December 22
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2019-12-22
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:
- 2019-12-15
- Publish Date:
- 2019-12-08
- Publish Date:
- 2019-12-01
- Publish Date:
- 2019-11-24
- Publish Date:
- 2019-11-17
- Publish Date:
- 2019-11-10
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Tone
When You descended into death, O Life immortal, You destroyed Hades with the splendor of Your divinity. And when You raised the dead from the depths of darkness, all the heavenly powers shouted: O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to You! (Page 52)
Apolytikion for Forefeast of the Nativity in the Fourth Tone
O Bethlehem, prepare, Eden is opened unto all. * And be ready, Ephrata, for the Tree of Life * has in the cave blossomed forth from the Virgin. * Indeed her womb is shown to be spiritually * a Paradise, in which is found the God-planted Tree. * And if we eat from it we shall live, and shall not die, as did Adam of old. * Christ is born, so that He might raise up * the formerly fallen image.
Apolytikion for Sun. before Nativity in the Second Tone
Magnificent are the accomplishments of Faith! The holy Three Servants greatly rejoiced, as they stood in the fountain of fire, as if beside the still waters; and the Prophet Daniel appeared to be a shepherd of lions, as if they were sheep. At their entreaties, O Christ God, 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
The Virgin on this day* is on her way to the cave where she* will give birth ineffably* to the Word Who is before all time. * Therefore, rejoice, O universe* when you hear it*; glorify with the angels and the shepherds* Him Who chose to be seen as* a new-born child*, the pre-eternal God. (Page 61)
Saints and Feasts
December 22
Sunday before Nativity
On the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eighteenth of this month, we celebrate all those who from ages past have been well-pleasing to God, beginning from Adam even unto Joseph the Betrothed of the Most Holy Theotokos, according to genealogy, as the Evangelist Luke hath recorded historically (Luke 3:23-38); we also commemorate the Prophets and Prophetesses, and especially the Prophet Daniel and the Holy Three Children.
December 22
Anastasia the Great Martyr
This Saint, who was from Rome, was a most comely, wealthy, and virtuous maiden, the daughter of Praepextatus and Fausta. It was her mother who instructed her in the Faith of Christ. The Saint was joined to a man named Publius Patricius, who was prodigal in life and impious in disposition, but she was widowed after a short time. Henceforth, she went about secretly to the dwellings of the poor and the prisons where the Martyrs of Christ were, and brought them whatever was needed for their daily subsistence. She washed their wounds and loosed them from their fetters, and consoled them in their anguish. Also, because the Saint, through her intercessions, has healed many from the ill effects of spells, potions, poisons, and other harmful substances, she has received the name "Deliverer from Potions." Since the fame of her deeds had spread about, she was arrested by Diocletian's minions, and after enduring many torments she was put to death by fire in the year 290.
December 22
Chrysogonos, Theodota, Evodias, & Eutychianus, the Martyrs
December 22
The opening of the gates of the Great Church of God
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Fourth Tone. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:9-10; 32-40.
BRETHREN, by faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city which has foundation, whose builder and maker is God.
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets - who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated - of whom the world was not worthy - wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Gospel Reading
Sunday before Nativity
The Reading is from Matthew 1:1-25
The book of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.
And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa, and Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.
So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus.
Wisdom of the Fathers
The tribes of Judah and Levi were united by a fusion of their lines of descent, and that is why Matthew assigns Christ's family to the tribe of Judah. And the Apostle says, 'for our Lord has sprung out of Judah' (Heb. 7:14).
Seven Exegetical Works, 4th Century
Thus, from the tribe of Levi may be counted a heritage that is priestly and filled with holiness, while from the tribe of Judah - to which David and Solomon and the rest of the kings belonged - there shines forth the splendor of a royal descent. And so, by the testimony of the Scriptures, Christ is shown to be at once both king and priest.
Seven Exegetical Works, 4th Century
Lift up your voice, O Zion, holy city of God,
Proclaim the divine memory of the Fathers.
With Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
Honor one whose memory is eternal:
For behold, with Judah and levi we magnify Moses the Great,
And with him the wonder-working Aaron.
With David we celebrate the memory of Joshua and Samuel,
Calling all with divine songs and praise
To the prefeast of Christ's Nativity,
Praying that we may receive His goodness,
For it is He who grants the world great mercy.
Translation from "The Winter Pascha" SVS Press
I too will proclaim the greatness of this day: the Immaterial become incarnate, the Word is made flesh, the invisible makes itself seen, the intangible can be touched, the timeless has a beginning, the Son of God becomes the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, always the same, yesterday, today and forever. . . This is the solemnity we are celebrating today: the arrival of God among us, so that we might go to God, or more precisely, return to Him. . . Revere the nativity which releases you from the chains of evil. Honor this tiny Bethlehem which restores Paradise to you. Venerate this crib; because of it you who were deprived of meaning (logos) are fed by the divine Meaning, the divine Logos Himself.
Oration 38, For Christmas (Patrologia Graeca, 36, 664-5) found in The Roots of Christian Mysticism by Olivier Clement, New City Press, NY, p. 41, 330-390
Parish News and Events
TODAY’S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Memorials Today
Memorial prayers will be offered at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy today for the repose of the souls of the servants of God, Freda Boyaci (40 days), Sandra Lolis (40 days), Pitsa Yeatras (40 days) and Father David Sedor (11 years). May their memory be eternal!
No Church School Class
Attention, parents: there will be no Church School class today and next Sunday, December 29 due to the holiday celebrations, so please join together and worship as a family.
Philoptochos Pastries and Bread Available Today
Delicious Christmas sweets will be available for purchase today in the Gallery. Holy Trinity Philoptochos has their sweets available for pickup for those who pre-ordered and has a limited number of items for sale as well. Look for their table in the Gallery during Coffee Hour.
“Feed the Homeless” Four 2020 Dates Still Available at Pleasant Valley Shelter – Sign Up Today!
Holy Trinity has a long-standing commitment to serve meals to the men at Pleasant Valley homeless shelter. This organization, 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. The following four dates in 2020 are still available, to prepare and serve these men dinner - they are all Sunday evenings. (They're served dinner at 8:00pm. Our volunteers bring the cooked food to the shelter and serve it): March 8; May 10; July 12; and Sept 13. Please see Mike Kritiotis today, or contact him at 412-518-0588, or at mkritiotis@gmail.com to sign up your family/group/ministry.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
[Dec 24, 25] Services for the Nativity of Christ
Please remember these festal celebrations for the Nativity of Christ and participate in them with your family. Please note that all Christmas services will be held at Holy Trinity Church.
- Tues. Dec. 24, 9:30 am: Royal Hours of the Nativity
This special service offers readings, prophecies and hymns which point to and interpret the Divine Incarnation.
- Tues. Dec. 24, 6:30pm: Vesperal Liturgy of the Nativity
This service “opens the liturgical day” and begins the celebration of the Nativity. Also, the Holy Trinity Choir will be offering a selection of beautiful Christmas carols following the service. (Note: This IS a Divine Liturgy with the Eucharist. Those wishing to receive Holy Communion need to observe appropriate fasting during the daytime – no food or drink after your noon meal.)
- Wed. Dec. 25. 8:30am Orthros/9:30am Liturgy: The Nativity
This is the main service of the Birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Open the best gift first by attending Liturgy with your family and receiving the Holy Mysteries together! Make it a family tradition to keep the most important thing about Christmas the most important thing in your home!
“Faith and Family WEEKDAYS” Off This Week
Our “Faith and Family WEEKDAYS” will take a break for the Christmas and New Year this week and next, and will resume on Wednesday, January 8 with “Explore the Word” Bible Study. In the meantime, please remember your Prayer Partners! Even over the holidays, please remember to lift up your prayer partner every day! Please keep the promise.
[Dec 31] New Year’s Eve Liturgy at Saint George Chapel
Want to start the New Year out "on the right foot?" Well, point that foot toward the Saint George Chapel and start your evening with the first Divine Liturgy of the New Year by celebrating the Feast of Saint Basil with Orthros and Liturgy at 6:30 p.m. at the Saint George Chapel. Be sure to prepare as usual for an evening Liturgy, with no food or drink following your noon meal, and of course the appropriate prayers of preparation for Holy Communion. There is no better way to sanctify yourself, your family and the entire New Year. "Kali Hronia!" Happy New Year to all!
FOCUS Christmas Angel Gifts – Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who graciously provided gifts to help make a child’s or a senior citizen’s Christmas a special one!
FOCUS Pantry Food Drive - Thank You!
We would like to thank all the Holy Trinity Church School students and their families for the amazing response to our FOCUS Pantry Food Drive. 1,348 food items were collected! Thank you, good and faithful servants!
Calling All Spero’s Books: Please Come Home in December!
Attention Church School parents and students: Spero needs your help! If you have borrowed any books or DVD’s from the St. Spyridon Children’s Library, please return them by the end of December. That would be a great Christmas gift for Spero! If you cannot locate any books or materials, please see a library staff member about replacing them. Also, if a staff member contacts you about missing materials checked out by your children, please respectfully and responsibly fulfill their request to return or replace them. Many years of development and investment have gone into our Saint Spyridon Library. It is a valuable community resource – let’s respect it and care for it properly. Thank you!
“ONE HOLY TRINITY” – Please Make Your Commitment and Submit Your 2020 Cards Today – AND, be Sure to Fulfil your 2019 Pledge!
Our Stewardship aims to promote spiritual growth and strengthen faith. At Holy Trinity, we’re blessed with the incredible support from you, our Stewards, who unselfishly and joyfully offer their time, talents and treasures, which in turn enhances the spirituality and ministry of the parish. Let’s continue to be active and practicing Stewards and generously offer our gifts to God through His Church. Please set a reminder to submit your 2020 pledge card before year-end. If you have not yet received a 2020 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. Also, this is the time to catch up and fulfil/exceed your 2019 pledge! Our member-funded church needs each and every one of us, no matter the amount. 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.
[Jan 19] Philoptochos Meeting
The Philoptochos will hold a meeting on Sunday, January 19, in the Fireside Room following Divine Liturgy. New members are always welcome!
[Jan 25] HOPE & JOY Ice Skating
Our HOPE & JOY groups have planned an Ice-Skating outing at North Park on Saturday, January 25th at 2:00pm. Please let Nicole Gross (tnpalmer113@gmail.com) or Eleni Dedousis (eadedousis@gmail.com) know if you are able to attend by January 23rd. Pricing will range from $5-6 depending if we have enough participants to qualify for the group rate. We have a backup bad weather location of the Lemieux Center for ice skating if inclement weather is in the forecast.
[Jan 26] Looking for Holy Trinity’s Top Male Chefs – Rescheduled - SAVE THE DATE!
Mark your calendars for a fun evening feasting on edible creations from our top Holy Trinity Male Chefs! “Men Who Cook” will be held on Sunday, January 26, 2020 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 and are available at www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/events. Proceeds to benefit the HT Capital Campaign, kitchen needs and FOCUS Pittsburgh. If you are interested in competing for the title, please see Kathy Balouris or Karen Georgiadis or email them at social@HolyTrinityPgh.org. More details to follow!
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 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
Holding a Ministry Activity or Committee Meeting at Church? Reservations Required!
Our community and its ministries are growing! If your ministry or committee is planning a meeting or activity and you are planning to hold it at the church, please note that reservations for rooms and event spaces are required. Please call the Church Office at 412-366-8700 and speak to our Office Administrator, Mary Portellos. There have been times when all the spaces have been filled, so your cooperation helps ensure every group that needs a place has one and helps minimize space conflicts. We have a beautiful facility – let’s work together so everyone who needs it can use it. Thank you!
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. Want to CONNECT with a person or ministry? We can help!
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!
Snow Cancellations – Where to Check
Please keep in mind over the winter months that there are a number of options to hear or read about event or service cancellations in the case of snow or inclement weather on the Holy Trinity "Snow Line." First stop: Check our website at www.HolyTrinityPgh.org. To hear by phone, call the church office (412-366-8700) then press option #8 and listen for a recorded weather cancellation announcement. To get updates by computer or smartphone, there are three options: 1) watch the parish email list for email announcements; 2) check the front page of our website, www.HolyTrinityPgh.org; or 3) friend us on Facebook at Facebook.com/holytrinitypgh. Finally, to get information by radio or television, watch the KDKA Storm Center, as Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church is registered there.
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: Jan 12: Nicholas Kaparakos (1 year), Peter Valliant (1 year)