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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-05-17
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

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Fifth Tone

English: Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. Greek: Χριστός ανέστη εκ νεκρών, θανάτω θάνατον πατήσας και τοις εν τοις μνήμασιν, ζωήν χαρισάμενος. Phoenetics: Christós anésti ek nékron, thanáto thánaton patísas, ke tis en tis mnímasi zoín harisámenos. (Page 74)

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

The joyful news of Your Resurrection was told to the women disciples of the Lord by the angel. Having thrown off the ancestral curse, and boasting, they told the Apostles: death has been vanquished. Christ our God is risen, granting to the world great mercy. (Page 53)

Apolytikion for Mid-Pentecost in the Eighth Tone

At the middle of the feast, refresh my thirsty soul with the flowing waters of piety. For You cried out to all, O Savior, "Let him who thirsts come to me and drink." You, O Christ our God, are the Fountain of Life, glory to You.

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 Eighth Tone

Though You descended into the grave, O Immortal One, yet You destroyed the power of Hades, and arose as victor, O Christ God, calling to the myrrh-bearing women "Rejoice," and giving peace to Your Apostles, O You Who grants resurrection to the fallen. (Page 74)
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Saints and Feasts

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May 17

Sunday of the Samaritan Woman

One of the most ancient cities of the Promised Land was Shechem, also called Sikima, located at the foot of Mount Gerazim. There the Israelites had heard the blessings in the days of Moses and Jesus of Navi. Near to this town, Jacob, who had come from Mesopotamia in the nineteenth century before Christ, bought a piece of land where there was a well. This well, preserved even until the time of Christ, was known as Jacob's Well. Later, before he died in Egypt, he left that piece of land as a special inheritance to his son Joseph (Gen. 49:22). This town, before it was taken into possession by Samaria, was also the leading city of the kingdom of the ten tribes. In the time of the Romans it was called Neapolis, and at present Nablus. It was the first city in Canaan visited by the Patriarch Abraham. Here also, Jesus of Navi (Joshua) addressed the tribes of Israel for the last time. Almost three hundred years later, all Israel assembled there to make Roboam (Rehoboam) king.

When our Lord Jesus Christ, then, came at midday to this city, which is also called Sychar (John 4:5), He was wearied from the journey and the heat, and He sat down at this well. After a little while the Samaritan woman mentioned in today's Gospel passage came to draw water. As she conversed at some length with the Lord and heard from Him secret things concerning herself, she believed in Him; through her many other Samaritans also believed.

Concerning the Samaritans we know the following: In the year 721 before Christ, Salmanasar (Shalmaneser), King of the Assyrians, took the ten tribes of the kingdom of Israel into captivity, and relocated all these people to Babylon and the land of the Medes. From there he gathered various nations and sent them to Samaria. These nations had been idolaters from before. Although they were later instructed in the Jewish faith and believed in the one God, they worshipped the idols also. Furthermore, they accepted only the Pentateuch of Moses, and rejected the other books of Holy Scripture. Nonetheless, they thought themselves to be descendants of Abraham and Jacob. Therefore, the pious Jews named these Judaizing and idolatrous peoples Samaritans, since they lived in Samaria, the former leading city of the Israelites, as well as in the other towns thereabout. The Jews rejected them as heathen and foreigners, and had no communion with them at all, as the Samaritan woman observed, "the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans" (John 4:9). Therefore, the name Samaritan is used derisively many times in the Gospel narrations. After the Ascension of the Lord, and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the woman of Samaria was baptized by the holy Apostles and became a great preacher and Martyr of Christ; she was called Photine, and her feast is kept on February 26.

May 17

The Holy Apostles Andronicus and Junia

These Apostles are mentioned by Saint Paul in his Epistle to the Romans, where he writes: "Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the Apostles, who also were in Christ before me" (Rom. 16:7).

May 17

Athanasios, Archbishop of Christianopolis

May 17

Holy Godbearing Nectarius, the Builder of the Holy Monastery of Varlaam of Meteora

May 17

The New Martyrs of Batak, Bulgaria

May 17

Nicholas the Younger who was martyred in Metsovo, Epirus

May 17

Theodotos the Martyr of Ancyra & the 7 Virgin-martyrs

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Tone. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 11:19-30.

In those days, those apostles who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians. Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabos stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world; and this took place in the days of Claudius. And the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brethren who lived in Judea, and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
The Reading is from John 4:5-42

At that time, Jesus came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.

There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?" Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw."

Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband; this you said truly." The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain; and you say that Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." The woman said to him, "I know that the Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things." Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he."

Just then his disciples came. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but none said, "What do you wish?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" They went out of the city and were coming to him.

Meanwhile the disciples besought him, saying "Rabbi, eat." But he said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." So the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought him food?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for harvest. He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."

Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony. "He told me all that I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard ourselves, and we know that this is indeed Christ the Savior of the world."

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Bulletin Inserts

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Wisdom of the Fathers

The example of the good Samaritan shows that we must not abandon those in whom even the faintest amount of faith is still alive.
St. Ambrose of Milan
Two Books of St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, Concerning Repentance, Chapter 11

He shows that she is worthy to hear and not to be overlooked, and then He reveals Himself. For she, as soon as she had learnt who He was, would straightway hearken and attend to Him; ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 31 on John 3, 4th Century

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Parish News and Events

DIVINE LITURGY STILL ONLINE TODAY, BUT… HANG IN THERE EVERYONE! SERVICES AT HOLY TRINITY CHURCH PLANNING TO RESUME NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 24TH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BLESSING AND POLICIES OF HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN SAVAS. WATCH FOR DETAILS COMING BY MONDAY!

 

TODAY’S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

 

COVID-19 PANDEMIC PREVENTATIVE MEASURES STILL IN FORCE ENACTED AT HOLY TRINITY CHURCH:

This is the last Sunday that attendance at Orthros and Divine Liturgy is restricted from parishioner attendance, so please continue to participate in worship by attending online only at www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/live. But see below for exciting news: next Sunday, May 24, we will be re-opening at Holy Trinity Church to parishioner attendance at services. Watch for news in the next day or so. It will be so good to be together again!

 

Welcome to Holy Trinity Church's Live Video and Audio Broadcast Ministry

Whether you are unable to attend Liturgy today due to church closures, you are home-bound or are watching from an area where there is no church nearby, it is our joy to be able to welcome you into the worship life of Holy Trinity Church. Today we are blessed to worship from our Saint George Chapel. For a complete list of Sunday and weekday services, please see our online calendar at HolyTrinityPgh.org/calendar.

 

LAST REQUEST: PLEASE Send Stories and Photos of Your Holy Week “Church of the Home!” for the Herald!

Holy Week was certainly different this year, wasn’t it? Certainly not what we expected! But it also held many special blessings for people as they gathered with their families, sometimes for more services than they would have otherwise attended. How about sharing that experience? Please consider two requests:

  1. Our Holy Week Story: Please consider sending a paragraph or two about your Holy Week at the “Church of the Home” experience. Share the special blessings, challenges, stories and lessons you found in this never-before-experienced way of preparing for and celebration the Holy Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
  2. Our Holy Week Photos: If you took pictures of your household gathered for worship, meals or celebrations, please consider sending some of those in as well.

These submissions will be considered for a “collector’s edition” (translation: “may this never happen again!”) of the Herald to commemorate this journey and share the blessings with one another. Send your photos and stories to broadcast@HolyTrinityPgh.org. Thank you!

 

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Services with In-Person Attendance To Resume at Holy Trinity Church Next Sunday, May 24th!

We have been informed by our Metropolis that since Allegheny County has moved into the “Yellow Phase,” we will be given permission to resume in-person services at Holy Trinity Church starting next Sunday, May 24. HOWEVER…Please note that we will still be operating under a set of interim Metropolis guidelines designed to safely invite our parishioners to resume in-person worship attendance and vital community life activities. Please watch for details about the opportunities and limitations

 

“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? Especially in these times!

 

[May 18 & June 1] Bereavement Support Ministry: Join us for our monthly group gathering via Zoom! 

Our Bereavement Support Ministry Team provides spiritual care to our parishioners and their extended family & friends in times of grief and loss of a loved one. However, during this challenging time, we are opening up our ministry to helping those in dealing with other losses too. Loss comes in many forms such as loss of a job or family business, loss of identity and purpose when family caregiving changes, loss of a pet, loss of independence and mobility when one ages, loss of one’s mental alertness with dementia and chronic illness, and loss of a role when children leave home and go to college. These are only some losses. Everyone’s grief and loss journey is unique. It may be a recent loss or one from many years ago. Grief is a reality and takes time to better understanding when the journey is accompanied by someone who cares. Our monthly bereavement support group gatherings will resume via Zoom on the following dates: TOMORROW, Monday, May 18th 7:00-8:00 pm and Monday, June 1st, 7:00-8:00 pm. If possible, we ask everyone to bring a candle with a holder, matches, and a photo of your loved one. If you are not grieving a loved one, then bring a photo of yourself with family or friends at an event that brings a special memory. All are welcome to participate in group sharing or observe through quiet time with others who care. To learn more about our Bereavement Support Ministry or to register and receive your Zoom link or dial-in phone number, please contact Amy Armanious at 412.628.0973 or visitation@HolyTrinityPgh.org.

 

[June 9] Spring General Assembly – Note Rescheduled Date (Pending Easing of Restrictions)

Please note that the Spring General Assembly, originally scheduled for May 5 has been rescheduled for Tuesday, June 9 beginning at 6:30pm. This is an EVENING General Assembly as voted on and approved at last Fall’s General Assembly.

 

Visitation Ministry Reaching Out to our Holy Trinity Family!

Our Visitation Ministry has helping hands and time to reach out to those who may need some support during this challenging time. Currently we are concentrating on our parishioners who are elderly, homebound, chronically ill, feeling lonely, grieving loss of a loved one, and/or need some extra home support. We are asking you to contact our Visitation Ministry coordinator, Amy Armanious (412.628.0973) or email visitation@HolyTrinityPgh.org for assistance. Please leave a voicemail with your full name and phone number so Amy can return your call as soon as possible. We are offering to pick-up pharmacy medication refills, grocery store items, and take-out meals. We can cook simple homemade meals, meet transportation needs in our local community, and run short errands. We have team members in our Phone Call Ministry who are dedicated to calling individuals at regular times throughout the week, or once a week for those who need an encouraging word and a prayer. Our Bereavement Support Team is offering phone calls to those who are grieving loss of a loved one and need a listening ear for support. Also, our Visitation Ministry coordinator is willing to assist families with community resources for extra help in the home. We are here to provide spiritual care and our helping hands. Don't hesitate to contact us for your own needs or needs of a loved one. We have Visitation Ministry team members ready to serve in many different ways. May we all stay safe and healthy these next weeks ahead asking God for His protection and guidance. No one is alone... we are all just a phone call or email away. If anyone is interesting in volunteering their helping hands and time, please contact Amy. Our Visitation Ministry Team is always in need of volunteers. Thank you!

 

Philoptochos Mother's Day Tea Fundraiser

Once again, the Ladies Philoptochos Omonia is honoring our mothers with a special May Mother's Day Tea fundraiser.  Letters with a complimentary tea bag have been mailed out to the entire parish mailing list, so they can make a donation and enjoy a cup of tea while meditating about their mothers.  This is one of the biggest fundraisers that our Holy Trinity Philoptochos holds each year, and due to the limited amount of fundraising we will be unable to do this year, any monetary donations would be most welcome!  The money collected from this fundraiser is used to help many people during the coronavirus epidemic as well as giving vital support to many local and special charities.  Thank you in advance for your generosity and sending in a donation in honor of our mothers!

 

Non-Perishable Grocery Donations Still Being Accepted at Holy Trinity for Distribution to the Needy

Want to help those in need during this crisis? How about picking up a few extra groceries? While we are all being asked to stay home/restrict our outside activities, most of us still need to make occasional trips for groceries. The needy of the Hill District do not always have that opportunity and could use some help. Thanks to Dr. Chris and Kathy Balouris, we are able to provide it. Here’s how it works. Next time you go to the grocery store, pick up a few extra non-perishable food items. Canned soups, pork and beans, vegetables are in-demand, but use your discretion. Then, even though our Holy Trinity offices and campus are closed to outside visitors, please drive by the main entrance of the church and drop off your items in the labeled bin by the office entrance. They will be collected on a daily basis and be delivered by Chris and Kathy to the FOCUS center in the Hill. Thank you for reaching out with love to our neighbors in need!

 

Festival Cooking – WATCH FOR UPDATES AND BE READY!

The Parish Council and Festival Committee are evaluating how the current coronavirus restrictions how they will possibly affect the Festival situation. They will engage the community in that discussion when recommendations are ready. In the meantime, the early May schedule originally published is not possible, but the committee is working hard on an alternative plan. Please stay tuned and be ready!

 

“LIGHT A CANDLE” PROGRAM STILL AVAILABLE DURING “STAY AT HOME” STATUS

St. Symeon of Thessaloniki said, “It is impossible to imagine an Orthodox church in which candles are not lit.” Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  (John 8:12). At this time while we are not physically able be in the church, we are praying at home but dearly miss the ability to do so in our parish's spiritual home. And one of the first things most people do upon entering an Orthodox Church is to light their candle and offer prayers for one’s personal needs or that of a family member or friend. We also light candles to pray for divine protection and safety as an affirmation of our trust in the "Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Matthew 16:16). Even though we are not able to light a candle ourselves during this time, it is still possible to have a candle lit for you! To light a candle, simply visit HolyTrinityPgh.org/candles. Before pressing the "Place Order" button, please use the space below the donation amount to submit the names of your loved ones, those who are alive and/or those who have departed this life or special prayer requests. During these times when we are not able to visit the church in person, we would be glad to light the candle for you and offer the prayer(s) you have submitted during the next service.

 

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