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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-03-08
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
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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

Rev. Fr. John Touloumes, Protopresbyter
Proistamenos

fjt@HolyTrinityPgh.org | 412-366-8700
Rev. Fr. Radu Bordeianu
Assistant Priest

FrRadu@HolyTrinityPgh.org
Mary Portellos
Office Administrator

office@HolyTrinityPgh.org | 412-366-8700

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 Fifth Tone

To the Word, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation, let us, the faithful, give praise and worship. Of His own will He mounted the Cross in the flesh, He suffered death and raised the dead by His glorious resurrection. (Page 53)

Apolytikion for Sun. of Orthodoxy in the Second Tone

We venerate Your holy icon, loving Lord, asking You to pardon our transgressions, Christ our God. For You or Your own will were pleased in the flesh to ascend upon the Cross, so to deliver from the bondage to the enemy those whom You have fashioned. Therefore in thanksgiving we cry aloud to You. You filled all things with joy, our Savior, when You came to save the world. (Page 72)

Seasonal Kontakion in the Eighth Tone

English: O Champion General, I your City now ascribe to you / triumphant anthems as the tokens of my gratitude, / being rescued from the terrors, O Theotokos. / Inasmuch as you have power unassailable, / from all kinds of perils free me so that unto you / I may cry aloud: Rejoice O unwedded Bride. Greek: Τη Υπερμάχω Στρατηγώ τα νικητήρια / Ως λυτρωθείσα των δεινων ευχαριστήρια / Αναγράφω σοι η Πόλις σου, Θεοτόκε / Αλλ΄ως έχουσα το κράτος απροσμάχητον / Εκ παντοίων με κινδύνων ελευθέρωσον / Ινα κράζω σοι, Χαίρε Νύμφη ανύμφευτε. Phoenetics: Ti i-per-ma-a-ho stra-ti-go ta ni-ki-ti-ri-a, / os li-tro-thi-sa ton di-non ef-ha-ri-sti-ri-a,/ a-na-gra-fo si i po-li sou The-o-to-ke. / Al-os e-hou-sa to kra-tos a-pros-ma-hi-ton, / ek pan-ti-on me kin-din-on e-lef-the-ro-son, / i-na kra-zo si: He-re nim-fi a-nim-fef-te. (Page 54)
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Saints and Feasts

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March 08

Sunday of Orthodoxy

For more than one hundred years the Church of Christ was troubled by the persecution of the Iconoclasts of evil belief, beginning in the reign of Leo the Isaurian (717-741) and ending in the reign of Theophilus (829-842). After Theophilus's death, his widow the Empress Theodora (celebrated Feb. 11), together with the Patriarch Methodius (June 14), established Orthodoxy anew. This ever-memorable Queen venerated the icon of the Mother of God in the presence of the Patriarch Methodius and the other confessors and righteous men, and openly cried out these holy words: "If anyone does not offer relative worship to the holy icons, not adoring them as though they were gods, but venerating them out of love as images of the archetype, let him be anathema." Then with common prayer and fasting during the whole first week of the Forty-day Fast, she asked God's forgiveness for her husband. After this, on the first Sunday of the Fast, she and her son, Michael the Emperor, made a procession with all the clergy and people and restored the holy icons, and again adorned the Church of Christ with them. This is the holy deed that all we the Orthodox commemorate today, and we call this radiant and venerable day the Sunday of Orthodoxy, that is, the triumph of true doctrine over heresy.

March 08

Dometios the Righteous

March 08

Felix of Burgundy, Enlightener of East Anglia

March 08

Hermas the Apostle of the 70

March 08

Paul the Confessor

March 08

Theophylact the Confessor, Bishop of Nicomedia

Theophylact was from the East; his native city is unknown. In Constantinople he became a close friend of Tarsius, who afterwards became Patriarch of Constantinople (see Feb. 25).Theophylact was made Bishop of Nicomedia. After the death of Saint Tarsius, his successor Nicephorus (see June 2) called together a number of Bishops to help him in fighting the iconoclasm of Emperor Leo the Armenian, who reigned from 813-820. Among them was Euthymius, Bishop of Sardis (celebrated Dec. 26), who had attended the holy Seventh Ecumenical Council in 787 - he was exiled three times for the sake of the holy icons, and for defying the Emperor Theophilus' command to renounce the veneration of the icons, was scourged from head to foot until his whole body was one great wound, from which he died eight days later, about the year 830; Joseph of Thessalonica (see July 14); Michael of Synnada (see May 23); Emilian, Bishop of Cyzicus (see Aug. 8); and Saint Theophylact, who boldly rebuked Leo to his face, telling him that because he despised the long-suffering of God, utter destruction was about to overtake him, and there would be none to deliver him. For this, Theophylact was exiled to the fortress of Strobilus in Karia of Asia Minor, where, after 30 years of imprisonment and hardship, he gave up his holy soul about the year 845. Leo the Armenian, according to the Saint's prophecy, was slain in church on the eve of our Lord's Nativity, in 820.

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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 11:24-26, 32-40.

Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

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 enemies 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 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 of Orthodoxy
The Reading is from John 1:43-51

At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."

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Wisdom of the Fathers

Peter, when after so many miracles and such high doctrine he confessed that, "Thou art the Son of God" (Matt. xvi. 16), is called "blessed," as having received the revelation from the Father;
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 21 on John 1, 1. B#58, pp. 72, 73, 4th Century

... while Nathanael, though he said the very same thing before seeing or hearing either miracles or doctrine, had no such word addressed to him, but as though he had not said so much as he ought to have said, is brought to things greater still.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 21 on John 1, 1. B#58, pp. 72, 73, 4th Century

What can be the reason of this? It is, that Peter and Nathanael both spoke the same words, but not both with the same intention. Peter confessed Him to be "The Son of God' but as being Very God; Nathanael, as being mere man.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 21 on John 1, 1. B#58, pp. 72, 73, 4th Century

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Parish News and Events

 TODAY’S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES 
 
 

Sunday of Orthodoxy Procession Today

All the students and staff of Holy Trinity Church School have been asked to bring icons for the procession of the holy icons for the Sunday of Orthodoxy today. Please be sure your icon has your name marked on the back, so it does not get lost. The students will take part in the procession immediately following the Divine Liturgy today.

 

GOYA Lenten Soup Sales – Beginning Today

The GOYA is once again offering its very popular Lenten soup and sauces sales throughout Lent, starting today and ending April 12. Among the many good reasons to buy some to take home are that they are strict Lenten recipes, they provide fund-raising support for our GOYA ministry ... plus they taste great and they are good for you! Please visit the Lenten Soup Sales table in Gallery during Coffee Hour each week! Thank you for supporting our youth as you strive to maintain and grow your spiritual discipline of fasting during Lent!

 

Kids Helping Kids Campaign – Collection of School Supplies Begins Today

The Kids Helping Kids Campaign will be collecting school supplies for the Operation Classroom project at the National Philoptochos Convention this summer. A collection bin can be found in the Gallery beginning today. School supplies needed include pencils, crayons, washable markers, scissors, glue sticks, Kleenex, paper towels, notebooks, pocket folders, pencil-top erasers, rulers, and new books. Please see Marianne Stearns with any questions. Thank you!

 

Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers Service – TODAY at 4:30pm

Our Holy Trinity community has the honor of hosting the Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood of Greater Pittsburgh’s annual Sunday of Orthodoxy Service and Celebration today beginning at 4:30pm. We are honored to have, as the celebrant and homilist, His Grace Bishop JOHN of the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Worcester and New England. The service will feature clergy from many Orthodox jurisdictions, the annual Procession of the Holy Icons and a Pan-Orthodox Choir singing the hymns of the service under the direction of Fr. Tom Soroka. The service will be followed by a light Lenten coffee reception in the Grand Room, and as a special addition, the sisters of both the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Ellwood City and the Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery in Saxonburg will be offering Orthodox religious items for sale during the reception. Come and celebrate Orthodoxy in Pittsburgh!

 

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Services This Week

- TODAY, Sun. Mar. 8, 4:30pm: Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers (HT)

- Mon. Mar. 9, 6:30pm: Great Compline (SG)

- NO Presanctified Liturgy this Wednesday (Metropolis Clergy Retreat)

- Fri. Mar. 13, 6:30pm: Service of Salutations to the Theotokos (SG)

 

“Faith and Family WEEKDAYS” This Week

Holy Trinity Church’s “Faith and Family WEEKDAYS” ministry has been updated once again to provide valuable faith growth and learning to the entire Holy Trinity family. Building on the fruits of our six years, we are now including more days and more opportunities for everyone to participate in and grow from worship, spiritual life and educational ministries beyond Sunday morning and to make the Church the "crossroad of daily life”.

THIS WEEK’S OFFERINGS:

  • Daily: Prayer Partners. Have you remembered your prayer partner every day? Please keep the promise.
  • Mon. Mar. 9: “Journey to Fullness” (8:00-9:00pm): This excellent video teaching series is for everyone who wants to learn more about the “fullness of the faith” found in Orthodox Christianity, whether as inquirers, catechumens or life-long members. Each segment offers an interactive live question and answer period with Father John.

 

OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES – Please volunteer your family or group to help

Please see Mike Kritiotis today, or contact him at 412-518-0588, or at mkritiotis@gmail.com to sign up your family/group/ministry for either of these two worthy causes! Thank you, good and faithful servants of Christ!

  • 1. One Date Still Available to Feed the Homeless at Pleasant Valley!  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 date of Sunday, September 13 is still available. Our volunteers will prepare and bring the cooked food to the shelter, where they serve it at 8:00pm.
  • 2. Sign Up to Provide Bag Lunches for Needy Families.  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 the Orthodox outreach of the “Neighborhood Resilience Project”, the 2020 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.

 

[Mar 12-May 26] Festival Cooking – IT’S BACK!

Mark your calendars NOW with these important dates! Our goal is to get at least 30 people each day so that we may finish on time!  The festival is bigger than ever and can only work if EVERYONE gives at least a few hours of THEIR time for OUR festival! Look over the dates and times below…you’ll see both evening and daytime hours, during the week and on the weekend. Everyone’s help is needed!

  • THIS Thursday, March 12, 5:00pm-10:00pm - Spanakopita
  • THIS Friday, March 13, 9:00am-6:00pm - Spanakopita
  • THIS Saturday, March 14, 9:00am-6:00pm – Spanakopita
  • Thursday, March 26, 5:00pm-10:00pm - Pastitsio
  • Friday, March 27, 9:00am-6:00pm - Pastitsio
  • Saturday, March 28, 9:00am-6:00pm - Pastitsio
  • Tuesday, May 5, 9:00am-6:30pm – Kourambiethes
  • Tuesday, May 12, 9:00am-9:00pm – Apricot Rolls
  • Tuesday, May 19, 9:00am-9:00pm - Koulourakia
  • Tuesday, May 26, 9:00am-9:00pm - Galaktoboureko

 

[Mar 15] New “Safety and Security Ministry” Announces Security Presence Outside Sunday Services

A new “Safety and Security Ministry” was recently formed by the Parish Council to assess the safety and security needs of our church and to develop a comprehensive church security plan, including the need for security presence on Sunday mornings. This is a practice being adopted by many churches today. After reviewing several proposals from security experts in the area, the ministry team has decided to employ the Town of McCandless Police and Fire Departments to provide an extra layer of security each Sunday morning and during other special church services. Beginning next Sunday, March 15th, you will see a uniformed police officer and his patrol car outside our church building. He is there strictly as an added level of precaution and a visible sign that Holy Trinity Church takes security seriously. Please note that we have not received any reports of a threat or concern whatsoever. We are simply being proactive and responsible for the safety of the entire Holy Trinity family. Additional measures currently under discussion are upgrading our security and alert systems and developing safety evacuation procedures involving all parishioners.  An announcement concerning this new practice will be made at the end of the service today, and more information about the work of this new ministry team will be available as progress continues. It is our goal to keep the parish informed, and to remind us all that no matter how we prepare, ultimately we have only One True Shepherd and Guardian of the flock: “The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you” (2 Thess 3.3)

 

[Mar 15] 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 a combined “Ten Minutes of HOPE” and “Ten Minutes of JOY” next Sunday, March 15.

 

[Mar 15] Philoptochos Monthly Meeting

The next Ladies Philoptochos monthly meeting will be held next Sunday, March 15 in the Fireside Room following Divine Liturgy.  New members are always welcome!

 

[Mar 15] Saint Photios Awards - Nominations Due – YOU can nominate someone!

The seventh Annual Metropolis of Pittsburgh Saint Photios Awards Banquet will be held on Saturday, May 2. Nominations for two recipients from Holy Trinity Church are due to the church office by next Sunday, March 15 and must be submitted using the form that was included in the March edition of the Herald. Thank you for your input!

 

[Mar 20-22] Metropolis GOYA Spring Retreat

The Metropolis GOYA Spring Retreat will be held Friday, March 20 through Sunday, March 22 at Camp Nazareth. The theme for the weekend is “Real World, Real You” and the guest speaker is Father Michael Gavrillos. HT teens should register now at Pittsburgh.goarch.org. To receive the Holy Trinity parish discount, be sure to use the code “GSHHT”.

 

[Mar 22] Annual Lenten Luncheon

Our Ladies Philoptochos Society “Omonia” will present its annual Lenten Luncheon on Sunday, March 22 following Divine Liturgy. Enjoy a delicious selection of Lenten foods while supporting the Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and the charitable activities of the Philoptochos. Donations of Lenten (non-meat /non-dairy) salads, soups, side dishes, & desserts will be greatly appreciated! Please contact Sherry Clayton 412-216-4793 by Sunday, March 15 if you can donate a luncheon item. Thank you!

 

[Mar 29] Philoptochos Pascha Bread Sale

The Ladies Philoptochos is again offering their delicious traditional Greek Pascha Bread for sale!  All proceeds benefit the charitable endeavors of the Philoptochos. A Pascha Bread Order Form will be enclosed with the March edition of the Herald, and copies will also be available at the church office window. All orders must be prepaid and turned in to the office or mailed to the church by Sunday, March 29, 2020.  Please make checks payable to “Holy Trinity Ladies Philoptochos” with “Pascha Bread” in the memo line.  Pickup your PREPAID order FOLLOWING Divine Liturgy on Palm Sunday, April 12th.  Please call Nicole Steiner (412-781-6109) with any questions.

 

[Mar 31] Philoptochos Cookbook – Deadline Extended

Our Holy Trinity Philoptochos announces the final call for submissions of recipes for their new cookbook by the March 31st deadline. Recipe submission forms can be found in the March edition of the Herald and at the church office window. Please call/text Maria Georgiadis Athanas at 724-991-5129 or mariapgeorgiadis@gmail.com with any questions.

 

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! Planning on attending a Wednesday evening Pre-sanctified Liturgy?  Stop by and sign up to bring a Lenten dish to share.

 

Lenten Coffee Hour Reminder

Please keep in mind that throughout Lent our Coffee Hours following the Divine Liturgy observe the Orthodox Lenten fasting schedule. Anyone sponsoring a memorial coffee hour or providing Church School snacks is asked to take care that non-meat and non-dairy items are provided. The Philoptochos and the Church School can provide a list of suggestions for good alternatives. Thank you for helping our community grow in this proper and helpful Orthodox spiritual practice.

 

Lenten Resources Available on the Internet

Looking for educational or inspirational information and resources for Lent? Try one of the best religious sites on the Internet: the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. To visit the general site, go to www.goarch.org/lent. There you will find Lenten messages, scriptures, prayers, articles, hymns, videos and more.

 

Upcoming Lenten and Paschal Dates

Wondering about Lenten and Paschal dates? Here’s a helpful guide to some of the important events coming up. Mark them on your calendar!

-          Sunday of Orthodoxy: TODAY

-          Godparent Sunday/Lenten Luncheon: Mar 22

-          Saturday of Lazarus/Palm Cross/Candle prep: Apr 11

-          Palm Sunday: Apr 12

-          Holy Week: Apr 13-18

-          Holy Friday (schedule off work & school): Apr 17

-          The Great and Holy Pascha: Apr 19

 

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: March 15: Antonia Vlahakis Karras (15 yrs.); March 22: Constantine Backeris (45 yrs.), Marie Backeris (2 yrs.) and MaryAyne Bistolas (1 yr.)

 

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