September 07
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-09-07
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:
- 2025-08-24
- Publish Date:
- 2025-08-17
- Publish Date:
- 2025-08-10
- Publish Date:
- 2025-07-27
- Publish Date:
- 2025-07-20
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]
Το δώρο μιας ακόμα χρονιάς: Κλήση προς καρποφορία.
Καθώς μπαίνουμε στο νέο εκκλησιαστικό έτος, ο Θεός μας δίνει άλλη μια ευκαιρία για ανανέωση. Ο χρόνος δεν είναι απλώς ένα πέρασμα αλλά μια γεμάτη χάρη επέκταση του ελέους Του. Στο Ευαγγέλιο του Λουκά, διαβάζουμε για την άγονη συκιά. Βλέποντας ότι δεν έφερε καρπούς, ο ιδιοκτήτης θέλησε να το κόψει. Ωστόσο, ο αμπελοθέτης παρακαλούσε για έναν ακόμη χρόνο—μια τελευταία ευκαιρία για το δέντρο να τραφεί και να καρποφορήσει. Αυτή η παραβολή αντανακλά την υπομονή του Θεού μαζί μας, αφήνοντας χρόνο για μετάνοια, ταπεινοφροσύνη και πνευματική ανάπτυξη. Όπως η συκιά, μας δίνεται άλλος ένας χρόνος να καρποφορήσουμε. Ίσως ήμασταν πνευματικά αδρανείς, αποσπασμένοι ή αδύναμοι στην προσευχή. Ωστόσο, ο Θεός, στο έλεός Του, δεν μας διώχνει - μας προσκαλεί να ανανεωθούμε.
Η μετάνοια είναι ο πρώτος καρπός που επιθυμεί. Είναι κάτι περισσότερο από την αναγνώριση των αμαρτιών μας - είναι μια επιστροφή στον Θεό με ειλικρίνεια. Η ταπεινοφροσύνη είναι άλλος καρπός. Σε έναν κόσμο που προάγει την υπερηφάνεια και τη φιλοδοξία, ο Χριστός μας καλεί να υποκλιθούμε μπροστά Του, αναγνωρίζοντας την εξάρτησή μας από τη χάρη Του. Η πνευματική ανάπτυξη είναι το διαρκές καθήκον μας. Κάθε μέρα παρουσιάζει μια ευκαιρία να ενισχύσουμε την πίστη μας μέσω της προσευχής, της νηστείας και της αγάπης. Όπως ο αμπελουργός τρέφει τη συκιά, έτσι πρέπει να καλλιεργούμε τις ψυχές μας, τρέφοντάς τις με τη γραφή, τα μυστήρια και τη σοφία της Εκκλησίας.
Καθώς μπαίνουμε σε αυτό το νέο έτος, ας μην είμαστε άγονοι αλλά καρποφόροι—προσφέροντας στον Θεό τη μετάνοια, την ταπεινοφροσύνη και την πρόοδό μας. Μας έδωσε χρόνο να γίνουμε αυτό που μας δημιούργησε. Ας χαρούμε αυτό το θείο έλεος. Αμήν. ☦️
The Gift of Another Year: A Call to Bear Fruit
As we enter the new ecclesiastical year, God grants us another opportunity for renewal. Time is not merely a passage but a grace-filled extension of His mercy. In the Gospel of Luke, we read about the barren fig tree. Seeing that it bore no fruit, the owner wanted to cut it down. Yet, the vine dresser pleaded for one more year—a final chance for the tree to be nourished and made fruitful. This parable reflects God’s patience with us, allowing time for repentance, humility, and spiritual growth. Like the fig tree, we are given another year to bear fruit. Perhaps we have been spiritually dormant, distracted, or weak in prayer. Yet God, in His mercy, does not cast us away—He invites us to renew ourselves.
Repentance is the first fruit He desires. It is more than acknowledging our sins—it is a turning back to God with sincerity. Humility is another fruit. In a world that promotes pride and ambition, Christ calls us to bow low before Him, recognizing our dependence on His grace. Spiritual growth is our ongoing task. Each day presents an opportunity to strengthen our faith through prayer, fasting, and love. As the vine dresser nurtures the fig tree, so too must we cultivate our souls, feeding them with scripture, the sacraments, and the wisdom of the Church.
As we enter this new year, let us not be barren but fruitful—offering God our repentance, humility, and progress. He has granted us time to become what He created us to be. Let us rejoice in this divine mercy. Amen.
Events:
Upcoming Events:
-
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:
- Philoptochos Meeting September 7th
- 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 4th Tone
When 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 Theotokos' Nativity Forefeast in the 4th Tone
Unto us is born today Mary the child of God, as the branch from Jesse’s root, and as the fruit of David’s loins, and all creation is re-created and deified. O heaven and the earth, rejoice in unison. Sing praises unto her, O all you Gentile clans. Joachim is exultant, and Anna is keeping festival, crying out: “The barren woman bears the Theotokos, the nourisher of our Life.”
Ἐκ τῆς ῥίζης Ἰεσσαί, καὶ ἐξ ὀσφύος τοῦ Δαυΐδ, ἡ θεόπαις Μαριάμ, τίκτεται σήμερον ἡμῖν· διὸ καὶ χαίρει ἡ σύμπασα καὶ καινουργεῖται· συγχαίρει τε ὁμοῦ, ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ. Αἰνέσατε αὐτήν, αἱ πατριαὶ τῶν ἐθνῶν. Ἰωακεὶμ εὐφραίνεται, καὶ Ἄννα πανηγυρίζει κραυγάζουσα· Ἡ στεῖρα τίκτει, τὴν Θεοτόκον, καὶ τροφόν τῆς ζωῆς ἡμῶν.
Apolytikion for the Church in the 4th Tone
Blessed are You, O Christ our God; You made wise men of poor fishermen by sending down upon them Your Holy Spirit, and through them You caught the whole world, O Lover of mankind, glory to You.
Εύλογητός εἶ Χριστὲ ὁ Θεος ἡμῶν ὁ πανσόφους τοὺς ἁλιεῖς ἁναδείξας καταπέμψας αὐτοῖς τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον καὶ δι᾽ αὐτῶν τῆν οἰκουμένην σαγηνεύσας φιλάνθρωπε δόξα Σοι
Seasonal Kontakion in the 3rd Tone
On this day the virgin Maid, Mary the true Theotokos, the inviolate bridal room of the heavenly Bridegroom, by the will of God is born of a barren woman, to prepare to be the carriage of God the Logos, as for this she had been destined, to be the gateway of God and Mother of Life.
Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, καὶ Θεοτόκος Μαρία, ἡ παστὰς ἡ ἄλυτος, τοῦ οὐρανίου Νυμφίου, τίκτεται, ἀπὸ τῆς στείρας θεοβουλήτως, ὄχημα, τοῦ Θεοῦ Λόγου εὐτρεπισθῆναι· εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ προωρίσθη, ἡ θεία πύλη, καὶ Μήτηρ τῆς ὄντως ζωῆς.
Saints and Feasts
September 07
The Forefeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos
September 07
Sozon the Martyr
This holy Martyr was a shepherd in Lycaonia. Born a pagan, named Tarasius, he received holy Baptism and was renamed Sozon. Filled with zeal for the truth, he taught his countrymen to desist from the worship of idols. Once he entered the temple of Artemis in Pompeiopolis of Cilicia, cut off the golden hand of the idol, and breaking it in pieces, distributed it among the poor. When he saw that many were being unjustly punished for the theft, of his own accord he gave himself up to Maximian the Governor. He was beaten with rods until his bones were broken. According to some, he suffered martyrdom in 288; according to others, in 304.
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 Galatians 6:11-18.
Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Gospel Reading
Sunday before Holy Cross
The Reading is from John 3:13-17
The Lord said, "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."