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
St. Aristides is known in Ecclesiastical history for writing the famous "Apology of Aristides" on behalf of persecuted Christians. He was born during the second century and studied at the Philosophical School of Athens. His unwavering faith in Christ and his struggle for persecuted Christians created intense discomfort and resentment to the Roman Emperor Hadrian. St. Aristides continued to preach Christ despite the many tortures he endured. He was martyred by hanging in Athens on September 13, around the year 134.
The church that is honoured far above all others is that of the Holy Resurrection, which Saint Constantine the Great constructed at the place of Golgotha, where our Saviour was crucified and buried. For a long time this place had been purposely buried beneath the earth by the Jews and heathen; furthermore, during the reign of Hadrian (117-138), a temple dedicated to Aphrodite was built over the site so that this sacred place might be even further desecrated and fall into utter oblivion. It was here that the Cross was hidden. However, at the command of the pious Emperor Constantine, excavations were made and the tokens of the saving Passion were found. It was here, then, that the very great and magnificent temple named in honour of Christ God's Resurrection-the Anastasis-was built under the supervision of the blessed Helen, while Dracilian was Eparch of Palestine and Macarius was Archbishop of Jerusalem. It was the latter, also, who exalted the venerable Cross and performed the consecration of this temple in the year 336.
Saint Cornelius was a Roman by race, a pagan by religion, a centurion in rank, an inhabitant of Caesarea of Palestine, a man pious and God-fearing who gave many alms to the people and prayed continually unto God. In accordance with an angelic vision granted to him, he sent to Joppa that they might bring the Apostle Peter. Saint Peter catechized him in the Faith of Christ and baptized all his household (Acts, ch.10). This became the beginning and the first fruits of the calling of the nations. It is said that, after this, he became a bishop, as some say, of Caesarea; but others say of Scepsis, which is not far from Troas; and that he died as a martyr.
Prokeimenon. Sixth Tone. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 6:11-18.
Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Sunday before Holy Cross
The Reading is from John 3:13-17
The Lord said, "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."
Weekly Bulletin - September 13, 2020
September 11 Trisagion and Commemoration Service
You can still enjoy some of that great Greek food at home this year with our "Greek4Home" Food Sale! Ready-to-Bake pans of Spanakopita & Tiropita are available for purchase. You can also choose to give back with "Greek2Give". With your donation to help cover the costs, pans of our existing inventory of Spanakopita and Tiropita will be delivered to local organizations as gifts of appreciation and love.
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.
TODAY’S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
September 11, 2001, Trisagion and Commemoration Today
Today our parish and our nation commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the attacks on our nation on September 11, 2001. We will offer a Trisagion for the lives lost and honor those who served in those terrible days and since protecting our nation from further attack. May the memory of those who died be eternal and may God bless and protect America!
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!
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Services This Week:
Monday, September 14: 8:15am Orthros/9:30am Liturgy – The Elevation of the Holy Cross (at Holy Cross Church)
Note: This service held at Holy Cross Church in Mount Lebanon in honor of their Feast Day. Advance registration not required, but please remember to observe all current Metropolis safety practices.
“Faith and Family WEEKDAYS” This Week
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 14] Bereavement Support Group Meeting TOMORROW – Special book gift for all those who attend
Our Bereavement Support Ministry Team provides spiritual care to parishioners and their extended family & friends in time of grief and loss. If you have questions about grief and want to learn and share conversation, then please attend our monthly Bereavement Support Group meeting tomorrow, Monday evening, September 14th in the Conference Room. Light refreshments and relaxed fellowship begin at 6:30pm for those who choose. Then 7:00-8:00pm is group learning and sharing with our Bereavement facilitators. Feel free to bring a family member and/or friend. Physical distancing, wearing a mask, using hand sanitizer upon entering, and signing-in are expected of each participant so that all may feel safe and respected. Contact our Visitation Ministry Coordinator Amy Armanious with any questions at email Visitation@holytriniitypgh.org or call 412-628-0973.
[Sep 15] Holy Trinity’s 2020 Golf Outing
The annual Holy Trinity Golf Outing will be held this Tuesday, September 15, at Diamond Run Golf Club located in Sewickley, PA. Registration is now closed. For questions, please contact Dean Passodelis (DPassodelis@jonespassodelis.com).
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! Available now: 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.
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!
Church School Plans Underway for October Start
One beautiful translation of Proverbs 22.6 says, “Teach children how they should live, and they will remember it all their life.” That is a powerful reminder of the responsibility we have as parents, teachers, and an entire church community to fulfill our calling to teach our children to love the Lord and follow in His ways. It is, therefore, not an option even in these times to simply abandon that calling. Our Church School Staff is working on developing plans to resume Church School at Holy Trinity Church in October. Details will be announced in the coming weeks. Be assured it will be with the physical safety of all students and staff as a top priority, along with the well-being of their beautiful souls, which need to know and grow in the love of Christ. Thank you for your support and love for all our children.
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!
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 email your contact information to GOYA@HolyTrinityPgh.org 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:
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