24

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Through the parable of today's Gospel, our Saviour has set forth three things for us: the condition of the sinner, the rule of repentance, and the greatness of God's compassion. The divine Fathers have put this reading the week after the parable of the Publican and Pharisee so that, seeing in the person of the Prodigal Son our own wretched condition -- inasmuch as we are sunken in sin, far from God and His Mysteries -- we might at last come to our senses and make haste to return to Him by repentance during these holy days of the Fast.

Furthermore, those who have wrought many great iniquities, and have persisted in them for a long time, oftentimes fall into despair, thinking that there can no longer be any forgiveness for them; and so being without hope, they fall every day into the same and even worse iniquities. Therefore, the divine Fathers, that they might root out the passion of despair from the hearts of such people, and rouse them to the deeds of virtue, have set the present parable at the forecourts of the Fast, to show them the surpassing goodness of God's compassion, and to teach them that there is no sin -- no matter how great it may be -- that can overcome at any time His love for man.

February 24

First & Second Finding of the Venerable Head of John the Baptist

The first finding came to pass during the middle years of the fourth century, through a revelation of the holy Forerunner to two monks, who came to Jerusalem to worship our Saviour's Tomb. One of them took the venerable head in a clay jar to Emesa in Syria. After his death it went from the hands of one person to another, until it came into the possession of a certain priest-monk named Eustathius, an Arian. Because he ascribed to his own false belief the miracles wrought through the relic of the holy Baptist, he was driven from the cave in which he dwelt, and by dispensation forsook the holy head, which was again made known through a revelation of Saint John, and was found in a water jar, about the year 430, in the days of the Emperor Theodosius the Younger, when Uranius was Bishop of Emesa.

Metropolis of Detroit

Metropolis of Detroit 2018 Friends Flyer

2018 Friends Flyer for Metropolis of Detriot

2019 Enthronement Anniversary Banquet

20 Year Enthronement Anniversary Banquet Celebrating His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit

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