Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Sixth Tone

The heavenly powers appeared at Your tomb, and those guarding it became like dead men. Mary stood at Your grave, seeking Your pure body. You stripped the power of hades, not touched by its corruption. You met the virgin woman as one Who grants life. O Lord, Who rose from the dead, glory to You. (Page 53)

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Nativity in the Fourth Tone

Your Nativity, O Christ our God* has shone upon the world the light of knowledge.* For through it those who had worshiped the stars* from a star learned to worship* You, the Sun of righteousness* and to know You, the One who comes from on high.* O, Lord, glory to You! (Page 61)

Apolytikion for Sun. after Nativity in the Second Tone

O Joseph, proclaim the wonders to David, the ancestor of God. You have seen a Virgin great with child; you have given glory with the shepherds; you have worshiped with the Magi; and you have been instructed through an Angel. Entreat Christ God to save our souls.

Apolytikion of Holy Trinity Church (Page 75) in the First Tone

English: Blessed are You, O Christ our God, Who has shown forth the fishermen to be most wise by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit. And through them, You drew the world into Your net. O merciful One, glory to You!
Greek: Ευλογητός ει Χριστέ, ο Θεός ήμων, ο πανσόφους τους αλιείς αναδείξας, καταπέμψας αυτοίς το Πνεύμα το άγιον, και δι΄αυτών την οικουμένην σαγηνεύσας, φιλάνθρωπε, δόξα σοι.
Phoenetics: Ev-lo-yi-tos i Hri-ste o The-os i-mon. O Pan-so-fous tous a-li-is a-na-di-xas ka-ta-pemp-sas af-tis to Pnev-ma to A-yi-on, ke di af-ton tin i-kou-men-in sa-i-nef-sas, fi-lan-thro-pe, do-xa si.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Tone

English: The Virgin on this day* brings forth the One Who is above all things* and the earth a cave provides* for Him Who is beyond man’s touch.* Angels, along with shepherds now give their glory* Magi follow a star as they journey* when for our sake is born* a young child* the pre-eternal God. Greek: Η Παρθένος σήμερον, τον υπερούσιον τίκτει, και η γη το σπήλαιον, τω απροσίτω προσάγει. Άγγελοι, μετά Ποιμένων δοξολογούσι, Μάγοι δε, μετά Αστέρος οδοιπορούσι, δι’ ημάς γαρ εγεννήθη, Παιδίον νέον, ο προ αιώνων Θεός. (Page 61)

Saints and Feasts

December 30

Sunday after Nativity

On the Sunday that falls on or immediately after the twenty-sixth of this month, we make commemoration of Saints Joseph, the Betrothed of the Virgin; David, the Prophet and King; and James, the Brother of God. When there is no Sunday within this period, we celebrate this commemoration on the 26th.

Saint Joseph (whose name means "one who increases") was the son of Jacob, and the son-in-law - and hence, as it were, the son - of Eli (who was also called Eliakim or Joachim), who was the father of Mary the Virgin (Matt. 1:16; Luke 3:23). He was of the tribe of Judah, of the family of David, an inhabitant of Nazareth, a carpenter by Trade, and advanced in age when, by God's good will, he was betrothed to the Virgin, that he might minister to the great mystery of God's dispensation in the flesh by protecting her, providing for her, and being known as her husband so that she, being a virgin, would not suffer reproach when she was found to be with child. Joseph had been married before his betrothal to our Lady; they who are called Jesus' "brethren and sisters" (Matt. 13:55-56) are the children of Joseph by his first marriage. From Scripture, we know that Saint Joseph lived at least until the Twelfth year after the birth of Christ (Luke 2:41-52); according to the tradition of the Fathers, he reposed before the beginning of the public ministry of Christ.

The child of God and ancestor of God, David, the great Prophet after Moses, sprang from the tribe of Judah. He was the son of Jesse, and was born in Bethlehem (whence it is called the City of David), in the year 1085 before Christ. While yet a youth, at the command of God he was anointed secretly by the Prophet Samuel to be the second King of the Israelites, while Saul - who had already been deprived of divine grace - was yet living. In the thirtieth year of his life, when Saul had been slain in battle, David was raised to the dignity of King, first, by his own tribe, and then by all the Israelite people, and he reigned for forty years. Having lived seventy years, he reposed in 1015 before Christ, having proclaimed beforehand that his son Solomon was to be the successor to the throne.

The sacred history has recorded not only the grace of the Spirit that dwelt in him from his youth, his heroic exploits in war, and his great piety towards God, but also his transgressions and failings as a man. Yet his repentance was greater than his transgresssions, and his love for God fervent and exemplary; so highly did God honour this man, that when his son Solomon sinned, the Lord told him that He would not rend the kingdom in his lifetime "for David thy father's sake" (III Kings 12:12). Of The Kings of Israel, Jesus the Son of Sirach testifies, "All, except David and Hezekias and Josias, were defective" (Ecclus. 49:4). The name David means "beloved."

His melodious Psalter is the foundation of all the services of the Church; there is not one service that is not filled with Psalms and psalmic verses. It was the means whereby old Israel praised God, and was used by the Apostles and the Lord Himself. It is so imbued with the spirit of prayer that the monastic fathers of all ages have used it as their trainer and teacher for their inner life of converse with God. Besides eloquently portraying every state and emotion of the soul before her Maker, the Psalter is filled with prophecies of the coming of Christ. It foretells His Incarnation, "He bowed the heavens and came down" (Psalm 17:9), His Baptism in the Jordan, "The waters saw Thee, O God, The waters saw Thee and were afraid" (76:15), His Crucifixion in its details, "They have pierced My hands and My feet .... They have parted My garments amongst themselves, and for My vesture have they cast lots" (21:16, 18). "For My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink" (68:26), His descent into Hades, "For Thou wilt not abandon My soul in Hades, nor wilt Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption" (15:10) and Resurrection, "Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered" (67:1). His Ascension, "God is gone up in jubilation" (46:5), and so forth.

As for James, the Brother of God, see October 23.

December 30

Afterfeast of the Nativity

December 30

Anysia the Virgin-martyr of Thessaloniki

This Saint, who was from Thessalonica, was the daughter of pious and wealthy parents, After their death, she passed her life in virginity, serving God by means of good deeds. One day, as she was on her way to church, a pagan soldier approached her and asked her to accompany him to the temple of the idols, but she refused. When he began to drag her with him, she spit in his face and confessed Christ. Filled with anger, he thrust his sword into her side and slew her, in the year 299, during the reign of Maximian.

December 30

Gideon the New Martyr of Mount Athos

December 30

Righteous Father Leondus the Archimandrite

December 30

Holy Martyr Philetaerus

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Tone. Psalm 67.35,26.
God is wonderful among his saints.
Verse: Bless God in the congregations.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 1:11-19.

Brethren, I would have you know that the gospel which was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.

Gospel Reading

Sunday after Nativity
The Reading is from Matthew 2:13-23

When the wise men departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son."

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more." But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaos reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

Bulletin Inserts

Orthodox Movie Night

Thursday, January 10 at 7:00pm in the Fireside Room. This month we present the 2018 movie “Paul, Apostle of Christ”. Luke as a friend and physician, risks his life when he ventures into the city of Rome to visit Paul, who is held captive in Nero’s darkest, bleakest prison cell. Two men struggle against a determined emperor and the frailties of the human spirit in order to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ and spread their message to the world. Rated PG-13. Popcorn & soft drinks provided. Admission is Free! Come and share in the fellowship!

Men Who Cook

Please join us as Holy Trinity's most notable men compete for the coveted title of HT's Top Chef on Saturday, January 19, 2019!

Wisdom of the Fathers

Nathanael too enters ... saying, "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" ... Nevertheless, He is not ashamed to be named even from thence, signifying that He needs not ought of the things of men; and His disciples also He chooses out of Galilee.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 9 on Matthew 2, 4th Century

At His birth [He] is laid in a manger, and abides in an inn, and takes a mother of low estate; teaching us to think no such thing a disgrace, and from the first outset trampling under foot the haughtiness of man, and bidding us give ourselves up to virtue only. For why do you pride yourself on your country, when I am commanding thee to be a stranger to the whole world?

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 9 on Matthew 2, 4th Century

Parish News and Events

TODAY’S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

Many thanks to all who attended the holy services in celebration of the Nativity of the Lord, especially our Holy Trinity Choir for their beautiful offering of the Liturgy and Christmas carols on both Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. Remember, in the joy of the Feast, the Church proclaims a fast-free period from Christmas Day through January 4.

Installation of Parish Council Today

The installation of the 2019/2020 Parish Council will take place following the Divine Liturgy today. Newly elected/re-elected for the 2019-2020 term are George Danis, Karen Georgiadis, Tom Germanos, Michael Passodelis, Jeanne Willow, and Gerri Valliant. Continuing on for the remainder of their two-year term through 2019 are: Alvin Backeris, Dean A. Balouris, George Dickos, Steven Stearns, Ted Stewart and Alex Trilivas. Parish Council installation will be held on Sunday, January 6, followed by the election of officers. Thank you to all those whom you have selected to serve in this important ministry, and remember: they serve for you and with you, not instead of you, so when they call for support, please answer, “Yes, here I am!” Thank you.

No Church School Class Today

There will be no Church School Class today. Please enjoy this time together to worship as a family.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Funeral Tomorrow: Peter Valliant

Our brother in Christ, Peter Valliant, has fallen asleep in the Lord. Please join his family and friends in prayers for the repose of his soul, support them in their time of loss, and join them in attending visitation and services. May his memory be eternal! Schedule of visitation and services to be held at Holy Trinity Church:

Visitation: Today, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2:00-8:00 pm
Trisagion: Tonight, Sunday, Dec. 30, 7:00 pm
Visitation at Holy Trinity Church: Monday, Dec. 31, 9:30-10:00 am
Funeral: Monday, December 31, 10:00 am

Services This Week

Mon. Dec. 31, 8:30pm EVENING Orthros & Liturgy – St. Basil the Great (St. George Chapel)

Fri. Jan. 4, 9:30AM Service of the Royal Hours of Theophany (HT)

Sat. Jan. 5, 8:30AM Orthros/9:30 Liturgy: The Forefeast of Holy Theophany and the Great Blessing of the Waters (HT)

Note the time correction. In the January Herald this was incorrectly list for 6:30pm. It is at 8:30/9:30am.

Sun. Jan. 6, 8:30AM Orthros/9:30 Liturgy: Holy Theophany and the Great Blessing of the Waters (HT)

Holiday Office Schedule

The offices of the Archdiocese, Metropolis and Holy Trinity Church will be closed on New Year’s Day, Tuesday, January 1.

“Faith and Family WEEKDAYS” Off This Week

Our “Faith and Family WEEKDAYS” will take a break for the New Year holiday this week and will resume on Tuesday, January 8. Except… Remember your Prayer Partners! Even over the holidays, please remember to lift up your prayer partner every day! Please keep the promise!

[Jan 2, 8, 22] GOYA Basketball Practice

GOYA will hold basketball practice in preparation for the 2019 basketball tournament season on January 2, 8 & 22 from 6:30-8:30pm at Hosack Elementary School, 9275 Peebles Road, Allison Park, PA 15101.

[Jan 4, 5, 6] Services for Holy Theophany

- Fri. Jan. 4, 9:30am Service of the Royal Hours of Theophany: This special service offers readings, prophecies and hymns which point to and interpret Holy Theophany.(HT)
- Sat. Jan. 5, 8:30AM Orthros/9:30 Liturgy - The Forefeast of Theophany: This is the first of two Theophany Divine Liturgies and services of Great Blessings of the Waters. The Liturgy will be followed by the Great Blessing of the Waters service. Please note that this is also a strict fasting day in preparation for Theophany. (HT) (Note the time correction. In the January Herald this was incorrectly list for 6:30pm. It is at 8:30/9:30am.)
- Sun. Jan. 6, 8:30am Orthros/9:30am Liturgy – The Holy Theophany of our Lord: This is the main Orthros and Divine Liturgy of this great Feast. We will again offer the Great Blessings of the Water at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. (HT)

2019 House Blessings – Request Yours Online This Year!

Every year on January 6^th, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of Holy Theophany, which is the baptism of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We also take the feast home with us by having our homes blessed with the Holy Water. A schedule and description of the House Blessing tradition can be found inside the January issue of The Herald and on the back cover of this bulletin. If you would like this special annual Theophany blessing for your family, home or business, please request a visit before January 5 by either returning a completed request form, calling the Church Office or by SUBMITTING YOUR REQUEST ONLINE AT www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/events. Your date and time will be confirmed by the day before your visit IMPORTANT NOTE: Please be available during the time range indicated on the schedule. Re-scheduling will only be done in cases of inclement weather. Thanks!

Year-End Contributions Reminder

The Stewardship Committee and Parish Council thank all our Holy Trinity Stewards for their pledges and contributions this year and ask that everyone brings their offerings up to date for 2018. Please take note that all offerings you would like listed as received during the 2018 tax year (Jan. 1-Dec. 31) for tax deduction purposes must be received at the church or postmarked by Dec. 31. This is an IRS regulation. You may indicate the offerings to apply for either your 2018 pledge (to pay the balance) or the 2019 pledge (to pay ahead) and your pledge balance will be accurately calculated no matter when the offering is made. Year-end statements will be sent out at the end of January. Thanks! Also, the 2019 Holy Trinity Stewardship Pledge Cards have been distributed and all Holy Trinity Stewards should complete one immediately. Questions? Contact Stewardship Co-chairmen Mike Kritiotis or Ted Stewart or email stewardship@HolyTrinityPgh.org.

[Jan 6] Vasilopita Celebration and Lunch

Holy Trinity Church will hold the annual Vasilopita Celebration next Sunday, January 6. As usual, a special tray will be passed by the Philoptochos at the end of the Liturgy to benefit St. Basil Academy, the young people’s philanthropic institution run by the Archdiocese in Garrison, NY. Then, a Vasilopita Luncheon will be hosted by the Parish Council in the Grand Room following Divine Liturgy, where the cutting of the community Vasilopita will take place and a complimentary lunch can be enjoyed by all. Leaders and/or representatives from all parish ministries are asked to be present at the luncheon to receive the Vasilopita on behalf of your ministry. This is also an opportunity for the Council and the Festival Committee to thank all our dedicated volunteers for their sacrificial and valued help for our most-successful-ever Taste of Greece Festival this past year. Thank you for your participation!

[Jan 10] Orthodox Movie Night

This month we present the 2018 movie “Paul, Apostle of Christ”. Luke (Jim Caviezel) as a friend and physician, risks his life when he ventures into the city of Rome to visit Paul (James Faulkner), who is held captive in Nero’s darkest, bleakest prison cell. Before Paul’s death sentence can be enacted, Luke resolves to write another book, one that details the beginnings of “The Way” and the birth of what will come to be known as the church. Two men struggle against a determined emperor and the frailties of the human spirit in order to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ and spread their message to the world. Rated PG-13. Popcorn & soft drinks provided. Admission is Free! Come and share in the fellowship!

[Jan 19] LOOKING FOR HOLY TRINITY’S TOP MALE CHEFS - SAVE THE DATE!

Mark your calendars for a fun evening feasting on edible creations from our top Holy Trinity Male Chefs! The event will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2019 in the Grand Room. Join us as Holy Trinity’s most notable men compete for the coveted title of HT’s Top Chef! Guests will visit food stations and be served samples of appetizers, entrees, sides and desserts. Vote for all your favorite chefs via tip jars in this friendly fundraising competition! Reservations are $30.00 per person. Proceeds to benefit the HT Capital Campaign, kitchen needs and FOCUS Pittsburgh. Reserve your seats online today at www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/events. If you are interested in competing for the title, please see Kathy Balouris, Karen Georgiadis or George Athanasiou or email them at social@HolyTrinityPgh.org. More details to follow.

[Jan 20, 27] Ten Minutes of HOPE and JOY

Our children in HOPE (grades K-2) and JOY (grades 3-6) will continue to meet with Father Radu once a month for ten minutes after their Church School lesson. Please help your children formulate questions about our faith, and we will address those topics during our “Ten Minutes of HOPE” on Jan. 20 and “Ten Minutes of JOY” on Jan. 27.

[Feb 18] Ordination of George Athanasiou

By the grace of God and through the Laying on of Hands by His Eminence Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh, the servant of God, George Athanasiou will be ordained to the Holy Diaconate on Monday, February 18 here at Holy Trinity Church, 8:30AM Orthros/9:30 Liturgy. Luncheon to follow. Please RSVP at www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/events.

Just One Date is Still Available for Pleasant Valley Shelter Dinner – Please Sign Up!

This shelter, near our old neighborhood on the North Side, provides overnight accommodations to 30 homeless men, 365 nights each year and relies totally on volunteers to feed the men. We only have one date left for HT volunteers to provide dinner, but it’s just around the corner and we really need a commitment! It is Sunday, Jan 13. Please see Mike Kritiotis today, or contact him at 412-518-0588, or at mkritiotis@gmail.com to sign your family/group/ministry up.

The 2019 Schedule is Out! Sign Up to Provide FOCUS Lunches for the Needy

It’s time once again to get your group or family together for a meaningful day of giving to the poor and hungry in our region. Sponsored through FOCUS Pittsburgh, the 2019 weekly schedule of delivering 140 lunch bags to our less fortunate neighbors, every Saturday of the year, has many open dates available. Holy Trinity Church’s participation has been critical in fulfilling this goal in the past, and we are grateful for our parishioners’ renewed generosity this time around. Please see Mike Kritiotis after Liturgy to sign up for a Saturday that fits your schedule or contact him by emailing outreach@holytrinitypgh.org for available dates. Thank you, good and faithful servants of Christ!

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!

For those who do receive, please remember the following helpful hints aimed at helping to preserve the solemnity and safety of the Holy Mystery: 1) The Church School Staff only is asked to please proceed first to receive from the left-most chalice so they may depart for their classrooms before their students arrive; 2) All other students, parishioners and Orthodox Christian guests, please remain at your place until you are dismissed by the Parish Council down the center aisle only; 3) We respectfully ask women to remove their lipstick before approaching the Holy Chalice; 4) Please wait in the Holy Communion line reverently, prayerfully and quietly without talking; 5) It is traditional as we approach with awe that we make the sign of the Cross or bow down with a “metanoia” as an act of humility before the Lord; 5) Be sure to offer your baptismal name to priest before receiving; 6) Please take great care to place the red cloth under your chin and to fully open your mouth so that none of the precious Body and Blood of Christ is accidentally spilled, then to dab your lips on the cloth afterwards so none of the Holy Gifts are left on other objects. Thank you for your cooperation, and may God have mercy on us all!

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Sixth Tone

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Nativity in the Fourth Tone

Apolytikion for Sun. after Nativity in the Second Tone

Apolytikion of Holy Trinity Church (Page 75) in the First Tone

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Tone

Saints and Feasts

Sunday after Nativity

Afterfeast of the Nativity

Anysia the Virgin-martyr of Thessaloniki

Gideon the New Martyr of Mount Athos

Righteous Father Leondus the Archimandrite

Holy Martyr Philetaerus

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

Bulletin Inserts

Orthodox Movie Night

Men Who Cook

Wisdom of the Fathers

Parish News and Events