Holy Trinity Church
Publish Date: 2024-09-01
Bulletin Contents

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Holy Trinity Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (724) 266-5336
  • Fax:
  • (724) 266-2220
  • Street Address:

  • 2930 Beaver Road

  • Ambridge, PA 15003


Contact Information




Services Schedule

Sundays: 8:30am Orthros, 9:30 am Divine Liturgy

Weekdays: 9am Orthros & Liturgy


Past Bulletins


Worship

Services:

Sundays

8:30am Orthros, 9:30am Divine Liturgy

 

Upcoming Services:

  • Saxonburg Monastery Feast Day Celebrated September 6th & 7th
    • Gerontissa Theophano and the sisters invite us all to the Holy Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery for their feast day. 
      • Friday, September 6th: 5pm Vespers & Orthros
      • Saturday, September 7th: 9am Hours & Liturgy, followed by Lunch
  • Sunday, September 8th - Nativity of the Theotokos: 8:30am Orthros, 9:30am Liturgy
  • Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross
    • Friday, September 13th: 7pm Pilgrimage to Great Vespers at Holy Cross in Mt. Lebanon for their Parish Feast Day
    • Saturday, September 14th: 9am Orthros & Liturgy
      • Those who are able and willing to provide Basil plants for blessing and distribution should bring them to the office on Friday the 13th.

 

Upcoming Memorials:

  • September 1st:
    • 3mo Trisagion - Theodore Skeriotis
    • 9mo Memorial - Mary Menis
    • 39yr Trisagion - Emmanuel Zervos
  • September 15th:
    • 7yr Memorial - Angeline Neforos
    • 19yr Memorial - Pano "Pete" Neforos
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Church News

DOWNSTAIRS WOMEN'S ROOM CLOSED THIS SUNDAY due to HVAC work.

 

YIAYIA PAPPOU SUNDAY - Sept 8th: Calling all gradparents and grandchildren to come to Church on Sunday, September 8th on the feastday of the Nativity of the Theotokos in which we see the beautiful life ane example of Christ's grandparents.

 

FIRST DAY OF SUNDAY SCHOOL - Sept 8th: Welcome back students and teachers! We are very excited to have another beautiful year of learning about God in conjunction with our worship of Him.  Learning starts with our early attendance of Liturgy, beginning at 9:30am, Fr. Anastasios's children sermon, and time spent in class following Holy Communion.

 

2024 MINISTRY FAIR COFFEE HOUR - Sept 8th: After Liturgy our coffee hour is transformed into a ministry fair in which each member can see the ministry that is ongoing in our parish and maybe ministry efforts that would serve you best!

 

COLLECTION FOR THE LADLE - September, 8-22: Our Young Adult Ministry is again organizing a collection for the Ladle.  This time of year they have requested more hardy food items, such as soups and canned meats.

 

JOURNEY TO FULLNESS CLASSES - Wednesdays at 6:30pm starting September 11th: This year we will have our first experience of the "Journey to Fullness" series, put together by Fr. Barnabas Powell.  This series will be used to help us form our catechism of the Church for those inquiring and the inquiring hearts of our own parishioners. Please let Fr. Anastasios or the office know if you are interested in being a part of these classes. Here is a review from Ancient Faith Ministries' Kevin Allen: 

It is an excellent and well produced series for inquirers interested in Orthodoxy, or family members who may want to learn more about the Orthodox faith and Church. Fr  Barnabas' style is sincere, straight-forward and he is not afraid to raise and speak to the tough questions non-Orthodox inquirers would ask. At the end of each segment there is a brief question and answer review which delves deeper  into issues raised in the talk. This series is highly recommended for individuals or parishes for inquirer's classes or outreach.

 

2024 STEWARDSHIP CARDS

Thank you to our 137 families that have turned in their pledge cards totaling $205,640 pledged! 

That puts us at 62.32% toward our pledge goal of $330,000 for 2024.

If you haven’t submitted your pledge card, please feel free to fill the one out in the Bulletin Inserts section of this online bulletin (which you can print and bring in or email to the office or Fr. Anastasios). 

 

BOILER & AIR-CONDITIONING PROJECT PROGRESS

Installed and operational: Boiler, two Nave air-conditioners, and the air conditioning in the choir loft.  The final step of the project will be the Hall condenser and air-handler.  If you would like to help offset the cost of the work completed or the upcoming work, please send checks to the office with "HVAC Project" in the memo line; stocks can be transferred to our community as donations; and Online Giving through the item titled "Building Fund: HVAC Project."  

 

YOUTH SAFETY - Please register at https://ncsrisk.org/goarch/.  This includes all Youth Safety Workers as well as Parish Council 

 

PRAYER CHAIN - Members of Holy Trinity are being brought together in efforts to pray for those in need of prayers.  Please contact Joanie Ondrako at 724-601-6298, Fr. Anastasios, or the Office to join the prayer team, a group of people who will pray for the names given each day.

Prayer requests can be submitted anonymously and will be on the prayer list as long as your request is wanted, even up to a year.  To request a prayer, click here.

 

ONLINE GIVING & STEWARDSHIPIs OPEN! Online giving can be found by clicking here!  Please consider your continued support of our church through becoming one of our online giving families.  You can make general contributions and stewardship contributions.

 

REGULAR GIVING: The church is still accepting donations in normal ways through the mail and drop-off.  Thank you to all of those who have continued to contribute in these challenging times.

 

YOU CAN NOW DONATE SECURITIES TO THE CHURCH  

In response to inquiries regarding the donation of securities to Holy Trinity, a new brokerage account has been established with PNC Investments to receive stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.  Donating appreciated securities is often preferable to donating cash as the donor may benefit from the current tax code, creating the opportunity for donors to consider even larger gifts.  Currently, this account can receive securities in lieu of cash for the fulfillment of stewardship pledges as well as directed gifts for special projects.  If after consulting with your financial advisor, you are interested in this form of giving, please contact any parish council member or the office for more information.

 

LIVE-STREAM: If you don't have a Facebook account, don't worry: it does not force you to log in.

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Bulletin Inserts

    2024 Stewardship Pledge

    2024 Stewardship Pledge

    Becoming a steward today!


    IOCC Open House - September 4th

    IOCC Open House - September 4th

    IOCC Pittsburgh Committee is please to invite you to an open house to meet its members. You'll hear updates and learn how we support IOCC's work.


    IOCC Oktoberfest Happy Hour

    IOCC Oktoberfest Happy Hour

    to benefit IOCC Thursday, October 10th - 6-9pm at Rusty Gold Brewing Company, Canonsburg


    New York City Trip - St. Nicholas 60 Club

    New York City Trip - St. Nicholas 60 Club

    St. Nicholas Cathedral of Pittsburgh's 60 Club is heading to New York City October 15-17. 2 Nights lodging, 2 breakfasts, 2 dinners, Tour of the St. Nicholas National Shrine at Ground Zero, visit the Archdiocese Headquarters, Ferry to Statue of Liberty, and more. $580 per person (double occupancy), $25 per person deposit due by 8/20, balance by 10/1. For information contact Alice Gary


    IOCC Bourbon Tasting

    IOCC Bourbon Tasting

    to benefit IOCC on Thursday, November 7th at 7pm at Leaf & Bean in McMurray, PA. $60 tickets


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Our Calendar

  • Holy Trinity Ambridge

    September 1 to September 15, 2024

    Sunday, September 1

    Ecclesiastical New Year

    39yr Trisagion - Emmanuel Zervos

    Coffee Hour: Choir

    9mo Memorial - Mary Menis

    3mo Trisagion - Theodore Skeriotis

    8:30AM Orthros

    9:30AM Liturgy

    1:30PM Wedding

    3:30PM Baptism

    Sunday, September 8

    Young Adult Collection for the Ladle

    Ministry Fair Coffee Hour

    Yiayia-Pappou Sunday

    Nativity of the Theotokos

    8:30AM Orthros

    9:30AM Liturgy

    Tuesday, September 10

    7:00PM Parish Council

    Wednesday, September 11

    6:30PM Journey to Fullness

    Saturday, September 14

    Elevation of the Holy Cross

    9:00AM Orthros & Liturgy - Elevation of the Cross

    Sunday, September 15

    Sunday School

    LOVE+HOPE+JOY: Popsicles in the Park

    GOYA Meeting after Liturgy

    Coffee Hour: GOYA

    19yr Memorial - Pano “Pete” Neforos

    Young Adult Collection for the Ladle

    7yr Memorial - Angeline Neforos

    8:30AM Orthros

    9:30AM Liturgy

  • Regional Orthodox Events

    September 6 to September 13, 2024

    Friday, September 6

    5:00PM Vespers & Orthrors @ Monastery Pilgrimage to Nativity of the Theotokos

    Saturday, September 7

    9:00AM Hours, Liturgy, & Lunch @ Monastery Pilgrimage to Nativity of the Theotokos

    Thursday, September 12

    7:00PM IOCC Open House

    Friday, September 13

    6:00PM Pilgrimage to Holy Cross, Mt Lebanon: Great Vespers of the Elevation of the Holy Cross

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 1st Mode

The stone had been secured with a seal by the Judeans, * and a guard of soldiers was watching Your immaculate body. * You rose on the third day, O Lord * and Savior, granting life unto the world. * For this reason were the powers of heaven crying out to You, O Life-giver: * Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ; * glory to Your eternal rule; * glory to Your dispensation, only One who loves mankind.
Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, καὶ στρατιωτῶν φυλασσόντων τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα, ἀνέστης τριήμερος Σωτήρ, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὴν ζωήν. Διὰ τοῦτο αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν ἐβόων σοι Ζωοδότα· Δόξα τῇ ἀναστάσει σου Χριστέ, δόξα τῇ Βασιλείᾳ σου, δόξα τῇ οἰκονομίᾳ σου, μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε.

Apolytikion for Beginning of the Indiction in the 2nd Mode

O Fashioner of all creation, who made seasons and years by Your own authority, bless the crown of the year with Your goodness, O Lord, and preserve our rulers and Your city in peace, at the intercession of the Theotokos, and save us.
Ὁ πάσης δημιουργὸς τῆς κτίσεως, ὁ καιροὺς καὶ χρόνους ἐν τῇ ἰδία ἐξουσία θέμενος, εὐλόγησον τὸν στέφανον τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ τῆς χρηστότητός σου Κύριε, φυλάττων ἐν εἰρήνῃ τοὺς Βασιλεῖς καὶ τὴν πόλιν σου, πρεσβείαις τῆς Θεοτόκου, καὶ σῶσον ἡμᾶς.

Apolytikion for Synaxis of the Recovery of the Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Grave Mode

Rejoice, Maiden full of grace, O Virgin Theotokos; a haven and protection are you for all of mankind. From you did the Redeemer of the world become incarnate, only you are both a Mother and a Virgin. O Lady ever blessed and ever filled with glory, intercede with Christ God, beseeching Him to grant peace to the universe.
Χαίρε Κεχαριτωμένη, Θεοτόκε Παρθένε, λιμήν καίπροστασία τού γένους τών ανθρώπων, εκ σού γάρ εσαρκώθη ο Λυτρωτής τού κόσμου. Οθεν καί χαρίτων ηγλάϊσας τώ φέγγει, τήν σήν λαμπράν Εικόνα Μιασηνών τή Μάνδρα, ταύτην γάρ θαυμασίως, εξ υδάτων βυθού καί αύθις ημίν δεδώρησαι.

Apolytikion for Righteous Symeon the Stylite in the 1st Mode

You became a pillar of patience, O devout one, emulating the forefathers, Job in his sufferings and Joseph in his temptations, and the manner of the bodiless, though you were still in body. O devout father Symeon, intercede with Christ God, to save our souls.
Υπομονής στύλος γέγονας, ζηλώσας τούς προπάτορας Όσιε, τόν Ιώβ εν τοίς πάθεσι, τόν Ιωσήφ εν τοίς πειρασμοίς, καί τήν τών Ασωμάτων πολιτείαν, υπάρχων εν σώματι, Συμεών Πατήρ ημών Όσιε, πρέσβευε Χριστώ τώ Θεώ, σωθήναι τάς ψυχάς ημών.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Mode

You, the Creator and the Lord of the ages, O God of all, truly transcending all essence, we earnestly entreat, that You will bless the year, and, O tender-loving Lord, in Your infinite mercy, only Master, save us all who worship and serve You, O our Redeemer, and who cry with fear, “For all Your servants, make fruitful the coming year.”
Ὁ τῶν αἰώνων Ποιητὴς καὶ Δεσπότης, θεέ τῶν ὅλων, ὑπερούσιε ὄντως, τὴν ἐνιαύσιον εὐλόγησον περίοδον, σώζων τῷ ἐλέει σου τῷ ἀπείρῷ, οἰκτίρμον, πάντας τοὺς λατρεύοντας σοὶ τῷ μόνῷ Δεσπότῃ, καὶ ἐκβοῶντας φόΒῷ λυτρωτά· Εὔφορον πᾶσι τὸ ἔτος χορήγησον.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 4th Mode. Psalm 146.5;134.3.
Great is our Lord, and great is his power.
Verse: Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to Timothy 2:1-7.

Timothy, my son, first of all, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Προκείμενον. 4th Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 146.5;134.3.
Μέγας ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν, καὶ μεγάλη ἡ ἰσχὺς ἀὐτοῦ.
Στίχ. Αἰνεῖτε τὸν Κύριον, ὅτι ἀγαθός.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Τιμόθεον α' 2:1-7.

Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, παρακαλῶ οὖν πρῶτον πάντων ποιεῖσθαι δεήσεις, προσευχάς, ἐντεύξεις, εὐχαριστίας, ὑπὲρ πάντων ἀνθρώπων, ὑπὲρ βασιλέων καὶ πάντων τῶν ἐν ὑπεροχῇ ὄντων, ἵνα ἤρεμον καὶ ἡσύχιον βίον διάγωμεν ἐν πάσῃ εὐσεβείᾳ καὶ σεμνότητι. Τοῦτο γὰρ καλὸν καὶ ἀπόδεκτον ἐνώπιον τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Θεοῦ, ὃς πάντας ἀνθρώπους θέλει σωθῆναι καὶ εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας ἐλθεῖν. Εἷς γὰρ Θεός, εἷς καὶ μεσίτης Θεοῦ καὶ ἀνθρώπων, ἄνθρωπος Χριστὸς ᾿Ιησοῦς, ὁ δοὺς ἑαυτὸν ἀντίλυτρον ὑπὲρ πάντων, τὸ μαρτύριον καιροῖς ἰδίοις, εἰς ὃ ἐτέθην ἐγὼ κήρυξ καὶ ἀπόστολος,- ἀλήθειαν λέγω ἐν Χριστῷ, οὐ ψεύδομαι,- διδάσκαλος ἐθνῶν ἐν πίστει καὶ ἀληθεία.


Gospel Reading

Ecclesiastical New Year
The Reading is from Luke 4:16-22

At that time, Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the sabbath day. And he stood up to read; and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." And all spoke well of him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.

Ecclesiastical New Year
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 4:16-22

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς Ναζαρά, οὗ ἦν τεθραμμένος, καὶ εἰσῆλθε κατὰ τὸ εἰωθὸς αὐτῷ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῶν σαββάτων εἰς τὴν συναγωγήν, καὶ ἀνέστη ἀναγνῶναι. καὶ ἐπεδόθη αὐτῷ βιβλίον ῾Ησαΐου τοῦ προφήτου, καὶ ἀναπτύξας τὸ βιβλίον εὗρε τὸν τόπον οὗ ἦν γεγραμμένον· Πνεῦμα Κυρίου ἐπ᾿ ἐμέ, οὗ εἵνεκεν ἔχρισέ με, εὐαγγελίσασθαι πτωχοῖς ἀπέσταλκέ με, ἰάσασθαι τοὺς συντετριμμένους τὴν καρδίαν, κηρῦξαι αἰχμαλώτοις ἄφεσιν καὶ τυφλοῖς ἀνάβλεψιν, ἀποστεῖλαι τεθραυσμένους ἐν ἀφέσει, κηρῦξαι ἐνιαυτὸν Κυρίου δεκτόν. καὶ πτύξας τὸ βιβλίον ἀποδοὺς τῷ ὑπηρέτῃ ἐκάθισε· καὶ πάντων ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ ἦσαν ἀτενίζοντες αὐτῷ. ἤρξατο δὲ λέγειν πρὸς αὐτοὺς ὅτι σήμερον πεπλήρωται ἡ γραφὴ αὕτη ἐν τοῖς ὠσὶν ὑμῶν. καὶ πάντες ἐμαρτύρουν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐθαύμαζον ἐπὶ τοῖς λόγοις τῆς χάριτος τοῖς ἐκπορευομένοις ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ.


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Saints and Feasts

September 01

Ecclesiastical New Year

For the maintenance of their armed forces, the Roman emperors decreed that their subjects in every district should be taxed every year. This same decree was reissued every fifteen years, since the Roman soldiers were obliged to serve for fifteen years. At the end of each fifteen-year period, an assessment was made of what economic changes had taken place, and a new tax was decreed, which was to be paid over the span of the fifteen years. This imperial decree, which was issued before the season of winter, was named Indictio, that is, Definiton, or Order. This name was adopted by the emperors in Constantinople also. At other times, the latter also used the term Epinemisis, that is, Distribution (Dianome). It is commonly held that Saint Constantine the Great introduced the Indiction decrees in A.D. 312, after he beheld the sign of the Cross in heaven and vanquished Maxentius and was proclaimed Emperor in the West. Some, however (and this seems more likely), ascribe the institution of the Indiction to Augustus Caesar, three years before the birth of Christ. Those who hold this view offer as proof the papal bull issued in A.D. 781 which is dated thus: Anno IV, Indictionis LIII -that is, the fourth year of the fifty-third Indiction. From this, we can deduce the aforementioned year (3 B.C.) by multiplying the fifty-two complete Indictions by the number of years in each (15), and adding the three years of the fifty-third Indiction. There are three types of Indictions: 1) That which was introduced in the West, and which is called Imperial, or Caesarean, or Constantinian, and which begins on the 24th of September; 2) The so-called Papal Indiction, which begins on the 1st of January; and 3) The Constantinopolitan, which was adopted by the Patriarchs of that city after the fall of the Eastern Empire in 1453. This Indiction is indicated in their own hand on the decrees they issue, without the numeration of the fifteen years. This Indiction begins on the 1st of September and is observed with special ceremony in the Church. Since the completion of each year takes place, as it were, with the harvest and gathering of the crops into storehouses, and we begin anew from henceforth the sowing of seed in the earth for the production of future crops, September is considered the beginning of the New Year. The Church also keeps festival this day, beseeching God for fair weather, seasonable rains, and an abundance of the fruits of the earth. The Holy Scriptures (Lev. 23:24-5 and Num. 29:1-2) also testify that the people of Israel celebrated the feast of the Blowing of the Trumpets on this day, offering hymns of thanksgiving. In addition to all the aforesaid, on this feast we also commemorate our Saviour's entry into the synagogue in Nazareth, where He was given the book of the Prophet Esaias to read, and He opened it and found the place where it is written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, for which cause He hath anointed Me..." (Luke 4:16-30).

It should be noted that to the present day, the Church has always celebrated the beginning of the New Year on September 1. This was the custom in Constantinople until its fall in 1453 and in Russia until the reign of Peter I. September 1 is still festively celebrated as the New Year at the Patriarchate of Constantinople; among the Jews also the New Year, although reckoned according to a moveable calendar, usually falls in September. The service of the Menaion for January 1 is for our Lord's Circumcision and for the memorial of Saint Basil the Great, without any mention of its being the beginning of a new year.


September 01

Symeon the Stylite

Our righteous Father Symeon was born about the year 390 in a certain village named Sis, in the mountain region of Cilicia and Syria. Having first been a shepherd, he entered the monastic discipline at a young age. After trying various kinds of ascetical practices, both in the monastery and then in the wilderness, he began standing on pillars of progressively greater height, and heroically persevered in this for more than forty years; the greater part of this time he spent standing upright, even when one of his feet became gangrenous, and other parts of his body gave way under the strain. He did not adopt this strange way of life out of vainglory, a charge that some of his contemporaries made against him at the first: because he was already famous for his asceticism and holiness before ascending his first pillar (in Greek, style, whence he is called "Stylite"), many pious people came to him wishing to touch his garments, either for healing or for a blessing; to escape the continual vexation they caused, he made a pillar about ten feet high, and then higher and higher, until the fourth and last was about fifty feet high. The Church historian Theodoret of Cyrrhus, an eyewitness of his exploits who wrote of him while Symeon was yet alive, called him "the great wonder of the world." God gave him the grace to persevere in such an astonishing form of asceticism that multitudes came to see him from Persia, Armenia, South Arabia, Georgia, Thrace, Spain, Italy, Gaul, and the British Isles. Theodoret says that he became so famous in Rome that the Nomadic Arabs by the thousands believed in Christ and were baptized because of him; the King of Persia sent envoys to inquire into his way of life, and the Queen asked to be sent oil that he had blessed. He also was a great defender of sound doctrine, and confirmed the Orthodoxy of the Holy Council of Chalcedon for many who had been beguiled by the teachings of the Monophysites, including the Empress Eudocia, widow of Theodosius the Younger. After a life of unheard-of achievements and struggles, he reposed in peace at the age of sixty-nine, in the year 459.


September 01

Synaxis of the Recovery of the Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos

The Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos of Miasenae is celebrated today because of the wonder that was wrought when her holy icon, which was cast into the lake call Zaguru in order to prevent it from being desecrated by the Iconoclast, miraculously arose intact from the depths of the lake after many years.

September 01

The 40 Holy Ascetic Virgin Martyrs of Thrace and their Teacher Ammon the Deacon


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Wisdom of the Fathers

And while one calls on Jerusalem, saying, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion, for lo! thy King cometh to thee meek, riding upon an ass, and a young colt;" another proclaims His second coming also, saying on this wise, "The Lord, whom ye seek, will come, and who will abide the day of His coming? Leap ye as calves set free from bonds." And another again, amazed at such things, said, "This is our God; there shall none other be accounted of in comparison of Him."
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 19 on Matthew 6, 4th Century

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