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: Dr. George Antonatos, 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, 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, Margaret, James, Kyriake,  Joseph, Alex Aclim, Jane Anderson, Gwen H, Lewis Hayberg, Jayden Billeter and Joan Manias.

A WORD FROM:

V. Rev Fr. Maximos Politis, HTGOC Parish Priest

(347) 500-8176 [email protected]

“..ζωήν προμνηστεύεται θάνατος” 

 Η επί γης ζωή των Αγίων της Εκκλησίας μας είναι διαποτισμένη από την ελπίδα της μέλλουσας. Ο Άγιος, και μαζί του κάθε Πιστός, ζει, κινείται και εγκαταλείπει τον κόσμο με την βεβαιότητα ότι τον περιμένουν τα αγαθά της αιώνιας ζωής εκεί που δεν υπάρχει πόνος, θλίψη και στεναγμός. Αυτό που για τον κοσμικό ονομάζεται θάνατος, για τον Πιστό είναι κοίμηση. Δύο είναι οι γιορτές που τονίζουν εμφατικά αυτή την ελπίδα. Η Ανάσταση του Κυρίου, δηλ. το Πάσχα, και η Κοίμηση της Θεοτόκου, την οποία κάποιοι ονομάζουν Πάσχα του Καλοκαιριού. Όπως η εορτή της Ανάστασης έχει έντονα πανηγυρικό χαρακτήρα, έτσι και η εορτή της Κοίμησης της Θεοτόκου. Δεν ονομάζεται θάνατος. Η λέξη Κοίμηση φανερώνει ότι το γεγονός είναι προσωρινό και αναμένουμε την αφύπνιση. Στα τροπάρια ονομάζεται “αθάνατη Κοίμηση”.

Ο θάνατος, όπως το έχουν σημειώσει, εκτός από τους θεολόγους, και οι ψυχαναλυτές, ψυχοθεραπευτές και ψυχολόγοι, συνδέεται με την βαθιά κρίση την οποία περνά ο άνθρωπος. Γνωρίζουμε ότι ο άνθρωπος στην ζωή του περνά μέσα από διαδοχικές κρίσεις θανάτου. Από την παιδική του ηλικία, μέσα από τις διάφορες καταστάσεις που βιώνει, συνειδητοποιεί ότι ο θάνατος είναι ένα γεγονός τελικό και αμετάκλητο. Αυτό του δημιουργεί τα πρώτα ερωτήματα για την ζωή και τον θάνατο. Στη συνέχεια, οι διάφορες καταστάσεις που περνάει, δημιουργούν ανασφάλειες και προβλήματα που συνδέονται με την αβεβαιότητα της ζωής και του θανάτου. Τα ναρκωτικά, οι βλαβερές συνήθειες και οι εθισμοί είναι χίμαιρες, δηλαδή απραγματοποίητα όνειρα, με τα οποία προσπαθεί να μεταφερθεί σε κόσμους φανταστικούς χωρίς την παρουσία της φθοράς και του θανάτου. Η υπερκατανάλωση, η εναπόθεση της ελπίδας στην Επιστήμη και Τεχνολογία, ακόμα και η οικολογική καταστροφή του πλανήτη, είναι τα αποτελέσματα των προσπαθειών του να στεγάσει τις ανασφάλειές του σε ψεύτικα καταφύγια. 

Η εορτή της Κοίμησης, μέσα από την υμνολογία της Εκκλησίας, βεβαιώνει ότι ο θάνατος της Παναγίας είναι ο αρραβώνας για την αιώνια ζωή όπου τώρα βρίσκεται και από όπου ευχόμαστε να πρεσβεύει για την σωτηρίας μας. 

“Nενίκηνται τῆς φύσεως οἱ ὅροι, ἐν σοί, Παρθένε ἄχραντε· παρθενεύει γάρ τόκος, καί ζωήν προμνηστεύεται θάνατος· Ἡ μετά τόκον Παρθένος, καί μετά θάνατον ζῶσα, σώζοις ἀεί, Θεοτόκε τήν κληρονομίαν Σου.”

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

 “...death is the espousal of life”

The earthly life of the Saints of our Church is imbued with the hope of the future one. The Saint, and with him every Faithful, lives, works and leaves the world with the certainty that the goods of eternal life await him where there is no pain, sorrow and sigh. What for the secular man is called death, to the Faithful is just sleep. There are two celebrations that emphatically manifest this hope. The Resurrection of the Lord, ie Easter, and the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which some call the Easter of Summer. Just as the feast of the Resurrection is intensely solemn, so is the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin. It is not called death. The word Sleep reveals that the fact is temporary, and we await awakening. In the troparia it is called "immortal Sleep".

Death, as noted by not only theologians but also psychoanalysts, psychotherapists and psychologists, is associated with the deep crisis that man goes through. We know that man in his life goes through successive death crises. From his childhood, through the various situations he experiences, he realizes that death is a final and irreversible event. This raises his first questions about life and death. Then, the various situations he goes through, create insecurities and problems associated with the uncertainty of life and death. Drugs, bad habits and addictions are chimeras, that is, unfulfilled dreams, with which he tries to be transported to imaginary worlds without the presence of decay and death. Overconsumption, the pinning of hope on Science and Technology, and even the ecological catastrophe of the planet are the results of his efforts to house his insecurities in fake shelters.

The feast of the Assumption, through the hymnology of the Church, confirms that the death of the Virgin Mary is the espousal for the eternal life where she is now and from where we wish and pray to her to intercede for our salvation.

“The bounds of nature are overcome in you, O immaculate Virgin; for your childbirth is virginal, and your death is the espousal of life. O you who after childbirth are virgin, and after are living, do you O Theotokos, ever save your inheritance.”

CHURCH OFFICE:

Upcoming Event:

• Dormition of the Theotokos Luncheon Sunday, August 18th. Our Philoptochos chapter is named in honor of this event and is offering a luncheon for our parish . Adults:$15 - Children under 12 $10   u                                                                                                          

( You may purchase tickets online or at the luncheon.) https://www. holytrinitystaugustine. org/dormition- luncheon

• 40 days memorial service for Dr. George Antonatos will be on Sunday August 18th.

• Sunday, August 25^th  Sunday School Registration and Blessing Of The Backpacks -We invite all students and parents to join us that day as we pray for a  successful school year. This is also the day for Sunday Church School Registration. Registration forms will be available in the Narthex. After divine liturgy, please visit the Sunday school classrooms and meet with the teachers. 

  We look forward to providing a fun and educational environment to help our children grow in faith. 

• Saint Phanourios-All are invited to offer a Phanouropita in honor of St. Phanourios on Sunday, August 25.  The holy, glorious and right-victorious 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, restoring health and similar situations.  He is honored by the faithful through a symbolic cake, called the "Phanouropita," which can be brought to the church, at any time, for a blessing. 

• Hall Rental- The John C Carlos Fellowship Hall at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in St. Augustine is available! With a cool 2500 sq. f t. space and seating for 200, this place is perfect for all your celebration needs. Want to host a reception, party, meeting, or even a lecture? Look no further! Kitchen facilities are available for all your catering desires. For pricing and reservations, Give us a call at 904 - 829 - 0504 or contact by email www.holytrinitystaugustine.org. We are open Monday to Thursday from 9:00 to 1:00 and Friday from 9:00 to 12:00.

If you have an article for the Bulletin or Newsletter please send by Wednesday each week to Carey at the Church office.  You can send to [email protected].