Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-08-10
Bulletin Contents
Parish News
Hymns of the Day
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings

Organization Icon
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (904)-829-0504
  • Fax:
  • (904)829-0504
  • Street Address:

  • 2940 CR-214

  • St. Augustine, FL 32084-2718

Contact Information

Thomas Lekas


[email protected] | 678-993-3629

Services Schedule

Sunday  Divine Liturgy 10:00am    V. Rev. Father Maximos Politis, Priest

Past Bulletins


Parish News

PRAYER REQUEST:

"I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people….  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

We pray for mercy, life, peace, and healing of all parishioners.

Prayers for the family and friends of: Ellen Sarris Allen, Maryann Bolt, Leonardos Daniels, Athena Duddy, Mikae Gaetanos, Susana G. Kugeares, Kostas Lantzounis, Chresanthe Lemieux, George Lemieux, Jr., James Mahourtis, Mary Mastoridis, Nicolaos Pramagioulis, Adeline Susan Rahaneotis, Tommy Stewart and Trey Wilkinson.

May their memory be eternal!

Prayers for Taki Andriotis, Angelique Dalarides Kelley, Michael Colburn, Chris Bersu, Michael and Ingrid Fotianos, Ruza Basimamovic, Zoe Kauttu (daughter of Melissa Sarris Kauttu), James Day, James, Kyriake, Alex Aclim, Jane Anderson, Gwen H, Lewis Hayberg,Jayden Billeter, Vanessa Oliver and Chris.

A WORD FROM:

V. Rev Fr. Maximos Politis, HTGOC Parish Priest

(347) 500-8176 [email protected]

«Κύριε, καλόν εστιν ημάς ώδε είναι.»

Οι τρεις Μαθητές, Πέτρος Ιάκωβος και Ιωάννης Απόστολος Πέτρος έχουν μια μοναδική εμπειρία στο όρος Θαβώρ. Ο Πέτρος ενθουσιασμένος, εκστατικός με το θέαμα, αναφωνεί: «Κύριε, καλόν εστιν ημάς ώδε είναι‧ ει θέλεις, ποιήσωμεν ώδε τρεις σκηνάς...». Με άλλα λόγια, «Είναι καλό, είναι πολύ ωραία να μείνουμε εδώ». Ερμηνεύοντας αυτά τα λόγια, κάποιοι μελετητές ακόμα και Πατέρες της Εκκλησίας, διακρίνουν αμηχανία και σύγχυση στον Απόστολο. Από την άλλη πλευρά άλλοι Άγιοι θεωρούν ότι σε αυτά τα λόγια αποτυπώνεται το έντονο βίωμα του Πέτρου. Ο Μαθητής γνώριζε ότι σύντομα θα επέστρεφαν στην πόλη όπου ζούσαν. Μετά από αυτή την υπερφυσική εμπειρία επρόκειτο να συναντήσουν τον θόρυβο, την ταραχή, τα προβλήματα της πόλης. Τι νόημα είχε από την ουράνια κατάσταση που βρέθηκαν, να βρεθούν στην εντελώς γήινη πραγματικότητα; Κάθε άνθρωπος στη θέση του θα αντιδρούσε με τον ίδιο τρόπο.  

Μήπως όμως και εμείς, ως Χριστιανοί, σύμφωνα με τα μέτρα μας έχουμε παρόμοια εμπειρία; «Ανάσταση Χριστού θεασάμενοι...» λέμε κατά τη διάρκεια της Θείας Λειτουργίας. Ακόμα, μετά την Θεία Κοινωνία ψάλλουμε ότι «Εἵδομεν τό φῶς το αληθινό». Δεν λέει απλώς ότι πληροφορηθήκαμε ή ακούσαμε περί της Αναστάσεως ή του φωτός. Γίναμε μέτοχοι της Αναστάσεως, είδαμε το φως το αληθινό. Ο θησαυρός που μας παρέχει ο Χριστός με την Εκκλησία Του, γέμισε την ψυχή μας. Εάν δεν είχαμε αυτή την Θεία γεύση, την Θεία αίσθηση κάτι συμβαίνει. Σύμφωνα με τα λόγια του Χριστού, όπου ο θησαυρός, εκεί βρίσκεται και η καρδιά μας. Βρήκαμε αυτό τον θησαυρό στην Εκκλησία; «καλόν εστιν ημάς ώδε είναι».

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Lord, it is good for us to be here”

The three disciples—Peter, James, and John—experienced a profound moment on Mount Tabor. Overcome with awe at the vision before him, Peter exclaims, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make three tabernacles here...” In other words, “It is good—it is very beautiful to remain here.”

 

In interpreting these words, some scholars—including Fathers of the Church—discern hesitation and confusion in the Apostle. Others, however, believe they reflect Peter’s overwhelming experience. He understood that they would soon return to the city where they lived. After witnessing this supernatural event, they would once again face the noise, the chaos, and the burdens of daily life. What meaning could earthly reality hold after encountering such divine glory? Surely, anyone in his position would react similarly.

 

But do we, as Christians, experience something similar in our own way?

"Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ..."—we proclaim during the Divine Liturgy. Likewise, after Holy Communion, we chant, "We have seen the true light." These words do not simply mean that we have been informed or have heard about the Resurrection and the light—they signify that we have become partakers of the Resurrection, that we have seen the true light.

The treasure that Christ offers through His Church fills our souls. If we do not experience this divine taste, this spiritual awareness, something is missing. For, as Christ Himself declares, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Have we found this treasure within the Church?

"It is good for us to be here."

 

 

Events:

  Upcoming Events:    

  • "Blessing of the Backpacks"

 We encourage all parents and students to join us on August 10th for the Blessing of the backpacks for the start of the new school year

  • Discover the Ancient Faith

Join us on August 9th 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for a panel discussion featuring the Very Reverend Fr. Maximos Politis, Fr. Stephanos Ritsi, Iconographer Aristidis Kovaci and Parish president Thomas Lekas.

  • Sunday School Open House                                           

We’re excited to invite you and your family to be part of a new season of growth, learning, and fellowship at our Sunday school open house and registration event!
Sunday, August 24th 2025 - 12 noon (after Divine Liturgy)

  • Phanouropita Blessing

All are invited to offer a Phanouropita in honor of St. Phanourios on Sunday, August 24.  The Great-martyr Phanourios is commemorated on August 27.  St. Phanourios is known for assisting the faithful in revealing lost objects, directing or revealing actions that should be taken, and restoring health.  He is honored by the faithful through a symbolic cake, called the "Phanouropita," which can be brought to the church, for a blessing.  

  • Paraklesis

We will be having Paraklesis on August 1st, 8th and 13th at 6:00p.m.

We will be having Divine Liturgy August 6th at 10:00a.m. and August 15th Orthos at 9:00a.m.  and Divine Liturgy at 10:00a.m. 

  • Greek Festival 2025 

We need your assistance to make this years festival a success.  If you would like to be a sponsor of this fabulous event please click link www.stauggreekfest.com

   **If you have an article for The Sunday Messenger or Holy Trinity Herald  please email by Wednesday each week to Carey at the Church office to [email protected].

                            

BACK TO TOP

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal 4th Tone

You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and consented to a three-day burial, to free us from the passions. O Lord, our life and resurrection, glory to You! Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ Εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν κατεδέξω τριήμερον, ἵνα ἡμᾶς ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν παθῶν. Ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ ἀνάστασις ἡμῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Transfiguration in the Grave Tone

You were transfigured upon the mountain, O Christ our God, showing to Your disciples Your glory as much as they could bear. Do also in us, sinners though we may be, shine Your everlasting light, by the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Giver of light. Glory to You. Μετεμορφώθης ἐν τῷ ὄρει Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, δείξας τοῖς Μαθηταῖς σου τὴν δόξαν σου, καθὼς ἠδύναντο. Λάμψον καὶ ἡμῖν τοῖς ἁμαρτωλοῖς, τὸ φῶς σου τὸ ἀΐδιον, πρεσβείαις τῆς Θεοτόκου, φωτοδότα δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion for the Church in the 4th Tone

Blessed are You, O Christ our God; You made wise men of poor fishermen by sending down upon them Your Holy Spirit, and through them You caught the whole world, O Lover of mankind, glory to You.

Εύλογητός εἶ Χριστὲ ὁ Θεος ἡμῶν ὁ πανσόφους τοὺς ἁλιεῖς ἁναδείξας καταπέμψας αὐτοῖς τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον καὶ δι᾽ αὐτῶν τῆν οἰκουμένην σαγηνεύσας φιλάνθρωπε δόξα Σοι

Seasonal Kontakion in the Grave Tone

Upon the mountain were You transfigured, and Your disciples beheld Your glory as far as they were able, O Christ our God; so that when they would see You crucified they might understand that Your Passion was deliberate, and declare to the world that in truth You are the Father’s radiance. Ἐπὶ τοῦ ὄρους μετεμορφώθης, καὶ ὡς ἐχώρουν οἱ Μαθηταί σου τὴν δόξαν σου, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἐθεάσαντο, ἵνα ὅταν σε ἴδωσι σταυρούμενον, τὸ μὲν πάθος νοήσωσιν ἑκούσιον, τῷ δὲ κόσμῳ κηρύξωσιν, ὅτι σὺ ὑπάρχεις ἀληθῶς, τοῦ Πατρὸς τὸ ἀπαύγασμα.
BACK TO TOP

Saints and Feasts

August 10

9th Sunday of Matthew

August 10

Laurence the Holy Martyr & Archdeacon of Rome

This Saint, who was born in Spain, was the Archdeacon of the Church of Rome, caring for the sacred vessels of the Church and distributing money to the needy. About the year 257, a harsh persecution was raised up against the Christians by Valerian. Pope Sixtus, who was from Athens, was commanded to worship the idols, and refused; before his martyrdom by beheading, he committed to Laurence all the sacred vessels of the Church. When Laurence was arrested and brought before the Prefect, he was questioned concerning the treasures of the Church; he asked for three days' time to prepare them. He then proceeded to gather all the poor and needy, and presented them to the Prefect and said, "Behold the treasures of the Church." The Prefect became enraged at this and gave command that Laurence be racked, then scourged with scorpions (a whip furnished with sharp iron points - compare II Chron. 10:11), then stretched out on a red-hot iron grill. But the courageous athlete of Christ endured without groaning. After he had been burned on one side, he said, "My body is done on one side; turn me over on the other." And when this had taken place, the Martyr said to the tyrants, "My flesh is now well done, you may taste of it." And when he had said this, and had prayed for his slayers in imitation of Christ, he gave up his spirit on August 10, 258.

August 10

Hippolytus the Martyr of Rome

BACK TO TOP

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal 4th Tone. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 3:9-17.

Brethren, we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If any one destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and that temple you are.

Gospel Reading

9th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 14:22-34

At that time, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying "Take heart, it is I; have no fear."

And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they entered the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.

BACK TO TOP