Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2026-10-11
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
Diakonia Newsletter

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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]

Deacon Ted Stewart
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 Second Tone

When You descended into death, O Life immortal, You destroyed Hades with the splendor of Your divinity. And when You raised the dead from the depths of darkness, all the heavenly powers shouted: O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to You! (Page 52)

Apolytikion for Sun. of the 7th Ecumenical Council in the Eighth Tone

Most glorified are You, O Christ our God, Who has established our Fathers as luminous stars upon the earth and through them did guide us all to the true Faith. O Most Merciful One, glory to You.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Tone

A protection of Christians unshameable, Intercessor to our Holy Maker, unwavering; reject not the prayerful cries of those who are in sin. Instead, come to us for you are good; your loving help bring unto us who are crying in faith to you: Hasten to intercede and speed now to supplicate, as a protection for all time, Theotokos, for those who honor you. (Page 54)


Saints and Feasts

October 11

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council

On the Sunday that falls on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we chant the Service to the 350 holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, which gathered in Nicaea in 787 under the holy Patriarch Tarasius and during the reign of the Empress Irene and her son, Constantine Porphyrogenitus, to refute the Iconoclast heresy, which had received imperial support beginning with the Edict issued in 726 by Emperor Leo the Isaurian. Many of the holy Fathers who condemned Iconoclasm at this holy Council later died as Confessors and Martyrs for the holy Icons during the second assult of Iconoclasm in the ninth century, especially during the reigns of Leo the Armenian and Theophilus.

October 11

Philip the Apostle of the 70, one of the 7 Deacons

Saint Philip, who had four daughters that prophesied, was from Caesarea of Palestine. He preached throughout Samaria; it was he also who met the eunuch of Candace, the Queen of the Ethiopians, as the eunuch was reading the Prophet Esaias, and he instructed and baptized him (Acts 8:26-39). He reposed in Tralles of Asia Minor while preaching the Gospel.

October 11

Theophanes the Confessor, Bishop of Nicaea

Saint Theophanes, the brother of Saint Theodore the Branded, was a Palestinian by race. Both were monks at the Monastery of Saint Sabbas. They were called "the Branded" because Theophilus, the last of the Iconoclast emperors, had twelve iambic verses branded by hot irons on their foreheads and then sent them into exile, where Theodore died in the year 838. After the death of Theophilus in 842, Theophanes was elected Bishop of Nicaea. Both brothers composed many canons and hymns, thereby adorning the services of the Church.

October 11

Ethelburga, Abbess of Barking in Essex

Saint Ethelburga (Aethelburh) was born into the royal family of East Anglia in the seventh century. She was the sister of Saint Erconwald (May 13) who founded the monastery of Barking (Berecingum) in Essex. Saint Ethelburga became the first abbess of this monastery.

October 11

Our righteous Father Kenneth, Founder of the Monastery of Aghaboe in Ireland.

Our Righteous Father Kenneth (Canice or Cainnech in Irish) was born at Glengiven in County Derry in Northern Ireland in 515 or 516, the son of a bard. In 543 he joined the monastic establishment of Saint Finnian of Clonard (Dec 12), which was a school of monasticism for all Ireland, such that Saint Finnian was called the Master (or Teacher) of the Irish Saints. Among Saint Kenneth’s saintly friends and fellow monks were Saint Kieran of Clonmacnoise, Saint Comgall of Bangor, and Saint Columba (or Colmcille) of Iona. Of the last this is said in Butler’s Lives of the Saints: “[Saint Kenneth/Canice] converted numerous pagans and was bound in close friendship with Saint Columba. Saint Kenneth preached throughout Ireland and Scotland, enlightening and converting many, and founding monasteries, the chief of which he founded at Aghaboe, where he reposed in peace at the age of eighty-four in the year 599 or 600. Saint Kenneth is counted as one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland, disciples of Saint Finian of Clonard who spread the Gospel and founded monasteries throughout Ireland.

October 11

Holy Martyrs Zenais and Philonilla

The Martyrs Zenaida (Zenais) and Philonilla lived in Tarsus in Cilicia during the first century, and were related to the holy Apostle Paul. They were pious Christian women, and both of them shared a love of learning. By whatever means were available to them at that time, they acquired medical knowledge. The two sisters left their home and settled in a cave near the city of Demetriada, where they lived in constant prayer and work. The citizens of Demetriada soon learned that there were two women doctors who gladly treated everyone who turned to them for help, yet did not require payment for their services. They also healed people’s souls by converting them to Christ. One night, some pagans went to their cave and stoned them. Saints Zenaida and Philonilla suffered martyrdom for Christ, thereby receiving incorruptible crowns of glory from the Lord. 

October 11

Nectarios, Arsakios, Sisinios and Philotheos Kokkinos, Patriarchs of Constantinople



Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Tone. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to Titus 3:8-15.

Titus, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.

When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.

All who are with me send greeting to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council
The Reading is from Luke 8:5-15

The Lord said this parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold." And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience." As he said these things, he cried out "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."



Bulletin Inserts



Wisdom of the Fathers

Since there are certain people who find great fault with us for adoring and honoring both the image of the Savior and that of our Lady, as well as those of the rest of the saints and servants of Christ, let them hear how from the beginning God made man to His own image. For what reason, then, do we adore one another, except because we have been made to the image of God? As the inspired Basil, who is deeply learned in theology, says: "the honor paid to the image conveys to the original.," and the original is the thing imaged from which the copy is made.
St. John of Damascus
The Orthodox Faith, 4.16. Catholic University of America Press in Washington D.C. Translated by Frederic H. Chase, Jr. volume 37, page 370., 8th Century

When you see life's pleasures, beware that they might not distract you, for they conceal death's snares. Likewise a fisherman casts not his hook to no purpose. As bait for his hook, the enemy uses the delusion of sensuality to arouse desire, that he might thereby catch men's souls and subject them to himself. A soul which has been caught to serve the enemy's will then serves as a snare for other souls, for it conceals the grief of sin with its apparent delight.
St. Ephraim the Syrian
A Spiritual Psalter no 43, pg. 74, 4th century



Parish News and Events

 

TODAY'S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

 

Hospitality Hour Sponsor

Today’s Hospitality Hour is sponsored by the Holy Trinity Choir. Thank you!

 

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Faith & Family Weekdays

Faith and Family Weekdays is back, and there are many ways for each one of us to grow in the knowledge and practice of our faith. There’s a lot more to church than Sundays, and here is where to find it.  

THIS WEEK:

  • Wednesday, October 14, 6:30pm Vespers/7:00pm: “Explore the Word” – Father Radu continues his exploration of the Holy Bible with the greatest “adventure book” of the New Testament, The Book of Acts. Learn about the history of the early Church and how the Good News was spread. All are welcome! Remaining Fall dates are Oct 14, 28; Nov 4, 11, 18, Dec 2, 9.

 

Father John Away through October 15

Father John will be out of the office through October 15 to lead the 2026 Holy Trinity “Greece Through the Ages” Pilgrimage. Please note that he will not be available via phone, email or social media through October 15. In Father John’s absence, our Assistant Priest, Father Radu Bordeianu ([email protected]), will be offering liturgical services and fulfilling urgent pastoral care needs. Please see him following services regarding personal matters or contact our Office Administrator, Mary Portellos (412-366-8700 or [email protected]) with any clergy requests, including memorials and sacraments. For clergy emergencies only, call 412-366-8700 and select option “2”. For all other office matters, including facilities scheduling, Bulletin and email announcements for ministry events, please contact Mary Portellos (see above) as usual. For Parish Council and other administrative matters, please contact our Parish Council President, Anthony Balouris ([email protected]). For all other needs, please contact the ministry or organizational leader directly or pass your request through the Church Office. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!

 

Church School Class Times

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 reading. Pre-School through Eighth Grade classrooms are located on the upper level of the Education Center. Ninth through Twelfth Grade classrooms are located on the main floor of the Education Center. Please note that all classes, Pre-School through Twelfth Grade, conclude at 11:30am. Parents, please give the teachers time to finish class every Sunday. Pre-School and Kindergarten parents should meet their children outside of their classroom on the upper level. All other students will be dismissed to the Church School snack area, which is located on the main floor Education Center hallway, outside of the Fireside Room. Thank you!

 

[Oct 18] Heart Health Awareness Event following Liturgy – Next Sunday

Are you paying attention to the health of your heart? Our own parishioner and Parish Council member, Michael Erdeljac, is an American Heart Association "Leader of Impact" and will be hosting a free Heart Health Awareness event next Sunday, October 18, featuring free CPR training (including Pediatric CPR) and Heart Health Awareness information. Representatives from the American Heart Association will also be present. Hospitality Hour is sponsored by the event on that day.

 

[Oct 18] HOPE & JOY Pumpkin Patch – Next Sunday – RSVP TODAY

The Holy Trinity Pumpkin Patch Hayride & Campfire for families of HOPE & JOY (Pre-K – 6th grade) will be held on Sunday, October 18 from 2:00-4:00pm at Yeck’s Farms, 568 Baker Rd, Freedom, PA 15042. The event is free, but only those that RSVP will be able to participate in the Hayride. Please note that Yeck’s Farms is cash only for any personal purchases made during your visit. Please RSVP by TODAY, October 11 to Vicki at 412-720-5094 or [email protected] for JOY children and Maria at 724-991-5129 or [email protected] for HOPE children.

 

A Journey to Fullness – An Introduction to the Fullness of the Original Christian Faith - Begins October 19

Are you new to the Orthodox Faith? Want to just explore or ready to dive in and learn how to live it fully? Born and raised Orthodox? Ready to deepen your understanding of the Church you love? Either way, please join us for a 6-week series of video lessons, live Q&A and engaging discussions about the Orthodox Christian Faith. Held Mondays at 7:00pm in the Holy Trinity Church Conference Room. Scheduled dates are Oct 19, 26, Nov 2, 9, 16, 23.

 

[Oct 22] Playtime & Parea

Join us for a fun, faith-filled playgroup for parents, caregivers, and little ones to connect, make new friends, and grow together in the love of Christ. Ages 0 to 4. Our next session will be held Thursday, October 22 at 10:00am in the Fireside Room and continue every other Thursday. Questions? Contact [email protected].

 

[Oct 25] GOYA Fall Fest

On Sunday, October 25, our Holy Trinity GOYA will host Youth Sunday and their annual Fall Fest in the Gallery following Liturgy, with hot sandwiches, comfy fall appetizers, salads, pumpkin and apple treats and more for sale. A homemade taste of Fall from our GOYA families! Thank you for supporting our teens!

 

[Oct 25] Orthodox Dudes on Tap

This new casual men’s ministry is for guys, single and married, to just enjoy a few hours of conversation, snacks, brews and great company with other Millennials and Gen Z’ers. The next get together is scheduled for Sunday, Oct 25.  Laid back; informal. Want to find out more? Email Orthodox [email protected]g for times and places.

 

Holy Trinity Active Older Adults Ministry

The Active Older Adults Ministry is honored to have Cheri Pagonis; the wife of Lt General Gus Pagonis speak to us on her life as the wife of a career military man. Having moved 28 times in 28 years and having lived all over the world has given her a lot of interesting stories to share with us. She will be speaking in the later part of October. The date is to be determined.

 

The 2027 Bag Lunch Schedule is Here!

It’s time to get your group or family and friends together for a meaningful day of giving to the poor and hungry in our region. Sponsored through the Orthodox outreach of the “Neighborhood Resilience Project”, the 2027 weekly schedule of delivering 140 lunch bags to our less fortunate neighbors every Saturday of the year, is open and has many open dates available. Holy Trinity Church’s participation has been critical in fulfilling this goal in the past, and we are grateful for our parishioners’ renewed generosity again this year. Please contact Mike Kritiotis at 412-518-0588, or at [email protected] to select a date and sign up your family/group/ministry for this worthy cause before the dates are taken! Thank you, good and faithful servants of Christ!

 

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 Christopher Welch or email [email protected].

 

2026 Stewardship – It’s What Makes Life at Holy Trinity Possible - Have You Pledged?

Do you enjoy the life, ministries and activities Holy Trinity Church offers? It is all made possible through the generous donations and support of our stewards, who offer their time, talents, and treasures throughout the year. Traditional printed 2026 Stewardship Pledge Cards were distributed or mailed out months ago. If you have not completed yours, you also have the option of making your 2026 Stewardship Pledge ONLINE through our Realm system. Just visit our website at HolyTrinityPgh.org/pledge or click the “2026 Stewardship Pledge” 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. Visit HolyTrinityPgh.org/give and click “Sign In.”

 

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. Please note that 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!

 

 





Diakonia Newsletter

Diakonia Newsletter

Read the latest Diakonia Newsletter for this Sunday

https://bulletinbuilder.org/diakonia-newsletter/2026-10-11?source=bulletin_web

October 11, 2026

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