The holy Martyr Eustathius before his baptism was an illustrious Roman general named Placidas in the days of the Emperor Trajan. While hunting in the country one day, he was converted to the Faith of Christ through the apparition of an uncommonly majestic stag, between whose antlers he saw the Cross of Christ, and through which the Lord spoke to him with a human voice. Upon returning home, he learned that his wife Tatiana had also had a vision in which she was instructed to become a Christian. They sought out the Bishop of the Christians and were baptized, Placidas receiving the name Eustathius, and Tatiana the name Theopiste; their two sons were baptized Agapius and Theopistus. The family was then subjected to such trials as Job endured. Their servants died, all their goods were stolen, and on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem they were scattered abroad, each not even knowing if the others were still alive. By the providence of God, they were united again after many years, and returned to Rome in glory. Nevertheless, when they refused to sacrifice to the idols-a public sacrifice from which no Roman general could be absent-the Emperor Hadrian, who had succeeded Trajan, had them put into a large bronze device in the shape of a bull, which was heated with fire until they died. When their holy bodies were removed, they were found to be without harm. They suffered martyrdom about the year 126.

Sunday September 13/ Sunday School Begins

Dear Sunday School Families, We are so excited to welcome you all back to Sunday School starting next Sunday, September 13! Our team has been preparing for a wonderful year ahead, and we are thrilled to introduce a new curriculum, welcome new teachers, and see both returning and new student faces in our classrooms. To help ensure this year is the best possible for our youth, please review the following reminders and details: Attached Resources: Please find attached our tentative Sunday School calendar for the year, as well as our class rosters at a glance. If you notice anyone who was left off or has not registered yet, please pass the word along! Attendance: Regular attendance matters! Bringing your child to church every Sunday ensures they won't miss out on important teaching, learning, and building friendships with their church community. Class Schedule & Safety: Class Time: Sunday School typically runs from 11:15 AM to 11:45 AM. To avoid distractions and maximize learning time, please do not interrupt classes while they are in session. Restroom Reminder (Pre-K/Kindergarten): Please have younger students use the restroom prior to drop-off so we can make the most of our lesson time together. Dismissal Safety: For our younger classes, students will not be dismissed until a parent or guardian comes to pick them up directly. Snack Donations & Coordinator: We have approximately 24 to 27 Sunday School sessions throughout the year with snacks served every Sunday- and our students often love seconds! All snacks must be peanut-free. We are also looking for donations of water and juice boxes. We are excited to have Ms. Anna Uldrick serving as our Snack Coordinator this year. She is copied on this email, but prefers text messages. Please text her at (803) 671-2330 if you are able to sign up or contribute. Classroom Cleaning & Hygiene Supplies: Our classrooms are currently fully stocked with paper towels, bleach wipes, Lysol spray, and other essentials, but we tend to run low as the year unfolds. If you would like to donate cleaning supplies to keep our classrooms clean and healthy, please text Florina Rogers at (803) 474-3182. Communication & Staying Connected: TeamReach App: This year, we are moving away from Remind and will be using the TeamReach app for quick communications and announcements. Please download the app and join our group using code: SS@953HTGOC. Facebook: Be sure to follow our church Facebook page for highlights and snippets of our time together in Sunday School! Thank you for your ongoing support, dedication, and partnership. We look forward to seeing everyone next Sunday, September 13! With Love in Christ, Florina Rogers Sunday School Director Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Augusta 953 Telfair St, Augusta, GA 30901

September Calendar

We buy today’s child almost anything, and then we wonder why they no longer appreciate the value of things. Phones, clothes, toys, trips, pocket money—the only thing we fail to give them is our time. We pacify them with a screen because we are busy, yet a few years later, we complain that they no longer talk to us. But who taught them that a phone is more readily available than Mom and Dad? It is not technology that comes between parents and children on its own; often, we are the ones who open the door to it. A child needs more than just to be provided for; they need to be raised. They need to hear "no" and to learn about patience, hard work, prayer, respect, and boundaries. Granting every wish without shaping their character does them no favors. You are preparing them for a world where they will believe everyone owes them something. And when life delivers its first "no," they may well fall apart, having never learned at home how to cope with doing without.

2026 Pledge Card/Stewardship

Biblical stewardship means recognizing that everything belongs to God (the ultimate owner), and humans are managers (stewards) of His resources, including time, talents, money, people, and the Earth, to use for His glory and the betterment of creation

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode

Thou didst abolish death by Thy Cross; Thou didst open Paradise to the thief; Thou didst transform the myrrh-bearers' lamentation, and didst bid Thine Apostles to preach that Thou art risen, O Christ God, granting great mercy to the world.

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Holy Cross in the First Mode

Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; grant Thou unto the faithful victory over adversaries. And by the power of Thy Cross do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth.

Apolytikion for Martyr Eustathius and His Companions in the Fourth Mode

Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.

Apolytikion for the Church in the First Mode

O Blessed are you, O Christ Our God, who by sending down the Holy Spirit upon them, made the fisherman wise and through them illumine the world and to You the universe was ever drawn all glory to You O Lord.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

Lifted up on the Cross by Your free will, Christ God, grant mercies to the new commonwealth that bears Your name. Gladden our faithful rulers by Your power, giving them victories over their adversaries. May Your alliance be for them a weapon for peace, an invincible standard.

The translations of hymns are under copyright and used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on other websites or in any other form, without the prior written authorization of the copyright holder:

Resurrectional Apolytikion in Grave Tone © Holy Transfiguration Monastery

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Holy Cross in the First Tone © Holy Transfiguration Monastery

Apolytikion for Martyr Eustathius and His Companions in the Fourth Tone © Holy Transfiguration Monastery

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Tone © Narthex Press

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Fifth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:12-35

At that time, [Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened. That very day] two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him. And He said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" and they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered Him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" And He said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we had hoped that He was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find His body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see." And He said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was not it necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into this glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained Him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So He went in to stay with them. When He was at table with them, He took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road and how He was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 28.11,1.
The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20.

Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Gospel Reading

Sunday after Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1

The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

Wisdom of the Fathers

The key to knowledge is the humility of Christ. The door of the Kingdom of Heaven is open, not to those who only know in their learned minds the mysteries of faith and the commandments of their Creator, but to those who have progressed far enough to live by them.

St. Bede the Venerable

Unknown, 8th century

To deny oneself means to give up one's bad habits; to root out of the heart all that ties us to the world; not to cherish bad thoughts and desires; to suppress every evil thought; to avoid occasions of sin; not to desire or to do anything out of self-love, but to do everything out of love for God. To deny oneself, according to St. Paul means "to be dead to sin. . . but alive to God."

St. Innocent of Alaska

The Lenten Spring, SVS Press, p. 147, 19th Century

Saints and Feasts

September 20

Sunday after Holy Cross

September 20

Eustathius the Great Martyr, his wife and two children

September 20

Our Righteous Father Eustathius, Archbishop of Thessolonica

Diakonia Newsletter

Read the latest Diakonia Newsletter for this Sunday

https://bulletinbuilder.org/diakonia-newsletter/2026-09-20?source=bulletin_web

September 20, 2026

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