Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Tone

Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord has shown the power of His reign; He has conquered death by death, and become the first born of the dead. He has delivered us from the depths of Hades; and has granted to the world great mercy. (Page 52)

Apolytikion for Nativity of John the Forerunner in the Fourth Tone

O Prophet and Forerunner of the appearance of Christ, with longing we honor you, although we have not the means of extolling you worthily. Your birth, which was exalted and most glorious, ended the barrenness of your mother and the muteness of your father; and unto the world it announced the Incarnation of God the Word.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Tone

A protection of Christians unshameable, Intercessor to our Holy Maker, unwavering; reject not the prayerful cries of those who are in sin. Instead, come to us for you are good; your loving help bring unto us who are crying in faith to you: Hasten to intercede and speed now to supplicate, as a protection for all time, Theotokos, for those who honor you. (Page 54)

Saints and Feasts

June 24

Nativity of the Forerunner John the Baptist

He that was greater than all who are born of women, the Prophet who received God's testimony that he surpassed all the Prophets, was born of the aged and barren Elizabeth (Luke 1: 7) and filled all his kinsmen, and those that lived round about, with gladness and wonder. But even more wondrous was that which followed on the eighth day when he was circumcised, that is, the day on which a male child receives his name. Those present called him Zacharias, the name of his father. But the mother said, "Not so, but he shall be called John." Since the child's father was unable to speak, he was asked, by means of a sign, to indicate the child's name. He then asked for a tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And immediately Zacharias' mouth was opened, his tongue was loosed from its silence of nine months, and filled with the Holy Spirit, he blessed the God of Israel, Who had fulfilled the promises made to their fathers, and had visited them that were sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, and had sent to them the light of salvation. Zacharias prophesied concerning the child also, saying that he would be a Prophet of the Most High and Forerunner of Jesus Christ. And the child John, who was filled with grace, grew and waxed strong in the Spirit; and he was in the wilderness until the day of his showing to Israel (Luke 1:57-80). His name is a variation of the Hebrew "Johanan," which means "Yah is gracious."

June 24

Elizabeth, Mother of the Forerunner

Saint Elizabeth, like Anna, mother of the Theotokos, was barren. She and her husband, the high priest Zachariah, prayed to God to remove this curse and give them a child. The angel Gabriel appeared to Zachariah in the Temple and told him God had heard their prayers. Being doubtful, he asked the angel for a sign Consequently, he was struck speechless until the child was born. At his birth, he wrote on a tablet that the child’s name was to be John, as directed by the angel. The Theotokos visited Elizabeth, her cousin, when they were both pregnant. John was filled with the Holy Spirit and leaped in the womb when Mary greeted her. After John and Jesus were born, King Herod sought John when he ordered the slaughter of the innocents. Tradition says when Zachariah was killed in the Temple by Herod’s soldiers, Elizabeth prayed to God for protection and a hill opened that concealed her and John. She lived for forty more days, and an angel then cared for the child.

June 24

Athanasios Parios

June 24

Panagiotis the New Martyr

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

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

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4.

Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand.

Gospel Reading

Nativity of the Forerunner John the Baptist
The Reading is from Luke 1:1-25, 57-68, 76-80

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us, just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilos, that you may know the truth concerning the things of which you have been informed. In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth; for he will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared." And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they wondered at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them and remained dumb. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she hid herself, saying, "Thus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men." Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zacharias after his father, but his mother said, "Not so; he shall be called John." And they said to her, "None of your kindred is called by this name." And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all marveled. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea; and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways." And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Bulletin Inserts

Pave a New Path in Holy Trinity's History

Be a part of Holy Trinity's historical footprint by purchasing a paver for yourself and/or your loved ones.

Wisdom of the Fathers

Henceforward then we must be free from our listlessness; "for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."[*] You see how he puts the Resurrection now close by them. For as the time advances, he means, the season of our present life is wasting away, and that of the life to come waxes nearer. If then thou be prepared, and hast done all whatsoever He hath commanded, the day is salvation to thee...Yes, for the day is calling us to battle-array, and to the fight. Yet fear not at hearing of array and arms. For in the case of the visible suit of armor, to put it on is a heavy and abhorred task. But here it is desirable, and worth being prayed for. For it is of Light the arms are! Hence they will set thee forth brighter than the sunbeam, and giving out a great glistening, and they place thee in security: for they are arms, and glittering do they make thee: for arms of light are they!...It is the deadly kind of passions then that he is for extinguishing, lust, namely, and anger. Wherefore it is not themselves only, but even the sources of them that he removes. For there is nothing that so kindles lust, and inflames wrath, as drunkenness, and sitting long at the wine...

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 25 on Romans 13, 4th Century

Parish News and Events

TODAY’S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Regular Spring General Assembly Today

Please plan to attend the regular Spring General Assembly following Divine Liturgy today. An agenda was mailed in the May/June edition of the Herald. This Assembly is to review parish life and hear reports on important parish matters. It is vital to the life of a healthy community that all members attend, as these meetings are quite important in the day-to-day life of the parish. Please remember, to vote at an assembly, you must be a member in good standing as defined in the Uniform Parish Regulations, which includes but is not limited to having a signed 2018 Holy Trinity Stewardship Pledge card submitted. Whether it is attending assemblies, taking in a leadership role in a ministry or just getting involved more, the Lord has a calling and a role for every one of us at Holy Trinity Church because you are a part of the Body of Christ and have an important contribution to offer. Note: Parish Council will be offering a light meal during coffee hour, so that everyone can join us for the General Assembly meeting. Please join us!

GOYA Meeting and Elections Today

The GOYA teen ministry will hold a brief meeting and its elections today, in the Conference Room following Divine Liturgy. All teens are asked to attend.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Upcoming Services (HT=Holy Trinity Church; SG=Saint George Chapel)

Friday, June 29, 8:30am Orthros/9:30am Liturgy – Saints Peter and Paul (SG)

Upcoming Greek Dance Practice Schedule – June

Attention parents: Please plan on having your children attend as many of the Greek Dance teaching sessions as possible. The HOPE dance group (kindergarten through second grade) will be taught by Eleni Dedousis (412-953-3699). The GOYA dance group will be taught by Victoria Andromalos-Dale (412-496-9128). The JOY (third through sixth grade) dance group will be taught by both Eleni and Victoria. Please see the June practice schedule on the next page of this bulletin.

Date	Day	Group Practice Times
June 26	Tuesday	JOY 6:30pm / GOYA 7:15pm
June 27	Wednesday	HOPE 7pm / JOY 7:45pm

Dance practice for JOY & GOYA will be every Tuesday at the church from 6:30 pm-8:00 pm. The first 45 minutes of practice will focus on dances for the JOY group and the last 45 minutes will focus on dances for GOYA, but dancers are invited and encouraged to attend the entire practice! The dances will all have new choreography and special additions, so practice is mandatory. Please arrive 5 minutes early and wear comfortable athletic attire. No flip flops allowed in class. Please feel free to reach out with any questions: Victoria: (412-496-9128). We are so excited to share some new ideas and fun dances with our community!!!

Be There for the Summer Teaching Series Sermons! June 10-July 29

Ever get stumped by a question about the Orthodox Christian Faith you know you should know? So many of those answers are found in the Creed. So, recognizing the need for a “return to basics” in our preaching from time to time to refresh the faithful members of the community on the foundations of the Faith we sometimes take for granted, we will be offering a “Summer Teaching Series” during the Sunday sermons of June and July. The series, titled “I Believe” is designed to be “A Thorough Exploration of Foundational Beliefs of the Orthodox Christian Faith as Confessed in the Nicene Creed.” Just another great reason to be here every Sunday during the summer months!

Week	Date	Topic	Speaker
1	6/10/2018	God the Creator and His Creation	Fr. John
2	6/17/2018	The Divinity of the Logos	Fr. Demetri
3	6/24/2018	The Incarnation of the Logos	Fr. John
4	7/1/2018	The Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ	Fr. Radu
5	7/8/2018	The Second Coming of the Lord and the Life of the Age to Come	Fr. John
6	7/15/2018	The Divinity and Personhood of the Holy Spirit	Fr. Radu
7	7/22/2018	One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church	Fr. John
8	7/29/2018	The Mysteries of the Church	George A

[June 26-July 22] Festival Cooking – Your Help is Needed!

Please mark your calendars and plan to come and help on the following dates. Bring the kids, bring your husbands, bring your wives, bring your friends! All are welcome…no experience necessary. Light and heavy tasks for all. THANK YOU!

THIS Tuesday, June 26, 9:00am-9:00pm – Diples
Wednesday, June 27, 9:00am-4:00pm – Diples
Friday, July 13, 8:00am-9:00pm – Souvlakia
Saturday, July 14, 8:00am-5:00pm – Souvlakia
Friday, July 20, 9:00am-5:00pm – Moussaka
Saturday, July 21, 9:00am-5:00pm – Moussaka
Sunday, July 22, after Liturgy - until 5:00pm – Moussaka

[Jul 1] Philoptochos Meeting

Please join us for our next Philoptochos meeting, which has been rescheduled for Sunday, July 1^st in the Fireside Room following Liturgy. There are many new things going on. Please come be a part of a wonderful ministry having fun and working with your fellow parishioners to help those in need. All are welcome to attend!

Festival Dance Group T-Shirts

If anyone would like to order Holy Trinity Greek Dance troupe T-shirts, please visit the Company Casuals website at http://www.companycasuals.com/HolyTrinityDanceTroupe2018. The same design as last year is still available in adult and children’s sizes. Questions? Please contact Eleni Dedousis at ededousis@yahoo.com or 412-953-3699.

Holy Trinity’s Taste of Greece - Labor Day Weekend – August 29 through September 2

Please mark Wednesday, August 29, through Sunday, September 2 on your calendar for the next “Taste of Greece” festival. The Festival Committee is asking everyone, new members and old hands, young and young at heart, to pledge a donation of their time and talents so that we can continue to grow both the success of the festival and the fellowship with all our Holy Trinity church family members!

Festival Ads Available: Space is Waiting for You!

The Festival Ad Book is back and is looking for your support. Please consider placing a business ad or a personal/family listing. Ads start at $175 for a quarter page and go to $550 for a full page, with premium color pages available at higher prices as well. A patron line is available for only $50. Application Forms were included in the May/June edition of the Herald and can also be found at the church office window. Please be sure to share them with your favorite business establishments and ask them to support our church! For more information, please email FestivalAds@HolyTrinityPgh.org

Summer Sermons Reminder - Be Here on Time!

Please remember that during the summer months, when there is no Church School, the sermon is offered at its proper liturgical place following the Gospel. Much as we are all reminded how important it is to arrive for the start of Divine Liturgy, perhaps there are times of genuine, urgent need that prohibit our personal on-time arrival. If you arrive during the sermon, please remember to enter quietly and wait until the end of the homily to find a seat. Thank you.

Note for Summer Travel - Don’t Forget Church!

Where we travel, whenever we go, we take our faith with us, for as it says in the Psalms, "God is with us!" Keeping that in mind, please remember to plan ahead and check for the location of the nearest Orthodox Christian Church if you will be staying over a Sunday. There are two great web sites to check: our own Archdiocese (www.goarch.org) and Orthodoxy in America (www.OrthodoxyInAmerica.org), a multi-jurisdictional listing of all Orthodox parishes. Also, for major trips such as overseas travels, please feel free to stay following antidoron and ask Father John to offer a special blessing to your family for your travels. Remember, "God is with us" always. Let’s not forget to invite Him!

Vacationing or Travelling with No Church Nearby? Watch and Listen Online!

As noted above, we should all try to find a nearby Orthodox Church when we’re travelling or vacationing, but sometimes that’s just not possible. So, for the next best thing, join your church family back here at Holy Trinity by watching or listening online! Find us at www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/live. Hint: It’s best to watch by clicking the online video broadcast, but it you’re in the car or not on wi-fi and don’t want to exhaust your data plan, try listening to the audio only version instead! There’s a link just below the video screen on our Live Broadcast page. The audio stream uses minimal data compared to the video stream, so it’s perfect for travelling!

Want the Weekly Bulletin sent to your email box? Sign Up Today!

Want to receive the Sunday Bulletin directly via email? Want announcements on Holy Trinity events? Go to www.HolyTrinityPgh.org and sign up today using the sign-up box on the left side of any page!

Online Giving Reminder

Holy Trinity Church’s online giving program makes it possible to make contributions of various kinds to Holy Trinity Church online. Our secure system allows you to conveniently make donations online. You can choose to make a one-time contribution or establish a recurring weekly or monthly contribution. Best of all, you don’t need to remember to write a check or bring your offering to church - it’s already taken care of! Payments can be made via checking account, savings account, credit card or debit card. Visit www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/give to get started!

In the Hospital? Home-Bound? Please let the Church Office know!
In today’s age of information privacy, churches are not notified when parishioners are admitted to hospitals, nursing homes or other care facilities. Both those facilities and your church depend on having the church notified by a friend or family member so that pastoral care and outreach can be offered. The same goes for those homebound. If you or any of your loved ones are in any of these situations, please contact the Church Office at 412-366-8700 to request a visit from our priests or our new and wonderful Visitation Ministry. Also, interested in helping reach out to fellow parishioners in those situations? Please contact Amy Armanious at visitation@HolyTrinityPgh.org.

Visitation Ministry Team Volunteers

The Visitation Ministry is always in need of volunteers to share their talent and time. We need volunteers who may enjoy visiting our homebound family members, designing crafts, baking cookies, transporting individuals to doctor appointments, reading the Bible at the bedside of one who is sick or has poor vision, offering grocery shopping or medication pickup at the local pharmacy, praying for those who are in need, providing a listening ear to those grieving loss, mailing cards to those who need encouragement, and so much more. If you are interested and want to learn more about our Visitation Ministry, please contact Amy Armanious at 412-628-0973 or email 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 our Holy Trinity family know 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 stop by our Connect Center located in the Gallery and join us for our Fellowship Coffee 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. The antidoron is not a sacramental offering but is blessing and a reflection of the agape (love) feast that followed worship in the ancient Christian Church. Please join our parish family for hospitality 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!

Pave a New Path in Holy Trinity's History! Paver Project Now Underway!

“Leave a footprint on the sands of time” (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow). All great individuals have left a footprint on history. Be a part of Holy Trinity’s historical footprint by purchasing a paver for yourself and/or your loved ones. Leave a lasting memory of your family name, or someone else’s name. Engrave a lasting tribute in honor of or in memory of a special person in your life. Or capture a very special event, like a wedding or baptismal anniversary. Please email Karen Georgiadis or Kathy Balouris at pavers@HolyTrinityPgh.org. Information is also available at on our website at www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/pavers. We will be selling pavers until Friday, November 16, 2018, unless we sell out before then. The inscription process begins this winter, with the Path will be installed in early spring 2019.

Paver Size	Description	# Sold	Still available	Price	Note
20" Octagon	Center Cross - Granite	1	SOLD OUT	$8,000	Sold in honor of Father John and Pres. Becky
16" Octagon	Ends of Cross - Granite	4	SOLD OUT	$5,500	Sold at Live Auction
12"x12"	Body of Cross - Red	7	13	$2,000	Reserve soon - limited quantity
4"x8"	Outside Border - brown	15	65	$195
8"x8"	Background - HB*	14	86	$395
8"x12"	Background - horizontal - HB*	5	95	$500
8"x12"	Background - Vertical - HB*	0	100	$500
12"x12"	Background - HB*	1	99	$900

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Tone

Apolytikion for Nativity of John the Forerunner in the Fourth Tone

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Tone

Saints and Feasts

Nativity of the Forerunner John the Baptist

Elizabeth, Mother of the Forerunner

Athanasios Parios

Panagiotis the New Martyr

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

Bulletin Inserts

Pave a New Path in Holy Trinity's History

Wisdom of the Fathers

Parish News and Events