Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2024-03-17
Bulletin Contents

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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (302) 654-4446
  • Fax:
  • (302) 654-4204
  • Street Address:

  • 808 North Broom Street

  • Wilmington, DE 19806


Contact Information




Services Schedule

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
808 North Broom Street, Wilmington, Delaware  19806 

Telephone: (302) 654-4446,  Fax:  (302) 654-4204

CHURCH EMAIL: [email protected]
 
Church Office Hours: Monday ~ Friday - 9:00am - 4:30pm 

V. Rev. Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne

Fr. Christoforos Oikonomidis, Proistamenos 
  
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SERVICE SCHEDULE:
Orthros                    9:00 AM
Divine Liturgy           10:00 AM
 Sunday School         After the distribution of Holy Communion 


Past Bulletins


Fr. Christoforos Oikonomidis

 My dear beloved parishioners of Holy Trinity,

It is amazing how quickly time moves! It seems like yesterday, when in December, I offered my first monthly bulletin message to you, and we are already in March! I am pleased to say though, that these past three months that I have been with you, was a time filled with blessings and accomplishments. During the Christmas holidays – one of the busiest times of the year – I have had the pleasure of meeting many of you and your families; a wonderful process that continues to this day. I have to say that Holy Trinity is a well-organized Parish, with wonderful people, with a bright past and a most promising future!

Speaking of “future”, the best part of it is our youth. We have a strong group of children, teenagers and young adults that stay close to our Orthodox Faith and love this Church with all their heart. This is evident in everything we do here at Holy Trinity; every day there is something going on for our youth, whether it is basketball practice, dance practice, JOY & HOPE family nights, GOYA meetings, Young Adult League gatherings, Greek School classes etc. However, the culmination of every youth activity is the participation of our children of all ages in the Sunday Divine Liturgy and the classes that follow. I am very proud of them, and I thank the parents for making the effort to bring our children to our church’s many activities and for entrusting them to Jesus Christ, His Church and us.

On the weekend of February 17 & 18, 2024, we had our annual Basketball Tournament hosting nine Churches and their teams here at Holy Trinity. This was a huge undertaking resulting in a beautifully organized event that all thoroughly enjoyed. I would like to thank our GOYA Advisors and Coaches, together with the countless volunteers, who put their time and effort into making this year’s Tournament a success. On that Sunday, we had the blessing of welcoming our Spiritual Father, His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey, who celebrated the Divine Liturgy and offered his blessing to all. His Eminence’s presence marked the beginning of our Parish’s official celebration of our 90th Anniversary! His Eminence was amazed by the presence of so many young people in Church and was very thankful for the great participation of our youth in the Divine Liturgy. Moreover, we were all very excited and proud when our Holy Trinity Girls Basketball Team won the Tournament on that Sunday! Congratulations girls!

On a different note, this month we are entering Great Lent. This is the most sacred time of the ecclesiastical year and in the liturgical life of our Church. Great Lent is the appropriate time and opportunity to take a break from our hectic schedules and busy lives and look into our spiritual life and health. Our Holy Mother Church will be calling us all throughout this fasting season, to change our “lifestyles”, not by simply going “vegan” but by restricting our bodily passions. And our passions can only be controlled and reduced by doing two things: fasting and praying. Only through fasting and praying can we deepen our relationship with God.

On “Forgiveness” Sunday, March 17, we will be asked by our Church to offer our forgiveness to everyone, even to our enemies, to begin the “good fight” of Lent. On “Clean Monday”, March 18, which is the first day of Great Lent, the fast begins in earnest, with strict guidelines for fasting and prayer. On that day, we have the first Great Compline Service in the evening (see analytical Lenten Liturgical Schedule below), followed by an Orthodox Lecture-Discussion, where we will have the opportunity to learn more about Lent and other topics that concern our spiritual lives.

Every Wednesday evening, beginning March 20th, we will be celebrating the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, a very special and unique liturgical service. The Presanctified Liturgy is a solemn Lenten Vespers Service with the administration of Holy Communion added to it. This gives us the chance to receive the most precious Body and Blood of Christ in the middle of the week, allowing us to obtain strength and blessing to continue our spiritual fight and struggle. The evening Liturgy will be followed by a community meal.

Every Friday of Lent, for five Fridays, we will be celebrating the Salutations to the Theotokos. This joyful and beautiful Service, organically connected with the Feast of the Annunciation, is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and helps us advance and progress in our spiritual life by coming closer to Her and entrusting ourselves to the Mother of God, Panagia.

On the Saturdays of the 9th, the 16th and the 23rd of March we remember our deceased (Saturday of the Souls). We will be offering memorial prayers at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, and our faithful are asked to bring the names of their deceased and kollyva (boiled wheat) as per our tradition, to be commemorated in the Service.

We can realize from the above that we are entering a unique season, filled with blessings and spiritual opportunities, but also with a lot of work to do! Let us try more this Great Lent. Let us increase our efforts to fast, repent, forgive and serve our brothers and sisters. Let us make every effort to come as much as we can to the sacred services of our Church, enjoy the beauty of the sacred services allowing them to lead us to our spiritual regeneration.

I pray that you all have a blessed and fruitful Great Lent, filled with the Grace of God.

Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne

Christoforos Oikonomidis, Presiding Priest

 

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Αγαπητοί μου Ενορίτες,

Ήδη βρισκόμαστε στον μήνα Μάρτιο, ο οποίος μας εισάγει στην Αγία και Μεγάλη Τεσσαρακοστή. Αντιλαμβανόμαστε πόσο γρήγορα κυλά ο χρόνος, σχεδόν αμείλικτα. Μου φαίνεται σαν χθες, όταν ήλθα στην Αγία Τριάδα πριν από τρεις μήνες. Από τότε, είχα την ευκαιρία να σας γνωρίσω, να κάνω φιλίες και να γίνω μέρος της καθημερινότητάς σας. Πραγματικά νιώθω ευλογημένος για όλα αυτά και συνεχίζω με πιο πολύ όρεξη και ένταση το έργο που μου έχει αναθέσει η Εκκλησία, δηλαδή να σας διακονώ.

Το μεγαλύτερο στολίδι της Ενορίας μας είναι η νεολαία μας. Τα νέα παιδιά που πλημμυρίζουν τους χώρους της Εκκλησίας μας και γεμίζουν με ζωντάνια τα πάντα! Αυτά τα παιδιά του Θεού, τα δικά σας παιδιά, που είναι και δικά μας, νιώθουν την Εκκλησία να είναι το σπίτι τους. Χαίρομαι που εμπιστεύεστε τα παιδιά σας στην Εκκλησία, ιδιαίτερα αυτούς τους δύσκολους καιρούς, όπου η κοινωνία θέλει να τα διδάξει καινούρια, άγνωστα, περίεργα πράγματα. Η μόνη προστασία τους από κάθε είδους κακές επιρροές και βλαβερές συνήθειες είναι η Εκκλησία του Χριστού.

Το Σαββατοκύριακο 17 και 18 Φεβρουαρίου είχαμε το καθιερωμένο τουρνουά μπάσκετ, και φιλοξενήσαμε νέους και νέες από 9 Ενορίες. Με τη Χάρη του Θεού, όλα πήγαν υπέροχα. Την διαφορά όμως έκαναν οι νέοι της Αγίας Τριάδας. Με πολύ αγάπη και καλοσύνη υποδέχθηκαν τα άλλα παιδιά και τις οικογένειές τους και βοήθησαν στην όλη διοργάνωση με άψογο τρόπο. Πραγματικά καμάρωσα τα παιδιά μας και ένιωσα υπερήφανος γι’αυτά. Ιδιαίτερα την Κυριακή εκείνη, όπου είχαμε την τιμή και ευλογία να υποδεχθούμε τον Πνευματικό μας Πατέρα, τον Σεβασμιώτατο Μητροπολίτη Νέας Ιερσέης κ. Απόστολο, ο οποίος επισκέφθηκε την Ενορία μας για πρώτη φορά μετά την Ενθρόνισή του. Ο Σεβασμιώτατος με την παρουσία του κήρυξε την έναρξη των επίσημων εορτασμών για τα 90 χρόνια της Ενορίας μας, αλλά κυρίως ευχαριστήθηκε με την μεγάλη παρουσία των παιδιών μας. Να τα ευλογεί ο Θεός!

 

Να πούμε όμως και λίγα λόγια για τις μεγάλες και σπουδαίες ημέρες που έρχονται. Στις 18 Μαρτίου ξεκινά η Μεγάλη Τεσσαρακοστή. Είναι μια πνευματική περίοδος όπου η Εκκλησία μας προσκαλεί να προετοιμαστούμε για το Πάθος και την Ανάσταση του Κυρίου μας. Αυτή η προετοιμασία περιλαμβάνει νηστεία, εγκράτεια παθών, συγχώρηση, μετάνοια, εξομολόγηση, ελεημοσύνη και προσευχή. Είναι δηλαδή ένα πνευματικό στάδιο αρετών, στο οποίο καλούμαστε να αγωνιστούμε ώστε να νικήσουμε τον ίδιο μας τον (κακό) εαυτό…

Κύριο χαρακτηριστικό της Μεγάλης Τεσσαρακοστής είναι, όπως είπαμε, η νηστεία και η προσευχή. Η νηστεία δεν έχει σκοπό να μας εξουθενώσει αλλά ούτε και να μας αδυνατίσει. Σκοπό έχει να μας μάθει την ευλογημένη «εγκράτεια». Χαρακτηριστικά αναφέρει ο μακαριστός Μητροπολίτης Διοκλείας Κάλλιστος: «είναι σημαντικό να μην παραβλέπουμε τις σωματικές απαιτήσεις της νηστείας αλλά είναι ακόμα πιο σημαντικό να μην παραβλέπουμε την πνευματική της σημασία. Η νηστεία δεν είναι μόνο ζήτημα δίαιτας. Είναι ηθικό όπως και σωματικό. Η πραγματική νηστεία πρέπει να μεταστραφεί στην καρδιά και στη θέληση. Πρέπει να επιστρέφει στο Θεό, πρέπει να γυρίσει σαν τον Άσωτο στο σπίτι του Πατέρα μας. Με τα λόγια του Αγίου Ιωάννη του Χρυσοστόμου «εγκράτεια σημαίνει όχι μόνο από τα φαγητά αλλά και από τις αμαρτίες». «Η νηστεία», επιμένει, «έπρεπε να τηρείται όχι μόνον από το στόμα αλλά και από τα μάτια, τα αυτιά, τα πόδια, τα χέρια και όλα τα μέλη του σώματος»: το μάτι πρέπει να απέχει από αισχρά θεάματα, το αυτί από κακεντρεχή φλυαρία, τα χέρια από πράξεις αδικίας.» (‘’Νηστεία σημαίνει Εγκράτεια, Προσευχή, Αγαθοεργία’’, Σοφία και Λόγος, Φεβρ. 2015)

Όσο για την προσευχή, τώρα είναι η ευκαιρία να την αγαπήσουμε περισσότερο. Η περίοδος αυτή μας δίνει τη δυνατότητα όπως είπαμε να έλθουμε πιο κοντά στον Θεό διά της προσευχής. Προσευχή είναι η επικοινωνία μας με τον Πατέρα μας. Όπως γράφει και πάλι ο μακαριστός Μητροπολίτης Διοκλείας Κάλλιστος: «Ο ορθόδοξος συγγραφέας Τίτο Κόλλιαντερ γράφει: «έχουμε δημιουργηθεί για την προσευχή, όπως ακριβώς δημιουργηθήκαμε για να μιλάμε και να σκεφτόμαστε». Η προσευχή είναι η αληθινή μας φύση. Χωρίς προσευχή δεν είμαστε πραγματικά άνθρωποι. Αυτός είναι ο λόγος που ο απόστολος Παύλος έλεγε «ἀδιαλείπτως προσεύχεσθε» (Α΄ Θεσ. 5:17). Με την προτροπή αυτή δεν εννοούσε ότι θα πρέπει να λέμε προσευχές όλη την ώρα, καθώς κάτι τέτοιο είναι στην πραγματικότητα αδύνατο. Κάποιες στιγμές χρειάζεται να στρέψουμε την προσοχή μας και σε άλλα πράγματα. Αλλά είχε κατά νου την προσευχή ως έναν εννοούμενο προσανατολισμό, μία κρυμμένη διάσταση ή ένα ιδανικό, που διαπερνά όλα όσα κάνουμε. Όπως παρατηρεί ο άγιος Ισαάκ ο Σύρος, οι άγιοι ακόμη και όταν κοιμούνται δεν παύουν να προσεύχονται, γιατί το Άγιο Πνεύμα προσεύχεται πάντοτε μαζί τους. Αυτό, όντως, είναι εκείνο που πραγματικά χρειάζεται ο κόσμος: όχι απλά ανθρώπους που λένε πότε πότε προσευχές, αλλά ανθρώπους που είναι οι ίδιοι μια διαρκής προσευχή, ζωντανές φλόγες προσευχής. Τέτοιοι άνθρωποι μεταμορφώνουν τον κόσμο. Όπως έλεγε κι ο άγιος Ιωάννης της Κρονστάνδης, «Η προσευχή είναι μία κατάσταση συνεχούς ευγνωμοσύνης». (Public OrthodoxyΜητροπολίτου Κάλλιστου Γουέαρ, 2020)

Αυτές τις άγιες ημέρες της Μεγάλης Τεσσαρακοστής η Εκκλησία μας θα μας δώσει πολλές πνευματικές ευκαιρίες μέσα από τις ιερές Ακολουθίες. Την Καθαρά  Δευτέρα, 18 Μαρτίου, και κάθε Δευτέρα, θα τελούμε το Μεγάλο Απόδειπνο στις 6 το απόγευμα και θα ακολουθεί πνευματική ομιλία. Από την Τετάρτη 20 Μαρτίου και κάθε Τετάρτη στις 6.30 το απόγευμα θα τελούμε την όμορφη και κατανυκτική Λειτουργία των Προηγιασμένων Δώρων και θα ακολουθεί νηστίσιμο γεύμα. Από την Παρασκευή 22 Μαρτίου και κάθε Παρασκευή θα τελούμε τους Χαιρετισμούς της Παναγίας μας στις 6.30 το απόγευμα. Τα Σάββατα 9, 16 και 23 Μαρτίου έχουμε τα Ψυχοσάββατα, όπου τελούμε μνημόσυνα και θυμόμαστε τους αγαπημένους μας που είναι στον ουρανό. Και φυσικά κάθε Κυριακή συμμετέχουμε στην Θεία Λειτουργία.

Είμαστε ευλογημένοι αγαπητοί μου που έχουμε την Αγία μας Μητέρα, την Εκκλησία, η οποία μας αγαπά και ενδιαφέρεται για την πνευματική μας προκοπή και καλλιέργεια. Ας μην χάσουμε λοιπόν την ευκαιρία και τα δώρα που μας δίνει ο Θεός αυτή την περίοδο της Σαρακοστής. Ας προσπαθήσουμε να ζήσουμε -ο καθένας σύμφωνα με τις δυνάμεις του- την πνευματικότητα που μας χαρίζει η Σαρακοστή, με την ευλογημένη νηστεία, την αγάπη στο συνάνθρωπο και την συμμετοχή μας στις ιερές Ακολουθίες. Μόνο έτσι θα καταλάβουμε καλύτερα και θα νιώσουμε έτοιμοι να υποδεχθούμε το Πάσχα, ένα αληθινό και διαφορετικό Πάσχα από κάθε άλλη χρονιά.

Καλή και ευλογημένη Μεγάλη Τεσσαρακοστή αγαπητοί μου!

π. Χριστοφόρος Οικονομίδης

Αρχιμανδρίτης του Οικουμενικού Θρόνου

Ιερατικώς Προϊστάμενος 

 

  

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March 17, 2024

Forgiveness Sunday (Sunday of Cheesefare)

 

Epistle:    Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4 Page 134

Gospel: Matthew 6:14-21 Page 135

 

Memorials: John Burpulis ~ 1 Year

Timoleon  Papanicolas ~ 40 Day

NARTHEX DUTY TEAM:  Group 1

TODAY’S FELLOWSHIP IS OFFERED BY: The Families of John Burpulis and Timothy Papanicholas offer the coffee hour today in loving memory. Mat their memories be eternal.

THIS WEEK AT HOLY TRINITY:

Sunday, March 17

Forgiveness Sunday (Sunday of Cheesefare)

9:00am Orthros/10am Divine Liturgy

40 Day Churching of Stephanie Pecorella and Baby Juliana

Trisagion for Paul Koninis

Sunday School

HUC Lecture Dr. Fevronia Soumakis (after coffee hour)

1pm HOPE JOY Kite Flying

6:30pm Vespers of Forgiveness

Monday, March 18

Clean Monday / Great Lent Begins

12pm Young @ Heart Lenten Luncheon Gathering

6pm Great Compline followed by Orthodox discussion

Wednesday, March 19

12pm Bible Study

5:30pm Greek School

6:30pm Presanctified Liturgy followed by the 1st Community Lenten Meal hosted by the Young @ Heart (see flyer for details)

Friday, March 22

6:30pm 1st Salutations to the Theotokos

Parish Level St John Chrysostom Oratorial Festival following Salutations Service

Saturday, March 23

3rd Saturday of Souls

9:00am Orthros/9:45am Divine Liturgy

Sunday, March 24

Sunday of Orthodoxy

9:00am Orthros/10am Divine Liturgy

Sunday School

Greek School Independence Day Program following Divine Liturgy

 

 

 

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To follow the service via the GOA Digital Chant Stand

type in the link below and click the date of the service.

https://dcs.goarch.org/goa/dcs/dcs.html

 

 

Welcome   

The Holy Trinity Family welcomes all visitors. We hope that you enjoyed the Divine Service of the Church of the Book of Acts. You participated in the most ancient Christian Service written by Saint John Chrysostomos- the Golden Mouth. The Sacrament of Holy Communion is distributed ONLY to those Baptized and/or Chrismated Orthodox Christians who have prepared according to our Sacred Tradition. We invite everyone to come forward at the end of the Divine Liturgy to receive the blessed bread. If you have any questions about the Orthodox Church or would like to discover how to join this Ancient Christian Faith please see the priest after the service or call the church office for an appointment 302-654-4446. We thank you and may the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and yours abundantly always.  

 

 

 

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Sunday Hymns

 

Hymns for Sunday 

Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἀναστάσιμον. Ἦχος πλ. δʹ.

Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ Εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν κατεδέξω τριήμερον, ἵνα ἡμᾶς ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν παθῶν. Ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ ἀνάστασις ἡμῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.

Resurrectional Apolytikion. Mode pl. 4.

You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and consented to a threeday burial, to free us from the passions. O Lord, our life and resurrection, glory to You!

Ἦχος πλ. δʹ.

Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ πανσόφους τοὺς ἁλιεῖς ἀναδείξας, καταπέμψας αὐτοῖς τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον, καὶ δι' αὐτῶν τὴν οἰκουμένην σαγηνεύσας, φιλάνθρωπε, δόξα σοι.

Mode pl. 4.

O Blessed are You, O Christ our God, who by sending down the Holy Spirit upon them, made the fishermen wise, and through them illumined the world and to you the universe was ever drawn – all Glory to you O Lord.

Κοντάκιον. Ἦχος πλ. βʹ. Αὐτόμελον.

Τῆς σοφίας ὁδηγέ, φρονήσεως χορηγέ, τῶν ἀφρόνων παιδευτά, καὶ πτωχῶν ὑπερασπιστά, στήριξον, συνέτισον τὴν καρδίαν μου Δέσποτα. Σὺ δίδου μοι λόγον, ὁ τοῦ Πατρός Λόγος· ἰδοὺ γὰρ τὰ χείλη μου, οὐ μὴ κωλύσω ἐν τῷ κράζειν σοι· Ἐλεῆμον, ἐλέησόν με τὸν παραπεσόντα.

Kontakion. Mode pl. 2. (not metered)

O guide to wisdom, provider of prudence, disciplinarian of fools, and defender of the poor, fortify and discipline my heart, O Master; You, give me a word, O Word of the Father. For behold, I will not hinder my lips from crying to You: O merciful Lord, have mercy on me who have fallen.

 

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Saints and Feasts

March 17

Patrick the Enlightener of Ireland

Saint Patrick, the Apostle of the Irish, was seized from his native Britain by Irish marauders when he was sixteen years old. Though the son of a deacon and a grandson of a priest, it was not until his captivity that he sought out the Lord with his whole heart. In his Confession, the testament he wrote towards the end of his life, he says, "After I came to Ireland - every day I had to tend sheep, and many times a day I prayed - the love of God and His fear came to me more and more, and my faith was strengthened. And my spirit was so moved that in a single day I would say as many as a hundred prayers, and almost as many at night, and this even when I was staying in the woods and on the mountain; and I would rise for prayer before daylight, through snow, through frost, through rain, and I felt no harm." After six years of slavery in Ireland, he was guided by God to make his escape, and afterwards struggled in the monastic life at Auxerre in Gaul, under the guidance of the holy Bishop Germanus. Many years later he was ordained bishop and sent to Ireland once again, about the year 432, to convert the Irish to Christ. His arduous labours bore so much fruit that within seven years, three bishops were sent from Gaul to help him shepherd his flock, "my brethren and sons whom I have baptized in the Lord - so many thousands of people," he says in his Confession. His apostolic work was not accomplished without much "weariness and painfulness," long journeys through difficult country, and many perils; he says his very life was in danger twelve times. When he came to Ireland as its enlightener, it was a pagan country; when he ended his earthly life some thirty years later, about 461, the Faith of Christ was established in every corner.


March 17

Forgiveness Sunday

The Holy Fathers have appointed the commemoration of Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight here, on the eve of the holy Forty-day Fast, demonstrating to us not by simple words, but by actual deeds, how beneficial fasting is for man, and how harmful and destructive are insatiety and the transgressing of the divine commandments. For the first commandment that God gave to man was that of fasting, which the first-fashioned received but did not keep; and not only did they not become gods, as they had imagined, but they lost even that blessed life which they had, and they fell into corruption and death, and transmitted these and innumerable other evils to all of mankind. The God-bearing Fathers set these things before us today, that by bringing to mind what we have fallen from, and what we have suffered because of the insatiety and disobedience of the first-fashioned, we might be diligent to return again to that ancient bliss and glory by means of fasting and obedience to all the divine commands. Taking occasion from today's Gospel (Matt. 6:14-21) to begin the Fast unencumbered by enmity, we also ask forgiveness this day, first from God, then from one another and all creation.


March 17

Alexis the Man of God

Saint Alexis was born in old Rome of illustrious parents named Euphemianus and Aglais, and at their request was joined to a young woman in marriage. However, he did not remain with her even for one day, but fled to Edessa, where he lived for eighteen years. He returned to Rome in the guise of a beggar and sat at the gates of his father's house, unknown to all and mocked by his own servants. His identity was revealed only after his death by a paper that he had on his person, which he himself had written a little before his repose. The pious Emperor Honorius honoured him with a solemn burial. The title "Man of God" was given to him from heaven in a vision to the Bishop of Rome on the day of the Saint's repose.


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Eighth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:11-18

At that time, Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb, and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus has lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni," which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, "Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God." Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and she told them that He had said these things to her.

Eighth Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 20:11-18

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, Μαρία εἱστήκει πρὸς τὸ μνημεῖον κλαίουσα ἔξω· ὡς οὖν ἔκλαιε, παρέκυψεν εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ θεωρεῖ δύο ἀγγέλους ἐν λευκοῖς καθεζομένους, ἕνα πρὸς τῇ κεφαλῇ, καὶ ἕνα πρὸς τοῖς ποσίν, ὅπου ἔκειτο τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ, καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῇ ἐκεῖνοι· Γύναι, τί κλαίεις; λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ὅτι ᾖραν τὸν Κύριόν μου, καὶ οὐκ οἶδα ποῦ ἔθηκαν αὐτόν· καὶ ταῦτα εἰποῦσα ἐστράφη εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω, καὶ θεωρεῖ τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἑστῶτα, καὶ οὐκ ᾒδει ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστι. Λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Γύναι, τί κλαίεις; τίνα ζητεῖς; ἐκείνη δοκοῦσα ὅτι ὁ κηπουρὸς ἐστι, λέγει αὐτῷ· Κύριε, εἰ σὺ ἐβάστασας αὐτόν, εἰπέ μοι ποῦ αὐτὸν ἔθηκας, κᾀγὼ αὐτὸν ἀρῶ· λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Μαρία· στραφεῖσα ἐκείνη λέγει αὐτῷ· Ῥαββουνί· ὃ λέγεται Διδάσκαλε· λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Μή μου ἃπτου· οὔπω γὰρ ἀναβέβηκα πρὸς τὸν πατέρα μου, πορεύου δὲ πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφούς μου, καὶ εἰπὲ αὐτοῖς· Ἀναβαίνω πρὸς τὸν πατέρα μου καὶ πατέρα ὑμῶν, καὶ Θεόν μου καὶ Θεὸν ὑμῶν· ἔρχεται Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ ἀπαγγέλλουσα τοῖς μαθηταῖς ὅτι ἑώρακε τὸν Κύριον· καὶ ταῦτα εἶπεν αὐτῇ.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Mode. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4.

Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand.

Προκείμενον. Plagal Fourth Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 75.11,1.
Εὔξασθε καὶ ἀπόδοτε Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν.
Στίχ. Γνωστὸς ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ ὁ Θεός, ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ μέγα τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς ῾Ρωμαίους 13:11-14, 14:1-4.

Ἀδελφοί, νῦν ἐγγύτερον ἡμῶν ἡ σωτηρία ἢ ὅτε ἐπιστεύσαμεν. Ἡ νὺξ προέκοψεν, ἡ δὲ ἡμέρα ἤγγικεν· ἀποθώμεθα οὖν τὰ ἔργα τοῦ σκότους, καί ἐνδυσώμεθα τὰ ὅπλα τοῦ φωτός. Ὡς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ, εὐσχημόνως περιπατήσωμεν, μὴ κώμοις καὶ μέθαις, μὴ κοίταις καὶ ἀσελγείαις, μὴ ἔριδι καὶ ζήλῳ. Ἀλλʼ ἐνδύσασθε τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, καὶ τῆς σαρκὸς πρόνοιαν μὴ ποιεῖσθε, εἰς ἐπιθυμίας. Τὸν δὲ ἀσθενοῦντα τῇ πίστει προσλαμβάνεσθε, μὴ εἰς διακρίσεις διαλογισμῶν. Ὃς μὲν πιστεύει φαγεῖν πάντα, ὁ δὲ ἀσθενῶν λάχανα ἐσθίει. Ὁ ἐσθίων τὸν μὴ ἐσθίοντα μὴ ἐξουθενείτω, καὶ ὁ μὴ ἐσθίων τὸν ἐσθίοντα μὴ κρινέτω· ὁ θεὸς γὰρ αὐτὸν προσελάβετο. Σὺ τίς εἶ ὁ κρίνων ἀλλότριον οἰκέτην; Τῷ ἰδίῳ κυρίῳ στήκει ἢ πίπτει. Σταθήσεται δέ· δυνατὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θεὸς στῆσαι αὐτόν.


Gospel Reading

Forgiveness Sunday
The Reading is from Matthew 6:14-21

The Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

"And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Forgiveness Sunday
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 6:14-21

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· ᾿Εὰν γὰρ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, ἀφήσει καὶ ὑμῖν ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, οὐδὲ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ἀφήσει τὰ παραπτώματα ὑμῶν. ῞Οταν δὲ νηστεύητε, μὴ γίνεσθε ὥσπερ οἱ ὑποκριταὶ σκυθρωποί· ἀφανίζουσι γὰρ τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν ὅπως φανῶσι τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύοντες· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἀπέχουσι τὸν μισθὸν αὐτῶν. σὺ δὲ νηστεύων ἄλειψαί σου τὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ τὸ πρόσωπόν σου νίψαι,ὅπως μὴ φανῇς τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύων, ἀλλὰ τῷ πατρί σου τῷ ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ, καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου ὁ βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ ἀποδώσει σοι ἐν τῷ φανερῷ. Μὴ θησαυρίζετε ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅπου σὴς καὶ βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται διορύσσουσι καὶ κλέπτουσι· θησαυρίζετε δὲ ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐν οὐρανῷ, ὅπου οὔτε σὴς οὔτε βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται οὐ διορύσσουσιν οὐδὲ κλέπτουσιν· ὅπου γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θησαυρὸς ὑμῶν, ἐκεῖ ἔσται καὶ ἡ καρδία ὑμῶν.


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Wisdom of the Fathers

Spiritual delight is not enjoyment found in things that exists outside the soul.
St. Isaac of Syria
Unknown, 7th century

Do we forgive our neighbors their trespasses? God also forgives us in His mercy. Do we refuse to forgive? God, too, will refuse to forgive us. As we treat our neighbors, so also does God treat us. The forgiveness, then, of your sins or unforgiveness, and hence also your salvation or destruction, depend on you yourself, man. For without forgiveness of sins there is no salvation.
St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
Unknown, 18th century

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New Members Received

Loudovic Wiechecki

Emily Raisis

Joseph Sparco

George & Kristie Asimos

George Asimos, Sr.

Jessica Marvel

Caroline Vande Poele

Beth Haldas

Anthony Taylor

Francis Wiechecki

Anthony & Melanie Metaxotos

George & Michelle Hall

 

 

 

 

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Serving This Week at Holy Trinity

  

NARTHEX DUTY TEAM:  Group 1

TODAY’S FELLOWSHIP IS OFFERED BY: The Families of John Burpulis and Timoleon Papanicholas offer the coffee hour today in loving memory. May their memories be eternal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Parish Outreach & Evangelism

 

Dearly Beloved in Christ,

Our Lord Jesus Christ came in to the world that He might restore our humanity by filling it with the Divine and life-giving Holy Spirit. When this happens, we become a new creation in Christ overflowing with abundant life. All of us are called to participate in this Divine way of being. 

Although Holy Trintiy has a vibrant history extending over 90 years, we are continually gaining new families and new parish members through marriages, childbirths, conversions from non-Christian religions and by people who are embracing the Orthodox Chrisitan way of life.

If you or someone you may know are desiring to join our Church, please let the church office know and we will have someone reach out to them for a pastoral visit.

We ask that all of our members prayerfully reflect on who we have the opportunity to be welcoming here at Holy Trinity, so that you might share that information with our Parish Priest. 

May the Lord bless,

The Outreach & Evangleism Ministry

 

Matthew 28: 18-20

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 

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CURRENT EVENT FLYERS

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Announcements

Our Greek School will present the Greek Independence Day Program next Sunday March 24 after the Divine Liturgy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have a pastoral emergency please call the

Church office @ 302.654.4446

Fr Christoforos @ 856.246.2756, or

Stephen Karakasidis @ 302.383.0476

 

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ΠΟΙΜΑΝΤΟΡΙΚΗ ΕΓΚΥΚΛΙΟΣ

 

Please view the attached informational video from the Metropolis Opioid Response Effort (M.O.R.E.) (CLICK ON TH ELINK BELOW TO VIEW THE VIDEO)

Please share it with anyone and everyone! Please HELP us do M.O.R.E.

https://www.nj.goarch.org/opioids

 

 

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

From on high didst Thou descend, O Compassionate One; to burial of three days hast Thou submitted that Thou mightest free us from our passions. O our Life and Resurrection, Lord, glory be to Thee.
Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν καταδέξω τριήμερον, ἵνα ἡμᾶς ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν παθῶν. Ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ Ἀνάστασις ἡμῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Second Mode

O Master, Prudence, Guide of Wisdom, Instruction to the foolish and Defender of the poor, strengthen my heart and grant it discernment. Give me words, Word of the Father, for behold, I shall not keep my lips from crying out to You, "O Merciful One, have mercy on me who has fallen."
Τῆς σοφίας ὁδηγέ, φρονήσεως χορηγέ, τῶν ἀφρόνων παιδευτά, καὶ πτωχῶν ὑπερασπιστά, στήριξον, συνέτισον τὴν καρδίαν μου Δέσποτα. Σὺ δίδου μοι λόγον, ὁ τοῦ Πατρός Λόγος· ἰδοὺ γὰρ τὰ χείλη μου, οὐ μὴ κωλύσω ἐν τῷ κράζειν σοι· Ἐλεῆμον, ἐλέησόν με τὸν παραπεσόντα.
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