Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-03-23
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]

 

 

Ήρωες της Ελευθερίας και της Πίστεως

Νομίζω ότι κανείς έχει να "πάρει" πολλά, βλέποντας τα κοινά χαρακτηριστικά των αγωνιστών. Της Εκκλησίας αλλά και της Πατρίδας. Γιατί αντλώντας νοήματα  από τους μεν, έχεις μέθεξη στα διδάγματα που σου προσφέρουν  οι δε.

"Κανάρη θα πεθάνεις", έλεγε συχνά ο Πνευματικός μας, και έκανε τη μεταφορά στους Μάρτυρες του Αίματος αλλά και της Συνείδησης.  Τους παλαιούς και τους σύγχρονους. Μετά την Επανάσταση, είχαν ρωτήσει τον Κανάρη, τι σκεφτόταν, πώς ένιωθε όταν πήγαινε να ανατινάξει την Τουρκική Ναυαρχίδα, μια εξαιρετικά επικίνδυνη αποστολή. Και αυτός, τους είπε ότι το είχε πάρει απόφαση. Η αποστολή έπρεπε να εκτελεστεί αντί πάσης θυσίας. Και αυτή θα ήταν ο εαυτός του. Είπε λοιπόν μέσα του: "Κανάρη θα πεθάνεις". Αυτό είναι το πνεύμα των Μαρτύρων αλλά και των ηρώων της Πατρίδας: "Κανάρη θα πεθάνεις".

Και εγώ, μιλώντας για το ίδιο θέμα, το παλιό αλλά και το σημερινό μαρτύριο, παίρνω καμιά φορά αφορμή από τον Ελύτη και την αναφορά του στους νεότερους αγωνιστές της Πατρίδας, του 1940. (Είναι γραμμένο για τα γεγονότα της 25 Μαρτίου, 1942, και την αντίσταση των φοιτητών εναντίον των Ναζί).

"Σαν να μην ήτανε άλλος δρόμος πάνω σ’ ολάκερη τη γη, για να περάσει η Άνοιξη παρά μονάχα αυτός, και να τον είχαν πάρει αμίλητοι, κοιτάζοντας πολύ μακριά, περ’ απ’ την άκρη της απελπισιάς, τη Γαλήνη που έμελλαν να γίνουν, οι νέοι με τα πρησμένα πόδια που τους έλεγαν αλήτες, και οι άντρες, και οι γυναίκες, και οι λαβωμένοι με τον επίδεσμο και τα δεκανίκια".

Λέω λοιπόν στον εαυτό μου κατ' αρχήν, αλλά και κάθε φορά που χρειάζεται:

Όπου Άνοιξη, βάλε Ελευθερία, της Πατρίδας αλλά και της ψυχής, από τα πάθη, την αμαρτία. Υπάρχει άλλος δρόμος; Αλλά, σήκωσε τα μάτια και κοίτα μακριά, μη μένεις στην απελπισία. 

Οι Μάρτυρες και οι αγωνιστές, έχουν μπροστά τους τον θάνατο, την απελπισία. Αλλά αυτοί κοιτάζουν πιο μακριά. Τα μάτια της πίστης, τους βοηθούν να βλέπουν πέρα από την άκρη της απελπισιάς. Πέρα από τον θάνατο, το μονοπάτι του οποίου επρόκειτο να διαβούν. Και, όχι να πάνε στη Γαλήνη, αλλα να ενωθούν με τη Γαλήνη, να γίνουν οι ίδιοι Γαλήνη. Έτσι έρχεται η Άνοιξη και η Ελευθερία, της Πατρίδας αλλά και της ψυχής.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Heroes of Freedom and Faith

I think that one can draw a lot of meaning by observing the common characteristics of the fighters. Those of the church and of the fatherland. Because by drawing meanings and teachings from the ones, you can participate in the lessons that the other offer you.

 

“Kanari, you are going to die” our spiritual father would often say, using this as a metaphor for the martyrs of blood and consciousness i.e., the ascetics. The old and the modern one. After the Greek Revolution, Kanaris, the famous Greek hero, was asked what he was thinking and how he felt while he was on the way to blow up the Turkish flagship which was an extremely dangerous mission. And he told them that he had made up his mind. The mission had to be carried out at any cost and sacrifice. And that the sacrifice would be himself.  So, he said to himself “Kanari, you are going to die”. This is the spirit of the martyrs but also the spirit of the heroes of the fatherland: “Kanari, you are going to die”.

And I, speaking of the same subject, the old and the present torture and troubles, sometimes take occasion from the Noble awarded Greek poet Elytis and his reference to the recent fighters of the Nation, of 1940. He is referring to the events of March 25th, 1942 and the student’s resistance against the Nazis.

 

“As if there were no other road on the entire Earth for Spring to take except this one, and speechless they had taken the same road, gazing far off, beyond the edge of hopelessness, at the Serenity that they would become, the young men with swollen feet they called bums, and the men and women and the wounded with their bandages and crutches.”

So, I was saying to myself and to those I have and had to say: Where there is the word spring, put and mean freedom, of the fatherland but also of the soul, of passion and sin. Is there any other road? No. However, raise your eyes and look far away, do not stay in the despair.

Martyrs face death and despair. But they are looking further ahead. Their eyes of faith help them to see beyond the edge of despair. Beyond death, the path which they were about to be crossing. And they would not just go to peace, but they would unite with serenity, to become peace themselves. This way the Spring and the Freedom, of the Nation and of the soul come. 

 

 

Notices:

Lenton Luncheon

 Don't forget to get your tickets for the Lenton Luncheon hosted by the THE LADIES PHILOPTOCHOS SOCIETY on 3/23/2025

 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] service is a blessing for the children and the church.

EVENTS:

  Upcoming Events:    

  • Lenton Luncheon 3/23/2025 Don't Forget to get your tickets
  • Bible study/prayer group Tuesday, March 25 at 6:00 PM
  • Presanctified Service at 6:00 p.m. 3/26/25
  • Salutations Service at 6:00p.m. 3/28/25
  • 40-Day Memorial for Helen Valavanis on 3/30/2025
  • Memorial for Demetrios Beckus on 3/30/2025
  • "Spring General Assembly on 3/30/2025
  • Easter Card Sign-up deadline 4/6/2025

 

   **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 Plagal 2nd Tone

When the angelic powers appeared at Your tomb, the soldiers guarding it feared and became as dead. And standing by the sepulcher was Mary, who was seeking Your immaculate body. Unassailed by Hades, You divested it of spoils. Then You met the Virgin. You granted life. O Lord, risen from the dead, glory to You! Ἀγγελικαὶ δυνάμεις ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμα σου, καὶ οἱ φυλάσσοντες ἀπενεκρώθησαν· καὶ ἵστατο Μαρία ἐν τῷ τάφῳ, ζητοῦσα τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα. Ἐσκύλευσας τὸν ᾅδην, μὴ πειρασθεὶς ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ· ὑπήντησας τῇ Παρθένῳ, δωρούμενος τὴν ζωήν. Ὁ ἀναστὰς ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion for Sun. of the Holy Cross in the 1st Tone

Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting victory to the faithful over the enemy, and by Your Cross protecting Your commonwealth. Σῶσον, Κύριε, τὸν λαόν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου, νίκας τοῖς βασιλεῦσι κατὰ βαρβάρων δωρούμενος, καὶ τὸ σὸν φυλάττων διὰ τοῦ Σταυροῦ σου πολίτευμα.

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. Inasmuch 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 23

Sunday of the Holy Cross

With the help of God, we have almost reached the middle of the course of the Fast, where our strength has been worn down through abstinence, and the full difficulty of the labour set before us becomes apparent. Therefore our holy Mother, the Church of Christ, now brings to our help the all-holy Cross, the joy of the world, the strength of the faithful, the staff of the just, and the hope of sinners, so that by venerating it reverently, we might receive strength and grace to complete the divine struggle of the Fast.

March 23

The Holy Righteous Martyr Nicon and His 199 Disciples

Saint Nicon was from Neapolis (Naples) in Italy. His father was an idolater and his mother a Christian. At first he was a soldier, but later he went to the East, where he was baptized and in time became a bishop. After some years, he returned to the West and came to Sicily, where he and many of his disciples were put to death by beheading because they would not worship the idols.

March 23

Anatolios & Protoleon the Martyrs converted by the martyrdom of St. George

BACK TO TOP

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal 2nd Tone. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-6.

BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek."

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the 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."

BACK TO TOP