August 24
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-08-24
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:
- 2025-08-31
- Publish Date:
- 2025-08-17
- Publish Date:
- 2025-08-10
- Publish Date:
- 2025-07-27
- Publish Date:
- 2025-07-20
- Publish Date:
- 2025-07-13
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, Vanessa Oliver and Chris.
A WORD FROM:
V. Rev Fr. Maximos Politis, HTGOC Parish Priest
(347) 500-8176 [email protected]
Άγιος Κοσμάς ο Αιτωλός και Προφητείες. St. Kosmas of Etolos and Prophecies
Στις 24 Αυγούστου, εορταζεται η μνημη του Αγίου Ιερομάρτυρος Κοσμά του Αιτωλού. Γεννήθηκε, έζησε και μαρτύρησε κατά τον 18ο αιώνα και συνέβαλε σημαντικά σε μία δύσκολη περίοδο για τον ελληνισμό, στη διατήρηση της κοινής Ρωμαίικης Ελληνικής συνειδήσεως, η οποία μετά από τριακόσια έτη σκλαβιάς, κινδύνευε από τον προσηλυτισμό που ασκούσε η Δυτική Εκκλησία, τον εξισλαμισμό του έθνους και την έλλειψη μόρφωσης. Ο Κοσμάς, διεξήγαγε αγώνα για περισσότερα από 20 έτη, και έθεσε στόχο την επιμόρφωση του Ελλήνων. Ίδρυσε περισσὀτερα από 200 σχολεία. Mε τις περίφημες ομιλίες του, στάθηκε ως το αντίβαρο στην παράδοση που ήθελε τους μορφωμένους Έλληνες της εποχής του να εμφορούνται από το Δυτικό πνεύμα. Αυτό θα είχε συνέπεια τη ραγδαία αλλοτρίωση της ελληνικότητας του υπόδουλου έθνους. Βρήκε μαρτυρικό θάνατο, το 1779, όταν απαγχονίστηκε μετά από εντολή του Τούρκου Πασά Κούρτ. Ο Άγιος έλαβε το χάρισμα της προφητείας από τον Θεό και μίλησε κατά πολύ συγκεκριμένο τρόπο για το τηλέφωνο, τα αεροπλάνα, τους αεροπορικούς βομβαρδισμούς και άλλα γεγονότα.
Με αφορμή το χάρισμα της προφητείας του Αγ. Κοσμά, θα πούμε δυο λόγια για αυτά που ακούγονται στις μέρες μας και χαρακτηρίζονται ως προφητείες από ορισμένους. Δυστυχώς στην εποχή μας υπάρχουν πολλοί που είτε μιλούν ως προφήτες είτε ως χαρισματούχοι ικανοί να ερμηνεύουν τις προφητείες. Μιλούν για αιματοχυσίες, απειλές πολέμων, αρρώστιες και άλλα συνταρακτικά γεγονότα. Αυτά κάνουν μόνο κακό στους Πιστούς ενώ δίνουν αφορμή για δυσμενή σχόλια, κατά της Εκκλησίας. Ο Θεός με το στόμα του Ευαγγελιστή Ιωάννη προειδοποιεί ότι «πολλοί ψευδοπροφήτες έχουν βγει στον κόσμο». Ο Ιωάννης στο Ευαγγέλιο τονίζει ότι όσα έχουν γραφτεί στο Ευαγγέλιο και γενικά στην Αγ. Γραφή, είναι για να στερεώσουν τους Πιστούς και να μας οδηγήσουν στη σωτηρία. Οι θεόπνευστες προφητείες δεν γράφτηκαν ούτε για να εντυπωσιάσουν, ούτε να ταράξουν ή ακόμα να εκβιάσουν την ψυχή των πιστών και να την εξαναγκάσουν να μετανοήσει. Ο άνθρωπος του Θεού αντί να σπαταλάει δυνάμεις και να αναζητά πληροφορίες για το άμεσο μέλλον, νομίζοντας ότι έτσι θα είναι προετοιμασμένος, καλείται να προετοιμαστεί για την μέλλουσα ζωή.
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On August 24, we commemorate the memory of Saint Hieromartyr Kosmas of Etolos. Born, lived, and martyred in the 18th century, he significantly contributed during a challenging period for Hellenism. He played a crucial role in maintaining the common Greek conscience, which, after three hundred years of slavery, was endangered by the proselytism of the Western Church, the Islamization of the nation, and the lack of education. Kosmas fought for over 20 years with the goal of educating the Greeks. He founded more than 200 schools. Through his famous speeches, he stood as a counterweight to the tradition that encouraged the educated Greeks of his time to be inspired by the Western spirit. This would have led to the rapid alienation of the Greek identity of the enslaved nation. He died a martyr in 1779, hanged on the orders of the Turkish Pasha Kurt. The saint received the gift of prophecy from God and spoke specifically about the telephone, airplanes, airstrikes, and other events.
On the occasion of the gift of prophecy of St. Cosmas, we will say a few words about what is often characterized as prophecy today. Unfortunately, in our time, many claim to be prophets or gifted interpreters of prophecies. They speak of bloodshed, threats of war, disease, and other shocking events. These only harm the Faithful and give rise to unfavorable comments against the Church. God, through the mouth of the Evangelist John, warns that “many false prophets have gone out into the world.” John emphasizes in the Gospel that what has been written in the Gospel and in Holy Scripture is to strengthen the Faithful and lead us to salvation. Divinely inspired prophecies were not written to impress, disturb, or blackmail the souls of believers and force them to repent. Instead of wasting energy seeking information about the immediate future, thinking this will prepare them, the man of God is called to prepare for the life to come.
Events:
Upcoming Events:
- Sunday School Open House
We’re excited to invite you and your family to be part of a new season of growth, learning, and fellowship at our Sunday school open house and registration event!
Sunday, August 24th 2025 - 12 noon (after Divine Liturgy)
- Philoptochos Membership Tea
Saturday, August 23rd, 2025 2:00 to 4:00 PM
Chris McGlade Residence
413 Lookout Point Drive – St. Augustine, FL 32080
Call/text 404-272-5775 or email [email protected]
- Phanouropita Blessing
All are invited to offer a Phanouropita in honor of St. Phanourios on Sunday, August 24. The 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, and restoring health. He is honored by the faithful through a symbolic cake, called the "Phanouropita," which can be brought to the church, for a blessing.
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ANNUAL GREEK FESTIVAL
Please save the following dates to assist with Festival preparations:
September 5th & 6th - Dolmathes
September 12th & 13th - Pastitsio
September 19th & 20th - Moussaka
September 27th - Chicken souvlaki
September 28th - Hall and Outdoor cleanup
October 5th - Signage distribution/placement
October 6th - Tzatziki
October 10th - Setup, cooking prep, salad/tzatziki cups
We need your assistance to make this years festival a success. If you would like to be a sponsor of this fabulous event please click link www.stauggreekfest.com
Notices:
- Father Maximos will be on vacation August 24th to September 20th
**If you have an article for The Sunday Messenger or Holy Trinity Herald please email by Wednesday each week to Carey at the Church office to [email protected].
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 2nd Tone
When You descended unto Death, O Lord, You who are immortal Life put Hades to death, by the lightning of Your divinity. And when You raised the dead from the netherworld, all the hosts of heaven sang aloud to You, “O Christ God, Giver of life, glory to You!”
Ὅτε κατῆλθες πρὸς τὸν θάνατον, ἡ ζωὴ ἡ ἀθάνατος, τότε τὸν ᾅδην ἐνέκρωσας, τῇ ἀστραπῇ τῆς θεότητος· ὅτε δὲ καὶ τοὺς τεθνεῶτας, ἐκ τῶν καταχθονίων ἀνέστησας, πᾶσαι αἱ δυνάμεις τῶν ἐπουρανίων ἐκραύγαζον· Ζωοδότα Χριστέ, ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν δόξα σοι.
Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Tone
Both Joachim and Anna from their sterility’s stigma, and Adam and Eve from their mortality’s ruin have been set free, O immaculate Maid, by your holy nativity. For this do your people hold celebration, redeemed from the guilt of transgression as they cry to you, “The barren one bears the Theotokos, the nourisher of our Life.”
Ἰωακεὶμ καὶ Ἄννα ὀνειδισμοῦ ἀτεκνίας, καὶ Ἀδὰμ καὶ Εὔα, ἐκ τῆς φθορᾶς τοῦ θανάτου, ἠλευθερώθησαν, Ἄχραντε, ἐν τῇ ἁγίᾳ γεννήσει σου· αὐτὴν ἑορτάζει καὶ ὁ λαός σου, ἐνοχῆς τῶν πταισμάτων, λυτρωθεὶς ἐν τῷ κράζειν σοι· Ἡ στεῖρα τίκτει τὴν Θεοτόκον, καὶ τροφὸν τῆς ζωῆς ἡμῶν.
Saints and Feasts
August 24
Eutyches the Hieromartyr & Disciple of St. John the Theologian
Saint Eutyches was a disciple of Saint John the Theologian and a fellow laborer of the holy Apostle Paul. He preached the Gospel in many places, pulled down the idols' temples, and suffered imprisonments and many torments at the hands of the idolaters. He finally reposed in peace in deep old age in his native city of Sebastia, near Tarsus.
August 24
Cosmas of Aetolia, Equal to the Apostles
Our holy Father Cosmas was from the town of Mega Dendron (Great Tree) of Aetolia. At the age of twenty, he went to study at the school of the Monastery of Vatopedi on the Holy Mountain. Later, he came to the Athonite Monastery of Philotheou where he was tonsured. With the blessing of his abbot, he departed for Constantinople where he learned the art of rhetoric, and thereafter, he began to preach throughout all the regions of northern Greece, the Ionian Islands, but especially in Albania, for the Christian people there were in great ignorance because of the oppression and cruelty of the Moslems. Finally, in 1776, after having greatly strengthened and enlightened the faithful, working many signs and wonders all the while, he was falsely accused by the leaders of the Jewish people and was executed by strangulation by the Moslem Turks in Albania.
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. 2nd Tone. Psalm 117.14,18.
The Lord is my strength and my song.
Verse: The Lord has chastened me sorely.
The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 9:2-12.
Brethren, you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law say the same? For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of a share in the crop. If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? If others share this rightful claim upon you, do not we still more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
Gospel Reading
11th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 18:23-35
The Lord said this parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, 'Pay what you owe.' So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord delivered him to the torturers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."