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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2022-10-16
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
Allsaint
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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 Sun. of the 7th Ecumenical Council in the Eighth Tone

Most glorified are You, O Christ our God, Who has established our Fathers as luminous stars upon the earth and through them did guide us all to the true Faith. O Most Merciful One, glory to You.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Tone

A protection of Christians unshameable, Intercessor to our Holy Maker, unwavering; reject not the prayerful cries of those who are in sin. Instead, come to us for you are good; your loving help bring unto us who are crying in faith to you: Hasten to intercede and speed now to supplicate, as a protection for all time, Theotokos, for those who honor you. (Page 54)
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Saints and Feasts

October 16

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council

On the Sunday that falls on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we chant the Service to the 350 holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, which gathered in Nicaea in 787 under the holy Patriarch Tarasius and during the reign of the Empress Irene and her son, Constantine Porphyrogenitus, to refute the Iconoclast heresy, which had received imperial support beginning with the Edict issued in 726 by Emperor Leo the Isaurian. Many of the holy Fathers who condemned Iconoclasm at this holy Council later died as Confessors and Martyrs for the holy Icons during the second assult of Iconoclasm in the ninth century, especially during the reigns of Leo the Armenian and Theophilus.

04_crucifixion
October 16

Longinus the Centurion

This Martyr was in the service of Pontius Pilate at the time of Christ our Saviour's Passion. While standing guard at the Cross and beholding the earthquake and all that came to pass, he cried out with fear, "Truly this was the Son of God" (Matt. 27:54). After the Resurrection, he forsook the military and departed for Cappadocia, his homeland, where he preached Christ. By the agency of Pontius Pilate, Tiberius Caesar had him arrested and beheaded.

October 16

The Two Soldiers martyred with Saint Longinus

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Tone. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to Titus 3:8-15.

Titus, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.

When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.

All who are with me send greeting to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council
The Reading is from Luke 8:5-15

The Lord said this parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold." And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience." As he said these things, he cried out "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

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Bulletin Inserts

    Weekly Bulletin - Sunday, October 16, 2022

    Weekly Bulletin - Sunday, October 16, 2022

    Weekly Bulletin - Sunday, October 16, 2022

    HCHC Benefit Luncheon

    HCHC Benefit Luncheon

    Following Liturgy on Sunday, October 23, please join the entire Holy Trinity family for a delicious, informative, and enjoyable fellowship luncheon in the Grand Room where we will hear about the exciting progress of OUR school: Hellenic College Holy Cross. Free-will offerings to support the School will be accepted.

    Holy Trinity Hospitality Hour

    Holy Trinity Hospitality Hour

    The all new "Holy Trinity Hospitality Hour" will continue to embrace the opportunity to foster Christ-centered relationships, to "love your neighbor", to meet and greet newcomers and to build and strengthen existing friendships...but in a whole new format!

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Wisdom of the Fathers

His is truly the Sower of all that is good, and we are His farm. The whole harvest of spiritual fruits is by Him and from Him. He taught us this when He said, 'Without me you can do nothing.'
St. Cyril of Alexandria
Commentary on Luke, Homily 41. Taken from: Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Vol: Luke. Downer's Grove: Intervarsity Press, 132.

For by seed here He means His doctrine, and by land, the souls of men, and by the sower, Himself .... For as the sower makes no distinction in the land submitted to him, but simply and indifferently casts his seed; so He Himself too makes no distinction of rich and poor, of wise and unwise, of slothful or diligent, of brave or cowardly; but He discourses unto all, fulfilling His part, although foreknowing the results.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 44 on Matthew 12, 4th Century

Since there are certain people who find great fault with us for adoring and honoring both the image of the Savior and that of our Lady, as well as those of the rest of the saints and servants of Christ, let them hear how from the beginning God made man to His own image. For what reason, then, do we adore one another, except because we have been made to the image of God? As the inspired Basil, who is deeply learned in theology, says: "the honor paid to the image conveys to the original.," and the original is the thing imaged from which the copy is made.
St. John of Damascus
The Orthodox Faith, 4.16. Catholic University of America Press in Washington D.C. Translated by Frederic H. Chase, Jr. volume 37, page 370., 8th Century

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Parish News and Events

 

TODAY'S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

 

Welcome Alyssa Kyritsis

Today we have the honor of welcoming to Holy Trinity Church  Alyssa Kyritsis, the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh. Alyssa is a hometown Pittsburgh native (well, Canonsburg to be precise!). She studied Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Connecticut and is a graduate of the Master of Divinity program at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. Prior to joining the Metropolis in May of last year, she served as a pastoral assistant at the Saint John parish in Jacksonville, Florida. Alyssa will be meeting with our GOYA and with the youth ministry leaders of JOY and HOPE today following the Divine Liturgy. Please welcome her with traditional Holy Trinity hospitality. May God bless her work and all our Metropolis offers for the raising of all our youth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ!

 

Today’s Hospitality Hour Hosts: The Holy Trinity Greek Dance Troupe

 

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Services This Week:

- Tuesday October 18, 8:30am Orthros/9:30am Divine Liturgy: St. Luke the Evangelist (St. George Chapel)

- Tuesday October 18, 6:30pm Paraclesis to the Theotokos (St. George Chapel)

- Thursday October 20, 8:30am Orthros/9:30am Divine Liturgy: St. Gerasimos of Cephalonia (St. George Chapel)

Faith & Family Weekdays – Fall 2022

Faith and Family Weekdays is back, and there is something for everyone! Ready to learn more about the Bible, about your Faith, about navigating life’s challenges as a Christian, a woman, or a man? It’s all there. There is something for everyone! Watch the bulletin and check the online calendar at HolyTrinityPgh.org/calendar for details and locations.

 THIS WEEK:

  • Wed. Oct 19, 6:30pm Vespers/7:00pm: “Explore the Word” Bible Study - Father Radu continues his exploration of the Holy Bible with a survey of the Old Testament. Bring your Bible & your questions!
  • Thu. Oct. 20 – Note – St. Nikodemos Prayer and Panera will not meet Thursday due to Liturgy.

 

[Oct 23] Hellenic College Holy Cross Luncheon – EVERYONE is invited and asked to attend

Following Liturgy on Sunday, October 23, please join the entire Holy Trinity family for a delicious, informative, and enjoyable fellowship luncheon in the Grand Room where we will hear about the exciting progress of OUR school: Hellenic College Holy Cross. Free-will offerings to support the School will be accepted.

            It is important that every Holy Trinity parishioner be present for this event. The HCHC President, a Vice-President and a leading Trustee are making a special trip to Pittsburgh to help raise awareness of our School, its current progress and the valuable role it plays in the life of the Church in America. Remember, without our school and seminary, there are no future priests and trained lay leaders of our parishes.

            But HCHC is more than just a seminary. It is a fully-accredited Orthodox Christian college parents and students should consider. Many colleges promise a good education. Very few promise not only to educate but to elevate the whole person. Hellenic College is that rare institution of higher learning with a higher purpose: to foster the moral and spiritual as well as intellectual development of every student. It offers opportunities unmatched by any other college or university for this multidimensional development in the context of a truly Orthodox Christian community. Hellenic College’s curricula in the liberal arts and pre-professional studies stimulate students’ minds while preparing them for careers in which they can serve both society and the Church. Whether in education, human services, business, law, or ministry, our graduates embody their faith and enrich our world through their other-directed vocations.

 

[Nov 12] Philoptochos Festival of Tables

The Holy Trinity Ladies Philoptochos invites everyone to join them for a Festival of Tables on Saturday, November 12 in the Grand Room. This new event will feature a luncheon with themed tablescapes to promote creativity, fun & fellowship, and live entertainment. View the decorated tables from 11:00am until 12:00pm and then a luncheon will be served at 12:15pm. Tickets are $45 per person (includes tickets for Door Prizes). RSVP by Tuesday, November 1, 2022. For ticket information, please contact Marianne Stearns at 412-600-2159.

 

[Nov 18-20] GOYA Fall Retreat

Registration for the annual Metropolis GOYA Fall Retreat is now open at y2am.pittsburgh.goarch.org/retreats. The retreat will be held at Camp Nazareth from November 18-20.  The theme will be “The Church as a Place of Healing.” Holy Trinity GOYAns may register free by using the Scholarship code “HTPGFF”. Register early before it’s sold out!

 

OUTREACH - Bag Lunch Ministry - Volunteer with your family/group to help in 2023. Dates are filling fast!

Sponsored through the Orthodox outreach of the “Neighborhood Resilience Project”, the 2023 weekly schedule of delivering 140 lunch bags to our less fortunate neighbors every Saturday of the year, is now available. The ministry is hoping to fill all of the 2023 dates quickly, and thankfully, more churches have already come forward. We’re hoping that with Holy Trinity Church parishioners’ participation, this goal will be achieved soon. 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.

 

Stewardship Update

Although we are three-quarters through 2022, we are still seeking 2022 Stewardship pledge cards from all our parishioners. If you have not yet received a 2022 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 Holy Trinity Stewardship Charman George Mellis or email him at stewardship@HolyTrinityPgh.org.

 

Sunday Hospitality Hour Hosts Needed

Thank you to the many families and ministries that have stepped up to host our newly re-formatted “Hospitality Hour” following our Sunday Divine Liturgies. There are a number of available Sundays in November and December. Interested?  Visit www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/hospitality-hour for details on how to host. Thank you!

 

Visitation Ministry Needs Your Help This Fall

Currently, our Visitation Ministry Team is in need of drivers to help parishioners with medical appointments, shopping, local errands and pharmacy drive thru. If anyone can assist, please contact Amy Armanious at visitation@holytrinitypgh.org or see Amy during coffee hour. Any helping hands are appreciated. Thank you!

 

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 us know that you're here. Please fill out an information card so we can contact you with any information you may need concerning life here at Holy Trinity Church. Following Liturgy, we invite you to join us for our Hospitality hour.

 

About Receiving Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church

As an extension of our hospitality and outreach ministries, we welcome all who have come to worship with us today. Whether you are an Orthodox Christian, an inquirer to the faith or a first-time guest in an Orthodox Church, we are pleased to have you with us and thankful for the opportunity to share and bear witness to this ancient and timeless Faith. In accordance with the holy canons and traditions of the Church, please note that Holy Communion and the other Holy Mysteries (Sacraments) are received only by those who are baptized and chrismated (confirmed) Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared through prayer, fasting and confession. All others are invited receive the antidoron (blessed bread) and a blessing from the priest at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. The antidoron is not a sacramental offering but is blessing and a reflection of the agape (love) feast that followed worship in the ancient Christian Church. Please join our parish family for Hospitality Hour after the holy services and allow us to meet and welcome you. Interested in joining or learning more about the Orthodox Christian Faith? Please see one of our priests or complete a visitor’s card today!

How to receive: Please remember the following helpful hints aimed at helping to preserve the solemnity and safety of the Holy Mystery. Anyone wearing lipstick should remove it before receiving. Be sure to offer your baptismal name to priest before receiving. Please take great care that the red cloth held by the acolytes (you should not hold it) is fully under your chin and please fully open your mouth so that none of the precious Body and Blood of Christ is accidentally spilled. Thank you for your cooperation, and may God have mercy on us all!

 

Upcoming Memorials and Trisagia: October 23: Kelly Karavolos (5 yrs), Charles Siebott (4 yrs)

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