January 05
Holy Trinity Church
Publish Date: 2025-01-05
Bulletin Contents
Worship
Church News
Bulletin Inserts
Our Calendar
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Saints and Feasts
Wisdom of the Fathers
Holy Trinity Church
General Information
- Phone:
- (724) 266-5336
- Fax:
- (724) 266-2220
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Web:
- http://www.htgoc.org
- 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
- Publish Date:
- 2025-02-02
- Publish Date:
- 2025-01-26
- Publish Date:
- 2025-01-19
- Publish Date:
- 2025-01-12
- Publish Date:
- 2024-12-29
- Publish Date:
- 2024-12-22
Worship
Services:
Sundays
8:30am Orthros, 9:30am Divine Liturgy
Upcoming Services:
- Theophany of our Lord
- January 3rd
- 10am Royal Hours
- Sunday, January 5th - Eve of the Theophany
- 8:30am Orthros
- 9:30am Liturgy w/ Great Blessing of the Waters (Prepare to receive Holy Communion)
- 5pm Great Vespers of Theophany
- Monday, January 6th - Theophany of our Lord
- 9am Orthros & 10am Liturgy w/ Great Blessing of the Waters (Prepare to receive Holy Communion)
Church News
2024 & 2025 STEWARDSHIP: GIVING WITH PURPOSE
As we have ended 2024, we are blessed to have fulfilled over 95% of our Stewardship pledges. To those who have given, we thank you deeply. If you haven't yet completed your pledge, this is your opportunity to help us keep the light of our parish burning brightly. Your generosity ensures that our ministries, programs, and spiritual outreach continue to thrive.
Having entered 2025, we invite you to become a luminary of our parish by making a new stewardship commitment, joining the 92 who have already pledged. As a new steward, you are a beacon of faith, lighting the path for others, and helping our church grow stronger for generations to come. Your gift sustains the life of our parish, nurtures the community, and ensures that the flame of our Orthodox faith burns brightly into the future.
Together, with God's grace, we can fulfill our mission and keep His light shining in our church and beyond. Thank you for your continued love, faith, and generosity.
To help the parish council and the office, please identify what year your stewardship donations are going towards.
2025 THEOPHANY HOUSE BLESSINGS - Please sign up by filling out the form here or calling the office.
Houses are traditionally blessed with Holy Water each year bringing the blessings of the Holy Water that is sanctified on the Feast of Theophany, the celebration of our Lord's baptism. The priest brings this Holy Water into the home to personally bless each family member by renewing the awareness of God's presence in our homes. A house can be blessed at any time, bu the usual season for annual blessings is in conjunction with the feast of Theophany.
It is preferable that house blessings should be scheduled when the entire family will be present, if possible.
Fr. Anastasios will be visiting many different areas and will organize the house blessings as best possible to fit one after the other.
PARISH VASILOPITA - January 12th - Join us as Philoptochos Sponsors our annual Vasilopita cutting asking for God's blessings on our Parish through the intercessions of St. Basil the Great. All donations during the cutting to support St. Basil Academy.
BOOK STUDY - Starting January 13th at 7:15pm
We will be reading “Our Thoughts Determine our Lives: the Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of of Vitovnica.” Available on Amazon
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE - We are looking for members who are interested in helping us bolster our Social Media presence, our Website, and other communications. Please talk to Fr. Anastasios, Connie, or Raina if you are interested.
PARISH COUNCIL ELECTED- We thank our Board of Elections: Jackie Bennis, Kathy Stern, and Bob Hamilton for conducting the election. We congratulate Joel Brady, James Cain, Joanne Cottage, Zachery Economos, James Galitsis, Luke Mawhinney, Alexander Vasilakis, and Bruce Wilson for all being elected to serve the 2025-2026 term and they will take the oath of office with the returning council members in the new year once ratified by the Metropolitan.
PARISH PLEDGES $20,000 FOR THE NEW METROPOLIS CENTER If you would like to add your own personal donation or pledge to the completion of the New Metropolis Center, please go to pittsburgh.goarch.org/pledge .
SUNDAY SCHOOL: The spiritual and religious education for our children is not only the 20-minute class following holy communion, it is attending each and every Sunday, hearing the hymns of the day, the readings for the day, Fr. Anastasios' kids' sermon, and worshipping alongside their family and community. Their formation also takes place in the home and in the example led by their parents, fortify yourself for the journey by coming to church too.
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.
ONLINE GIVING & STEWARDSHIP: Is 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.
KIMISIS SPRING GLENDI - May 3, 2025 - We have been invited by our sister parish of Kimisis in Aliquippa to save the date for their Spring Glendi featuring Live Music from the Greek Company. More details to follow.
Bulletin Inserts
2025 Stewardship Pledge
The 2025 Pledge drive is until Stewardship Sunday on November 10, 2024. Please get your pledge card in today!
Our Calendar
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Holy Trinity Ambridge
January 5 to January 20, 2025
Sunday, January 5Eve of Theophany
Sunday School
Lenten Coffee Hour: LOVE+HOPE+JOY
8:30AM Orthros
9:30AM Liturgy w/ Great Blessing of the Waters
5:00PM Vespers of Theophany
Monday, January 6Theophany of Christ
9:00AM Orthros & Liturgy w/ Blessing of the Water - Theophany
Sunday, January 12Sunday School
Coffee Hour: Parish Council
Annual Parish Vasilopita - supporting St Basil Academy sponsored by Philoptochos
8:30AM Orthros
9:30AM Liturgy
1:30PM GOYA Basketball Practice
Monday, January 137:15PM Book Study
Tuesday, January 147:00PM Parish Council
Friday, January 17GOMoP GOYA Basketball Tournament 1 - Annunciation, York
Sunday, January 19Sunday School
Coffee Hour: Young Adults
8:30AM Orthros
9:30AM Liturgy
Monday, January 20Fr Anastasios at National Clergy Couple Retreat
Voice Deadline
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Regional Orthodox Events
'Error: no events returned during requested period.'
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 3rd Mode
Let the heavens sing for joy, and let everything on earth be glad. * For with His Arm the Lord has worked power. * He trampled death under foot by means of death; * and He became the firstborn from the dead. * From the maw of Hades He delivered us; * and He granted the world His great mercy.
Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον, πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.
Apolytikion for Eve of Epiphany in the 4th Mode
Jordan River once turned back when Elisha struck its stream * with his mantle in the wake of Elias’s ascent; * and the water was parted to the one side and to the other. * And thus the fluid stream became a dry way for him, * a symbol and truly a type of Baptism, * by which we now pass over the streaming passage of the present life. * And Christ appeared at the Jordan River * to sanctify the waters.
Ἀπεστρέφετο ποτέ, ὁ Ἰορδάνης ποταμός, τὴ μηλωτὴ Ἐλισαιέ, ἀναληφθέντος Ἡλιοῦ, καὶ διηρεῖτο τὰ ὕδατα ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν, καὶ γέγονεν αὐτῷ, ξηρὰ ὁδὸς ἡ ὑγρά, εἰς τύπον ἀληθῶς τοῦ Βαπτίσματος, δι' οὗ ἡμεῖς τὴν ῥέουσαν, τοῦ βίου διαπερῶμεν διάβασιν, Χριστὸς ἐφάνη, ἐν Ἰορδάνῃ, ἁγιᾶσαι τὰ ὕδατα.
Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Mode
To the flowing streams today * of River Jordan * comes the Lord and cries aloud * to John the Baptist, and He says, * “Be not afraid to baptize me now; * for I have come to save Adam, the first-formed man.”
Ἐν τοῖς ῥείθροις σήμερον τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, γεγονῶς ὁ Κύριος, τῶ Ἰωάννη ἐκβοᾷ. Μὴ δειλιάσης βαπτίσαι με, σῶσαι γὰρ ἥκω, Ἀδὰμ τὸν πρωτόπλαστον.
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Plagal 2nd Mode. 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 Second Letter to Timothy 4:5-8.
TIMOTHY, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.
For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Προκείμενον. Plagal 2nd Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 27.9,1.
Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου.
Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Τιμόθεον β' 4:5-8.
Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, νῆφε ἐν πᾶσιν, κακοπάθησον, ἔργον ποίησον εὐαγγελιστοῦ, τὴν διακονίαν σου πληροφόρησον. Ἐγὼ γὰρ ἤδη σπένδομαι, καὶ ὁ καιρὸς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀναλύσεως ἐφέστηκεν. Τὸν ἀγῶνα τὸν καλὸν ἠγώνισμαι, τὸν δρόμον τετέλεκα, τὴν πίστιν τετήρηκα· λοιπόν, ἀπόκειταί μοι ὁ τῆς δικαιοσύνης στέφανος, ὃν ἀποδώσει μοι ὁ κύριος ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, ὁ δίκαιος κριτής· οὐ μόνον δὲ ἐμοί, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάσιν τοῖς ἠγαπηκόσιν τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν αὐτοῦ.
Gospel Reading
Sunday before Epiphany
The Reading is from Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' John was baptizing in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
Sunday before Epiphany
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 1:1-8
᾿Αρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ, υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ. ῾Ως γέγραπται ἐν τοῖς προφήταις, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου, ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου ἔμπροσθέν σου· φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν Κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ, ἐγένετο ᾿Ιωάννης βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καὶ κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν. Καὶ ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσα ἡ ᾿Ιουδαία χώρα καὶ οἱ ῾Ιεροσολυμῖται, καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο πάντες ἐν τῷ ᾿Ιορδάνῃ ποταμῷ ὑπ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν. Ἦν δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιωάννης ἐνδεδυμένος τρίχας καμήλου καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐσθίων ἀκρίδας καὶ μέλι ἄγριον. Καὶ ἐκήρυσσε λέγων· ἔρχεται ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου ὀπίσω μου, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς κύψας λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ· ἐγὼ μὲν ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ἐν ὕδατι, αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν Πνεύματι ῾Αγίῳ.
Saints and Feasts
January 05
Eve of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
January 05
Theopemptos, Bishop of Nicomedea Theonas, the Martyrs
When the persecution of Diocletian broke out in 290, Saint Theopemptus, a bishop, was taken for his confession of Christ, and convicted Diocletian to his face for his error and ungodliness. Remaining unhurt after cruel tortures, he was given poison to drink, which had been prepared by a sorcerer named Theonas. Protected by divine grace from this also, he drew Theonas to Christ, and after other torments, was beheaded. Saint Theonas was cast into a pit and buried alive.
January 05
Syncletiki of Alexandria
Saint Syncletike was from Alexandria in Egypt. She lived eighty-three years in virginity and asceticism, and became the leader and teacher of many nuns. What Saint Anthony the Great was to men, she became to women: a model of mortification of the flesh, of patience in afflictions, and of wise instruction; for this, she is known a "Amma," a title corresponding to "Abba." Towards the end of her long life, she was stricken with an exceedingly painful disease, which she endured with faith and magnanimity. She reposed in the middle of the fourth century. It is said of Saint Syncletike that she was the virgin who hid Saint Athanasius from the Arians for more than a year in the environs of Alexandria, and it is to Saint Athanasius that her life is ascribed (PG 18:1488-1557).
January 06
The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
About the beginning of our Lord's thirtieth year, John the Forerunner, who was some six months older than Our Saviour according to the flesh, and had lived in the wilderness since his childhood, received a command from God and came into the parts of the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins. Then our Saviour also came from Galilee to the Jordan, and sought and received baptism though He was the Master and John was but a servant. Whereupon, there came to pass those marvellous deeds, great and beyond nature: the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove upon Him that was being baptized and the voice was heard from the Heavens hearing witness that this was the beloved Son of God, now baptized as a man (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:1-22). From these events the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and the great mystery of the Trinity were demonstrated. It is also from this that the present feast is called "Theophany," that is, the divine manifestation, God's appearance among men. On this venerable day the sacred mystery of Christian baptism was inaugurated; henceforth also began the saving preaching of the Kingdom of the Heavens.
Wisdom of the Fathers
Repentance is the renewal of baptism and is a contract with God for a fresh start in life.
Ladder of Divine Ascent Step 5:On Penitence, Paulist Press pg. 121, 6th century
It was for that reason that Joshua, son of Nun, removed his sandals (Cf. Jos. 5:15), in order that he also could preserve the gift of so great a function for Him who was to come. It is for that reason that John says, 'A man is coming after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to loose,' ...
Seven Exegetical Works, 4.22, 4th Century
It is the sole and peculiar property of the Substance that transcends all, to be able to bestow on men the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and make those that draw near unto It partakers of the divine nature.
Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, Homily 10., 4th Century
Do you see that both by the words of the Prophet Isaiah and by his own preaching this one thing is manifested alone: that not only had he come making a way and making ready beforehand, not bestowing the gift which was the remission, but he prepared besides the souls who were about to receive the God of all?
Commentary on St. Matthew, P. G. 57:142, (col. 187), Fourth Century AD
Everyone that preaches true faith and good works, what does he do but prepare the way of the Lord so that He may come into the hearts of his hearers, and may make straight the path for God, forming right dispositions within them by the words of his exhortations?
On the Mystical Church, P. G. 76 (cols 1159-1170) in Toal, I:89, Sixth Century
But this exists in Christ, not as a thing received, nor by communication from another, but as His own, and as belonging to His substance, for He baptizes in the Holy Spirit.
Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, Homily 10., 4th Century
The Word, therefore, that became man is, as it appears, God, and the fruit of the Father's substance ...Yes! We too affirm, without fear of contradiction, that the Word being God as of His own fullness bestows the Holy Spirit on such as are worthy;
Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, Homily 10., 4th Century
but this He still wrought, even when He was made man, as being the One Son with the flesh united to Him in an ineffable and incomprehensible manner.
Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, Homily 10., 4th Century
'And He is the expectation of the nations' ... Therefore it is said to Moses, 'Remove the sandals from your feet' (Exo. 3:5). Otherwise Moses, who was chosen as leader of the people, might be thought to be the bridegroom of the Church.
Seven Exegetical Works, 4.22, 4th Century