Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-01-26
Bulletin Contents
Hymns of the Day
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Bulletin Inserts
Wisdom of the Fathers
Parish News and Events
Calendar of Events

Organization Icon
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (412)366-8700
  • Fax:
  • (412)366-8710
  • Street Address:

  • 985 Providence Blvd.

  • Pittsburgh, PA 15237-5951

Contact Information

Rev. Fr. John Touloumes, Protopresbyter
Proistamenos

[email protected] | 412-366-8700

Rev. Fr. Radu Bordeianu
Assistant Priest

[email protected]

Mary Portellos
Office Administrator

[email protected] | 412-366-8700

Deacon Matthew Palamara
Deacon

[email protected]

Services Schedule

Worship Schedule

8:15 a.m. Orthros

9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Worship Locations:

Sunday worship location: Holy Trinity Church, 985 Providence Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15237

Weekday/Feast Day worship location: St. George Chapel, 8941 Ringeisen Rd., Allison Park, PA

Past Bulletins


Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Sixth Tone

The heavenly powers appeared at Your tomb, and those guarding it became like dead men. Mary stood at Your grave, seeking Your pure body. You stripped the power of hades, not touched by its corruption. You met the virgin woman as one Who grants life. O Lord, Who rose from the dead, glory to You. (Page 53)

Seasonal Kontakion in the First Tone

Your birth sanctified a Virgin's womb and properly blessed the hands of Symeon. Having now come and saved us O Christ our God, give peace to Your commonwealth in troubled times and strengthen those in authority, whom You love, as only the loving One.
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Saints and Feasts

January 26

15th Sunday of Luke

January 26

Xenophon & his Companions

This Saint, a wealthy nobleman of Constantinople, was filled with piety toward God. He had two sons, Arcadius and John, whom he sent to Beirut to study law. But they were shipwrecked during their voyage; barely saved, they forsook all things and departed for Palestine. Saint Xenophon and his wife Mary, ignorant of what had happened, went in search of their sons. On finding them in Jerusalem, dressed in the habit of monks, they also took up the monastic life. And thus, having completed their lives in holiness, they departed for the Lord about the beginning of the sixth century. Saint Xenophon and his sons reposed at Saint Sabbas Monastery, and Mary at the Monastery of Saint Theodosius.

January 26

Symeon the Elder of Mount Sinai

Saint Simeon the Elder was so named in order to distinguish him from Saint Simeon the Stylite (September 1). He practiced asceticism in Syria in the fifth century, and in his childhood years went out into the Syrian wilderness and lived in a cave in complete solitude. Unceasing prayer, meditation, and contemplation of God were his constant occupation. The ascetic ate only the grass which grew about his cave. When people began to come to him to receive guidance, he wished to preserve his silence, so he left his cave and settled on one of the mountains of the Aman range. But here also his solitude was disturbed by many visitors. Saint Simeon withdrew to Mount Sinai, where formerly the Prophet Moses (September 4) received a revelation from God.

By divine Providence, the holy ascetic returned to Aman after a short stay on Sinai and founded two monasteries: one at the top of the mountain, the other at its base. As head of these monasteries, Saint Simeon guided the monks, warning them about the wiles of the Enemy of mankind, and he taught them how to struggle against temptations. He inspired and encouraged them in ascetic deeds, rousing them to think of their salvation. Because of the holiness of his life Saint Simeon received from God the gift of wonderworking. After the many labors of his ascetic life, Saint Simeon departed to God around the year 390.

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Sixth Tone. 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 First Letter to Timothy 4:9-15.

Timothy, my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and suffer reproach, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Till I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you. Practice these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.

Gospel Reading

15th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 19:1-10

At that time, Jesus was passing through Jericho. And there was a man named Zacchaios; he was a chief collector, and rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaios, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." And Zacchaios stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost."

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Bulletin Inserts

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Wisdom of the Fathers

Christ is the salvation that comes, and Zacchaeus is the house to which He comes.
Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic
Prolog, 4 February

Each of us, my brethren, is a house in which sin dwells while Christ is afar off, and to which salvation comes as Christ draws near. Whether Christ is able or not to draw near to my house and yours depends on us.
Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic
Prolog, 4 February

For Christ's presence is like that of some life-giving, scented balsam which restores health, enriches life and gives savor to the soul, the thoughts, the words of a man. In brief, distance from Christ means corruption and death, and closeness to Him means salvation and life.
Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic
Prolog, 4 February

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Parish News and Events

 

TODAY'S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

 

Vasilopita Celebration

Today, our Holy Trinity Philoptochos will host its annual Vasilopita Celebration. A tray will be passed at the end of the Divine Liturgy with proceeds, from it and the Vasilopita Celebration, going to the Saint Basil Academy in Garrison, New York, an educational and philanthropic institution of the Archdiocese. Immediately following the Divine Liturgy, our Philoptochos and Parish Council will sponsor the Vasilopita celebration and a sit-down breakfast in the Grand Room. Free-will offerings will be accepted to benefit St. Basil’s Academy.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Services This Week: (Location guide: HT = Holy Trinity Church; SG = St. George Chapel, 8941 Ringeisen Rd)

 - Wednesday, January 29,8:30am Orthros/9:30am Divine Liturgy: Saint Ignatius the God-bearer (SG)

- Thursday, January 30,8:30am Orthros/9:30am Divine Liturgy: The Three Hierarchs (SG)

- Saturday, February 1, 5:00pm Great Vespers of the Presentation of Christ (Ypapanti Church, 1672 Electric Ave, East Pittsburgh, PA 15112)

 

Church School Starts with Church!

Attention all Holy Trinity parents and youth: Remember that Church School begins with Divine Liturgy. So please be sure to have all our students here at 9:30am each Sunday. The youth sermon, a special time for your priests to teach and connect with our youth, takes place early in the service, after the Gospel, so they won’t want to miss that. Also, parents and young people, please remember that all youth ministries at Holy Trinity Church begin with Church School. Thank you for your faithful participation!

 

Youth Safety Certification Reminder for Adults

Youth Protection Policy Note: All adults involved with youth ministry contact will need to complete the youth safety and protection requirements of the “Policies for the Safety of Youth and Children” of the Archdiocese, Metropolis and Holy Trinity Church. Are you not yet certified? Do you have any questions? Please see our parish Youth Safety Coordinator Victoria Ambrose or email [email protected].

 

2025 Stewardship Cards

Holy Trinity Church and all its ministries are made possible through the generous donations and support of our stewards, who offer their time, talents, and treasures throughout the year. The 2025 Stewardship Pledge Cards have been mailed out. If you have not yet received a printed pledge card, you may pick one up in the Narthex or call the office at (412-366-8700) to request one to be sent by mail. You also have the option of making your 2025 Stewardship Pledge ONLINE through our new Realm system. It’s so easy! Just visit our website at HolyTrinityPgh.org/pledge or click the “Stewardship Pledge Online” QR code icon on the front page. Remember, every Holy Trinity member who pledges or donates already has a Realm account, and that makes pledging, giving, and reporting so much easier! You can even access your giving statement any time from your account without waiting for it to be mailed or emailed. Not sure how to access your account? Just visit HolyTrinityPgh.org/give and click “Sign In.” Use your email address and password to login. Don’t know your password? Simply click “Forgot password” and a link will be emailed to you to create or re-create one.

 

[Feb 6] New Ministry! “Playtime & Parea”

Holy Trinity Church is pleased to announce the addition of its newest ministry: “Playtime & Parea”! It is a fun, faith-based playgroup for little ones (ages 0 to 4) and parents (or caregivers) to connect, make new friends, and grow together in the love of Christ. Meets twice a month on Thursdays from 10:00am until 11:30am in the Fireside Room. The next gathering is scheduled for Thursday, February 6. For information, contact [email protected]. (“Parea” is Greek for “a group of friends who gather together to enjoy each other’s company and celebrate the everyday joys of life”)

 

[Mar 1] Second Annual McCandless Crossing Chocolate Walk Benefiting NHCO

On Saturday March 1, from 12:00pm until 6:00pm, participating McCandless Crossing businesses will offer specialty chocolates to ticketed guests for a relaxing day full of shopping and treats. The delicious fun starts at Fairfield Inn & Suites, where participants will get a tote bag for their goodies before starting their sweet stroll. All proceeds benefit North Hills Community Outreach. Purchase your tickets today at https://www.nhco.org/chocolate/p/ticket

 

[Apr 4-6] GOYA Spring Retreat – Save the Date

The Metropolis of Pittsburgh will offer a GOYA Spring Retreat on April 4th through 6th at Camp Nazareth (339 Pew Road, Mercer, PA 16137). Camper Registration & Staff Applications will open on Monday, February 17th at 7:00pm. Questions? Please contact Camping Ministries Coordinator, Maria Phyrillas at [email protected]. For additional information or to register, visit: y2am.pittsburgh.goarch.org/retreats 

 

Pleasant Valley Homeless Shelter Dinners - New Procedure

Over the years, our church has been a generous partner to the Pleasant Valley shelter, by taking part in their large program to feed their homeless residents on a daily basis!  This year, the shelter has automated their scheduling of volunteers for this.  They no longer provide us with dates for which we are responsible, but rather they have an online signup tool for individual volunteers to pick a date and register themselves.  The schedule is open to June at this point and can be found on their website: https://ncm.corsizio.com/portal/ncm

Please consider signing up as soon as you are able; there are even available remaining dates in this month! As before, here is the expectation when you sign up:

  • Prepare and deliver a meal that can feed at least 30 men.
  • Arrive between 7:00pm- 7:30pm.
  • You are always welcome to stay and serve or to drop off the food if serving is not an option. You can also bring family, friends, colleagues, etc.
  • Be aware of nut allergies. Also try to stay away from pork.
  • You can warm up and prepare food in the kitchen on site.
  • If you have additional questions, please call 412-323-1163.

If you are interested but need help, please see Mike Kritiotis after Divine Liturgy today and he will assist you in signing up. Thank you!  

 

“God’s House – Our Responsibility”
Attention all Holy Trinity parishioners, parents and youth: We all know the Church is “God’s House.” He expects us, however, to take care of it. That means leaving things the way we found them, cleaning up after ourselves and caring for every part of God’s House even better than we treat our own. Holding an event or meeting? Leave the place the way you found it – or better. Hospitality Hour? Please place all your trash in the cans afterwards and be sure not to spill or crush things on the floor. And children? Please help them to understand – kindly – their need to also take care of God’s House. We can all do this together! Thank you! 

 

Missing Books Needed!!

Our St. Spyridon Lending Library is missing many of its beloved books. Many of our books are irreplaceable so we need you to please look around your homes/cars for any lost books to be returned. Letters are being sent out to families with outstanding book returns. If you are unable to find the missing books, please see Connee Bistolas or Nicole Steiner to make a payment towards the purchase of a new replacement book. Our library is unable to have any guests until all returns are made. For questions or clarifications, please contact Connee or Nicole during Hospitality Hour.

 

In the Hospital? Home-Bound? Please let the Church Office know! 
In today’s age of information privacy, churches are not notified when parishioners are admitted to hospitals, nursing homes or other care facilities. Both those facilities and your church depend on having the church notified by a friend or family member so that pastoral care and outreach can be offered. The same goes for those homebound. If you or any of your loved ones are in any of these situations, please contact the Church Office at 412-366-8700 to request a visit from our priests or our new and wonderful Visitation Ministry. Also, interested in helping reach out to fellow parishioners in those situations? Please contact Amy Armanious at [email protected].

 

Holding a Ministry Activity or Committee Meeting at Church? Reservations Required!

Our community and its ministries are growing! If your ministry or committee is planning a meeting or activity and you are planning to hold it at the church, please note that reservations for rooms and event spaces are required. Please call the Church Office at 412-366-8700 and speak to our Office Administrator, Mary Portellos. There have been times when all the spaces have been filled, so your cooperation helps ensure every group that needs a place has one and helps minimize space conflicts. We have a beautiful facility – let’s work together so everyone who needs it can use it. Thank you!

 

Snow Cancellations – Where to Check

Please keep in mind over the winter months that there are a number of options to hear or read about event or service cancellations in the case of snow or inclement weather on the Holy Trinity "Snow Line." First stop: Check our website at www.HolyTrinityPgh.org. To hear by phone, call the church office (412-366-8700) then press option #7 and listen for a recorded weather cancellation announcement. To get updates by computer or smartphone, there are three options: 1) watch the parish email list for email announcements; 2) check the front page of our website, www.HolyTrinityPgh.org; or 3) friend us on Facebook at Facebook.com/holytrinitypgh. Finally, to get information by radio or television, watch the KDKA Storm Center, as Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church is registered there.

 

Welcome, Holy Trinity Guests!

We welcome all our guests to Holy Trinity Church today, whether as visitors from out of town, family members joining others here for worship today or even soon-to-be members here for the first time. No matter what the reason the Holy Spirit brought you here today, we welcome you with open arms and hearts filled with the love of Christ. Please help us welcome you by signing in at the hospitality table in the Narthex, where you will be presented with a yellow lapel Cross to help us know that you're here. And please be sure to stay and enjoy our after-Liturgy Hospitality Hour!

 

About Receiving Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church

We welcome all who have come to worship with us today. Whether you are an Orthodox Christian, an inquirer to the faith or a first-time guest in an Orthodox Church, we are pleased to have you with us and thankful for the opportunity to share and bear witness to this ancient and timeless Faith. In accordance with the holy canons and traditions of the Church, please note that Holy Communion and the other Holy Mysteries (Sacraments) are received only by those who are baptized and chrismated (confirmed) Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared through prayer, fasting and confession. All others are invited receive the antidoron (blessed bread) and a blessing from the priest at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. Please also join our parish family for Hospitality Hour and allow us to meet and welcome you. Interested in joining or learning more about the Orthodox Christian Faith? Please see one of our priests or complete a visitor’s card today! How to receive: Please remember the following helpful hints aimed at helping to preserve the solemnity and safety of the Holy Mystery. Anyone wearing lipstick should remove it before receiving. Be sure to offer your baptismal name to priest before receiving. Please take great care that the red cloth held by the acolytes (you should not hold it) is fully under your chin, then use the centuries-old practice of receiving: please fully open your mouth, then gently close your lips to make sure the Holy Gifts are securely in your mouth and so that none of the holy and precious Body and Blood of Christ is accidentally spilled. Thank you for your cooperation, and may God have mercy on us all!

 

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