News & Information

Upcoming Special Services
Orthros 8am / Divine Liturgy 9am

Classes
Bible Study Begins Wednesday, August 26th @ 6pm https://meet.google.com/vdq-qtix-hmr
Catechism & Sunday School Begin Sept. 6th

Sunday School sign-up: https://forms.gle/NHx2qvoRKkH86mhm7

Adult Catechism Sign-up: https://forms.gle/EDBTPVC1iuHrFj4z5

Holy Trinity GOC Greek School
The Greek School of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church offers children and adults the opportunity to learn the Modern Greek language and become familiar with Greek culture and history. Students develop reading, writing, and speaking skills in Greek while also learning about their cultural heritage. All classes are offered online and are open to everyone in the greater Roanoke area, with priority given to members of our parish. Please note that we teach Modern Greek, not Koine (New Testament) Greek. Children need to be able to read and write in English before enrolling.

Registration forms are available on the Church website at https://www.holytrinityroanoke.com/greek-school/ or you can find printed copies at the Church

(Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 30 Huntington Blvd, NE, Roanoke, VA 24012).

The Adult Beginner Greek Class has been filled to capacity and we will have a few names on a waiting list in case of withdrawals. Unfortunately, we cannot accept additional adult registrations for this school year. We apologize for not being able to accommodate everyone due to the limited availability of qualified teachers, but we appreciate the great interest in learning Modern Greek!

Thank you,

The Greek School Teachers:

Tom Contos, Rea Dania, Georgia Liagki

Greek School starts in October. Registration will be open until Sept. 30th.
For more information please contact: [email protected]

Virginia Tech Services at the War Memorial Chapel
601 Drillfield Dr., Blacksburg, VA 24061
All Orthodox Christians living in the New River Valley area are welcome to join us.
Monday, September 28th ⋅ 6:00pm

VMI Services
Thursday, September 24th ⋅ 8:00pm

Philoptochos

Philoptochos is in need of donations of non perishable snacks. Cookies, crackers, nuts, chips and kid drinks. All donations are appreciated.

Community Game Night
A game night for those who want to play a wide assortment of games and get to know your fellow parish members better in a group setting! Have a favorite? Bring it! Newcomers welcome!
Every 1st and 3rd Saturday After Vespers at 5pm In The Fellowship Hall!
18+ Unless accompanied by an adult

Big Fat Greek Drive-Thru

The Big Fat Greek Drive-Thru is right around the corner! It’s time to sign-up and volutneer for our largest fundraiser of the year! The Drive-thru will be held on September 25, 26 & 27.

Sign up today at https://bit.ly/4oZyPW4 or stop by the volunteer table in the Fellowship Hall each Sunday to sign up in person. Please volunteer as much time as possible! All baking and workdays are listed on the church’s online calendar. Mark your calendar for these IMPORTANT DATES.

· Set-up begins the week of September 21 – as of today 1 volunteer has signed up for Monday, NO VOLUNTEERS, Tuesday and Wednesday and 3 volunteers have signed up for Thursday

· Drive-Thru Days: September 25, 26 & 27

· Tear-down: Monday, September 28 – 3 volunteers have signed up as of today!

WE NEED STRONG MEN TO HELP WITH SET-UP AND TEAR DOWN! AS OF RIGHT NOW WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH HELP!

One great way to promote our event is by sharing billstuffers and posters with your friends, family, and community. You can find all the printed materials on the table at the entrance of the Fellowship Hall. It takes everyone’s effort to promote our event!

BIG FAT GREEK DRIVE-THRU VOLUNTEER T-SHIRTS – Show Your Spirit and Support Our Cause! We kindly ask all volunteers to wear a Drive-Thru t-shirt each day they work. Every day features a specific t-shirt color, helping us stay coordinated, and stand out while moving vehicles are in the parking lot! If you were with us last year, we will use the same colored t-shirts. If you are new to our community or need to replace last year’s t-shirt, we will have them available this Sunday, September 13 and September 20. If you are able, we welcome monetary donations toward the cost of the t-shirts. Proceeds will go toward supporting this year’s charities, making your contribution even more impactful. The t-shirt colors are as follows: on Friday we will wear the Sangria t-shirt, Saturday the Orange t-shirt and Sunday the White t-shirt. Thank you for your support and for being a part of something meaningful!

· CHURCH DUMPSTER GUIDELINES
The GFL dumpster located in the church parking lot is designated exclusively for church-related
events. It is NOT INTENDED for personal use or disposal of household items. Please continue
to place ALL COFFEE HOUR TRASH IN THE CITY TRASH CANS, NOT IN THE
DUMPSTER.
The church is responsible for all dumpster service and disposal costs. We have recently noticed
items being discarded that do not appear to be related to church functions. At this time, there
should be NO TRASH PLACED IN THE DUMPSTER. Because of the summer heat, trash
can quickly create unpleasant odors. In addition, the dumpster is serviced only when it reaches
capacity, making it important that it be used only for its intended purpose.
We appreciate everyone's cooperation in helping keep our church grounds clean and ensuring
that the dumpster remains available for church-related events.

Previous Announcements

Philoptochos
New members may join with a $30 membership fee. Returning members' dues can be paid now. You may pay at the membership table on Sunday.

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Welcome to All Visitors!
Communion
For those visiting an Orthodox Church for the first time, please be aware that Holy Communion is a sign of unity of faith, which is only offered to Baptized and Chrismated Orthodox Christians. However, all are welcome to come forward and receive the antidoron (or blessed bread) which is distributed at the end of the service.
Fellowship
Following Divine Liturgy, we invite you to join us for fellowship and refreshments in our hall. Please introduce yourself to one of our Parish Council or welcoming committee members who are gathered near the candle stand in the entrance area, so that we may have the chance to greet and welcome you properly. We strongly encourage you to fill out a Welcome to our Church form.
Office Hours
Fr. Theodore Lyketsos is our parish priest. Office hours are Monday-Thursday 9am until 2pm. Confession is available by appointment during this time as well as after Vespers on Saturday. If a need/emergency arises please contact the Church Office

Church Website

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 28.11,1.
The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20.

Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Προκείμενον. Grave Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 28.11,1.
Κύριος ἰσχὺν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ δώσει.
Στίχ. Ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ υἱοὶ Θεοῦ, ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ δόξαν καὶ τιμήν.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Γαλάτας 2:16-20.

Ἀδελφοί, εἰδότες ὅτι οὐ δικαιοῦται ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ἔργων νόμου, ἐὰν μὴ διὰ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐπιστεύσαμεν, ἵνα δικαιωθῶμεν ἐκ πίστεως Χριστοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων νόμου· διότι οὐ δικαιωθήσεται ἐξ ἔργων νόμου πᾶσα σάρξ. Εἰ δέ, ζητοῦντες δικαιωθῆναι ἐν Χριστῷ, εὑρέθημεν καὶ αὐτοὶ ἁμαρτωλοί, ἆρα Χριστὸς ἁμαρτίας διάκονος; Μὴ γένοιτο. Εἰ γὰρ ἃ κατέλυσα, ταῦτα πάλιν οἰκοδομῶ, παραβάτην ἐμαυτὸν συνίστημι. Ἐγὼ γὰρ διὰ νόμου νόμῳ ἀπέθανον, ἵνα θεῷ ζήσω. Χριστῷ συνεσταύρωμαι· ζῶ δέ, οὐκέτι ἐγώ, ζῇ δὲ ἐν ἐμοὶ Χριστός· ὃ δὲ νῦν ζῶ ἐν σαρκί, ἐν πίστει ζῶ τῇ τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ, τοῦ ἀγαπήσαντός με καὶ παραδόντος ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ.

Gospel Reading

Sunday after Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1

The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

Sunday after Holy Cross
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 8:34-38, 9:1

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· Εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι. ὃς γὰρ ἂν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι, ἀπολέσει αὐτήν· ὃς δ᾿ ἂν ἀπολέσῃ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, οὗτος σώσει αὐτήν. τί γὰρ ὠφελήσει ἄνθρωπον ἐὰν κερδήσῃ τὸν κόσμον ὅλον, καὶ ζημιωθῇ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ; ἢ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ; ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν ἐπαισχυνθῇ με καὶ τοὺς ἐμοὺς λόγους ἐν τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ τῇ μοιχαλίδι καὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ, καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπαισχυνθήσεται αὐτὸν ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐν τῇ δόξῃ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων τῶν ἁγίων. Καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι εἰσί τινες τῶν ὧδε ἑστηκότων, οἵτινες οὐ μὴ γεύσωνται θανάτου ἕως ἂν ἴδωσι τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐληλυθυῖαν ἐν δυνάμει.

Wisdom of the Fathers

The key to knowledge is the humility of Christ. The door of the Kingdom of Heaven is open, not to those who only know in their learned minds the mysteries of faith and the commandments of their Creator, but to those who have progressed far enough to live by them.

St. Bede the Venerable

Unknown, 8th century

To deny oneself means to give up one's bad habits; to root out of the heart all that ties us to the world; not to cherish bad thoughts and desires; to suppress every evil thought; to avoid occasions of sin; not to desire or to do anything out of self-love, but to do everything out of love for God. To deny oneself, according to St. Paul means "to be dead to sin. . . but alive to God."

St. Innocent of Alaska

The Lenten Spring, SVS Press, p. 147, 19th Century

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode

Thou didst abolish death by Thy Cross; Thou didst open Paradise to the thief; Thou didst transform the myrrh-bearers' lamentation, and didst bid Thine Apostles to preach that Thou art risen, O Christ God, granting great mercy to the world.

Κατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τὸν θάνατον, ἠνέῳξας τῷ Λῃστῇ τὸν Παράδεισον, τῶν Μυροφόρων τὸν θρῆνον μετέβαλες, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις κηρύττειν ἐπέταξας, ὅτι ἀνέστης Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Holy Cross in the First Mode

Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; grant Thou unto the faithful victory over adversaries. And by the power of Thy Cross do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth.

Σώσον Κύριε τόν λαόν σου καί ευλόγησον τήν κληρονομίαν σου, νίκας τοίς Βασιλεύσι κατά βαρβάρων δωρούμενος καί τό σόν φυλάττων διά τού Σταυρού σου πολίτευμα.

Apolytikion for Martyr Eustathius and His Companions in the Fourth Mode

Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.

Οι Μάρτυρές σου, Κύριε, εν τή αθλήσει αυτών, στεφάνους εκομίσαντο τής αφθαρσίας, εκ σού τού Θεού ημών, σχόντες γάρ τήν ισχύν σου, τούς τυράννους καθείλον, έθραυσαν καί δαιμόνων, τά ανίσχυρα θράση. Αυτών ταίς ικεσίαις, Χριστέ ο Θεός, σώσον τάς ψυχάς ημών.

Apolytikion of the Holy Trinity in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ πανσόφους τοὺς ἁλιεῖς ἀναδείξας, καταπέμψας αὐτοῖς τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον, καὶ δι' αὐτῶν τὴν οἰκουμένην σαγηνεύσας, φιλάνθρωπε, δόξα σοι.

Blessed are You, O Christ our God who, by sending down the Holy Spirit upon them, made the fishermen wise and through them, illumined the world, and to You the universe is ever drawn. O Loving God, Glory to You.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

Lifted up on the Cross by Your free will, Christ God, grant mercies to the new commonwealth that bears Your name. Gladden our faithful rulers by Your power, giving them victories over their adversaries. May Your alliance be for them a weapon for peace, an invincible standard.

Ο υψωθείς εν τώ Σταυρώ εκουσίως, τή επωνύμω σου καινή πολιτεία, τούς οικτιρμούς σου δώρησαι, Χριστέ ο Θεός, Εύφρανον εν τή δυνάμει σου, τούς πιστούς Βασιλείς ημών, νίκας χορηγών αυτοίς, κατά τών πολεμίων, τήν συμμαχίαν έχοιεν τήν σήν, όπλον ειρήνης, αήττητον τρόπαιον.

Diakonia Newsletter

Read the latest Diakonia Newsletter for this Sunday

https://bulletinbuilder.org/diakonia-newsletter/2026-09-20?source=bulletin_web

September 20, 2026

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