Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-03-09
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 and Chris.

A WORD FROM:

V. Rev Fr. Maximos Politis, HTGOC Parish Priest

(347) 500-8176 [email protected]

 

 

1st Sunday of Great Lent Orthodoxy

Η αληθινή πνευματική τροφή

 

“Βρήκαμε αυτόν που έγραψε ο Μωυσής στο Νόμο” με άλλα λόγια, τον Μεσσία, λέει ο Φίλιππος στον Ναθαναήλ. Αυτό σημαίνει ότι πραγματικά και τίμια έψαχναν τον Μεσσία. Για τον Χριστιανό, Μεσσίας και Αλήθεια είναι ο Χριστός. Στο κατά Ιωάννη Ευαγγέλιο ο Χριστός λέει για τον εαυτό Του: Εγώ είμαι η οδός και η αλήθεια και η ζωή. Αυτή την αλήθεια, δηλαδή τον Χριστό, δεν θα την βρούμε σε ανθρώπινες εντυπωσιακές συλλήψεις, όπως οικοδομήματα η φιλοσοφίες. Ο Χριστός γεννήθηκε στην ταπεινή φάτνη και μεγάλωσε στην άσημη Ναζαρέτ. Ένα χρυσό κόσμημα δεν έχει ανάγκη από διακόσμηση. Είναι από μόνο του χρυσό. Δεν έχει ανάγκη από αστραφτερά περιτυλίγματα τα οποία δεν κάνουν τίποτα άλλο παρά να αποσπούν την προσοχή του παρατηρητή. Ο θησαυρός της Ορθοδοξίας παρέχεται στους Πιστούς μέσα στην ταπεινή λατρεία αλλά επίσης απευθύνεται στις ταπεινές ψυχές. 

 

“Έλα να δεις”, λέει ο Φίλιππος. Έλα να έχεις τη δική σου εμπειρία. Δεν του είπε να διαβάσει ή να ακούσει κάτι. Η λειτουργία και όλες οι ιερές ακολουθίες, είναι ζωή. Είναι ζωή που βρίσκεται μέσα στην εκκλησία. Κανένα τεχνολογικό μέσο δεν μπορεί να υποκαταστήσει την λειτουργική ζωή. Όπως καμιά εικόνα ενός φαγητού, όσο τέλεια και αν είναι, δεν μπορεί να υποκαταστήσει την αληθινή τροφή. Η αληθινή, γνήσια τροφή δίνει την υγεία και πρόοδο στον άνθρωπο και η Ορθοδοξία χαρίζει την αληθινή πνευματική υγεία και προκοπή.

 

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

 The true spiritual food

"We have found the one that Moses wrote about in the Law," says Philip to Nathanael, referring to the Messiah. This means they were truly and honestly looking for the Messiah. For the Christian, Christ is the Messiah and the Truth. In the Gospel according to John, Christ says about Himself: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life." This truth, namely Christ, will not be found in human impressive conceptions, such as buildings or philosophies. Christ was born in a humble manger and grew up in humble Nazareth. Golden jewelry does not need decoration. It is gold in itself. It has no need for glossy wrappers that do nothing but distract the viewer. The treasure of Orthodoxy is provided to the faithful in humble worship but also addressed to humble souls.

"Come and see," says Philip. Come and have your own experience. He didn't tell Nathanael to read or listen to anything. Liturgy and all sacred services are life. It is life that is within the church. No technological means can replace functional life. Just as no picture of food, no matter how perfect, can substitute for real food. True, genuine food gives health and progress to man, and Orthodoxy bestows true spiritual health and progress.

 

 

Notices:

Alter Boys

We need more altar boys to assist Father Maximos. It takes time to train them especially when Alex & Landen (our altar-server Allstars) take off for college in a couple of years. Parents, please submit the names of your children 8 years and above to [email protected]. This service is a blessing for the children and the church..

"Sisters Upscale Thrift Sale" -Help Needed
- Sun, March 9 – pre-event sort goods, test electronics, price goods
- Fri, March14 – set up
- Sat, March 15 – work the event
- Sun, March 16 – event work and clean up
For more info, contact: Stephanie Danikas at [email protected]

 

Annual Greek Festival

The annual Greek Festival returns to Holy Trinity on October 11 & 12, 2025!   Join us for a Greek Festival meeting on Monday, March 10  at 6:30pm.   Our popular festival needs everyone’s support to make this event a success in showcasing our Church and culture.  See you Mon, Mar 10.  Opa!

 

EVENTS:

  Upcoming Events:    

  • "Sisters Upscale Thrift Sale" on 3/15/202
  • 40-Day Memorial for Helen Valavanis on 3/23/2025
  • "Spring General Assembly on 3/30/2025

 

   **If you have an article for the Bulletin or Newsletter 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 4th Tone

hen the women disciples of the Lord heard the Angel joyously proclaim the resurrection, they cast aside the ancestral verdict, and boasting in glory they said to the Apostles, “Death has been despoiled! Christ God has risen, granting the great mercy to the world!” Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀποῤῥίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον· Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for 40 Martyrs of Sebastia in the 1st Tone

We venerate Your immaculate icon, O good Lord, and entreat You to forgive our offenses, O Christ our God. By Your own choice you were pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh, to deliver us, whom You created, from our slavery to the foe. Therefore we cry to You with gratitude: You have filled all things with joy, O our Savior, by coming to save the world. Τὴν ἄχραντον Εἰκόνα σου, προσκυνοῦμεν ἀγαθέ, αἰτούμενοι συγχώρησιν τῶν πταισμάτων ἡμῶν, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός· βουλήσει γὰρ ηὐδόκησας σαρκί, ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ, ἵνα ῥύσῃ οὓς ἔπλασας, ἐκ τῆς δουλείας τοῦ ἐχθροῦ· ὅθεν εὐχαρίστως βοῶμέν σοι· Χαρᾶς ἐπλήρωσας τὰ πάντα ὁ Σωτὴρ ἡμῶν, παραγενόμενος εἰς τὸ σῶσαι τὸν κόσμον.

Apolytikion for Sun. of Orthodoxy in the 2nd Tone

he holy martyrs suffered painful tortures for Your sake, O Lord; be compelled by what they endured, and heal our every pain, we entreat You, O only benevolent God. Τὰς ἀλγηδόνας τῶν Ἁγίων, ἃς ὑπὲρ σοῦ ἔπαθον, δυσωπήθητι Κύριε, καὶ πάσας ἡμῶν τὰς ὀδύνας, ἴασαι φιλάνθρωπε δεόμεθα.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal 4th Tone

O Champion General, I your City now inscribe to you Triumphant anthems as the tokens of my gratitude, Being rescued from the terrors, O Theotokos. In as much as you have power unassailable From all kinds of perils free me, so that unto you I may cry aloud: Rejoice, O unwedded Bride. Τῇ ὑπερμάχῳ στρατηγῷ τὰ νικητήρια, Ὡς λυτρωθεῖσα τῶν δεινῶν εὐχαριστήρια, Ἀναγράφω σοι ἡ Πόλις σου Θεοτόκε. Ἀλλʼ ὡς ἔχουσα τὸ κράτος ἀπροσμάχητον, Ἐκ παντοίων με κινδύνων ἐλευθέρωσον,Ἵνα κράζω σοι· Χαῖρε νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε.
BACK TO TOP

Saints and Feasts

March 09

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 09

The Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebastia

These holy Martyrs, who came from various lands, were all soldiers under the same general. Taken into custody for their faith in Christ, and at first interrogated by cruel means, they were then stripped of their clothing and cast onto the frozen lake which is at Sebastia of Pontus, at a time when the harsh and freezing weather was at its worst. They endured the whole night naked in such circumstances, encouraging one another to be patient until the end. He that guarded them, named Aglaius, who was commanded to receive any of them that might deny Christ, had a vision in which he saw heavenly powers distributing crowns to all of the Martyrs, except one, who soon after abandoned the contest. Seeing this, Aglaius professed himself a Christian and joined the Martyrs on the lake, and the number of forty remained complete. In the morning, when they were almost dead from the cold, they were cast into fire, after which their remains were thrown into the river. Thus they finished the good course of martyrdom in 320, during the reign of Licinius. These are their names: Acacius, Aetius, Aglaius, Alexander, Angus, Athanasius, Candidus, Chudion, Claudius, Cyril, Cyrion, Dometian, Domnus, Ecdicius, Elias, Eunoicus, Eutyches, Eutychius, Flavius, Gaius, Gorgonius, Helianus, Heraclius, Hesychius, John, Lysimachus, Meliton, Nicholas, Philoctemon, Priscus, Sacerdon, Severian, Sisinius, Smaragdus, Theodulus, Theophilus, Valens, Valerius, Vivianus, and Xanthias.

March 09

Caesarios the Righteous

BACK TO TOP

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal 1st Tone. Psalm 11.7,1.
You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 12:1-10.

BRETHREN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage when you are punished by him. For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father.

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."

BACK TO TOP