August 30
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-08-30
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:
- 2020-09-06
- Publish Date:
- 2020-08-23
- Publish Date:
- 2020-08-16
- Publish Date:
- 2020-08-09
- Publish Date:
- 2020-08-02
- Publish Date:
- 2020-07-26
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Tone
Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord has shown the power of His reign; He has conquered death by death, and become the first born of the dead. He has delivered us from the depths of Hades; and has granted to the world great mercy. (Page 52)
Apolytikion for Apodosis of the Forerunner in the Second Tone
The memory of the just is mentioned with praise. As for you, O Forerunner, the Lord's witness is enough; indeed, you were greater than the prophets since you were found worthy to baptize in the waters the One they could but announce. You have fought for the sake of truth and proclaimed to those in Hades that God, Who appeared in the flesh, has taken away the sins of the world and bestowed His great mercy upon us. (Page 63)
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."
Saints and Feasts
August 30
Apodosis of the Feast of the Forerunner
August 30
Alexander, John, and Paul the New, Patriarchs of Constantinople
Saint Alexander was sent to the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea as the delegate of Saint Metrophanes, Bishop of Constantinople (see June 4), to whose throne he succeeded in the year 325. When Arius had deceitfully professed allegiance to the Council of Nicaea, Saint Alexander, knowing his guile, refused to receive him into communion; Arius' powerful partisans threatened that they would use force to bring Arius into the communion of the Church the following day. Saint Alexander prayed fervently that God might spare the Church; and as Arius was in a privy place relieving nature, his bowels gushed forth with an effusion of blood, and the arch-heresiarch died the death of Judas. Saint Alexander was Bishop from 325 until 337, when he was succeeded by Saint Paul the Confessor, who died a martyr's death at the hands of the Arians (see Nov. 6). The Saint John commemorated here appears to be the one who was Patriarch during the years 562-577, surnamed Scholasticus, who is also commemorated on February 21. He was from Antioch, where he had been a lawyer (scholasticus); he was made presbyter, then was sent to Constantinople as representative (apocrisiarius) of the Patriarch of Antioch, and was appointed Patriarch of Constantinople by the Emperor Justinian. Saint Paul was Bishop of Constantinople during the years 687 - 693, in the reign of Emperor Justinian II, and presided over the Quinisext Council in 692.
August 30
The Synaxis of the Holy Hierarchs of Serbia
The Synaxis of the Holy Hierarchs of Serbia: The Saints commemorated on this day are: Sabbas, First Archbishop and enlightener of Serbia (see Jan. 14); Arsenius, his successor, a great hierarch and wonderworker; Sabbas II, son of Saint Stephen, the first-crowned King of Serbia; Nicodemus, About of Hilandar, later Archbishop of Serbia; Joannicius, Archbishop, later Patriarch from 1346 to 1349; Patriarch Ephraim, an ascetic, who crowned Prince Lazarus, and later left the patriarchate to live in solitude; Spyridon, Ephraim's successor, who reposed in 1388; Macarius, who printed many church books in Serbia and abroad, was very zealous in renovating and adoring churches, and reposed in 1574; Gabriel, Archbishop, who took part in the Church Council of Moscow during the patriarchate of Nicon, for which the Turks accused him of treason and hanged him in Prusa in the year 1656. Also commemorated are Eustathius, James, Daniel, Sabbas III, Gregory, Cyril (Patriarch), John, Maximus, and Nicon. Many of them labored in asceticism on the Holy Mountain, and all were "good and faithful servants, good labourers in the vineyard of the Lord".
August 30
Fiacre the Hermit of Meaux
St. Fiacre was born in Ireland at the beginning of the seventh century and entered a monastery at a young age. His days at the monastery taught him a deep love of silence, the joys of planting and harvesting crops and an appreciation of nature. Drawn to the contemplative life and the desire to serve God in greater solitude, St. Fiacre decided to establish a hermitage for prayer. He traveled south and chose a wooded area by the Nore River for his home, with a cave for meditation, a well for drinking water and the river for irrigating his garden. Soon people were flocking to St. Fiacre for prayers, food, and healing. He fed the hungry and healed the sick with herbs from his garden and prayed for all who came to him. Longing for greater solitude, St. Fiacre traveled to France where the Bishop of Meaux granted him land in a wooded area near the Marne River. The first miracle attributed to St. Fiacre, occurred when he asked the Bishop for additional ground for his garden. The Bishop told St. Fiacre he could have as much land as he could entrench in one day. The next morning St. Fiacre merely dragged his spade across the ground, causing trees to topple and bushes to be uprooted. He cleared the ground of trees and briers, made himself a cell with a garden, built a chapel in honor of the Theotokos, and made an inn for travelers which developed into the village of Saint-Fiacre in Seine-et-Marne. He welcomed all who sought his counsel and healing. St. Fiacre reposed in the Lord around the year 670.
August 30
Phantinos the Righteous of Calabria
Saint Phantinos was born in the year 902 in Calabria, Italy. From childhood, he dedicated his life to God and entered a monastery at the age of eight, where he became the disciple of St. Elias the Cave-Dweller. He was later tonsured a monk and served as the cook of the monastery. After twenty years of obedience, he was made worthy of the gift of discernment. For the next eighteen years he lived as a hermit in Lycaonia in Southern Italy. One day some hunters came to the place where St. Phantinos struggled in asceticism and they recognized him. They returned to their homes and shared the news with St. Phantinos’ family who soon came to visit. He convinced his family to distribute all their belongings and to embrace the monastic life. St. Phantinos then built two monasteries, one for his mother Vryaini and his sister Katerina and another monastery some distance away for his father George and his brothers Luke and Kosmas. St. Phantinos became their spiritual father in the solitary life. When he reached 60 years of age, by divine revelation he prepared to travel to Thessaloniki in order to inspire the people there to live a life of virtue. He departed for Greece with two of his disciples, Vitalis and Nikephoros. He faced many hardships, but also worked many miracles and spoke various prophecies. After eight years in Thessaloniki, he reposed in peace at the age of 73 in the year 974. After his repose, he continued to work miracles.
August 30
16 Monk-martyrs of Thebes
August 30
6 Martyrs of Melitene
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Third Tone. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.
The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 15:1-11.
Brethren, I would remind you in what terms I preached to you the gospel, which you received, in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold it fast -- unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God which is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Gospel Reading
12th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 19:16-26
At that time, a young man came up to Jesus, kneeling and saying, "Good Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?" And he said to him, "Why do you call me good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." He said to him, "Which?" And Jesus said, "You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and You shall love your neighbor as yourself." The young man said to him, "All these I have observed; what do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Bulletin Inserts
Weekly Bulletin - Sunday, August 30, 2020
Weekly Bulletin - Sunday, August 30, 2020
2020 Holy Trinity Golf Outing
Holy Trinity Golf Outing, Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Festival 2020 Announcement to Holy Trinity Community
Festival 2020 Announcement to Holy Trinity Community
Greek4Home Flyer and Order Form
Greek4Home Flyer and Order Form
Greek2Give Flyer and Order Form
Greek2Give Flyer and Order Form
Holy Trinity E-Giving Guide
We have expanded our opportunities to do so and now have a number of ways. The first way is that you can continue to bring or mail your donations to the church using the offering/capital campaign envelopes. The second way is Give By Web - the online method on the church’s website. Go to HolyTrinityPgh.org/give, or from the home page click on the Online Giving Tab, then click Give and simply enter your information. The third way is Give By Text, which is as easy as sending a text with the amount you would like to donate to 833-955-2176. You will receive a confirmation link immediately via text. The fourth way is Give By App using the Vanco GivePlus app, found in the App Store and on Google Play. Find information on it and more at HolyTrinityPgh.org/give-info.
Wisdom of the Fathers
'But I say to you,' the Lord says, 'love your enemies; do good to those who hate you, pray for those who persecute you.' Why did he command these things? So that he might free you from hatred, sadness, anger and grudges, and might grant you the greatest possession of all, perfect love, which is impossible to possess except by the one you loves all equally in imitation of God.
Unknown, 7th century
The sign that thou lovest God, is this, that thou lovest thy fellow; and if thou hatest thy fellow, thy hatred is towards God. For it is blasphemy if thou prayest before God while thou art wroth. For thy heart also convicts thee, that in vain thou multipliest words: thy conscience rightly judges that in thy prayers thou profitest nought.
ON ADMONITION AND REPENTANCE.
Wherefore then doth Christ thus reply to him, saying, "There is none good?" Because He came unto Him as a mere man, and one of the common sort, and a Jewish teacher; for this cause then as a man He discourses with him. And indeed in many instances He replies to the secret thoughts of them that come unto Him.
Homily 63 on Matthew 19, 4th Century
Parish News and Events
REMINDER: HOLY TRINITY CHURCH IS STILL IN “GREEN PHASE!”
50% Capacity. No Reservations Required. No Age Limits (Welcome Back Seniors!).
Masks And Physical Distance Still Required. Visit HolyTrinityPgh.Org/coronavirus for details.
TODAY’S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Welcome Father George Athanasiou – AXIOS!
It is with great joy we welcome home a beloved son of Holy Trinity Church today – the newly-ordained Father George Athanasiou – for his first Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Church since being ordained to the Holy Priesthood at All Saints Church in Canonsburg on April 5, 2020. Due to the limitations on attendance posed by the pandemic, members of Father George’s Holy Trinity family were unable to attend the ordination in person. So today we are overjoyed to be able to welcome him and offer him with one voice an enthusiastic, “AXIOS!” – “HE IS WORTHY!”
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, Helen Balouris (1 Year) and Rosalia Kourouklis (40 days). May their memory be eternal! The coffee hour today will be sponsored by their families.
Remember Your Holy Trinity Offerings – Texts Instead of Trays!
The lifeblood of Holy Trinity Church’s financial well-being is Stewardship: the free-will offerings of our parish family. For many years additional offerings have been collected each Sunday through the passing of trays, but with our current COVID-19 modifications, that practiced has been suspended. Want to still make the offering you normally would when attending services? It’s easy – just text it! Whether you are in-person or online today, grab your phone and send a text with the amount you want to donate to Holy Trinity’s dedicated donation line at 833-955-2176. You will receive a confirmation link immediately via text. If this if your first time, it will ask for your payment information (credit card or checking account). After that is set up, for future donations simply text the amount to 833-955-2176. In fact, if you save that phone number in your contacts as something like “Holy Trinity Text Donations,” it will be really easy to remember it. With all the changes around us, we’re trying to make it as easy as possible for you to continue to support your church. For more information on other ways to give, see the announcement below. Thank you, good stewards and friends of Holy Trinity Church!
Three Hierarchs Bookstore – Open Today!
Please note that our Three Hierarchs Bookstore will be open today following Divine Liturgy. Be sure to stop by and browse our great selection of books for all ages, icons, greeting cards and so much more!
Outdoor Coffee Hours Continue
From our Philoptochos: Today we will host coffee hour outside under a large tent. We have been blessed the last 9 Sundays for coffee hour with no rain! It was nice seeing everyone and physical distancing, of course. We will have hand sanitizer readily available in church and outside for coffee hour.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
“Faith and Family WEEKDAYS” This Week
- Daily: Prayer Partners. Have you remembered your prayer partner every day? Especially in these times! Please maintain the prayer partner you received in January. When we are all together again, we will distribute new cards.
Festival 2020 Update: Have You Ordered/Donated Yet?
As announced on July 12th, out of an abundance of caution for our parish volunteers, our tens of thousands of guests and the community around us, the decision has been thoughtfully and prayerfully made by parish and festival leadership that Holy Trinity Church will not be hosting a public, in-person Festival this year, but will postpone the event until Labor Day weekend 2021. We believe this is in fulfillment of our “Faith. Family. Community.” vision statement by Preserving our Faith, Protecting our Family and Respecting our local Community. However, thanks to the dedicated labors of our Holy Trinity parishioners, a limited amount of full-pan foods are available for purchase. They are available through the "Greek4Home" ordering website. While supplies last, full ready-to-bake pans of Spanakopita (Greek Spinach Pita) and Tiropita (Greek Cheese Pita) are available for only $99. That means you can enjoy our wonderful festival food at home! Buy them now to take and bake at home for family gatherings, graduation parties, or to bake and share with others. Each pan has 28 pre-scored servings. The pans are 20” X 13” and are expertly wrapped in premium protective freezer paper. Just unwrap, follow the basic cooking instructions and enjoy! But that's not all! Through our "Greek2Give" ordering website, you can also donate a pan of food to a worthy cause! During the COVID-19 crisis, some of our neighbors are having a tough time making ends meet. The first-responders and “heroes” at our hospitals, safety services and social agencies have sacrificed of themselves to protect us. And some local churches are struggling just to survive. With your help, pans of our existing inventory of spanakopita and tiropita will be delivered to local organizations, churches, hospitals, agencies and the Neighborhood Resilience Project, an Orthodox Christian ministry in the Hill District, at no charge as gifts of love from you and the Holy Trinity family.
[Sep 15] Holy Trinity’s 2020 Golf Outing – Registration Deadline is Tomorrow!
It’s time once again for the annual Holy Trinity Golf Outing, to be held this year on Tuesday, September 15, at Diamond Run Golf Club located in Sewickley, PA. Registration includes a Boxed Lunch, golf cart, 18 holes of golf, Outdoor Live Grille Dinner, the opportunity to win prizes, a Putting Competition and a Million Dollar shot. The Golf Outing registration form can be found at the Church Office window. Email your registration with Player’s names to Dean Passodelis (DPassodelis@jonespassodelis.com). Registration deadline is TOMORROW, Monday August 31. Everyone is welcomed!
We Need Your Help To Help Those In Need!
Our Outreach Ministry has numerous opportunities throughout the year to share your blessings with those in need. Please consider volunteering as a family or ministry group to help our neighbors and those less fortunate. Contact Mike Kritiotis at 412-518-0588 or at outreach@HolyTrinityPgh.org to sign your family/group/ministry up for this worthy cause! During catastrophes, the need in our communities multiplies. This is such time. Also note: Because of the pandemic, this is now done in a contactless manner! Thank you, good and faithful servants of Christ!
- Sign Up to Provide Bag Lunches for Needy Families. Sponsored through the Orthodox outreach of the “Neighborhood Resilience Project” in the Hill District, the 2020 weekly schedule of delivering up to 140 lunch bags to our less fortunate neighbors every Saturday of the year, still has open dates available. Holy Trinity Church’s participation has been critical in fulfilling this mission in the past, and we are grateful for our parishioners’ continued generosity.
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!
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? The needy of the Hill District could use some help. Thanks to Dr. Chris and Kathy Balouris, we are able to provide it. 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 drive by the main entrance of the church and drop off your items in the labeled bins. Donations will be collected daily 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!
Need Yard Work Done? Hire a GOYAn!
Are you in need of someone to do yard work? Holy Trinity GOYA is here to help! Our teens are ready for hire, and why not offer the work to youth from within our parish rather than others? Please send your contact information to GOYA@HolyTrinityPgh.org or call Presvytera Becky at 412-874-5195 with a description of the work you need done. You will be provided with the list of GOYAns willing to come and do the work for you! Thanks for providing the opportunity for our teens to put themselves to work.
To the Faithful Stewards of Holy Trinity Church
In the past few months when some have been limited in their ability physically meet on Sundays, many thanks go to those who have continued to offer their offerings, pledges, and capital campaign contributions. We have expanded out opportunities to do so and now have a number of ways. The first way is that you can continue to bring or mail your donations to the church using the offering/capital campaign envelopes. The second way is Give By Web - the online method on the church’s website. Go to HolyTrinityPgh.org/give, or from the home page click on the Online Giving Tab. The third way is Give By Text, which is as easy as sending a text with the amount you would like to donate to 833-955-2176. You will receive a confirmation link immediately via text. The fourth way is Give By App using the Vanco GivePlus app, found in the App Store and on Google Play. Find information on it and more at HolyTrinityPgh.org/give-info. Lastly, we continue to encourage everyone to reach out to members of our church family and let them know they are being thought of, prayed for and most importantly loved. And, of course, for those still not able or ready to return to in-person services, they may continue to worship together in spirit online with our services as they are broadcast online (made possible through your offerings of love) at www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/live. Thank you and God bless you, faithful stewards!
Holy Trinity Church in “Green Phase”
With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Savas, we are so thankful to be able to continue welcoming our Holy Trinity family back to worship in-person and together as a community in the Church. As previously announced, we are now in the “Green Phase.” This means some important things for our worship and community life:
- Greater Attendance Levels: We can accommodate up to 50% (approximately 200 people) of our capacity. Reservations are no longer required, but sign-in at entry will be to comply with contract tracing requirements.
- Age Restrictions Lifted: Our beloved senior members 65 and over are no longer restricted from attending, provided they are free from any illness, symptoms or conditions that would put them in a high-risk category.
- Masks and Physical Distance: Masks are still required, and safe levels of physical distancing will still be practiced in both seating and moving around. PLEASE RESPECT THESE PRECAUTIONS AND BE SURE YOUR SEATING IS PROPERLY DISTANCED. ALSO PLEASE DO NOT CONGREGATE IN THE NARTHEX.
- Veneration: The faithful may return to their customary practice of venerating icons and sacred objects if they choose, or they may continue to reverence them by bowing, depending on their comfort level.
- Holy Communion: As stated by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, “The Mother Church of Constantinople knows empirically from its two-thousand-year existence that Holy Communion is ‘the antidote to mortality’ and remains firm in its Orthodox teaching regarding the Holy Eucharist.” As such, parishes are free to return to their customary parish practice of customary method of distributing and receiving the Holy Gifts.
- Coffee Hour and Meetings May Resume: We are free to resume holding Coffee Hour and meetings, provided that we respect the 50% capacity and physical distance guidelines.
Most important: As the members and families of our beloved parish community make the choices that best suit their needs, we need to understand that these choices will vary with time. And there are some who will still not be able to return for a while who need our support and understanding. As a community of believers walking in the love of Christ and the peace of the Holy Spirit, we are all asked to keep in mind the words of Saint Paul when it comes to meeting the needs of others: “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6.2).
Please Support Our Local Orthodox Monasteries
During this challenging time, please remember to show your support to our local Orthodox Monasteries. We depend on their prayers and they depend on our essential support. You can make an online charitable contribution or simply mail your donation to the monastery. Their contact information is listed below. Thank you for your offerings of love!
Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery: 121 St. Elias Lane, Saxonburg, PA 16056-9615
Online Donation: http://www.nativityofthetheotokosmonastery.org/donate
Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration: 321 Monastery Lane, Ellwood City, PA 16117-6531
Online Donation: http://www.orthodoxmonasteryellwoodcity.org/giving
St. Gregory Palamas Monastery: 934 County Road 2256, Perrysville, OH 44838-9529
Online Donation: http://www.sgpm.goarch.org/Monastery