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:

Kypros Proestos – Frank Reder – George Sares – Paul Sieben

THIS WEEK’S ALTAR FLOWERS ARE SPONSORED BY: Ourania Bekos and Family in loving memory of Ilias Bekos. May His Memory Be Eternal.

THIS WEEK’S PROSFORA IS OFFERED BY: Ourania Bekos & Sophia Spillson

Thank you and God Bless you.

Epistle Readers: Greek - Basil Apostolou English - Dr. Susan Sieben

THIS WEEK’S COFFEE HOUR IS OFFERED BY – Daughters of Penelope

THIS WEEK AT HOLY TRINITY:

Tuesday, April 25^th: Bible Study 10 am, Open Pantry Day 11:30-12:30, Warm Hands to Warm Hearts 1 pm.

Wednesday, April 26^th: No Bible Study, Adult Greek School via zoom 6 pm

Thursday, April 27^th: Aurora House Cooking class 5:30 pm

1ST ANNUAL DAUGHTERS OF PENELOPE CHILI COOK-OFF IS TODAY!!!!! –$10 for 10 samples to vote on. Proceeds go to the Daughters of Penelope Scholarship Fund.

Invite all your girlfriends! Bring your female family! Philoptochos and Daughters of Penelope annual Mother’s Day (and all Ladies) luncheon will be held at Georgio’s on Saturday, May 13, 2023 from noon to 3 pm. This year's theme: "Pretty in Pink, Peach and Pastels!" Enjoy games, prizes, and a raffle. In our Pad the Pantry effort, please bring hygiene items to earn free raffle tickets. Choose from Georgio's menu: Beef Stroganoff, Pastry Wrapped Chicken, or Poached Salmon. Purchase tickets after liturgy on April 23, April 30, and May 7. Questions? Contact Nancy at 419-460-0965 or Rodgers.nancy4@gmail.com

Young at Heart Lancaster trip: Please, submit your $75 deposit for the Lancaster, Moses trip by May 21, 2023. Total cost of the trip is $545 with the final payment due by July 21, 2023. The trip is October 2nd to October 5th which includes a visit to Gettysburg National Park. All checks are to be made payable to 'Young at Heart' and can be given to Faye, Gene, or Kris. Thank you.

Food Pantry: Our Pantry ministry has been a great success thanks to the generous donations from our parishioners. The Pantry is now doing distributions three out of the four weeks each month, We really need your donations. Please consider supporting this greatly-needed community ministry. This month, our most needed items are: canned chicken and tuna, pancake syrup and canned fruit. As always we gratefully accept monetary donations. Thank you!

Update on Father Angelo and how you can help: As many of you know Father Angelo was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. He continues to receive treatments. We have been informed that a savings account has been setup for him and his family. If you are interested in donating please make checks payable to National Financial Services. Please note: Fr. Angelo or Artemas in the Memo. Please mail your donation to Pinnacle Financial 570 Lake Cook Road, Suite #128 Deerfield IL 60015. Please keep Father and family and in your prayers.

STEWARDSHIP: The first quarter of our 2023 Stewardship Campaign is over and we still are missing a lot of pledges. To all of you who have submitted your commitment card, we thank you. To those of you who haven’t, please do so. We need everyone’s support to reach our goal of $275,000. Let’s make this the best campaign ever!

The Raftopoulos Scholarship is now available. Please call the Church to receive your application. Deadline is May1st.

PHILOPTOCHOS SCHOLARSHIP IS NOW AVAILABLE – If you’re interested in applying, please contact Phyllis Manton at 419-290-2527 or the Church Office for an application. The deadline is April 30^th, 2023.

Warm Hands to Warm Hearts We want to Thank everyone who went with us to Divine Rehabilitation and Nursing Home, to deliver more than 70 Lap Blankets. It was a blessing to see their faces when they received the Blankets made with love. Thank You, to everyone who donated yarn, who made pieces or finished Lap Blankets.

Our Next meeting is April 25, 2023 at 1:00 pm. in the Veronie Hall. Everyone is welcome to join us. We accomplish so much and enjoy fellowship that warm our hearts. Some volunteers organize rectangles into piles by color and design. Others arrange pieces into beautiful patterns that will be sewn together. A few ladies organize donated yarn while others crochet, knit and practice new stitches. In addition, several fold finished lap blankets and a few baby blankets to add to our growing collection. We put together many blankets. It truly was all warm hands-on deck! Everyone is welcome to come or help by making, 7 in by 9-inch pieces. We also need yarn donations. We want to Thank Everyone who is helping with this Ministry. For Questions, contact Dorothy Yakumithis 419-867-0734, Maria Petros 419-473-2387 or Elena Perry 419-265-6275

Update: The local, District and National scholarships are now available for submission. The local AHEPA/Daughters scholarships use the same application to determine recipients. The application can be found at www.toledo.buckeyedistrict11.org. Due date is April 19, 2023. The District scholarship application is available online at www.bsf.buckeyedistrict11.org and is due March 31, 2023. As a reminder, the District scholarship does not have a minimum GPA requirement. Please refer to www.ahepa.org for details on the National scholarship.

MDSC Staff Application Now Open! For those interested in serving our camp please visit https://gomdsc.org/staff-opportunities/ for more information.

Daughters of Penelope Walk with NAMI in 2023: NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. NAMI Walks promotes awareness of mental health, raises funds for NAMI’s free, top-rated programs, and builds community by letting people know they are not alone. Please JOIN OUR TEAM OR MAKE A DONATION. Donating to NAMI through our team page is easy, fast and secure. Please go to https://namitoledo.org to make a donation.

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 April and May. Please call Connie Mynihan at 419-250-4899 or email at cmynihan5@gmail.com

ALTAR FLOWERS ARE NEEDED FOR November 5th & 12th 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.

UP-COMING MEMORIALS: April 30th – Richard & Barbara Hartford – 1 year; Pauline Photos Kambour – 3 years; Konstantinos Tsapranis – 3 years (Trisagion); May 7^th Jane (Papahages) Titer – 40 days; May 14th – Cathy Georgiafandis Craig – 40 days; May 21st - Roula Manton – 1 year

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Chili Cook-Off

The daughters of Penelope are holding a chili cook-off! Please see the flyer for details!

Nami Walk 2023

The daughters of Penelope are supporting Nami of Toledo. Please see the flyer to learn more.

Ukraine Relief Fund

Together, the Archdiocese and IOCC aim to raise $1 million for both immediate and long-term support of the Ukrainian people. Please click on the flyer for more information.

Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal First Mode

Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life.

Apolytikion for Thomas Sun. in the Grave Mode

Whilst the tomb was sealed, Thou, O Life, didst shine forth from the grave, O Christ God; and whilst the doors were shut, Thou didst come unto Thy disciples, O Resurrection of all, renewing through them an upright Spirit in us according to Thy great mercy.

Apolytikion for Great Martyr George in the Fourth Mode

Liberator of captives, defender of the poor, physician of the sick, and champion of kings, O trophy-bearer, Great Martyr George, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Though You went down into the tomb, You destroyed Hades' power, and You rose the victor, Christ God, saying to the myrrh-bearing women, "Hail!" and granting peace to Your disciples, You who raise up the fallen.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

First Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Matthew 28:16-20

At that time, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw Him they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. Amen."

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. 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 12:1-11.

About that time, Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword; and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison; but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the Church.

The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison; and behold, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, "Wrap your mantle around you and follow me." And he went out and followed him; he did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened to them of its own accord, and they went out and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel left him. And Peter came to himself, and said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."

Gospel Reading

Thomas Sunday
The Reading is from John 20:19-31

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe." Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered Him, "My Lord and My God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you may have life in His name.

Saints and Feasts

April 23

Thomas Sunday

Though the doors were shut at the dwelling where the disciples were gathered for fear of the Jews on the evening of the Sunday after the Passover, our Saviour wondrously entered and stood in their midst, and greeted them with His customary words, "Peace be unto you." Then He showed unto them His hands and feet and side; furthermore, in their presence, He took some fish and a honeycomb and ate before them, and thus assured them of His bodily Resurrection. But Thomas, who was not then present with the others, did not believe their testimony concerning Christ's Resurrection, but said in a decisive manner, "Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe." Wherefore after eight days, that is, on this day, when the disciples were again gathered together and Thomas was with them, the Lord Jesus came while the doors were shut, as He did formerly. Standing in their midst, He said, "Peace be unto you"; then He said to Thomas, "Bring hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not unbelieving, but believing."

And Thomas, beholding and examining carefully the hands and side of the Master, cried out with faith, "My Lord and my God." Thus he clearly proclaimed the two natures - human and divine - of the God-man (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-29).

This day is called Antipascha (meaning "in the stead of Pascha," not "in opposition to Pascha") because with this day, the first Sunday after Pascha, the Church consecrates every Sunday of the year to the commemoration of Pascha, that is, the Resurrection.

April 23

George the Great Martyr and Triumphant

George, this truly great and glorious Martyr of Christ, was born of a father from Cappadocia and a mother from Palestine. Being a military tribune, or chiliarch (that is, a commander of a thousand troops), he was illustrious in battle and highly honoured for his courage. When he learned that the Emperor Diocletian was preparing a persecution of the Christians, Saint George presented himself publicly before the Emperor and denounced him. When threats and promises could not move him from his steadfast confession, he was put to unheard-of tortures, which he endured with great bravery, overcoming them by his faith and love towards Christ. By the wondrous signs that took place in his contest, he guided many to the knowledge of the truth, including Queen Alexandra, wife of Diocletian, and was finally beheaded in 296 in Nicomedia.

His sacred remains were taken by his servant from Nicomedia to Palestine, to a town called Lydda, the homeland of his mother, and then were finally transferred to the church which was raised up in his name. (The translation of the Saint's holy relics to the church in Lydda is commemorated on November 3; Saint Alexandra the Queen, on April 21.)

If April 23 falls on or before Great and Holy Pascha, the Feast of St. George is translated to Bright Monday.

Wisdom of the Fathers

The Lord stoops to the level even of our feeble understanding. He works a miracle of His invisible power in order to satisfy the doubts of unbelieving minds.

St. Hilary of Poitiers

On the Trinity, 1.20. Taken from: Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Vol: John. Intervarsity Press, 2007, p. 369.

For great is the dignity of the priests. ... And hold them very exceedingly in honor; for you indeed care about your own affairs, and if you order them well, you give no account for others; ...

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 86, 4th Century

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