December 08
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2024-12-08
Bulletin Contents
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
General Information
- Phone:
- (904)-829-0504
- Fax:
- (904)829-0504
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Street Address:
- 2940 CR-214
- St. Augustine, FL 32084-2718
Contact Information
Services Schedule
Sunday Divine Liturgy 10:00am V. Rev. Father Maximos Politis, Priest
Past Bulletins
- Publish Date:
- 2024-12-01
- Publish Date:
- 2024-11-24
- Publish Date:
- 2024-11-17
- Publish Date:
- 2024-11-10
- Publish Date:
- 2024-11-03
- Publish Date:
- 2024-10-27
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: 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, James, Kyriake, Alex Aclim, Jane Anderson, Gwen H, Lewis Hayberg and Jayden Billeter .
A WORD FROM:
V. Rev Fr. Maximos Politis, HTGOC Parish Priest
(347) 500-8176 [email protected]
Το όραμα του Αγίου Ιερωνύμου
Κάποια Χριστούγεννα, ο Άγιος Ιερώνυμος, ο οποίος είναι Άγιος της Δύσης, βρέθηκε στη Βηθλεέμ, στο Σπήλαιο της Γέννησης και προσευχόταν. Ο Θεός παραχωρεί στους Αγίους να έχουν οράματα και, κατά τη διάρκεια της προσευχής του, ο Άγιος είδε τον Χριστό μπροστά του. Με έκπληξη ο Άγιος ρώτησε τον Χριστό: Τι μπορώ να κάνω, τι θα μπορούσα να σου προσφέρω σήμερα που γιορτάζουμε την Γέννησή σου; Και ο Χριστός του απάντησε: «Δώσε μου αυτό που κουβαλάς, με άλλα λόγια δώσε μου τις αμαρτίες σου για να σου τις συγχωρήσω.» Όπως κανένα λευκό ρούχο δεν μπορεί να είναι τόσο λευκό όσο το χιόνι, έτσι όσο και αν κάποιος είναι άγιος, αν συγκριθεί με τον Χριστό θα βρει ότι έχει κάποια ψεγάδια. Η εξομολόγηση των αμαρτιών μας είναι ό,τι καλύτερο μπορούμε να προσφέρουμε στον Κύριο. Ο Κύριος έγινε άνθρωπος και σταυρώθηκε για να μας λυτρώσει από την αμαρτία. Αυτό δεν γίνεται με κάποιον μαγικό τρόπο. Είναι ανάγκη ο άνθρωπος να προσέλθει στην εξομολόγηση.
Πηγαίνουμε στο Μυστήριο της εξομολόγησης για να ομολογήσουμε τα λάθη και τις αμαρτίες μας. Ο πιστός δεν περιορίζεται στην απλή καταγραφή της αμαρτίας αλλά εμβαθύνει και στις ρίζες του κακού. Δεν υπάρχει λόγος να πάει κάποιος στην εξομολόγηση και να πει ότι υπάρχουν θέματα και καταστάσεις που τον εμποδίζουν στην πνευματική του πορεία. Δεν έχει νόημα να πει, για παράδειγμα: Οι δικοί μου δεν με καταλαβαίνουν ή ότι τα παιδιά μου με τυρανούν. Γιατί τότε περιορίζει τον ρόλο του εξομολόγου σε αυτόν του δικαστή που πρέπει να αποφασίσει αν ο εξομολογούμενος είναι δικαιολογημένος. Αυτά όμως δεν έχουν καμιά σχέση με το Μυστήριο. Ο Πιστός μετανοεί και ζητάει συγχώρεση για τα δικά του αμαρτήματα. Οι Τρεις Μάγοι προσφέρουν στον νεογέννητο Χριστό, χρυσό, λίβανο και σμύρνα. Ταπεινά ας προσφέρουμε τις αμαρτίες μας. Ο Χριστός δίνει την άφεση, έτσι μετανοημένοι, και συγχωρημένοι ας εορτάσουμε την Γέννησή Του.
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The vision of Saint Jerome
One Christmas, St. Jerome, who is a Saint of the West, was in Bethlehem, in the Cave of the Nativity, and he was praying. God grants the Saints to have visions and, during his prayer, the Saint saw Christ before him. Surprised, the Saint asked Christ: What can I do, what could I offer you today that we celebrate your Nativity? And Christ answered him: "Give me what you carry, in other words give me your sins so that I can forgive you." As no white garment can be as white as snow, in the same way, no matter how holy one may be, if compared with Christ he will find that he has some blemishes. Confessing our sins is the best we can offer to the Lord. The Lord became man and was crucified to redeem us from sin. This is not done by some magical means. It is necessary for man to come to confession.
We go to the Sacrament of Confession to confess our mistakes and sins. The Faithful is not limited to the simple recording of sin but also goes deeper into the roots of evil. There is no reason for someone to go to confession and say that there are issues and situations that hinder him on his spiritual path. It makes no sense for him to say, for example: My people don't understand me or that my children are oppressing me. Because then he limits the role of the confessor to that of the judge who must decide whether he who is confessing is justified. But these have nothing to do with the Sacrament. The Faithful repents and asks for forgiveness for his own sins. The Three Magi offer the newborn Christ, gold, frankincense and myrrh. Let us humbly offer up our sins. Christ gives forgiveness, so repented and forgiven let us celebrate His Nativity.
CHURCH OFFICE:
Upcoming Events:
- 12 year Memorial for Bishop John of Amorion on December 8, 2024
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Parish Council Elections will be held on December 8th The election will be held electronically and in person. Online elections will be available starting at noon on Friday December 6th. In person voting will begin after liturgy on that Sunday December 8th and run until 1:00 p.m. If you have a new email please notify the church office via email at [email protected] so we can update.
- St. Nicholas Feast Day-Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m. on 12/6/2024
- St. Photios Shrine Christmas Open House event 3p.m. to 5p.m. on 12/6/2024
- Philoptochos Meeting following Divine Liturgy on 12/8/2024
- Christmas Card Sign-up until 12/15/2024
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Hall Rental Looking for the perfect venue for your next event? The John C. Carlos Fellowship Hall at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in St. Augustine is available for rent! With 2,500 sq. ft. of space and seating for up to 200 guests, it’s ideal for any occasion—whether it’s a birthday party, family reunion, holiday celebration, baby shower, wedding reception, meeting, or lecture.
The hall comes with kitchen facilities, making it easy to cater your event to your liking. For pricing and reservations, give us a call at (904) 829-0504 or email us through our website at www.holytrinitystaugustine.org. We’re open Monday to Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. We look forward to helping you make your event special!
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].
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Tone
You destroyed death by Your Cross, You opened Paradise to the Robber. You turned the Myrrh-bearing Women’s lament into joy, and You commanded Your Apostles to preach that You rose, O Christ God, granting the world the great mercy.
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.
Seasonal Kontakion in the 3rd Tone
On this day the Virgin Maid * goes to the grotto to give birth * to the pre-eternal Word * in an ineffable manner. * Dance for joy, all the inhabited earth, on hearing. * Glorify along with Angels and with the shepherds * Him who willed that He appear as * a newborn Child, * the pre-eternal God. [SD
Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν προαιώνιον Λόγον, ἐν Σπηλαίῳ ἔρχεται, ἀποτεκεῖν ἀποῤῥήτως. Χόρευε ἡ οἰκουμένη ἀκουτισθεῖσα, δόξασον μετὰ Ἀγγέλων καὶ τῶν Ποιμένων, βουληθέντα ἐποφθῆναι, Παιδίον νέον, τὸν πρὸ αἰώνων Θεόν.
Saints and Feasts
December 08
Forefeast of the Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos
December 08
Patapius the Righteous of Thebes
This Saint was from the Thebaid of Egypt and struggled many years in the wilderness. He departed for Constantinople, and having performed many miracles and healings, he reposed in peace in a mountain cave on the Gulf of Corinth, where his holy relics are found incorrupt to the present day.
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Grave Tone. 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 Ephesians 2:14-22.
Brethren, Christ is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Gospel Reading
10th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 13:10-17
At that time, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity." And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day." Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?" As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.