Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-05-25
Bulletin Contents
Parish News
Hymns of the Day
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings

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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 Scott Wilkes, 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]

Κυριακὴ τῆς Σαμαρείτιδος

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 in the Law" in other words, the Messiah, says Philip to Nathanael. This means that they were truly and honestly looking for the Messiah. For the Christian, Christ is Messiah and 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 have your own experience. He didn't tell him 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 a 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:

Dance Team 

" Calling all Hghschool and Middle school age children to join the Dance team towards our festival in October!!

Next practice is Sunday May 25th 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Subsequent practices are once a month until September when they will be weekly. Dance  is a fun way to connect and preserve our culture.More details will be given in the first practice.Opa !"

Coffee Hour

Please sign up for Coffee Hour-We need your assistance, link below

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A45A8AD2FABFECE9-54297592-coffee#/ 

 

EVENTS:

  Upcoming Events:   

  • Leavetaking of Pascha 

          Will be held on Wednesday, May 28th, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. 

  • 5 Year Memorial for Dr. Steve Poulos

       On Sunday June 1st, 2025. Mrs. Vasso Poulos is hosting a luncheon following Liturgy and          memorial for our church family and all friends of Dr. Steve Poulos

  • Greek Summer Night Reservation

    Greek Summer Night is Saturday, June 7, 2025 at the Parish Hall.  Tickets on sale now!  $40 adult; $20 children (12 & under); reserved seating available.  Join us for a night filled with Greek food, music and dance.  Come for the fun, fellowship and family.  Call 773.517.6352 or email [email protected] for tickets or order online at https://holy-trinity-greek-orthodox-church-events-102143.square.site/.  Proceeds benefit our Holy Trinity Church.  Opa!

     

   **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].

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Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal 1st Tone

As the Father and Spirit are unoriginate, * so the Word, who was born from the Virgin for us. * Let us praise Him, O believers, and let us worship Him. * For our salvation He was pleased * to be crucified in the flesh, * and to undergo death, * and to resurrect the dead, by His glorious resurrection. As the Father and Spirit are unoriginate, * so the Word, who was born from the Virgin for us. * Let us praise Him, O believers, and let us worship Him. * For our salvation He was pleased * to be crucified in the flesh, * and to undergo death, * and to resurrect the dead, by His glorious resurrection.

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal 1st Tone

Now Christ has revealed to us your sacred head once again, * a most holy treasure hidden underground for so long, * O Prophet and Forerunner. * Therefore we have assembled for the feast of its Finding, * singing our God-inspired hymns in praise of the Savior, * who saves us from destruction, by your earnest prayers to Him. Ὡς θεῖον θησαύρισμα, ἐγκεκρυμμένον τῇ γῇ, Χριστὸς ἀπεκάλυψε τὴν κεφαλήν σου ἡμῖν, Προφῆτα καὶ Πρόδρομε. Πάντες οὖν συνελθόντες, ἐν τῇ ταύτης εὑρέσει, ᾄσμασι θεηγόροις, τὸν Σωτῆρα ὑμνοῦμεν, τὸν σῴζοντα ἡμᾶς ἐκ φθορᾶς ταῖς ἱκεσίαις σου.

Apolytikion for 3rd Discovery of the Head of the Forerunner in the 4th Tone

Though You went down into the tomb, O Immortal One, yet You brought down the dominion of Hades; and You rose as the victor, O Christ our God; and You called out “Rejoice” to the Myrrh-bearing women, and gave peace to Your Apostles, O Lord who to the fallen grant resurrection. Εἰ καὶ ἐν τάφῳ κατῆλθες Ἀθάνατε, ἀλλὰ τοῦ ᾅδου καθεῖλες τὴν δύναμιν· καὶ ἀνέστης ὡς νικητής, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, γυναιξὶ Μυροφόροις φθεγξάμενος, Χαίρετε, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις εἰρήνην δωρούμενος, ὁ τοῖς πεσοῦσι παρέχων ἀνάστασιν.
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Saints and Feasts

May 25

Sunday of the Blind Man

The Lord Jesus was coming from the Temple on the Sabbath, when, while walking in the way, He saw the blind man mentioned in today's Gospel. This man had been born thus from his mother's womb, that is, he had been born without eyes (see Saint John Chrysostom, Homily LVI on Matthew; Saint Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book V:15; and the second Exorcism of Saint Basil the Great). When the disciples saw this, they asked their Teacher, "Who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" They asked this because when the Lord had healed the paralytic at the Sheep's Pool, He had told him, "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee" (John 5:14); so they wondered, if sickness was caused by sin, what sin could have been the cause of his being born without eyes. But the Lord answered that this was for the glory of God. Then the God-man spat on the ground and made clay with the spittle. He anointed the eyes of the blind man and said to him, "Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam." Siloam (which means "sent") was a well-known spring in Jerusalem used by the inhabitants for its waters, which flowed to the eastern side of the city and collected in a large pool called "the Pool of Siloam."

Therefore, the Saviour sent the blind man to this pool that he might wash his eyes, which had been anointed with the clay-not that the pool's water had such power, but that the faith and obedience of the one sent might be made manifest, and that the miracle might become more remarkable and known to all, and leave no room for doubt. Thus, the blind man believed in Jesus' words, obeyed His command, went and washed himself, and returned, no longer blind, but having eyes and seeing. This was the greatest miracle that our Lord had yet worked; as the man healed of his blindness himself testified, "Since time began, never was it heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind," although the Lord had already healed the blind eyes of many. Because he now had eyes, some even doubted that he was the same person (John 9:8-9); and it was still lively in their remembrance when Christ came to the tomb of Lazarus, for they said, "Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have caused that even this man should not have died?" Saint John Chrysostom gives a thorough and brilliant exposition of our Lord's meeting with the woman of Samaria, the healing of the paralytic, and the miracle of the blind man in his commentaries on the Gospel of Saint John.

May 25

Third Finding of the Precious Head of St. John the Baptist

Because of the vicissitudes of time, the venerable head of the holy Forerunner was lost for a third time and rediscovered in Comana of Cappadocia through a revelation to 'a certain priest, but it was found not, as before, in a clay jar, but in a silver vessel, and "in a sacred place." It was taken from Comana to Constantinople and was met with great solemnity by the Emperor, the Patriarch, and the clergy and people. See also February 24.

May 25

Therapon the Hieromartyr, Bishop of Cyprus

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Tone. Psalm 63.11,1.
The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord.
Verse: Oh God, hear my cry.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 4:6-15.

Brethren, it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Blind Man
The Reading is from John 9:1-38

At that time, as Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man's eyes with the clay, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is he"; others said, "No, but he is like him." He said, "I am the man." They said to him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash'; so I went and washed and received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, "He put clay on my eyes and I washed, and I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, "What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself." His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess him to be Christ he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age, ask him."

So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become his disciples?" And they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out.

Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you." He said, "Lord, I believe"; and he worshiped him.

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