Holy Trinity Cathedral
Publish Date: 2025-01-05
Bulletin Contents
Parish News
Insert
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Saints and Feasts
Wisdom of the Fathers

Organization Icon
Holy Trinity Cathedral

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (419) 243-9189
  • Fax:
  • (419) 243-3799
  • Street Address:

  • 740 Superior Street

  • Toledo, OH 43604
  • Mailing Address:

  • 740 Superior Street

  • Toledo, OH 43604

Contact Information

Priest Father Larry Legakis


[email protected] | 419-243-9189

Services Schedule

Sunday Services Orthros 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy 10:00 AM Church School Following Holy Communion Week Day Divine Liturgy Orthros 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy 10:00 AM Evening Services Consult Echo Calendar or Weekly Bulletin for times.

Past Bulletins


Parish News

Holy Trinity’s Mission Statement:  To worship and glorify God, by promoting the teachings, of the Greek Orthodox Faith. To encourage all members' participation through our Greek culture, educational programs,   community outreach and fundraising activities while serving God, our community and humanity

PARISH COUNCIL MEMBERS USHERING TODAY:

Steve Papadimos-Frank Reder-George Sares-Paul Sieben

THIS WEEK'S MEMORIALS ARE FOR: Mary Kanios - 1 year; Nick Kanios - 1 year

THIS WEEK'S TRISAGION PRAYERS ARE FOR: Thomas Manton - 4 months; Frances Manton - 18 years

May Their Memory Be Eternal

EPISTLE READERS ARE: Greek: Peter Cook; English: Zachary Heller

THIS WEEK’S ALTAR FLOWERS ARE SPONSORED BY: Mrs. Penny Perris, in loving memory of her mother, Paraskevi Sfakianos. May Her Memory Be Eternal.

THE PROSFORA, the Eucharistic Bread, prepared on behalf of the worshipping faithful, was offered today by the family of Nick and Maria Kanios, Sophia Spillson, and Kris Reder. Thank you and God Bless you!

THIS WEEK'S COFFEE HOUR IS SPONSORED BY: The Kanios and Papadimos Families, in loving memory of Nick and Mary Kanios. May Their Memory Be Eternal. Please join them after Church for coffee, refreshments, and fellowship in our Veronie Community Hall.

IN THE HOSPITAL THIS PAST WEEK: Mary McAninch (Bay Park); Tony Morris (St. Vincent)

Perastika and a speedy recovery!

TODAY: After Liturgy, we will be swearing in your 2025 Parish Council Members. Please keep them in your prayers as they guide the community!

THIS WEEK AT HOLY TRINITY:

Monday, January 6th: Feast of Theophany Orthros 9 AM, Liturgy 10 AM

Tuesday, January 7th: St. John the Baptist Feast Day Orthros 9 AM, Liturgy 10 AM

Wednesday, January 8th: Bible Study 7 PM

Thursday, January 9th: Daughters of Penelope Meeting 6 PM, Men's Ministry 6:30 PM

Friday, January 10th: Dinner and Discussion 6 PM

Saturday, January 11th: Pan Orthodox Blessing of the Waters/Lunch 11 AM

Sunday, January 12th: Vasilopita Celebration 12 PM, GOYA Meeting 12 PM

PHILOPTOCHOS COMMUNITY VASILOPITA:  If you haven't purchased your reservations, please do so today.  There is a limited amount of tickets available.  The deadline is January 6. Adults are $20 children 12 and under are $10.  No phone reservations will be accepted.

Pantry Update: Happy New Year Holy Trinity family! Our most needed items at this time are: Canned Tuna, jelly, cereal, and shelf-stable milk. We gladly accept any nonperishable food donations as well as monetary donations that will enable us to shop for you! Thank you!

Orthodox On Purpose Retreat: St. Nicholas Orthodox Church of Ann Arbor invites you to spend a day with Father Barnabas Powell learning what it means to be Orthodox on Purpose.  This retreat will focus on what it means to be an Orthodox Christian – specifically in America – and why and how we cannot miss the opportunity to share our faith with as many people as possible. Please see the flyer for more details.

OUR 2025 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN IS NOW UNDERWAY.  If you haven’t already done so, please turn in your pledge card. Have you fulfilled your 2024 commitment?   If you haven’t, please do so as soon as you’re able.We had a successful 2024 – let’s try to do even better in 2025!  Thank you for your continued support of our beloved Cathedral.

AHEPA Super Bowl Blocks - The Super Bowl blocks are now available!  We will be selling the block tickets for $15 a square with 100 blocks available.  First and third quarter winners receive $125, half time winner receives $250 and the final score wins $500.  The officers will have tickets after Sunday Liturgies or you can call Tony Capranica at 419-540-1150 for tickets.

Attention: Warm Hands to Warm Hearts (WHWH): The winter months are our busy season. As always, we are in need of yarn. Let the happy holiday colors inspire you. Besides yarn, we are in SERIOUS NEED OF SEWERS. Contact us if you can help. Due to the holidays, our December meeting is cancelled. Our next meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 28th, at 1:00 PM in the Veronie Community Hall. For questions or more information, please contact Maria Petros at (419) 473-2387 or Elena Perry at (419) 265-6275.

SAVE THE DATES for Project Mexico 2025 -- July 17-23! There’s still time to join the Project Mexico 2025 team! We are now a team of 12, but there’s still a slot for YOU to help build a home for a deserving family at Project Mexico, July 17-23. Visit https://www.projectmexico.org/volunteerHB25 to register for Project Mexico 2025. Be sure to choose Holy Trinity Toledo as your team. Have questions or need help registering? Talk to Elainie Lillios ([email protected]) or Michael Thompson.

Young people interested in Project Mexico, READ ON! -- The FOrCE (Forming Orthodox Christian Evangelists) Leadership 100 Grant Fund for Homebuilding Grant is an exciting opportunity for those interested in joining Project Mexico at NO COST! This grant introduces participants to the diverse opportunities available at Hellenic College Holy Cross, as well as Project Mexico's enriching summer internship program, helping you explore future paths in the Church and service. This grant is available exclusively to individuals who are not currently attending Hellenic College Holy Cross (HCHC) and who have not received this grant in the past. For more information about the FOrCE Grant and to apply, visit https://www.projectmexico.org/force-initiative

Greek School in person: We would like to know if there is interest in once again starting a Greek School which will meet in person at the Cathedral.  Some of you signed up in September but we misplaced the signup sheet.  Another one is in the hall.  Please sign up if you are interested.  Sofia, our choir director, would like to start Greek School in January.

YAH Trip planned to beautiful Savannah, GA. The YAH Trip is open to everyone in the community, including family and friends. The dates are Sun., June 8, 2025 to Sat., June 14, 2025. Cost is $950 per person.  A $75 per person deposit will be due to reserve your seat.  Deadline for the deposit is January 15, 2025.  First come, first serve - we are unable to hold any seats without a deposit.  Final payment will be due by April 1, 2025.  Please, see Faye/Gene Haberman or Kris Reder for details and to pay your deposit.

Byzantine Music Fellowship continues! All are welcome to join this chanting ministry that sings Paraklesis services to the Theotokos on the third Friday of each month. The group will rehearse the third Tuesday of each month, 7-8pm in the Veronie Center. Contact Elainie Lillios at [email protected] with questions.

ALTAR FLOWERS ARE NEEDED FOR: July 6th. Cost is $50 for 2 beautiful vases. It’s a great way to show your support in honor or memory of someone and beautify our altar too! Call the Church office if you’re interested.

Upcoming Memorials: January 19th – Nicholas Lillios – 14 years; Emile Mantzakides – 10 years; Sam Dedes – 9 years; Maritsa Loizos – 3 years; George Georghaki - 27 years; Haralambia Georghaki - 25 years (Trisagion); January 26th - Sofie Paterakis - 3 years

BACK TO TOP

Insert

    Vasilopita 2025

    Vasilopita 2025

    Come and celebrate the New Year with your fellow Parishioners and enjoy a delicious chicken dinner prepared by Harry Dean and his faithful helpers. See the flyer for details

    Project Mexico Flyer

    Project Mexico Flyer

    Come build a house for a family in need with Holy Trinity!

    Blessing of the Waters 2025

    Blessing of the Waters 2025

    Come celebrate Theophany with our fellow Orthodox Christians from Toledo!

    Orthodox On Purpose Retreat

    Orthodox On Purpose Retreat

    St. Nicholas Orthodox Church of Ann Arbor invites you to spend a day with Father Barnabas Powell learning what it means to be Orthodox on Purpose. This retreat will focus on what it means to be an Orthodox Christian – specifically in America – and why and how we cannot miss the opportunity to share our faith with as many people as possible. Click on the flyer for more details.

BACK TO TOP

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode

Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm, He hath trampled upon death by death. The first-born of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us, and hath granted great mercy to the world.

Apolytikion for Eve of Epiphany in the Fourth Mode

River Jordan was turned back by Elisseus' mantle once, when the fiery man of zeal Elias had been taken up; then were its waters divided hither and thither. The running streams became dry passage unto him, truly as a sign and type of Baptism, whereby we pass to the other side of the shifting stream of this fleeting life. Christ hath appeared in the Jordan River, to sanctify the waters.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

In the running waters of the Jordan River, on this day the Lord of all crieth to John: Be not afraid and hesitate not to baptize Me, for I am come to save Adam, the first-formed man.
BACK TO TOP

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Sixth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:36-53

At that time, having risen from the dead, Jesus went up and stood among His disciples and said to them, "Peace be with you." But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; handle Me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave Him a piece of broiled fish [and some honeycomb], and He took it and ate before them. Then He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name in all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands, He blessed them. While He blessed them, He parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the Temple blessing God.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. 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 Second Letter to Timothy 4:5-8.

TIMOTHY, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.

For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Gospel Reading

Sunday before Epiphany
The Reading is from Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' John was baptizing in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

BACK TO TOP

Saints and Feasts

January 06

The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

About the beginning of our Lord's thirtieth year, John the Forerunner, who was some six months older than Our Saviour according to the flesh, and had lived in the wilderness since his childhood, received a command from God and came into the parts of the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins. Then our Saviour also came from Galilee to the Jordan, and sought and received baptism though He was the Master and John was but a servant. Whereupon, there came to pass those marvellous deeds, great and beyond nature: the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove upon Him that was being baptized and the voice was heard from the Heavens hearing witness that this was the beloved Son of God, now baptized as a man (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:1-22). From these events the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and the great mystery of the Trinity were demonstrated. It is also from this that the present feast is called "Theophany," that is, the divine manifestation, God's appearance among men. On this venerable day the sacred mystery of Christian baptism was inaugurated; henceforth also began the saving preaching of the Kingdom of the Heavens.

January 05

Sunday before Epiphany

January 05

Eve of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

January 05

Theopemptos, Bishop of Nicomedea Theonas, the Martyrs

When the persecution of Diocletian broke out in 290, Saint Theopemptus, a bishop, was taken for his confession of Christ, and convicted Diocletian to his face for his error and ungodliness. Remaining unhurt after cruel tortures, he was given poison to drink, which had been prepared by a sorcerer named Theonas. Protected by divine grace from this also, he drew Theonas to Christ, and after other torments, was beheaded. Saint Theonas was cast into a pit and buried alive.

January 05

Syncletiki of Alexandria

Saint Syncletike was from Alexandria in Egypt. She lived eighty-three years in virginity and asceticism, and became the leader and teacher of many nuns. What Saint Anthony the Great was to men, she became to women: a model of mortification of the flesh, of patience in afflictions, and of wise instruction; for this, she is known a "Amma," a title corresponding to "Abba." Towards the end of her long life, she was stricken with an exceedingly painful disease, which she endured with faith and magnanimity. She reposed in the middle of the fourth century. It is said of Saint Syncletike that she was the virgin who hid Saint Athanasius from the Arians for more than a year in the environs of Alexandria, and it is to Saint Athanasius that her life is ascribed (PG 18:1488-1557).

January 05

Gregory of Akrita

January 05

Apollinaria of Egypt

BACK TO TOP

Wisdom of the Fathers

Repentance is the renewal of baptism and is a contract with God for a fresh start in life.
St. John Climacus
Ladder of Divine Ascent Step 5:On Penitence, Paulist Press pg. 121, 6th century

It was for that reason that Joshua, son of Nun, removed his sandals (Cf. Jos. 5:15), in order that he also could preserve the gift of so great a function for Him who was to come. It is for that reason that John says, 'A man is coming after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to loose,' ...
St. Ambrose of Milan
Seven Exegetical Works, 4.22, 4th Century

BACK TO TOP