March 05
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2017-03-05
Bulletin Contents
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
General Information
- Phone:
- (904)-829-0504
- Fax:
- (904)829-0507
- Email:
- HOLY3GOC@gmail.com
- Street Address:
- 2940 CR-214
- St. Augustine, FL 32084-2718
Contact Information
Services Schedule
Sunday Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Fr. John Hays, Interim Priest
Past Bulletins
- Publish Date:
- 2017-06-04
- Publish Date:
- 2017-05-28
- Publish Date:
- 2017-05-21
- Publish Date:
- 2017-05-14
- Publish Date:
- 2017-05-07
- Publish Date:
- 2017-04-30
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 4th Tone
When the women Disciples of the Lord had learned from the Angel the joyful message of the Resurrection and had rejected the ancestral decision, they cried aloud to the Apostles triumphantly: Death has been despoiled, Christ God has risen, granting His great mercy to the world.
Apolytikion for Sun. of Orthodoxy in the 2nd Tone
We worship Thine immaculate icon, O Good One, asking the forgiveness of our failings, O Christ our God; for of Thine own will Thou wast well-pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh, that Thou mightest deliver from slavery to the enemy those whom Thou hadst fashioned. Wherefore, we cry to Thee thankfully: Thou didst fill all things with joy, O our Saviour, when Thou camest to save the world.
Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal 4th Tone
To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"
Saints and Feasts
March 05
Sunday of Orthodoxy
For more than one hundred years the Church of Christ was troubled by the persecution of the Iconoclasts of evil belief, beginning in the reign of Leo the Isaurian (717-741) and ending in the reign of Theophilus (829-842). After Theophilus's death, his widow the Empress Theodora (celebrated Feb. 11), together with the Patriarch Methodius (June 14), established Orthodoxy anew. This ever-memorable Queen venerated the icon of the Mother of God in the presence of the Patriarch Methodius and the other confessors and righteous men, and openly cried out these holy words: "If anyone does not offer relative worship to the holy icons, not adoring them as though they were gods, but venerating them out of love as images of the archetype, let him be anathema." Then with common prayer and fasting during the whole first week of the Forty-day Fast, she asked God's forgiveness for her husband. After this, on the first Sunday of the Fast, she and her son, Michael the Emperor, made a procession with all the clergy and people and restored the holy icons, and again adorned the Church of Christ with them. This is the holy deed that all we the Orthodox commemorate today, and we call this radiant and venerable day the Sunday of Orthodoxy, that is, the triumph of true doctrine over heresy.
March 05
Conon the Gardener
This saint lived during the reign of emperor Decius in 251. He came from the town of Nazareth. He left his hometown and went to the city of Mandron, in the province of Pamphylia. There he stayed at a place called Karmela or Karmena cultivating a garden which he used to water and plant with various vegetables. From this garden he obtained what is necessary for life. He had such an upright and simple mind that, when he met those who wished to arrest him and saw that they greeted him, he also greeted in return from the bottom of his soul and heart. When they told him that governor Publius called the saint to go to him, the saint answered with simplicity: "What does the governor need me, since I am a Christian? Let him call those who think the way he does and have the same religion with him." So, the blessed man was tied and brought to the governor, who tried to move him to sacrifice to the idols. But the saint sighed from the bottom of his heart, cursed the tyrant and confirmed his faith in Christ with his confession, saying that it is not possible to be moved from it even though he might be tortured cruelly. So, for this reason they nailed his feet and made the saint run in front of the governor's coach. But the saint fainted in the street. Having fallen on his knees, he prayed and, thus, he commended his holy soul to the hands of God.
March 05
Mark the Ascetic
Saint Mark the Ascetic lived in the fifth century and according to Nicephorus Callistus was a disciple of Saint John Chrysostom's. Besides his blameless life of asceticism, Saint Mark was distinguished for his writings, some of which are preserved in Volume One of the Philokalia. His writings were held in such great esteem that in old times there was a saying, "Sell all that thou hast, and buy Mark."
March 05
Righteous Father Mark of Athens
Of our righteous Fathers commemorated today, Saint Mark of Athens lived in the fourth century. Born in Athens of pagan parents, he believed in Christ, was baptized, and forsook the world, living the eremitical life in extreme privation in the deep wilderness beyond Egypt. His life is recounted by the monk Serapion, who found Mark in deep old age and about to depart this lfe, not having seen a man for ninety-five years. Serapion gave him burial after his blessed repose, even as Paphnutius had done for Saint Onuphrius (see June 12).
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Matins Gospel Reading
Fourth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:1-12
On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered in to the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened.
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. 4th 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 the Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40.
Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets -- who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign enemies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated -- of whom the world was not worthy -- wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Gospel Reading
Sunday of Orthodoxy
The Reading is from John 1:43-51
At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."
Parish News
Memorials are offered today for Rev. Fr. Nicholas Harbatis (1 year) and Pres. Mary Harbatis (3 years)
Special Prayers: Let us please pray for the spiritual and physical health of the whole world and especially Betty Day, Jim Manos, Jane Anderson, Steve Sarris, Chresanthe Lemieux, and all in this community in need.
Tuesday, March 7, 6 pm Metropolitan Alexios will be at St John the Divine to discuss the many life-changing ministries and programs of our Metropolis. All neighboring Greek Orthodox Churches are invited to attend.
Wednesday, March 8, Presanctified Liturgy at 5:30 pm, followed by a Lenten potluck and Bible study
Friday, March 10--Sunday March 12, Lenten YES (Youth Equipped to Serve) Retreat at St. John the Divine. Visit FOCUS North America website at https://portal.focusna.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=330, contact Katrina Bitar (602) 790.6900 kbitar@focusna.org, or call Alyssa Kyritsis at (904) 396.5383 x12 to register.
Sunday School News: Please mark your calendars for our annual Holy Friday Youth Retreat on April 14th “Together in Christ.” There will be crafts, activities, lessons, decorating the ‘komvouklion’, snacks and, of course, worship. Plan to have your children spend Great and Holy Friday in between the morning services at the Church!
Sunday, March 12, 2-5pm Pre-Sale at 16 Versaggi St., St. Augstine FL 32080 Only Church Members are exclusively invited to attend a special pre-sale of the estate property most generously bequeathed to Holy Trinity by the late Mr. Charles Maragon, of blessed memory. The estate sale for the general public will be on March 16-17, 2017. (See details in the attached copy of a letter sent to Members in good standing with current Stewardship.)
Sunday March 19, Parish Oratorical & Creative Arts Festival Open to Holy Trinity children of all ages. Select from topics available at http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/religioused/sjcof and then complete & submit to the Church Office a downloaded Registration Form to enter.
Holy Trinity Stewardship: Stewardship is the regular practice of returning to God a portion of all that God has given us. This includes spreading the teachings of Christ and the concept of giving regularly of our time, talent, and money to work on this earth is as much a spiritual practice as prayer and worship.
Please prayerfully consider your 2017 Holy Trinity Church Stewardship commitment. Complete a Holy Trinity Church Stewardship commitment card, and return commitment card to the church office (or stewardship box in the narthex).
Weekly Offering: You can decide how much you might contribute to support the church’s ministry. Your gift goes to ensuring that our church is open and accessible to all who seek Her comfort. These donations are very important to the vitality of our parish. Your offering can be made at the collection basket as you exit the service.
February 26, 2017 offerings: Candles $185, Tray $155, Stewardship $2605.66
March 1st Security Code Change If you have an exterior door key to serve specific Church ministry needs, please obtain the updated information from the office or Parish Council Officers TODAY.
Do you need documentation of your 2016 contributions to Holy Trinity for tax purposes? Please contact Nicola at nicola.lykam@gmail.com, or leave a message for her at the church office 904.829.0504.
Reminders about Approaching for Holy CommunionAll Baptized/Chrismated Orthodox Christians who have prepared to receive Holy Communion are asked to wait in their pews for the direction of the usher guiding Communicants row-by-row up the center aisle. Families with children are encouraged to Commune together. The usher will first guide from the back of the church those Newly Baptized/Illumined and Families with Infants, followed by the Sunday School Children processing with their teachers.
Is your Parishioner Contact Information up to date? If you are new to the community or changing addresses/contact information, please ask parish council members for an information sheet, which can be dropped off, mailed, or emailed to the church at holy3goc@gmail.com. As we are constantly updating mailing lists, please send an email to the church with to affirm/clarify/update this information as needed.