Holy Trinity Church
Publish Date: 2025-08-17
Bulletin Contents
Worship
Church News
Bulletin Inserts
Our Calendar
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Saints and Feasts
Wisdom of the Fathers

Organization Icon
Holy Trinity Church

General Information

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

  • 2930 Beaver Road

  • Ambridge, PA 15003

Contact Information

Proistamenos Fr. Anastasios Athanasiou


[email protected]

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 Memorials:

  • August 24th
    • 40yr Memorial - Emmanuel Zervos

 

UPCOMING SERVICES:

Great Feast of the Holy Dormition of the Theotokos all at our sister parish of Kimisis in Aliquippa

  • Thursday, August 14th
    • 6:30pm Vespers with Lamentations, followed by a reception
  • Friday, August 15th
    • 9am Hierarchical Orthros & Hierarchical Liturgy, followed by a luncheon

 

Wednesday, August 27th - St. Phanourios - 9am Orthros & Liturgy with Phanouropita Prayers.  All are welcome to prepare a Phanouropita in honor of the saint and in thanks for all his intercessions (particularly for lost things).

 

Friday, August 29th - Beheading of St. John the Baptist - 9am Orthros & Liturgy

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Church News

STUDENT & BACKPACK BLESSING:

PreK-12th - Sunday, August 17th following the Divine Liturgy, Father will bless the students and their backpacks from Pre-School through 12th grade.  Let’s start the new year off right with God’s Blessings

 

LOVE+HOPE+JOY POPSICLES IN THE PARK - Sunday, August 17th: Calling all PreK, K-2nd, and 3rd-6th graders to enjoy some time together and a cool treat at the park down from the church after the backpack blessing next week.

 

MINISTRY MEETINGS - Calling all ministry leaders, if you have not yet had a meeting with Fr. Anastasios, please schedule one today to discuss plans for the 2025-2026 Ecclesiastical Year.

 

GOMoPalooza: Music & Arts Festival - Saturday, August 23rd, 11am-9pm: Meteropolitan Savas invites you to the 2nd Annual GOMoPalooza Music & Arts Festival in Warren, OH at the St. Demetrios Community Center 3223 Atlantic St. NE.  Fun for all the family! 2 Music Stages. Kids Games. Art & Craft exhibition. Food & Beveages. Free Admission, Free Parking.

 
YIAYIA-PAPPOU SUNDAY - September 7th: Reminding all grandchildren and grandparents to invite eachother to come to church together and to prepare to recieve Holy Communion as we pass the faith down from generation to generation.
 
 
SUNDAY SCHOOL - Begins September 7th:  This vital ministry of Orthodox Education for our children will begin again on September 7th.  Make every effort to be in your pew by 9:30am each Sunday for the most important portion of our faith education: learning how to regularly worship on the Lord's Day.  The education continues with the children's sermon after the Gospel reading and it all culminates in recieving Holy Communion and attedning our PreK-12th grade classes.
 
 
GOYA KICKOFF GoKarting - Sepember 7th: Join us for Liturgy, Sunday School, and coffee hour and then we will make our way over to Three Rivers Karting to enjoy a fun afternoon and have GOYA meeting.
 
 

JOURNEY TO FULLNESS - Mondays at 6pm starting September 8th We will begin this 8 session video series and discussion for those interested in learning about Orthodoxy and those on their path to converting to Orthodoxy.  This series also bolsters the understanding of our faith for already established Orthodox Christians.  If you are interested, please let Fr. Anastasios know or just simple show up on September 8th in our Church Hall.

  • 9/8 - Session 1: Introduction, "Is this trip really necessary?", and "What is the Orthodox Church?"
  • 9/15 - Session 2: "When did Orthodoxy begin?" and "Characteristics of Orthodox Christianity"
  • 9/22 - Session 3: "Mindset Matters" and "A Healing Purpose"
  • 9/29 - Session 4: "Truth and Tradition" and "How do I understand the Bible?
  • 10/6: No Class
  • 10/13 - Session 5: "When we say God, Part 1 & 2"
  • 10/20 - Session 6: "God with Us" and "Our Ultimate Purpose"
  • 10/27 - Session 7: "Salvation as Participation" and "Orthodox Worship"
  • 11/3: No Class
  • 11/10 - Session 8: "A Beautiful Rhythm", "The Journey Continues", and Wrap Up
 
GREEK SCHOOL IS BACK! We are looking to have Greek School classes for our youth on Tuesdays from 5-6pm starting on September 16th.  Please speak to Alexa Bovalino, Lenia Contes, or Fr. Anastasios to express your interest, volunteer, or for more information.  Tuition price is forthcoming.

 

FAMILY NIGHT - SAVE THE DATES - 3rd Tuesday of each Month at 6pm: Family Nights will be held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from September through May at 6pm.  One night each month you won't have to worry about dinner, as a meal will be made for the whole group.  This program is designed to foster family bonding time and learning a topic of our faith, while taking some time to dive in deeper with each all 3 age groups: K-6th (HOPE & JOY), 7th-12 (GOYA), and their parents.  We are going to concentrate much of our Youth Ministry efforts into this ministry, so please make sure that you mark off the 3rd Tuesday of each month for your whole family.  We are always looking for volunteers to help lead breakout sessions and the family portion, so if you have an interest, please let Fr. Anastasios know.

 

GOYA GYRO SALE - September 28th - Please see bulletin inserts section to preorder Gyros.  Benefitws Ambridge GOYA

 

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.

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Bulletin Inserts

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Our Calendar

  • Holy Trinity Ambridge

    August 17 to September 1, 2025

    Sunday, August 17

    Backpack Blessing

    Coffee Hour: Philoptochos

    LOVE+HOPE+JOY: Popsicles in the Park

    8:30AM Orthros

    9:30AM Liturgy

    Wednesday, August 20

    Voice Deadline

    Saturday, August 23

    11:00AM GOMoPalooza

    Sunday, August 24

    Coffee Hour: Choir

    40yr Memorial - Emmanuel Zervos

    8:30AM Orthros

    9:30AM Liturgy

    Wednesday, August 27

    9:00AM Orthros & Liturgy - St. Phanourios

    6:30PM Sunday School Teachers Meeting

    Friday, August 29

    Beheading of St. John the Baptist

    9:00AM Orthros & Liturgy - Beaheading of St. John the Baptist

    Sunday, August 31

    Coffee Hour: Parish Council

    8:30AM Orthros

    9:30AM Liturgy

    Monday, September 1

    Ecclesiastical New Year

  • Regional Orthodox Events

    'Error: no events returned during requested period.'
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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 Afterfeast of the Dormition in the 1st Mode

You gave birth yet preserved your virginity. You fell asleep in death yet did not desert the world, O Theotokos. You were transported to life, as you are Mother of Life and, by virtue of your intercessions, deliver our souls from death.
Εν τή Γεννήσει τήν παρθενίαν εφύλαξας, έν τή Κοιμήσει τόν κόσμον ού κατέλιπες Θεοτόκε, Μετέστης πρός τήν ζωήν, μήτηρ υπάρχουσα τής ζωής, καί ταίς πρεσβείαις ταίς σαίς λυτρουμένη, εκ θανάτου τάς ψυχάς ημών.

Apolytikion for the Church in the Plagal 4th Mode

O Blessed are You, O Christ our God; Who has shone forth the fishermen to be most wise, by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, and through them, You drew the world into Your net, 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 2nd Mode

The Theotokos is undying in intercession.* Immovable is our hope in her for protection. * Neither death nor burial prevailed over her. * As she is Mother of Life, she was removed to life by Him, * the Lord who lived in her ever-virgin womb.
Τήν εν πρεσβείαις ακοίμητον Θεοτόκον, καί προστασίαις αμετάθετον ελπίδα, τάφος καί νέκρωσις ουκ εκράτησεν, ως γάρ ζωής Μητέρα, πρός τήν ζωήν μετέστησεν, ο μήτραν οικήσας αειπάρθενον.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 1st Mode. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 4:9-16.

Brethren, God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off-scouring of all things. I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me.

Προκείμενον. 1st Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 32.22,1.
Γένοιτο, Κύριε, τὸ ἔλεός σου ἐφ' ἡμᾶς.
Στίχ. Ἀγαλλιᾶσθε δίκαιοι ἐν Κυρίῳ

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 4:9-16.

Ἀδελφοί, ὁ θεὸς ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἀποστόλους ἐσχάτους ἀπέδειξεν ὡς ἐπιθανατίους· ὅτι θέατρον ἐγενήθημεν τῷ κόσμῳ, καὶ ἀγγέλοις, καὶ ἀνθρώποις. Ἡμεῖς μωροὶ διὰ Χριστόν, ὑμεῖς δὲ φρόνιμοι ἐν Χριστῷ· ἡμεῖς ἀσθενεῖς, ὑμεῖς δὲ ἰσχυροί· ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἄτιμοι. Ἄχρι τῆς ἄρτι ὥρας καὶ πεινῶμεν, καὶ διψῶμεν, καὶ γυμνητεύομεν, καὶ κολαφιζόμεθα, καὶ ἀστατοῦμεν, καὶ κοπιῶμεν ἐργαζόμενοι ταῖς ἰδίαις χερσίν· λοιδορούμενοι εὐλογοῦμεν· διωκόμενοι ἀνεχόμεθα· βλασφημούμενοι παρακαλοῦμεν· ὡς περικαθάρματα τοῦ κόσμου ἐγενήθημεν, πάντων περίψημα ἕως ἄρτι. Οὐκ ἐντρέπων ὑμᾶς γράφω ταῦτα, ἀλλʼ ὡς τέκνα μου ἀγαπητὰ νουθετῶ. Ἐὰν γὰρ μυρίους παιδαγωγοὺς ἔχητε ἐν Χριστῷ, ἀλλʼ οὐ πολλοὺς πατέρας· ἐν γὰρ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ διὰ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ἐγὼ ὑμᾶς ἐγέννησα. Παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς, μιμηταί μου γίνεσθε.

Gospel Reading

10th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 17:14-23

At that time, a man came up to Jesus and kneeling before him said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him." And Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me." And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move hence to yonder place,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting." As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day."

10th Sunday of Matthew
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 17:14-23

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐλθόντων αὐτῶν πρὸς τὸν ὄχλον προσῆλθεν αὐτῷ ἄνθρωπος γονυπετῶν αὐτὸν καὶ λέγων· Κύριε, ἐλέησόν μου τὸν υἱόν, ὅτι σεληνιάζεται καὶ κακῶς πάσχει· πολλάκις γὰρ πίπτει εἰς τὸ πῦρ καὶ πολλάκις εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ. καὶ προσήνεγκα αὐτὸν τοῖς μαθηταῖς σου, καὶ οὐκ ἠδυνήθησαν αὐτὸν θεραπεῦσαι. ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν· ὦ γενεὰ ἄπιστος καὶ διεστραμμένη! ἕως πότε ἔσομαι μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν; ἕως πότε ἀνέξομαι ὑμῶν; φέρετέ μοι αὐτὸν ὧδε. καὶ ἐπετίμησεν αὐτῷ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ τὸ δαιμόνιον καὶ ἐθεραπεύθη ὁ παῖς ἀπὸ τῆς ὥρας ἐκείνης. Τότε προσελθόντες οἱ μαθηταὶ τῷ ᾿Ιησοῦ κατ᾿ ἰδίαν εἶπον· διατί ἡμεῖς οὐκ ἠδυνήθημεν ἐκβαλεῖν αὐτό; ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· διὰ τὴν ἀπιστίαν ὑμῶν. ἀμὴν γὰρ λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐὰν ἔχητε πίστιν ὡς κόκκον σινάπεως, ἐρεῖτε τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ, μετάβηθι ἐντεῦθεν ἐκεῖ, καὶ μεταβήσεται, καὶ οὐδὲν ἀδυνατήσει ὑμῖν. τοῦτο δὲ τὸ γένος οὐκ ἐκπορεύεται εἰ μὴ ἐν προσευχῇ καὶ νηστείᾳ. ᾿Αναστρεφομένων δὲ αὐτῶν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· μέλλει ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδίδοσθαι εἰς χεῖρας ἀνθρώπων καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν αὐτόν, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἐγερθήσεται. καὶ ἐλυπήθησαν σφόδρα.

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Saints and Feasts

August 17

10th Sunday of Matthew

August 17

Myron the Martyr of Cyzicus

Saint Myron was a priest during the reign of Decius, when Antipater was ruler of Achaia. On the day of our Lord's Nativity, Antipater entered the church to seize the Christians and punish them. Saint Myron, kindled with holy zeal, roundly insulted Antipater, for which he was hung up and scraped, then cast into a raging furnace, but was preserved unharmed. When Myron refused to worship the idols, Antipater commanded that strips be cut in the Saint's flesh from his shoulders to his feet; the Saint took one of the strips of his flesh and flung it in the tyrant's face. He was beaten, and scraped again upon his beaten flesh; then he was thrown to wild beasts, but when Antipater saw them leaving off their fierce nature and protecting the Saint from harm, he was overcome with unbearable shame and slew himself. The Saint was then sent to Cyzicus, where the proconsul had him beheaded, about the year 250.

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Wisdom of the Fathers

Here Christ is not speaking of that faith which believes in Him undoubtingly and knows Him to be true God, but of the faith (needed) to work miracles. If ye have faith, He said, so exceedingly warm and burning as a grain of mustard seed (for these are its qualities), and if it is believed without a doubt that ye will perform signs, then ye will receive such power, that if ye desire to move the very mountains, ye will move them.
St. John Chrysostom
The Gospel Commentary, edited by Hieromonk German Ciuba, 2002, 4th Century

For a man to have such faith appears simple, but it is, on the contrary, something very lofty, not easily attained by many. Such faith is born of boldness before God; but such boldness comes (only) from pleasing God. Beloved, great labour is needed to acquire, through pleasing God, such boldness before Him that one firmly believes that he will grant all that one asks; as it is written, Ask, and it shall be given to you.
St. John Chrysostom
The Gospel Commentary: edited by Hieromonk German Ciuba, 2002., 4th Century

At this point he is referring to the faith required for signs, and mentions a mustard seed is small in size, yet it is more potent than all others in its effects. So to bring out that the least degree of genuine faith is capable of great things, he mentioned the mustard seed.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 56 (PG 58, 549-50) Translated by Robert Charles Hill in "Spiritual Gems from the Gospel of Matthew", 4th Century

[The Lord] went on to mention mountains as well, and went even further: "Nothing will be impossible for you." Now, for your part, admire [the disciples'] sound values in not concealing their limitations, and the Spirit's power in gradually bringing on those without even a mustard seed in such a way that rivers and fountains of faith gush forth in them.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 57 (PG 58, 563) Translated by Robert Charles Hill found in "Spiritual Gems from the Gospel of Matthew", 4th Century

Yet if his unbelief was the cause ... why does He blame the disciples? Signifying, that even without persons to bring the sick in faith, they might in many instances work a cure.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 57 on Matthew 17, 4th Century

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