August 30
Holy Trinity Church
Publish Date: 2026-08-30
Bulletin Contents
Worship
Parish Life
Bulletin Inserts
Our Calendar
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Saints and Feasts
Wisdom of the Fathers
Diakonia Newsletter
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:
- 2026-09-27
- Publish Date:
- 2026-09-20
- Publish Date:
- 2026-09-13
- Publish Date:
- 2026-09-06
- Publish Date:
- 2026-08-23
- Publish Date:
- 2026-08-16
Worship
About our Worship & Liturgical Life:
Each Sunday is the Lord's Day, the first day of the week, in which Jesus rose from the dead.
We commemorate Christ's Resurrection specifically once each year on Pascha (aka Easter).
Each Sunday we gather in worship in celebration of His Resurrection, having a mini-Pascha each week.
The Orthodox Church celebrates Twelve Great Feasts throughout the year, in addition to
Pascha, the Feast of Feasts. These 12 feasts commemorate the most important events in the life of our
Lord Jesus Christ and His Mother the Theotokos, as well as the finding of Christ's Cross. These days
are especially important opportunities to set aside our ordinary routines, keep the day holy,
and participate in the worship of the Church.
Whenever possible, we encourage everyone to make an extra effort to attend the services of these
Great Feasts and to celebrate them as a community of faith.
The Church also honors saints and other feasts throughout the year that go beyond the twelve great feasts.
Please consider joining us in prayer as a community as we worship our Lord, Who is wondrous in His saints,
throughout the year.
Sundays:
8:30 AM Orthros
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Upcoming Services & Feastdays:
Sept. 2 - St. Mamas
9:00 AM Orthros & Liturgy
Sept. 8 - Nativity of the Theotokos
Great Feast of the Orthodox Church #1 of 12
9:00 AM Orthros & Liturgy
Sept. 14 - Elevation of the Holy Cross
Great Feast of the Orthodox Church #2 of 12
9:00 AM Orthros with the Procession of the Cross followed by Liturgy
Reminder: Please bring basil plants/shoots by noon on Sunday, September 13
Great Feast 2 of 12
Sept. 23 - Conception of St. John the Baptist
9:00 AM Orthros followed by Liturgy
Sept. 29 - St. Kyriakos the Anchorite
9:00 AM Orthros followed by Liturgy
Upcoming Memorials:
THIS SUNDAY, August 30th
40day Memorial - James Kavros
Local Feastday Services to Travel to:
We are blessed in Pittsburgh with many sister parishes of both our Metropolis as well as many
from other Orthodox Jurisdictions in whom we are in communion with. It is a great blessing
and a normal practice for us to make pilgrimages to other local churches and monasteries for
their patronal feastdays. Its one way we kind of say Happy Nameday or Chronia Polla to our
brothers and sisters in Christ.
Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery, Saxonburg — Patronal Feast & Thyanoixia
Friday, September 4 · 5:00 PM
Great Vespers & Orthros
Saturday, September 5 · 9:00 AM
Thyanoixia (Door Opening), followed by Hierarchical Divine Liturgy
Lunch to follow
RSVP: The sisterhood asks visitors to RSVP by email at [email protected] or by calling 724-352-3999.
All visitors must dress modestly: men should wear long sleeves and long pants; women should wear long sleeves and a long dress or skirt. Socks must be worn with sandals or shoes.
Holy Cross, Pittsburgh (Mt. Lebanon)— Patronal Feastday Vespers
Sunday, September 13 · 5:00 PM
Parish Life
This Week
Greek School Registration Ends Tonight
Registration is open for the 2026-2027. Pelase register by September 6. Register online.
Philoptochos Meeting this Sunday
Support our Ministries
Sept. 13 - Greek School Fall Mum Sale Orders Due
$15 each. Orders Due on 9/13. Pickup on 9/27
Oct. 21 - Philoptochos Fundraiser: Boscov's Friends Helping Friends
Get your shopping pass today for up to 25% off various items, on top of the sale price!
All proceeds will benefit the Women's Shelter in Beaver. Shopping Day Oct. 21
Coming Up
Sept. 8 - Parish Council Meeting
Sept. 13 - Sunday School Begins
Our 2026-2027 Sunday School year featuring an all-new curriculum from the Archdiocese
will begin on September 13th. We thank our staff in advance for their commitment to our
church and its youth - Jackie Bennis, Supervisor; Preschool: Alexa Bovalino, Brooke Niznik,
and Erin Skeriotis; K-1: Joanie Ondrako; 2nd-3rd: Joanne Cain; 4th-5th: Constantine Tsatiris;
6th-8th: Nina Pompeani; and 9th-12th: Jaimie Economos.
Sept. 20 - Yiayia Pappou Sunday
Please make arrangements to attend church together with your grandparents/grandchildren.
Sept. 20 - Ministry Fair Coffee Hour
Learn about the ministries at our church and get invovled.
Sept. 20 - YAL 3rd Sundays - Canned Food Collection
Sept. 22 - Greek School Begins 5:30pm-6:30pm
Sept. 26 - Metropolis Clergy-Laity Assembly at the New Metropolis Center
Sept. 27 - Philoptochos Meeting
Ongoing
YAL - Meets 1st Thursdays & 3rd Sundays
Join us monthly for
1st Thursdays at 6:30pm Fellowship/Social Gathering
3rd Sundays: Following Divine Liturgy with rotating themes of Worship/Fellowship/Witness/Service
Benevolence Opportunities
Please speak with Fr. Anastasios if you are able to help people in need financially. Any amount
would be helpful.
Parish Pledge to the New Metropolis Center
We have committed $20,000 as a parish. 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 .
Youth Safety Worker Registration
Please register at https://ncsrisk.org/goarch/. This includes all individuals who volunteer with
our Youth (teachers, advisors, coaches, drivers, etc) and for Parish Council background checks.
Prayer Chain
Dedicated members of Holy Trinity that are praying for your prayer requests. Please contact
Joanie Ondrako or Fr. Anastasios to make a prayer request or to join the group.
Online Giving & Stewardship
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 contri-
butions and stewardship contributions.
Bulletin Inserts
2026 Stewardship Card
Please prayerfully read and consider what an appropriate financial commitment is for the 2026 year. A Pledge Card must be on file to be considered for membership in Good Standing. Please submit these by November 30th.
Fall Mum Sale to support Greek School
Greek School will be selling Mums for $15 each. Money and Orders are due by Sun 9/13, pickup will be two weeks later on Sun 9/27.
Our Calendar
-
Holy Trinity Ambridge
August 30 to September 14, 2026
Sunday, August 30Coffee Hour: Choir
Philoptochos Meeting
40 day Memorial - James Kavros
8:30AM Orthros
9:30AM Liturgy
Tuesday, September 1Ecclesiastical New Year
Wednesday, September 29:00AM Orthros & Liturgy - St. Mamas
Sunday, September 6Coffee Hour: Parish Council
8:30AM Orthros
9:30AM Liturgy
Tuesday, September 8Great Feast #1: Nativity of the Theotokos
9:00AM Orthros & Liturgy - Nativity of the Theotokos
7:00PM Parish Council Meeting
Friday, September 1110:00AM Visitation - Despina Paleos
11:00AM Funeral - Despina Paleos
Sunday, September 13First Day of Sunday School
8:30AM Orthros
9:30AM Liturgy
Monday, September 14Great Feast #2: Elevation of the Holy Cross
-
Regional Orthodox Events
August 30 to August 30, 2026
Sunday, August 305:00PM Orthodoxy on Tap: Taking Control of our Time
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 4th Mode
When the women disciples of the Lord heard the Angel joyously proclaim the resurrection, they cast aside the ancestral verdict, and boasting in glory they said to the Apostles, “Death has been despoiled! Christ God has risen, granting the great mercy to the world!”
Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον· Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.
Apolytikion for Apodosis of the Forerunner in the 2nd Mode
The memory of the just is observed with hymns of praise; for you suffices the testimony of the Lord, O Forerunner. You have proved to be truly more ven’rable than the Prophets, since you were granted to baptize in the river the One whom they proclaimed. Therefore, when for the truth you had contested, rejoicing, to those in Hades you preached the Gospel, that God was manifested in the flesh, and takes away the sin of the world, and grants to us the great mercy.
Μνήμη δικαίου μέτ' ἐγκωμίων, σοὶ δὲ ἀρκέσει ἡ μαρτυρία τοῦ Κυρίου Πρόδρομε, ἀνεδείχθης γὰρ ὄντως καὶ Προφητῶν σεβασμιώτερος, ὅτι καὶ ἐν ῥείθροις βαπτίσαι κατηξιώθης τὸν κηρυττόμενον. Ὅθεν τῆς ἀληθείας ὑπεραθλήσας, χαίρων εὐηγγελίσω καὶ τοὶς ἐν ἅδῃ, Θεὸν φανερωθέντα ἐν σαρκί, τὸν αἴροντα τὴν ἁμαρτίαν τοῦ κόσμου, καὶ παρέχοντα ἡμῖν τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.
Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Mode
Joachim and Anna were released from the reproach of childlessness, and Adam and Eve delivered from death and destruction, through your holy childbirth, O immaculate Virgin. We, your people, now redeemed from the guilt of transgressions, celebrate your holy birth as we sing to you: “The barren one bears the Theotokos, the nurturer of our Life.”
Ιωακείμ καί Άννα όνειδισμού ατεκνίας, καί Αδάμ καί Εύα, εκ τής φθοράς τού θανάτου, ηλευθερώθησαν, Άχραντε, εν τή αγία γεννήσει σου, αυτήν εορτάζει καί ο λαός σου, ενοχής τών πταισμάτων, λυτρωθείς εν τώ κράζειν σοι, Η στείρα τίκτει τήν Θεοτόκον, καί τροφόν τής ζωής ημών.
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. 4th Mode. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.
The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 16:13-24.
Brethren, be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Now, brethren, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints; I urge you to be subject to such men and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicos, because they have made up for your absence; for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men. The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brethren send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If any one has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Προκείμενον. 4th Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 103.24,1.
Ὡς ἐμεγαλύνθη τὰ ἔργα σου Κύριε, πάντα ἐν σοφίᾳ ἐποίησας.
Στίχ. Εὐλόγει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν Κύριον.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 16:13-24.
Ἀδελφοί, γρηγορεῖτε, στήκετε ἐν τῇ πίστει, ἀνδρίζεσθε, κραταιοῦσθε. Πάντα ὑμῶν ἐν ἀγάπῃ γινέσθω. Παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί - οἴδατε τὴν οἰκίαν Στεφανᾶ, ὅτι ἐστὶν ἀπαρχὴ τῆς Ἀχαΐας, καὶ εἰς διακονίαν τοῖς ἁγίοις ἔταξαν ἑαυτούς - ἵνα καὶ ὑμεῖς ὑποτάσσησθε τοῖς τοιούτοις, καὶ παντὶ τῷ συνεργοῦντι καὶ κοπιῶντι. Χαίρω δὲ ἐπὶ τῇ παρουσίᾳ Στεφανᾶ καὶ Φουρτουνάτου καὶ Ἀχαϊκοῦ, ὅτι τὸ ὑμῶν ὑστέρημα οὗτοι ἀνεπλήρωσαν. Ἀνέπαυσαν γὰρ τὸ ἐμὸν πνεῦμα καὶ τὸ ὑμῶν· ἐπιγινώσκετε οὖν τοὺς τοιούτους. Ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς αἱ ἐκκλησίαι τῆς Ἀσίας· ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς ἐν κυρίῳ πολλὰ Ἀκύλας καὶ Πρίσκιλλα, σὺν τῇ κατʼ οἶκον αὐτῶν ἐκκλησίᾳ. Ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς οἱ ἀδελφοὶ πάντες. Ἀσπάσασθε ἀλλήλους ἐν φιλήματι ἁγίῳ. Ὁ ἀσπασμὸς τῇ ἐμῇ χειρὶ Παύλου. Εἴ τις οὐ φιλεῖ τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, ἤτω ἀνάθεμα. Μαρὰν ἀθά. Ἡ χάρις τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ μεθʼ ὑμῶν. Ἡ ἀγάπη μου μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Ἀμήν.
Gospel Reading
13th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 21:33-42
The Lord said this parable, "There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. Afterward he sent his son to them, saying 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.' And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons." Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?'"
13th Sunday of Matthew
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 21:33-42
Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· ῎Αλλην παραβολὴν ἀκούσατε. ἄνθρωπός τις ἦν οἰκοδεσπότης, ὅστις ἐφύτευσεν ἀμπελῶνα καὶ φραγμὸν αὐτῷ περιέθηκε καὶ ὤρυξεν ἐν αὐτῷ ληνὸν καὶ ᾠκοδόμησε πύργον, καὶ ἐξέδοτο αὐτὸν γεωργοῖς καὶ ἀπεδήμησεν. ὅτε δὲ ἤγγισεν ὁ καιρὸς τῶν καρπῶν, ἀπέστειλε τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ πρὸς τοὺς γεωργοὺς λαβεῖν τοὺς καρποὺς αὐτοῦ. καὶ λαβόντες οἱ γεωργοὶ τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ ὃν μὲν ἔδειραν, ὃν δὲ ἀπέκτειναν, ὃν δὲ ἐλιθοβόλησαν. πάλιν ἀπέστειλεν ἄλλους δούλους πλείονας τῶν πρώτων, καὶ ἐποίησαν αὐτοῖς ὡσαύτως. ὕστερον δὲ ἀπέστειλε πρὸς αὐτοὺς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ λέγων· ἐντραπήσονται τὸν υἱόν μου. οἱ δὲ γεωργοὶ ἰδόντες τὸν υἱὸν εἶπον ἐν ἑαυτοῖς· οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ κληρονόμος· δεῦτε ἀποκτείνωμεν αὐτὸν καὶ κατάσχωμεν τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτοῦ. καὶ λαβόντες αὐτὸν ἐξέβαλον ἔξω τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος, καὶ ἀπέκτειναν. ὅταν οὖν ἔλθῃ ὁ κύριος τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος, τί ποιήσει τοῖς γεωργοῖς ἐκείνοις; λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· κακοὺς κακῶς ἀπολέσει αὐτούς, καὶ τὸν ἀμπελῶνα ἐκδώσεται ἄλλοις γεωργοῖς, οἵτινες ἀποδώσουσιν αὐτῷ τοὺς καρποὺς ἐν τοῖς καιροῖς αὐτῶν. λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· οὐδέποτε ἀνέγνωτε ἐν ταῖς γραφαῖς, λίθον ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες, οὗτος ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας· παρὰ Κυρίου ἐγένετο αὕτη, καὶ ἔστι θαυμαστὴ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἡμῶν;
Saints and Feasts
August 30
Apodosis of the Feast of the Forerunner
August 30
Alexander, John, and Paul the New, Patriarchs of Constantinople
Saint Alexander was sent to the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea as the delegate of Saint Metrophanes, Bishop of Constantinople (see June 4), to whose throne he succeeded in the year 325. When Arius had deceitfully professed allegiance to the Council of Nicaea, Saint Alexander, knowing his guile, refused to receive him into communion; Arius' powerful partisans threatened that they would use force to bring Arius into the communion of the Church the following day. Saint Alexander prayed fervently that God might spare the Church; and as Arius was in a privy place relieving nature, his bowels gushed forth with an effusion of blood, and the arch-heresiarch died the death of Judas. Saint Alexander was Bishop from 325 until 337, when he was succeeded by Saint Paul the Confessor, who died a martyr's death at the hands of the Arians (see Nov. 6). The Saint John commemorated here appears to be the one who was Patriarch during the years 562-577, surnamed Scholasticus, who is also commemorated on February 21. He was from Antioch, where he had been a lawyer (scholasticus); he was made presbyter, then was sent to Constantinople as representative (apocrisiarius) of the Patriarch of Antioch, and was appointed Patriarch of Constantinople by the Emperor Justinian. Saint Paul was Bishop of Constantinople during the years 687 - 693, in the reign of Emperor Justinian II, and presided over the Quinisext Council in 692.
August 30
The Synaxis of the Holy Hierarchs of Serbia
The Synaxis of the Holy Hierarchs of Serbia: The Saints commemorated on this day are: Sabbas, First Archbishop and enlightener of Serbia (see Jan. 14); Arsenius, his successor, a great hierarch and wonderworker; Sabbas II, son of Saint Stephen, the first-crowned King of Serbia; Nicodemus, Abott of Hilandar, later Archbishop of Serbia; Joannicius, Archbishop, later Patriarch from 1346 to 1349; Patriarch Ephraim, an ascetic, who crowned Prince Lazarus, and later left the patriarchate to live in solitude; Spyridon, Ephraim's successor, who reposed in 1388; Macarius, who printed many church books in Serbia and abroad, was very zealous in renovating and adorning churches, and reposed in 1574; Gabriel, Archbishop, who took part in the Church Council of Moscow during the patriarchate of Nicon, for which the Turks accused him of treason and hanged him in Prusa in the year 1656. Also commemorated are Eustathius, James, Daniel, Sabbas III, Gregory, Cyril (Patriarch), John, Maximus, and Nicon. Many of them labored in asceticism on the Holy Mountain, and all were "good and faithful servants, good labourers in the vineyard of the Lord".
Wisdom of the Fathers
Many things does He intimate by this parable, God's providence, which had been exercised towards them from the first; their murderous disposition from the beginning; that nothing had been omitted of whatever pertained to a heedful care of them;...
Homily 68 on Matthew 21, 4th Century
And observe also both His great care, and the excessive idleness of these men for what pertained to the husbandmen, He Himself did ... and He left little for them to do; to take care of what was there, and to preserve what was given to them.
Homily 68 on Matthew 21, 4th Century
And where do they take counsel to kill Him? "Out of the vineyard." Do you see how He prophesies even the place where He was to be slain. "And they cast Him out, and slew Him."
Homily 68 on Matthew 21, 4th Century
... that even when prophets had been slain, He had not turned away from them, but had sent His very Son; that the God both of the New and of the Old Testament was one and the same; that His death should effect great blessings; that they were to endure extreme punishment for the crucifixion.
Homily 68 on Matthew 21, 4th Century
Diakonia Newsletter
Read the latest Diakonia Newsletter for this Sunday
https://bulletinbuilder.org/diakonia-newsletter/2026-08-30?source=bulletin_web
August 30, 2026