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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2021-08-29
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 First Tone

Though the tomb was sealed with a stone by the Jews and the soldiers guarded Your pure body, You arose, O Savior, on the third day, giving life to the world. Therefore, O Giver of Life, the heavenly powers praise You. Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ; glory to Your kingdom; glory to Your plan of redemption, O only loving God. (Page 52)

Apolytikion for Beheading 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)

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 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."
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Saints and Feasts

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August 29

Beheading of the Holy and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John

The divine Baptist, the Prophet born of a Prophet, the seal of all the Prophets and beginning of the Apostles, the mediator between the Old and New Covenants, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, the God-sent Messenger of the incarnate Messiah, the forerunner of Christ's coming into the world (Esaias 40: 3; Mal. 3: 1); who by many miracles was both conceived and born; who was filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb; who came forth like another Elias the Zealot, whose life in the wilderness and divine zeal for God's Law he imitated: this divine Prophet, after he had preached the baptism of repentance according to God's command; had taught men of low rank and high how they must order their lives; had admonished those whom he baptized and had filled them with the fear of God, teaching them that no one is able to escape the wrath to come if he do not works worthy of repentance; had, through such preaching, prepared their hearts to receive the evangelical teachings of the Savior; and finally, after he had pointed out to the people the very Savior, and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, Which taketh away the sin of the world" (Luke 3:2-18; John 1: 29-36), after all this, John sealed with his own blood the truth of his words and was made a sacred victim for the divine Law at the hands of a transgressor.

This was Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Galilee, the son of Herod the Great. This man had a lawful wife, the daughter of Arethas (or Aretas), the King of Arabia (that is, Arabia Petraea, which had the famous Nabatean stone city of Petra as its capital. This is the Aretas mentioned by Saint Paul in II Cor. 11:32). Without any cause, and against every commandment of the Law, he put her away and took to himself Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, to whom Herodias had borne a daughter, Salome. He would not desist from this unlawful union even when John, the preacher of repentance, the bold and austere accuser of the lawless, censured him and told him, "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife" (Mark 6: 18). Thus Herod, besides his other unholy acts, added yet this, that he apprehended John and shut him in prison; and perhaps he would have killed him straightway, had he not feared the people, who had extreme reverence for John. Certainly, in the beginning, he himself had great reverence for this just and holy man. But finally, being pierced with the sting of a mad lust for the woman Herodias, he laid his defiled hands on the teacher of purity on the very day he was celebrating his birthday. When Salome, Herodias' daughter, had danced in order to please him and those who were supping with him, he promised her -- with an oath more foolish than any foolishness -- that he would give her anything she asked, even unto the half of his kingdom. And she, consulting with her mother, straightway asked for the head of John the Baptist in a charger. Hence this transgressor of the Law, preferring his lawless oath above the precepts of the Law, fulfilled this godless promise and filled his loathsome banquet with the blood of the Prophet. So it was that that all-venerable head, revered by the Angels, was given as a prize for an abominable dance, and became the plaything of the dissolute daughter of a debauched mother. As for the body of the divine Baptist, it was taken up by his disciples and placed in a tomb (Mark 6: 21 - 29). Concerning the finding of his holy head, see February 24 and May 25.

August 29

Anastasios the New Martyr of Bulgaria

August 29

Theodora of Thessaloniki

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Seventh Tone. Psalm 63.11,1.
The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord.
Verse: Oh God, hear my cry.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 13:25-33.

IN THOSE DAYS, as John was finishing his course, he said, "What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie." Brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you that fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning him. Though they could charge him with nothing deserving death, yet they asked Pilate to have him killed. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead; and for many days he appeared to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus.

Gospel Reading

Beheading of the Holy and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John
The Reading is from Mark 6:14-30

At that time, Herod the King heard about the fame of Jesus, for his name had become known. He said, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him." But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." But when Herod heard of it he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised." For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; because he had married her. For John said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and the leading men of Galilee. For when Herodias' daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will grant it." And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." And she went out, and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the baptizer." And she came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." And the king was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard and gave orders to bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb. The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.

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Bulletin Inserts

    Weekly Bulletin - Sunday, August 29, 2021

    Weekly Bulletin - Sunday, August 29, 2021

    Weekly Bulletin - Sunday, August 29, 2021

    Holy Trinity E-Giving Guide

    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.

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Parish News and Events

TODAY’S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

 

Festival Set Up Today

Your help is needed! Please plan to stay following Liturgy to help with Festival Set-Up today from 12:00pm until 6:00pm.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Return from Sabbatical

Father John and Presvytera Becky will return from their sabbatical tomorrow, Monday August 30. We can’t wait to welcome them back and hear about their pilgrimage and travels!

 

Help Spread the Word About our Taste of Greece Festival with Lawn Signs!

You are an important part of the advertising for our 2021 Taste of Greece Festival! Please stop by the Gallery following Liturgy to pick up your lawn sign. These new signs are dated and will only be used for this year’s Festival. Please note that signs can only be placed on private property, with the owner’s permission, and no less than 5 feet from the curb.

 

[Aug 31 & Sept 1] Festival Pastry Baking, Cutting and Packing - Your Help is Needed

Our Drive-Thru Taste of Greece Festival is right around the corner. In addition to volunteering on September 2, 3, and 4 we can use your help to prep our pastries on the following dates:

  • Tuesday, August 31, 9:00am - 9:00pm - Pastry Cutting
  • Wednesday, September 1, 9:00am - 9:00pm - Pastry Cutting and Packing

 

[Sept 1] Festival Set Up

The Festival Committee asks everyone to help this Wednesday, September 1st as we complete Festival Set-Up from 12:00pm noon until 10:00pm. It is vital that we have ALL HANDS ON DECK to make sure that everything is in place for the first day of the Festival! Thank you!

 

Services This Week

  • Thursday, September 2, 10:00am - Festival Opening Blessing

It is a long-standing tradition of Holy Trinity Church that we open and close our annual Greek Festival with prayer, invoking God’s blessings on all we do and thanking him for every gift. As such, all Festival volunteers are asked to gather for a brief opening blessing service at 10:00am on Thursday, September 2, in the church. We will also close the Festival on Saturday evening with a thanksgiving service as usual.

 

[Sept 2, 3 & 4] Holy Trinity’s Taste of Greece Festival is THIS WEEK! Sign Up TODAY to Volunteer!

This year’s festival begins this Thursday September 2nd and ending Saturday September 4th from 11:00am until 7:00pm each day.  We have 13 roles you can sign up to volunteer and support our hospitality to the community (please see the descriptions listed below). You can access the online signup using this link, which is also on the Holy Trinity Website: www.holytrinitypgh.org/volunteer.  This year’s festival is a drive through, which is new to us.  A drive through might seem like it would not take the same level of staffing, however it does, as there are new/ different roles that must be staffed to ensure we service our guests in a timely manner.  To ensure our guests have the same great experience they have come to expect, we need the same volunteer participation level we have always given.  Please take the time to sign up today, we need to ensure we do our very best to make 2021 a great Festival year!  Any questions can be referred to Dan Willow, Festival Committee Chair, at willowtd@verion.net or call (412) 417-9616.

 

  • Traffic Control: Work with a third-party company hired to help manage flow of cars from entry, order taking, fulfillment, to exit. (10 volunteer slots per shift)
  • Greeters: Work outside throughout traffic control, answer guest questions before ordering to ensure guests can place orders quickly to try and help maximize traffic flow. (4 volunteer slots per shift)
  • Order Taker-Cash Register: Work in a tent where cars will come through in two lines, two cash registers per line- so four people taking orders at any given time. (5 volunteer slots per shift)
  • Order Selector: Work in area called "the Hub".  Orders print here; all menu items brought here pre-packed and placed in a serving line.  Order Selectors will select items for each order, placing on a tray which is given to Order Checkers, to review for accuracy and bag. (8 volunteer slots per shift)
  • Order Checker, bagger: This role checks orders which Order Selectors in the Hub area have placed on trays.  Once confirmed correct they are bagged and given to Order Delivery team members to take to guest cars. (4 volunteer slots per shift)
  • Order Delivery: Take packed/completed orders to cars.  Each order will have an assigned number, each car will have a tag with that number. (8 volunteer slots per shift)
  • Food Line Packers: Portion and package food items in to-go containers in the gallery, to be taken to "the Hub" where Order Selectors will fulfill orders. (16 volunteer slots per shift)
  • Restocking Runner: Move inventory from the Gallery where "Food Line Packers" are packing them in containers to "The Hub" as needed for Order Selectors to fulfill orders.  Monitor inventory levels, communicate with Food Line Packers to maintain proper production levels. (6 volunteer slots per shift)
  • Gyro Cooking: Responsible for heating sliced gyro meat in bulk (not slicing it off the cone), as well as warming pita bread.  Once heated it is given to another team, the Gyro Makers, to produce sandwiches. (4 volunteer slots per shift)
  • Gyro Makers: Wrap meat only sandwiches outside under a tent.  Foil, bread, meat only, no condiments (12 volunteer slots per shift)
  • Gyro Condiment Production: Pack diced tomato, diced onion, and tzatziki sauce in portion cups; pack shredded lettuce in bags.  Place all of these in one container to provide a kit for every gyro sold. (10 volunteer slots per shift)
  • Pastry Preparation: Pastry cutting and packing in to-go containers.  Work inside, with members of the team moving packaged items out to the order fulfillment "Hub" so Order Selectors can fulfill orders. (12 volunteer slots per shift)
  • Kitchen Cook: Cooks to produce chicken halves, rice, pastitsio and spanakopita.  Assist in taking product to Food Line Packing area as needed. (8 volunteer slots per shift)

 

[Sep 10-11] Services for the Nativity of the Theotokos

Gerontissa Theophano and the Sisters warmly welcome you to attend the Monastery’s Feast Day services honoring the Nativity of the Theotokos on Friday, September 10 (5:00pm Vespers, Orthros) and Saturday, September 11 (9:00am Hours, Divine Liturgy). Visitors should be modestly dressed. The Monastery is located at 121 St. Elias Lane, Saxonburg, PA 16056.

 

[Sep 13] Bereavement Ministry Meeting

Please make plans to join us for our next monthly group gathering on Monday, September 13. The Holy Trinity 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. Due to the Festival, our monthly bereavement support group gathering will be held on the second Monday evening of September. Fellowship & Light Refreshments begin at 6:30pm followed by Group Support, Learning and Conversation from 7:00-8:00pm. 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 and/or our private support sessions, please contact Amy Armanious at visitation@HolyTrinityPgh.org

 

[Oct 8-10] YAL Conference – CONQUER: The Struggle is Real

The Metropolis of Pittsburgh invites all Orthodox Young Adults of all Jurisdictions (ages 18-35) from around the country to enjoy a weekend of faith & fellowship in an immersive experience which will include workshops, keynote speaker Dr. Albert Rossi, Liturgical services, outreach projects, social events around Pittsburgh and more! For additional information and registration visit https://y2am.pittsburgh.goarch.org/ya/2021-yal-conference Questions? Contact Alyssa Kyritsis at akyritsis@pittsburgh.goarch.org

 

Host Ministries/Families Still Needed for Bag Lunches - Please volunteer your family or group to help!

Please see Mike Kritiotis today, or contact him at 412-518-0588, or at outreach@holytrinitypgh.org to sign up your family/group/ministry for this worthy cause to help the poor and hungry in our region. Sponsored through the Orthodox outreach of the “Neighborhood Resilience Project”, the 2021 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.

 

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. Following Liturgy, we invite you to join us for Fellowship Coffee hour.

 

Stewardship Update

The 2021 Holy Trinity Stewardship Pledge Cards have been distributed and all Holy Trinity Stewards should complete one immediately. If you have not yet received a 2021 pledge card or are new to Holy Trinity, additional pledge cards can be found at the Welcome Table located in the Narthex of the church. And remember, a signed pledge card is required as part of maintaining your membership in good standing at Holy Trinity each year. We are grateful for your commitment. Questions? Contact Stewardship Co-chairmen Mike Kritiotis or Ted Stewart or email stewardship@HolyTrinityPgh.org.

 

Update: Holy Trinity Church Completion and 2023 Consecration Campaign Underway

Plans are now being developed to complete the necessary items so Holy Trinity Church can be consecrated by the end of 2023, as was approved by the General Assembly last November.  The plans provide for completing all the items required for consecration including completing the remaining iconography in the Church and Narthex; installation of numerous items of handcrafted ecclesiastical wood furnishings, most notably a permanent iconostasis and required new Holy Altar table; Altar furnishings and other liturgically required items for the Consecration; and more appropriate seating to replace the temporary chairs in the Church. The approved plan to raise the needed monies for the project over the next 3 years comprises a combination of funds from the Greek Festival and catering income, as well as parishioner donations, and all without incurring loans or bank financing, so we will remain debt-free having now paid off the mortgage.  We have asked that all our members pledge what they are able to over the 2021–2023 timeframe to fund the completion of our Church for its Consecration in 2023.  We are very pleased to report that we have received pledges from 144 families thus far!  If you haven’t done it already, please fill out the center section of the “ONE HOLY TRINITY” Pledge Card with your Church Completion and Consecration Campaign pledge amounts for 2021-2023.  If you need a new Stewardship card to fill in the center section, please see Jim Balouris, Charlie Petredis or George Dickos or stop in the Church Office.  As we’ve stressed, the most important aspect of this Campaign is participation by everyone! Please do your part as a member of the Holy Trinity family on this important project – you will be glad you did!  If there are any questions in the meantime, please see Jim, Charlie, or George above.  May God continue to richly bless His Holy Church!

 

Upcoming Memorial: September 12: Helen Balouris (2 years)

 

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