January 29
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2023-01-29
Bulletin Contents
Hymns of the Day
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Bulletin Inserts
Wisdom of the Fathers
Parish News and Events
Calendar of Events
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
General Information
- Phone:
- (412)366-8700
- Fax:
- (412)366-8710
- Email:
- office@holytrinitypgh.org
- Street Address:
- 985 Providence Blvd.
- Pittsburgh, PA 15237-5951
Contact Information
Services Schedule
Worship Schedule
8:15 a.m. Orthros
9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy
Worship Locations:
Sunday worship location: Holy Trinity Church, 985 Providence Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Weekday/Feast Day worship location: St. George Chapel, 8941 Ringeisen Rd., Allison Park, PA
Past Bulletins
- Publish Date:
- 2023-01-22
- Publish Date:
- 2023-01-15
- Publish Date:
- 2023-01-08
- Publish Date:
- 2023-01-01
- Publish Date:
- 2022-12-25
- Publish Date:
- 2022-12-18
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Eighth Tone
From on high You descended, O merciful One, and accepted the three-day burial to free us from our passions. Glory to You, O Lord, our life and resurrection. (Page 54)
Apolytikion for Relics of Ignatius the Godbearer in the Fourth Tone
Becoming a partner with the Apostles in way of life and successor to their thrones, O God-inspired Saint, in the active life you found an entrance to contemplation. Hence you rightly expounded the word of truth, and you shed your blood in struggling for the faith, O Hieromartyr Ignatius. Intercede with Christ our God, beseeching Him to save our souls.
Seasonal Kontakion in the First Tone
Your birth sanctified a Virgin's womb and properly blessed the hands of Symeon. Having now come and saved us O Christ our God, give peace to Your commonwealth in troubled times and strengthen those in authority, whom You love, as only the loving One.
Saints and Feasts
January 29
Removal of the Relics of Ignatius the God-bearer
Saint Ignatius was a disciple of Saint John the Theologian, and a successor of the Apostles, and he became the second Bishop of Antioch, after Evodus. He wrote many epistles to the faithful, strengthening them in their confession, and preserving for us the teachings of the holy Apostles. Brought to Rome under Trajan, he was surrendered to lions to be eaten, and so finished the course of martyrdom about the year 107. The remnants of his bones were carefully gathered by the faithful and brought to Antioch. He is called God-bearer, as one who bare God within himself and was aflame in heart with love for Him. Therefore, in his Epistle to the Romans (ch. 4), imploring their love not to attempt to deliver him from his longed-for martyrdom, he said, "I am the wheat of God, and am ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found to be the pure bread of God."
Saint John Chrysostom has a homily in honour of the translation of the Saint's relics (PG 50:587).
January 29
Ignatius and Nicandrus of Sinai
January 29
Gildas the Wise
St. Gildas (500-570) was born in Scotland and descended from a wealthy British family. In his youth St. Gildas was married but was later widowed. The saint became a close disciple of St. Illtyd in South Wales in his famous Llanilltud Fawr Monastery in the Vale of Glamorgan, and it was there that Gildas was tonsured a monk. St. Gildas continued his spiritual education and gained experience in Ireland where he lived and preached in Armagh. On the Emerald Island he was ordained a priest. After Ireland the saint travelled to North Wales where he zealously evangelized and performed many miracles. St. Gildas is regarded as one of the principal apostles of the Orthodox faith and early preachers of Wales. He was one of the most influential fathers of Welsh monasticism in the sixth century. St. Gildas visited Ireland again about the year 565, where he preached the Gospel and built many churches and monasteries. In the later years of his life, Gildas moved to Brittany where he lived as anchorite on the isle known as Ile-d’Houat, devoting his time to prayer, abstinence and writing spiritual books. On the neighboring Rhuys Peninsula he founded a monastery and became its first abbot. The man of God reposed peacefully in Brittany around the year 570.
January 29
Laurence the Recluse of the Kiev Caves
Saint Laurence, Recluse of the Kiev Caves and Bishop of Turov, lived as a hermit at the monastery of the Great Martyr Demetrius at Kiev near the Monastery of the Caves. Later, he transferred to the Kiev Caves monastery (present day Kyiv, Ukraine) and was glorified by a gift of healing. He was elevated to the See of Turov in 1182 (present day Minsk region of Belarus) and was a successor of Saint Cyril of Turov (April 28). He died in 1194, and was buried in the Near Caves. His memory is celebrated also on September 28 and on the second Sunday of Great Lent.
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Eighth Tone. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.
The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:16-18; 7:1.
Brethren, you are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.
Gospel Reading
Sunday of the Canaanite
The Reading is from Matthew 15:21-28
At that time, Jesus went to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon." But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.
Bulletin Inserts
Weekly Bulletin - January 29, 2023
Weekly Bulletin - January 29, 2023
Project Mexico 2023 Registration Now Open!
Project Mexico is celebrating 35 years of building homes for needy families! Holy Trinity Church has sent seven mission teams during that period and built seven homes. This year, in celebration of our Holy Trinity Centennial, we’re heading back June 20-26!
New Ways to Pledge and Give Available Now!
New Ways to Pledge and Give Available Now!
Holy Trinity Hospitality Hour
The all new "Holy Trinity Hospitality Hour" will continue to embrace the opportunity to foster Christ-centered relationships, to "love your neighbor", to meet and greet newcomers and to build and strengthen existing friendships...but in a whole new format!
Wisdom of the Fathers
She had a great perfection of faith. She had no uncertainty about His divine majesty. She had no small measure of the virtue of patience. Yet the pitying Physician of the pitiful disdained her petitions. He kept her waiting for answer in order to demonstrate to us the perseverence of this woman that we can always imitate. She had the characteristics of constancy and humility. She willingly embraced the indignity she received, and even confirmed the Lord`s statement. This woman rightly signifies the faith and devotion of the Church gathered from the nations
Hom. I. 22, In Lent, Homilies on the Gospels, Bk. One, 216, 217.
He kept her waiting for an answer in order to declare that the minds of His disciples should also be merciful. As human beings they were ashamed of the clamor of the woman as she pursued them publicly, but He Himself knew the character of His mercy.
Hom. I. 22, In Lent, Homilies on the Gospels, Bk. One, 216
Parish News and Events
TODAY'S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Hospitality Hour Hosts: The Holy Trinity Hospitality Ministry
Holy Trinity Ladies Philoptochos Meeting Today
The Philoptochos will hold its monthly meeting today in the Conference Room following Divine Liturgy. All members are invited to attend. Still not a member of Philoptochos? Sign up at the meeting!
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Upcoming Services
- Mon. Jan. 30, 8:30am Orthros/9:30 Liturgy: The Three Hierarchs (St. George Chapel)
- Thu. Feb. 2, 9:00am Orthros/10:00 Liturgy: The Presentation of Christ (Presentation of Christ Church, 1672 Electric Ave, East Pittsburgh, PA 15112)
Faith & Family Weekdays
Faith and Family Weekdays is back, and there is something for everyone! Ready to learn more about the Bible, about your Faith, about navigating life’s challenges as a Christian, a woman, or a man? It’s all there. There is something for everyone! Watch the bulletin and check the online calendar at HolyTrinityPgh.org/calendar for details and locations.
THIS WEEK:
- Wed. Feb. 1, 6:30pm: “Explore the Word” Bible Study - Father Radu continues his exploration of the Holy Bible with a survey of the Old Testament. Bring your Bible & your questions! (Note: Due to iconography work, Vespers will not be held before Bible Study. Bible Study will run from 6:30-8:00pm).
[Feb 5] OPEN TABLE Hospitality Hour next Sunday
Hospitality Hour belongs to ALL of us! The Ministries of Holy Trinity have volunteered to host many of our Sundays, however there are many more open dates! Please gather with another family or two and host a Sunday! We will give you all of the guidance and help that you need (including coffee and paper products). When no one has volunteered, we will be having an OPEN TABLE. Please bring an item to share already plated and ready to go and then place it in the Gallery. On those Sundays, we still need help cleaning up, so please stay for a few moments and offer to help. Thank you!
Greek Dance Troupe Practice Schedule
The dance troupe will be performing at Holy Trinity’s Valentine’s Day event on Sunday February 12th. We will have the following practices to prepare. Please feel free to reach out with any questions to Eleni Dedousis (412-953-3699) or Victoria Andromalos-Dale (412-496-9128) or to let them know if you are unable to attend any of the scheduled practices.
- Sunday, February 5: ALL Groups, during Hospitality Hour
- Saturday, February 11: HOPE & GOYA 10:00am / JOY 10:45am
Spanakopita Prep is Finished – Thanks to You!
Thanks to all who helped with Spanakopita! Please keep these dates in mind for the next sessions; Saturday March 25 directly after Liturgy (Koulourakia) and Friday March 31 & Saturday April 1 (Pastitsio). Don't miss the fun! See you there!
Where Are Your Roots? Let GOYA Know Today!
Holy Trinity GOYA’s 2023 Centennial Valentine Brunch has a very special theme in honor of our parish’s Centennial Celebration: HONORING OUR ROOTS. And you get to join the celebration by sharing your roots! Looking to the roots of our family trees, everyone comes from somewhere, and GOYA would like to celebrate the entire tapestry of ancestry that makes up the beauty of this community. Maybe you trace your roots back to the founders of the parish and Greece’s mainland or islands. Maybe it’s another foreign land. Or maybe your roots are from right here in America. No matter where they are, those roots are where you started! Let GOYA know and they will be sharing the whole story with special displays. Look for the HONORING OUR ROOTS table in the Gallery following Divine Liturgy on Sundays, or better yet, visit HolyTrinityPgh.org/roots to submit your information online. Have any photos of the old family homestead, village or other images of your roots? Email them to roots@HolyTrinityPgh.org. Deadline to submit is this Tuesday, Jan 31. Thank you!
Holy Trinity Food Hospitality to the Team of Iconographers – Meal Slots Still Available
The wonderful and talented team of Iconographers are here to complete the iconography of our Holy Trinity Church. As we did during their first visit ten years ago, we would like to provide their meals so that they can fully focus on their work. Can you help? For newly updated details and to sign up please visit https://holytrinitypgh.org/meals.
2023 Stewardship Pledge Cards Now Due
The 2023 Holy Trinity Stewardship Pledge Cards have been distributed and all Holy Trinity Stewards should complete one immediately. If you have not yet received a 2023 pledge card or are new to Holy Trinity, additional pledge cards can be found at the Welcome Table located in the Narthex of the church. Or you may make your pledge online by visiting HolyTrinityPgh.org/stewardship. Our member-funded church needs each and every one of us, no matter the amount. And remember, a pledge commitment is required as part of maintaining your membership in good standing at Holy Trinity Church each year. Questions? Contact Stewardship Chairman George Mellis or email stewardship@HolyTrinityPgh.org.
Visitation Ministry Collection – Yarn Needed for Homebound Parishioner Handmade Gifts
Our Visitation Ministry is collecting yarn (any kind, color, solid or design) to make personal gifts for our homebound parishioners. Please consider purchasing yarn and donating it to the Visitation Ministry. Kindly deliver the yarn in a plastic or paper bag to Amy Armanious during Hospitality Hour. Questions? Please email us at visitation@holytrinitypgh.org.
Project Mexico 2023 Registration Now Open!
In celebration of the Holy Trinity Centennial, the Missions Ministry is pleased to announce Holy Trinity Church’s return to Project Mexico this year for a Centennial Mission Trip. Since 2002, our parish has sent seven teams to Project Mexico, resulting in our community building seven homes for homeless families in Mexico with your support. The program is run by Project Mexico, an officially endorsed Orthodox Christian ministry. First priority for sign-ups is our teens age 14 and above to give them this life-changing opportunity. But we also need parents and young adult/adult chaperons who are willing to lend a hand, hammer a nail and use a shovel. See the brochure and application in today’s online bulletin or on our website at HolyTrinityPgh.org/missions.
Sign up Today! Your Help is Needed to “Feed the Homeless” at Pleasant Valley Shelter
Would you like to donate a small bit of your time and treasures, and make 30+ homeless people smile? The dates below are still available to feed the residents of this local men’s shelter, located on the North Side, near our old church. If you’d like to provide a warm meal to our less fortunate neighbors, please sign up for this Holy Trinity Outreach Ministry opportunity. All dates are Sunday evenings, and meals can be dropped off curbside or - better yet – you could stay and personally serve on site. Detailed instructions will be sent to you once you sign up. Four dates are still available: Mar 12; July 9; Sept 10; and Nov 12. See Mike Kritiotis today, call 412-518-0588, or email outreach@HolyTrinityPgh.org.
Sunday Hospitality Hour Sponsors Needed – February Dates are Available
Did you know that sponsoring the Hospitality Hour is not just for Memorials or Holy Trinity Ministry Groups? Individual parishioners are encouraged to sponsor the Hospitality Hour in honor of a loved one’s Birthday, Anniversary, Graduation, Baptism, Chrismation or simply out of love for their parish family. Parishioners can also reach out and combine their efforts with other individuals or families! For additional information please contact Coordinator: Stacy Dickos (412-298-9409), Scheduler: Theanne Gagianas (724-986-4546) or by email at hospitality@HolyTrinityPgh.org. Additional information is available on our website: www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/hospitality-hour or on the sign-up board located in the Gallery following Divine Liturgy today (Feb 19 & Feb 26 are currently available). Thank you!
Bereavement Support Ministry – January and February
There are no scheduled monthly group sessions for the months of January and February due to unpredictable weather patterns. We will resume in March. Private bereavement support and care are always available upon request. We offer 1:1 in-person care at the church, in the home setting, and through phone consultation. We also have bereavement care booklets to help those in the grief journey. Our reading materials have been helpful to many people in some small way for comfort, support, and encouragement. If interested in learning more about our ministry offerings, please see Amy Armanious or Anita Sinicrope Maier during Hospitality Hour and/or email us at visitation@holytrinitypgh.org.
Welcome, Holy Trinity Guests!
We welcome all our guests to Holy Trinity Church today, whether as visitors from out of town, family members joining others here for worship today or even soon-to-be members here for the first time. No matter what the reason the Holy Spirit brought you here today, we welcome you with open arms and hearts filled with the love of Christ. Please help us welcome you by signing in at the hospitality table in the Narthex, where you will be presented with a yellow lapel Cross to help us know that you're here. Please fill out an information card so we can contact you with any information you may need concerning life here at Holy Trinity Church. Following Liturgy, we invite you to join us for our Hospitality hour.
About Receiving Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church
As an extension of our hospitality and outreach ministries, we welcome all who have come to worship with us today. Whether you are an Orthodox Christian, an inquirer to the faith or a first-time guest in an Orthodox Church, we are pleased to have you with us and thankful for the opportunity to share and bear witness to this ancient and timeless Faith. In accordance with the holy canons and traditions of the Church, please note that Holy Communion and the other Holy Mysteries (Sacraments) are received only by those who are baptized and chrismated (confirmed) Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared through prayer, fasting and confession. All others are invited receive the antidoron (blessed bread) and a blessing from the priest at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. Please join our parish family for Hospitality Hour after the holy services and allow us to meet and welcome you. Interested in joining or learning more about the Orthodox Christian Faith? Please see one of our priests or complete a visitor’s card today! How to receive: Please remember the following helpful hints aimed at helping to preserve the solemnity and safety of the Holy Mystery. Anyone wearing lipstick should remove it before receiving. Be sure to offer your baptismal name to priest before receiving. Please take great care that the red cloth held by the acolytes (you should not hold it) is fully under your chin and please fully open your mouth so that none of the precious Body and Blood of Christ is accidentally spilled. Thank you!
Holy Trinity Church Launches “Realm” – Have You Activated Your Account Yet?
We are pleased to introduce Realm, an exciting new feature at Holy Trinity Church that will help grow our ministry effectiveness, our stewardship growth and our parish administration. Here are some fast facts about it.
- What is Realm? Realm is an online ministry tool designed for real time connection. It helps the church connect with you and helps you connect with your church. Realm allows you to manage your personal information and who is allowed to see it, control your giving, and keep in touch with the groups that matter to you.
- How will Realm help with pledges and offerings? Pledging and giving should be easy. Realm places giving right in the palm of your hands. You may set up recurring gifts, view your giving history, and make changes at any time. Realm automatically records all electronic gifts and adds them to your giving record making it easy for you to give, and easy for our office to manage.
- I activated my account and I see my previous pledges and offerings, but offerings I made in November and December using the Vanco online giving or the giving kiosk in the Narthex are not appearing on my app. We are currently in a transition period from the old Vanco donations platform to the new Realm platform. Instructions will be sent out shortly to all members who are currently subscribed to the old Vanco recurring giving system instructing them how to discontinue it and subscribe to the new Realm recurring giving system. During this transition, there may be delay in posting your November/December remaining contributions from the old system, but they will be posted in time for the year-end statements. Watch for instructions and thank you for your patience.
- I would like to pay ahead in 2022 for my 2023 pledge as I have done in the past. The new Realm system applies all donations to the calendar year in which they were given. You are free to “pay forward” to the next year for tax or other purposes, but all stewardship donations during a calendar year will now be credited toward that same calendar year’s stewardship pledge.
- Is Realm secure? Your privacy is one of our greatest concerns. Our Holy Trinity Realm account is only made up of the people in our church. It’s not like a social network that’s open to everyone. Realm keeps your data safe and gives you control over what information you share and who can see it.
- How do I activate my Holy Trinity Realm account? All current Holy Trinity Stewardship members have received or will receive an activation invitation. If not, please email realm@HolyTrinityPgh.org to get one. Then install the Realm app and you’re up and running with all the features and info at your fingertips!
MEET OUR ICONOGRAPHERS!
We are so honored and thankful for the presence and talents of the God-inspired team of iconographers that are with us for the next two months to complete the iconography of our beautiful Holy Trinity Church. As you can see from the progress in just one week, their work is truly a gift of God. Today we will introduce them at the end of the service. They are pictured here on the first day as Father John offered a blessing service at the start of their work. They are (left to right): Alkis Pappas, Polychronis Vichos, Father John, Dr. George Kordis, Maria Panou, Kanellos Kanellopoulos. Welcome all!
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ICONOGRAPHY PROGRESS
Want to watch the iconography as it happens? Updates will be posted to the Photo Gallery on the Holy Trinity website at https://photos.holytrinitypgh.org/Iconography/Church/2023. Please do not enter the church while the iconographers are working for reasons of safety and respect for their need for quiet. And during the project, please respect all marked off areas and stay clear of all scaffolding and ladders. Thank you!