Parish News

Holy Trinity’s Mission Statement: To worship and glorify God, by promoting the teachings, of the Greek Orthodox Faith. To encourage all members' participation through our Greek culture, educational programs, community outreach and fundraising activities while serving God, our community and humanity

PARISH COUNCIL MEMBERS USHERING TODAY:

Kathy Chaka – Maria Tzanakis – Emmanuel Yakumithis

THIS WEEK’S MEMORIAL IS FOR: Dr. John Chrysochoos – 6 years

TRISAGION PRAYERS FOR: George Dedes – 6 months May Their Memory Be Eternal

THIS WEEK’S ALTAR FLOWERS ARE SPONSORED BY: Basil & Despina Apostolou in honor of their granddaughter Gabriella’s 1st birthday which was February 24th. May God Continue To Bless Her Always

PROSFORA OFFERED BY: The Chrysochoos Family & Mary Dedes

EPISTLE READERS ARE: English: Paul Sieben Greek: Basil Apostolou

IN THE HOSPITAL THIS PAST WEEK: Fritzi Morris – St. Luke’s Perastika and a Speedy Recovery

CONDOLENCES TO: The family of Catherine Geanopulos whose funeral was Wednesday. May Her Memory Be Eternal.

THIS WEEK AT HOLY TRINITY:

Wednesday, March 2^nd: Bible Study 10 am, Adult Greek School 6 pm, Transformative Christianity Webinar 7 pm. In person and via Microsoft Teams.

Thursday, March 3^rd: Daughters of Penelope (Off Site) and AHEPA (Off Site)

Friday, March 4^th: Gus Constantellis 7 pm

Saturday, March 5^th: Second Saturday of the Souls 9 am Orthros 10 am Divine Liturgy, 1 pm Pan-Orthodox Lenten Retreat St. Elias, and Children’s Greek School beginning at 9:20 via zoom, Parents of Young Children

Apokriatiko Luncheon TODAY!– The AHEPA and Daughters are hosting an Apokriatiko luncheon on today following Divine Liturgy at the Holy Trinity Education Building. Tickets available in the fellowship hall. Ticket prices are $15 for adults and children under 12 are $7. Also, Greek music to enjoy and dance to. This year we are offering carryout as well.

The next Transformative Christianity Webinar Series is March 2^nd at 7 pm: Join us for a 10-part webinar series to find out what Orthodox Christianity really has to offer to us and to the world! Session 2 ~ Fetch Me My Meal: A Talk about Gluttony with Fr. Anthony Cook

Attention 2022 High School Graduates: The Raftopoulos Scholarship applications are available. Please contact Carole. The deadline is Sunday, May 1, 2022.

Philoptochos News: Philoptochos is continuing to strive for all women of our parish to join this dynamic group that supports all the needs of our beloved Holy Trinity. Participation in our activities is flexible and accommodates women’s varying availability and time commitment. Stewardship is being accepted for continuing and new members for 2022. The amount of your stewardship to this organization is your choice, with the average membership steward giving $50. We are obligated to the first $21 to our National and Metropolis Philoptochos, and the remainder of your donation stays here at our parish and supports our projects in our local community. Payment can be forwarded to Maria Kopan, Membership, and can also be made through PayPal at ToledoPhiloptochos@gmail.com

Thank you! The Daughters of Penelope extend a sincere thank you to everyone who donated to Water With Blessings, the international non-profit organization that provides water filtration devices to communities in need. This organization is one of the philanthropic projects supported by the Daughters and was highlighted during a recent Church coffee hour. The generosity and support of the Holy Trinity community was very much appreciated.

MDSC Camper Registration and Staff Application Now Open! Don’t miss this opportunity to give your kids the gift of camp! We are celebrating our 70th season and look forward to welcoming campers and staff from our Metropolis for a fun, memorable, and safe experience steeped in our Orthodox faith. Please visit www.gomdsc.org. For more information, contact us at gomdsc@gmail.com or 248-909-6372

2022 Stewardship Campaign is well underway. Have you submitted your pledge card? If not please do so. We want to include everyone in the Stewardship listing in the Echo. Thank you to all of you who have submitted.

GREEK LANGUAGE READERS NEEDED!

There are many ways to serve and support our beloved Holy Trinity Cathedral as Stewards, thus giving of our talents to enhance the richness of an existing ministry, that of being an epistle reader in Greek.

This ministry has been around since 2001 and, we would like to perpetuate its mission for generations to come by adding new members to our fellowship.

If you are willing and able to join us, please contact Basil Apostolou, by e-mail: bapostolou@bex.net or by mobile at 419-508-5463. He would love to hear from you and explain to you the process.

To ALL our current and former epistle readers, we are grateful for your service!

Παρακαλείστε αν ενδιαφέρεστε να γίνετε μέλος αυτής της διακονίας, σαν αναγνώστης/ αναγνώστρια για τον Κυριακάτικο απόστολο, επικοινωνείστε με τον Βασίλη Αποστόλου: bapostolou@bex.net η κινητό 419-508-5463. Εκ βάθους καρδίας, είμαστε πολύ ευγνώμονες σε όλους τους νύν και πρώην αναγνώστες των επιστολών!

Pantry Update: Holy Trinity Pantry Update: The monthly Pantry inventory has been completed and our new list of needed items are: Canned chicken, canned Vienna sausages, vegetable oil, spaghetti sauce, saltine crackers, peanut butter, jelly, and shelf stable milk. Thank you to our parishioners for their continuous donations!

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, to everyone who has contributed to the Warm Hands To Warm Hearts. 22 is the number of Beautiful Lap Blankets that Father is Blessing.. Keep making 7" x 9" rectangles for the future blankets.

Sunday Coffee Hours –There are many Sundays available and it is a great way for your family, or a few families together, to offer fellowship and refreshments to our community. Please let Carole know which Sunday you would like to offer Coffee Hour.

ATTENTION PROSFORA BAKERS: ***PROSFORA NEEDED FOR THE MONTHS OF March and April. Please call Connie Mynihan at 419-250-4899 or email at cmynihan5@gmail.com

ALTAR FLOWERS ARE NEEDED FOR: June 12^th The cost is $50 for 2 beautiful vases. It’s a great way to show your support in honor or memory of someone and beautify our altar too! Call the Church office if you’re interested.

Upcoming memorials- March 6th – Sophie Paterakis – 40 days-March 6th – Demetra Theodorou, Spiros Theodorou & Chris Theodorou

Insert

Man of God

On March 21st Man of God, a movie about the life of Saint Nektarios, will be playing in Toledo. Click here for more information. https://www.fathomevents.com/events/Man-of-God

Gus Constantellis

Comedian Gus Constantellis is coming to Toledo. Please click on the flyer and on the link for more information. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gus-constantellis-tickets-265176589317

Loukoumathes

Our Philoptochos will be offering Loukoumathes on February 20th. Please see the flyer for more information.

Apokriatiko 2022

Come join the AHEAPA and Daughters of Penelope on Sunday February 27, 2022 Following Divine Liturgy for the Apokriatiko Luncheon. See the flyer for more details.

MDSC 70th Anniversary NEW DATE!!!

The 70th Anniversary date has changed! Please see the flyer for details.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode

Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm, He hath trampled upon death by death. The first-born of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us, and hath granted great mercy to the world.

Apolytikion of the Church in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Blessed are You, O Christ our God, who made fisherman all-wise, by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, and through them, drawing all the world into Your net. O Loving One, glory be to You.

Seasonal Kontakion in the First Mode

O God, when You come upon the earth in glory, the whole world will tremble. A river of fire will bring all before Your Judgment Seat and the books will be opened, and everything in secret will become public. At that time, deliver me from the fire which never dies, and enable me to stand by Your right hand, O Judge most just.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Third Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:9-20

When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table; and he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 146.5;134.3.
Great is our Lord, and great is his power.
Verse: Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2.

Brethren, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

Gospel Reading

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)
The Reading is from Matthew 25:31-46

The Lord said, "When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Saints and Feasts

February 27

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)

The foregoing two parables -- especially that of the Prodigal Son -- have presented to us God's extreme goodness and love for man. But lest certain persons, putting their confidence in this alone, live carelessly, squandering upon sin the time given them to work out their salvation, and death suddenly snatch them away, the most divine Fathers have appointed this day's feast commemorating Christ's impartial Second Coming, through which we bring to mind that God is not only the Friend of man, but also the most righteous Judge, Who recompenses to each according to his deeds.

It is the aim of the holy Fathers, through bringing to mind that fearful day, to rouse us from the slumber of carelessness unto the work of virtue, and to move us to love and compassion for our brethren. Besides this, even as on the coming Sunday of Cheese-fare we commemorate Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight -- which exile is the beginning of life as we know it now -- it is clear that today's is reckoned the last of all feasts, because on the last day of judgment, truly, everything of this world will come to an end.

All foods, except meat and meat products, are allowed during the week that follows this Sunday.

February 27

Procopius the Confessor of Decapolis

Saints Procopius and Basil, fellow ascetics, lived about the middle of the eighth century, during the reign of Leo the Isaurian (717-741), from whom they suffered many things for the sake of the veneration of the holy icons. They ended their lives in the ascetical discipline.

February 27

Raphael of Brooklyn

Saint Raphael Hawaweeny was born on November 8^th, 1860 A.D., in Damascus, Syria, to pious Christian parents. He studied Arabic grammar and mathematics at the Antiochian Patriarchate parochial school where he was tonsured a reader in 1874. His strong academics served him well throughout his life, providing for him numerous opportunities to succeed and grow. He accepted a position in 1877 as an assistant teacher of Arabic and Turkish, which became full time in 1879. In 1889 he was tonsured a monk while working with Patriarch Hierotheos at the patriarchate, traveling with him on pastoral visits and serving as his personal assistant.

Longing to continue his theological studies, Raphael petitioned the Patriarch for permission to study at Halki Theological School, which was the only option for students of the Antiochian Patriarchate as the Balamand Seminary in Lebanon had been closed since 1840. After much persistence, Raphael received the blessing of the Patriarch and enrolled in Halki Seminary where he was ordained a deacon in 1885. After completing his degree at Halki, the young Deacon Raphael studied at the Kiev Theological Academy, working as a liaison between the Moscow and Antiochian patriarchates. Deacon Raphael was ordained to the holy priesthood in 1889 while in Kiev, continuing to serve that community for many years.

The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 led to the subsequent collapse of the silk industry in the Middle East, causing many Syrians and others to immigrate to the United States. These new citizens desired to have their religion present in their new homeland and sent letters to their mother churches for pastoral help. A few priests were sent, but none lasted, and so the people asked for Father Raphael Hawaweeny to come to America and serve. Both the Antiochian and Moscow Patriarchs agreed to this idea, and Father Raphael left for America where the people greeted him with great love. Father Raphael then spent many years serving the Syrians in Brooklyn, New York, but he desired to scan the continent for Syrians and other Orthodox Christians who were without spiritual leadership. He traveled by train and carriage across the nation, finding Orthodox Christians, recording their location, and performing liturgies, baptisms, and weddings. Upon his return to Brooklyn, Father Raphael worked to find clergy to send to these dispersed communities, giving them a full time pastor to minister to their needs.

In 1909, by the hands of Bishops Tikhon and Innocent of the Moscow Patriarchate, he was the first bishop consecrated in the New World. The now Bishop Raphael continued his ministry to the Christians throughout America. Bishop Raphael worked tirelessly in Brooklyn to mediate disputes between the Orthodox Christians from Syria and Maronite Catholic Christians who often fought violently with one another. Despite numerous outbursts and setbacks, Bishop Raphael continued his ministry serving the Orthodox throughout his vast diocese. One such incident was when an influential leader of the Maronite group was killed and many people accused Bishop Raphael of ordering his murder. This led to many people attempting to harm the bishop, but he endured it all willingly. He was arrested under attempted murder charges, but was eventually cleared and let go after much time and money was spent in his defense.

Throughout his time in North America, Bishop Raphael founded 36 parishes to bring the Church to the faithful who were without a priest to guide them. Bishop Raphael truly lived out Gospel in all aspects of his life, striving tirelessly for the people in his care, even to the point of sacrificing his own physical health in order to maintain the spiritual health of his people. Bishop Raphael died on February 27^th, 1915, at his home in Brooklyn. His funeral was attended by hundreds of people, including clergy from all ethnic backgrounds, illustrating his love for all of the people of God regardless of where they came from. The sacred relics of Saint Raphael, “the good shepherd of the lost sheep in North America,” were first interred in a crypt beneath the holy table at his Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn on March 7^th, 1915, before being moved to the Syrian section of Mount Olivet Cemetery in Brooklyn on April 2^nd, 1922. They were finally translated to the Holy Resurrection Cemetery at the Antiochian Village near Ligonier, Pennsylvania, on August 15^th, 1988. His sanctity was officially proclaimed by the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America on March 29^th, 2000, and his glorification was celebrated on May 29^th of that year at the Monastery of Saint Tikhon in Pennsylvania.

February 27

Stephen the Monk

February 27

Gelasios the Actor and Martyr of Heliopolis

February 27

Nesios the Martyr

Wisdom of the Fathers

He indicates the dispositions of each, calling the one kids, the other sheep, that He might indicate the unfruitfulness of the one, for no fruit will come from kids; and the great profit from the other, for indeed from sheep great is the profit, as well from the milk, as from the wool, and from the young, of all which things the kid is destitute.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily on Matt. XXV, 4th Century

For when one has pity on the poor, he lends to God; and he who gives to the least gives to God--sacrifices spiritually to God an odour of a sweet smell.

St. Cyprian of Carthage

The Lord's Prayer, 33. B#41, p.102, 3rd century

Archdiocese News

COMMUNIQUE Arrival of the Archbishop to Greece-Phanar

02/25/2022

On Friday, February 25, 2022, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America arrived in Thessaloniki, Greece in order to inaugurate a special five-part pilgrimage series organized by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in celebration of its one hundredth year.

https://www.goarch.org/-/archbishop-elpidophoros-pilgrimage-2022-a

SPEAKER SERIES: Orthodox Scholars Preach Judgment Sunday, February 27

02/23/2022

Dr. Lori Branch : Associate professor of Restoration and Eighteenth-Century English Literature, University of Iowa.

https://www.goarch.org/-/speaker-series-feb-27-2022

Metropolis of Pittsburgh GOYA Retreat

02/23/2022

Metropolis of Pittsburgh GOYA Retreat

https://www.goarch.org/-/metropolis-pittsburgh-goya-retreat-2022

From the Metropolis of Atlanta - GOYA Retreats

02/23/2022

From the Metropolis of Atlanta - GOYA Retreats

https://www.goarch.org/-/goya-retreats-metropolis-atlanta-2022

Metropolis of NJ Annual GOYA Basketball Tournament

02/22/2022

On February 19 -20, 2022, His Grace Bishop Apostolos of Medeia visited the parish of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Wilmington, Delaware as the parish hosted their Annual GOYA Basketball Tournament attended by over 300 GOYAns from 9 area parishes.

https://www.goarch.org/-/metropolis-nj-basketball-tournament-2022

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins

Parish News

Insert

Man of God

Gus Constantellis

Loukoumathes

Apokriatiko 2022

MDSC 70th Anniversary NEW DATE!!!

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode

Apolytikion of the Church in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Seasonal Kontakion in the First Mode

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

Saints and Feasts

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)

Procopius the Confessor of Decapolis

Raphael of Brooklyn

Stephen the Monk

Gelasios the Actor and Martyr of Heliopolis

Nesios the Martyr

Wisdom of the Fathers

Archdiocese News

COMMUNIQUE Arrival of the Archbishop to Greece-Phanar

02/25/2022

SPEAKER SERIES: Orthodox Scholars Preach Judgment Sunday, February 27

02/23/2022

Metropolis of Pittsburgh GOYA Retreat

02/23/2022

From the Metropolis of Atlanta - GOYA Retreats

02/23/2022

Metropolis of NJ Annual GOYA Basketball Tournament

02/22/2022