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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2019-08-25
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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (412)366-8700
  • Fax:
  • (412)366-8710
  • 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


Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Tone

Though the tomb was sealed with a stone by the Jews and the soldiers guarded Your pure body, You arose, O Savior, on the third day, giving life to the world. Therefore, O Giver of Life, the heavenly powers praise You. Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ; glory to Your kingdom; glory to Your plan of redemption, O only loving God. (Page 52)

Apolytikion for Apostle Bartholomew in the Third Tone

O holy Apostles, make intercession to our merciful God, that He grant our souls forgiveness of offenses.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Tone

In your holy birth, Immaculate One, Joachim and Anna were rid of the shame of childlessness; Adam and Eve of the corruption of death. And so your people, free of the guilt of their sins, celebrate crying: "The barren one gives birth to the Theotokos, who nourishes our life."
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Saints and Feasts

Healdemonicboy
August 25

10th Sunday of Matthew


Philbartbarnabas
August 25

Return of the Body of Bartholomew the Glorious Apostle

Concerning the Apostle Bartholomew, see June 11


August 25

Ebba, First Abbess of Coldingham


August 25

John the Cappadocian, Epiphanius and Menas, Patriarchs of Constantinople


August 25

Holy Father John of Carpathia


August 25

Titus the Apostle of the 70

Saint Titus was a Greek by race, and an idolater. But having believed in Christ through the Apostle Paul, he became Paul's disciple and follower and labored with him greatly in the preaching of the Gospel. When Paul ordained him Bishop of Crete, he later wrote to him the Epistle which bears his name. Having shepherded in an apostolic manner the flock that had been entrusted to him, and being full of days, he reposed in peace, some ninety-four years of age.


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. First Tone. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 4:9-16.

Brethren, God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off-scouring of all things. I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me.


Gospel Reading

10th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 17:14-23

At that time, a man came up to Jesus and kneeling before him said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him." And Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me." And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move hence to yonder place,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting." As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day."


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Bulletin Inserts

    Holy Trinity's Taste of Greece

    Holy Trinity's Taste of Greece

    Wednesday, August 28 through Sunday, September 1, 2019. Help us to get the word out. Share this flyer with everyone that you know!


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Wisdom of the Fathers

For a man to have such faith appears simple, but it is, on the contrary, something very lofty, not easily attained by many. Such faith is born of boldness before God; but such boldness comes (only) from pleasing God. Beloved, great labour is needed to acquire, through pleasing God, such boldness before Him that one firmly believes that he will grant all that one asks; as it is written, Ask, and it shall be given to you.
St. John Chrysostom
The Gospel Commentary: edited by Hieromonk German Ciuba, 2002., 4th Century

Yet if his unbelief was the cause ... why does He blame the disciples? Signifying, that even without persons to bring the sick in faith, they might in many instances work a cure.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 57 on Matthew 17, 4th Century

For as the faith of the person presenting oftentimes availed for receiving the cure, even from inferior ministers; so the power of the doers oftentimes sufficed, even without belief in those who came to work the miracle.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 57 on Matthew 17, 4th Century

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Parish News and Events

TODAY’S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES  

 

Memorial Today

Memorial prayers will be offered at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy today for the repose of the soul of the servant of God, Father John Androutsopoulos (40 Days). Coffee Hour will be sponsored today by the Androutsopoulos family. May his memory be eternal!

 

NEW EVENT! Blessing of the Backpacks for all Students – Today Following Liturgy

Attention all students and parents: take the prayers of the Church and the blessings of God with you back to school this year with a special new event at Holy Trinity – the Blessing of the Backpacks! Following Liturgy today, all the students will come up to the front to receive their special blessing.

 

Church School for 2019-2020 – Please Register Today – Classes Start September 8
Registration for Church School classes for 2019-2020 continues today. You may sign up your child(ren) in the Grand Room during Coffee Hour if they are returning students or new students may sign up online or at the registration table. If you have not yet done so, please do it today. Classes start September 8. Thank you!

 

Church School Snack and Youth Ministries Volunteer Signup for Parents

All Church School families are asked to sign up for hosting one Church School snacks Sunday. Even if there are multiple children in a family, each family is asked to pick just one Sunday. A list is available in the Grand Room following Divine Liturgy. Also, adult volunteers are needed for various events during the year. Please sign up today. Thank you!

 

Festival Setup Today Through Tuesday!

Attention ALL volunteers: It's Festival Setup Week - All Hands On Deck! We need to be up and ready by Wednesday for the thousands of enthusiastic visitors and friends who will be coming to enjoy the festival this week, so please lend a hand. Sign up at www.HolyTrinityPghl.org/volunteer.  Setup times are:

  • TODAY, August 25 – 12:00-6:00pm (This includes help needed today to cup salad dressings)
  • Monday, August 26 – 4:00-10:00pm
  • Tuesday, August 27 – 4:00-10:00pm

 

Last Greek Dance Practices before the Festival – Today after Liturgy and Tuesday

All remaining practices until the festival are mandatory if you want to dance at the festival. If you are unable to attend one of these practices, please contact either Victoria (412-496-9128) or Eleni (412-953-3699). Thank you!

  • TODAY Sunday, August 25: HOPE, JOY & GOYA during coffee hour
  • Tuesday, August 27: HOPE 6:00-6:30pm / JOY 6:30-7:15pm / GOYA 7:15-8:00pm

 

Festival Pastry Baking, Cutting & Set-Up Today – 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!

  • TODAY Sunday, August 25, following Liturgy - Baklava baking and pastry room & counter set up
  • Monday, August 26, 3:00pm-9:00pm – Pastry Cutting
  • Tuesday, August 27, 3:00pm-9:00pm – Pastry Cutting and FINAL FESTIVAL SET-UP!

 

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Services This Week

  • Wednesday, August 28, 10:00am - Festival Opening Blessing

It is a long-standing tradition of Holy Trinity Church that we open and close our annual Greek Festival with prayer, invoking God’s blessings on all we do and thanking him for every gift. As such, all Festival volunteers are asked to gather for a brief opening blessing service at 10:00am on Wednesday, August 28, in the church. We will also close the Festival on Sunday evening with a thanksgiving service as usual.

  • Thursday, August 29 - Beheading of St. John the Baptist – Note earlier start time

Please make plans to arrive early on the second day of the Festival, Thursday, August 29, so that you can attend the Feast Day services of the Beheading of the Holy and Glorious Prophet, St. John the Baptist. Orthros begins at 7:30am followed by Divine Liturgy at 8:30am here at Holy Trinity Church. Please note that this is a strict fast day and that the early start time is due to the Taste of Greece Festival which opens at 11:00am.

 

Help Spread the Word About our Taste of Greece Festival with Lawn Signs and Flyers!

You are an important part of the advertising for our 2019 Taste of Greece Festival!  If you have your yard signs from previous years (undated – saying “Labor Day Wednesday through Sunday”) pull them out and display them! A limited number of lawn signs will be available today in the Gallery if you do not have one. Also, please take some flyers and pass them out to coworkers, neighbors and friends! We all need to pitch in to get the word out!  Thank you!

 

Holy Trinity’s Taste of Greece – It’s Here!

See you this week for the Festival on Wednesday, August 28, through Sunday, September 1. 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! Sign up TODAY in the Gallery following Divine Liturgy or to sign up at www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/volunteer.Thank you, good and faithful servants of Christ! We can’t do it without you!

 

Festival Parking

Once again, UPMC Passavant Hospital has graciously permitted us to use their lot for Festival parking. Please note that during our Festival, their GREEN lot will be available for our use on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm and all day on Saturday & Sunday from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm. Shuttle Bus service will be available.

 

Festival Outreach – Evening Services

In addition to the church tours this year, we are again having a short service in the church every night DURING THE FESTIVAL from 8:30-8:45pm for those guests who may want to "COME AND SEE" our way of worship. Perhaps some of us can spare 15 minutes during this busy time and plan to attend as we are able!

 

Missing Festival Aprons

Please note that many of the plain blue aprons that have been purchased by Holy Trinity over the years have gone missing.  If you helped at last year’s festival and borrowed any, please return them (freshly washed) as soon as possible so that we may have adequate supply for this year’s volunteers. Thank you.

 

Festival CLEANUP Next Week!!

Attention ALL volunteers: The job’s not done until the cleanup is finished! Next week is Festival Cleanup Week. Time to get this beautiful facility back in shape after all the excitement of the festival. Please lend a hand. Cleanup times are:

- TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 5pm-10pm

- WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 5pm-10pm  

- THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 5pm-10pm

Please go to www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/volunteer and make the commitment from now. Thanks!

 

[Sep 7] Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery – Groundbreaking Ceremony

Gerontissa Theophano and the Sisters of the Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery have invited us to join them on Saturday, September 7 at 10:00am as they break ground to build Panagia’s new home - a new monastery, chapel, and teaching iconography studio. Metropolitan Savas will preside over the groundbreaking ceremony and a lunch will follow. Please RSVP to info@NativityoftheTheotokosMonastery.org if you plan to attend. The monastery is located at 121 St. Elias Lane, Saxonburg, PA 16056.

 

[Sep 19] Holy Trinity’s "SO MUCH MORE" Event

On Thursday, September 19 from 7:00-8:30pm we are hosting guests from our festival who want to learn more about our Church community and the Orthodox Christian Faith. We would like to welcome them with the loving arms of our parish. EVERYONE is encouraged to attend, and our goal is to have representation of all of our ministries and age groups. More information will follow but please mark your calendars!

 

[Sept 21] Greater Pittsburgh JOY Fest 2019

We are excited to announce that on Saturday, September 21, JOY Fest will be held at Holy Cross Church in Mt. Lebanon from 9:30am until 3:00pm. All kids ages 7-12 from any Orthodox parish are invited to attend. The schedule for the day includes breakout groups, themed crafts, games/recreational activities and songs with special guest, Orthodox musician and educator, Khouria Gigi Shadid! To register for the event, please email emmanuelmaginas@gmail.com by September 14th. Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church is located at 123 Gilkeson Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15228 across from the Galleria.

 

[Oct 13] Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery Fund-Raising Dinner at St. Nicholas Cathedral

On Sunday, October 13, the sixth Annual Dinner Banquet to benefit the Nativity of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Monastery in Saxonburg will be held at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Oakland. This year’s event will honor the 25th Anniversary of the Repose of Gerontissa Taxiarchia and the 30th Anniversary of the Founding of the Monastery. Tickets for the Dinner Banquet are $125 per person. Please call 724-352-3999 or visit nativityofthetheotokosmonastery.org and click on the https://2019monasterybanquet.eventbrite.com/ link to register online. Holy Trinity’s own Harry Athanasiou will serve as Master of Ceremonies and Jim Balouris will serve as the Live Auctioneer. You won’t want to miss this event!

 

[Oct 25] Philoptochos Traditional Greek Dance– Save the Date!

Please make plans to support our Ladies Philoptochos by attending a Traditional Greek Dance to be held here at Holy Trinity on Friday, October 25 from 7:30 pm until 11:30 pm featuring live music by Panigiri. Tickets, available for purchase beginning Sunday, September 22, are $15 per person and will include complimentary desserts and coffee. Casual Dress – All Ages – Open Seating – Cash Bar – Hot & Cold Appetizer Platters will be available for purchase.

 

FOCUS-Pittsburgh Bag Lunches - Sign your Family or Group up for a Worthy Cause 

If you’re looking for ways to get your family/friends/group/ministry together for a meaningful day of giving to the poor and hungry in our region, here’s your chance! 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 still available. Please see Mike Kritiotis after Liturgy to sign up for a Saturday that fits your schedule or email outreach@holytrinitypgh.org for available dates. Thank you, good and faithful servants of Christ!

 

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.

 

Holy Trinity’s Connect Center
The “Connect Center” is a great resource and contact display prominently located in the Gallery every Sunday and it is for YOU! The purpose is to help EVERYONE in our Holy Trinity community become more informed about the many ministries and opportunities offered here and to make it easier to become involved in all areas of life at Holy Trinity Church. Stop by and check it out or just say hi!

 

“ONE HOLY TRINITY” – Please Make Your Commitment

Once again, this year’s stewardship pledge card system carries the theme of ONE Holy Trinity. Just like God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one, we, the members of Holy Trinity Church, need to join together in love as one to serve the Church and to provide for its critical missions in today’s society. If you have not yet submitted a 2019 pledge card or are new to Holy Trinity, please note that additional pledge cards can be found at the Welcome Table located in the Narthex of the church.  Our member-funded church needs each and every one of us. And remember, a signed pledge card is required as part of maintaining your membership in good standing at Holy Trinity Church each year. We’re grateful to all of you for your commitment. If you have any questions, please see a member of the Stewardship Committee or visit www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/stewardship.

 

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!

 

Upcoming Memorials Sept 1: George Lalikos (40 days), Anastasia Vonortas (3 years)

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