Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-09-14
Bulletin Contents

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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (228) 388-6138
  • Street Address:

  • 255 Beauvoir Rd.

  • Biloxi, MS 39531


Contact Information




Services Schedule

Service schedule varies.  The current schedule can be found in the bulletin or parish website.

 


Past Bulletins


Father Paisius McGrath, Presbyter

Glory to Jesus Christ! Greetings to the faithful members and families of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ continue to bless and guide us all as we grow in our faith in Him.

Today we are presented the centrality of the Cross in the gospel message of grace and salvation for all who believe in Jesus Christ.  In today's gospel reading from Saint John 19:6-11,13-20,25-28, 30, we once again are remind of the free gift of our Lord in suffering death on the Cross for our salvation. Once again we are reminded that it is our Lord's suffering and death on the Cross followed by His Resurrection that breaks the power of sin and death to hold mankind captive. This gives us a powerful reminder that it is through what our Lord endures for us that we receive freedom through grace and salvation.
 
Today we are presented with the message of the Cross as in the Orthodox Church we celebrate the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross.  The powerful message of the Cross is presented to us in the poignant and beautiful feast which commemorates a double historical Elevation of the Cross: at its finding by Saint Helen in the 4th Century and again at its return to Jerusalem from Persia in the early 7th century.  As we celebrate this feast and venerate the Holy Cross in the Church, let us faithfully follow Him who ascends the Cross for our salvation!
 
      Your Pastor;
 
       Your Pastor,
 
       Father Paisius R. McGrath

 

 

  

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Tone. Psalm 98.9,1.
Exalt the Lord our God.
Verse: The Lord reigns; let the people tremble.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 1:18-24.

Brethren, the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.


Gospel Reading

The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross
The Reading is from John 19:6-11, 13-20, 25-28, 30

At that time, when the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no crime in him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he has made himself the Son of God."

When Pilate heard these words, he was the more afraid; he entered the praetorium again and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore he who delivered me to you has the greater sin." When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called the Pavement, and in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!" They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross; it read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek.

But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. Then when Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished"; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.


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Saints and Feasts

September 14

The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross

Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine the Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole. Consequently, the precious Cross was lifted on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, "Lord have mercy." It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerable Cross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in the magnificent church built by Saint Helen, until the year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross to their own country (see Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Late, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constantinople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place.

Rest from labour. A Fast is observed today, whatever day of the week it may be.


September 16

Euphemia the Great Martyr

Saint Euphemia was from Chalcedon and lived in virginity. According to some, she suffered martyrdom during the reign of Diocletian, in 303; according to others, in 307. Her sacred relics are preserved in the Patriarchate in Constantinople.


September 16

Ninian the Enlightener of Scotland

Saint Ninian was born in Cumberland in Britain around the year 360, about a half century after the Emperor Constantius Chlorus died in the British city of York, and his son Constantine, who was with him when he died, was proclaimed Emperor. Ninian was born of Christian parents of noble lineage, at a time when paganism was still strong in his native land. As a young man he went to Rome, where he spent many years in study and ascetical struggles. At Rome, Saint Ninian was consecrated some time after the death of Pope Damasus in 384, and was sent back to his native island about the end of the fourth century. On his return journey, it is likely that he passed through Tours and met Saint Martin; what is certain is that many churches and cells associated with Saint Ninian, including his own cathedral in Whithorn, were named in honour of Saint Martin. When Saint Ninian returned to Cumberland, he established monasteries that fostered both the life of prayer and missionary labours. By his preaching, his godly life, and his miracles, he ministered to his own countrymen, the Britons, and also converted many of the pagan Picts, who inhabited the northern regions (in today's Scotland). He reposed in peace at his see of Whithorn in Galloway in 432.

September 21

Sunday after Holy Cross


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Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion for Elevation of the Holy Cross in the 1st Tone

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 the Church in the 1st Tone

Blessed are You, O Christ our God, who made fishermen all-wise, sending upon them the Holy Spirit and, through them, netting the world. O Loving One, glory to You.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Tone

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.
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Wisdom of the Fathers

A MARVELOUS thing is longsuffering; it places the soul as in a quiet harbor, fleeing it from tossings and evil spirits. And this everywhere Christ hath taught us, but especially now, when He is judged, and dragged, and led about ....
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century

But why was it that Pilate made the enquiry not in their presence, but apart, having gone into the judgment hall? He suspected something great respecting Him.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century

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Upcoming Services and Events

  • Upcoming Services and Events

    September 14 to September 21, 2025

    Sunday, September 14

    Elevation of the Holy Cross

    9:30AM Orthros with Procession of the Holy Cross

    9:30AM Parish Sunday School

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    12:30PM Catechumen Class

    Tuesday, September 16

    Saint Ninian of Whithorn (Scotland)

    Holy Great Martyr Euphemia

    9:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    Wednesday, September 17

    6:00PM Daily Vespers with Talk and Potluck Meal

    Thursday, September 18

    6:00PM Parish Bible Study

    Saturday, September 20

    5:00PM Great Vespers

    6:00PM Byzantine Chant Class

    Sunday, September 21

    Sunday after the Holy Cross

    Apodosis (Leavetaking) of Elevation

    9:30AM Orhros

    9:30AM Sunday School

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    12:30PM Catechumen Class

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Announcements

 
BIRTHDAYS
 
Today we as a parish community extend our best wishes and congratulations to Adrianna Vaporis as she celebrates her birthday on September 15 and to Oleksandra Petrovska as she celebrates her birthday on September 19.  May the Lord our God bless His servants, Adrianna and Oleksandra, and may He grant to them many more blessed and happy years!

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

This morning we as a Parish community extend our best wishes and congratulations to Adam and Olga (Shauna) Angel who were united in the Orthodox Sacrament of Holy Matrimony yesterday on Saturday, September 13.  May the Lord our God grant to them His blessings and many years of blessed married life and may He also bless their sponsors George Contas and Eleni Vganges!
 
We offer our prayers and condolences to the Loukatos family on the repose of their mother and grandmother, Malama Thraisivoulou, whose funeral we celebrated this past week.  May the Lord our God grant a blessed repose to His newly departed servant, Malama, and may her memory be eternal!
 
Today we celebrate the Great Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross and with it the veneration of the Cross.  Let us honor the Cross today and always for through it we have received grace, salvation, and freedom from sin and death.  The Cross will remain in the Church for veneration all of this week.
 
This morning we wish to announce that our Parish Council has called a Special Parish Assembly for next Sunday, September 21 following Divine Liturgy. The purpose of this assembly is for the presentation of the plans for our 2025 Parish Pastry Sale to be held on Friday/Saturday, December 12/13.  Please join us for this important Special Parish Assembly.
 
Our parish Sunday school began last Sunday, September 7 and meets now each Sunday at 9:30 a.m.  For further information please talk with Crystal Anderson.
 
We offer a reminder that our Annual Fall Parish General Assembly will be held following Divine Liturgy on Sunday, September 28.  This general assembly is for the purpose of electing our 2025 Parish Election Committee and taking nominations for our  upcoming 2025 Parish Council Election. Please join us for this important Fall Parish General Assembly.
 
Printed copies of our parish September schedule are available in the narthex and the side entrance. Please pick up your copy and join us as we worship together as a parish community.

HOLY TRINITY SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

Tuesday, September 16, Holy Great Martyr Euphemia/Saint Ninian of Whithorn (Scotland), Orthros 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m.
 
Wednesday, September 17, Daily Vespers and Talk 6:00 p.m.  Potluck Meal
 
Thursday, September 18, Parish Bible Study 6:00 p.m.
 
Saturday, September 20, Great Vespers 5:00 p.m.
Byzantine Chant Class
 
Sunday, September 21, Sunday after Elevation of Holy Cross/ Apodosis (Leavetaking) of Elevation of Holy Cross, Orthros 9:30 a.m. Parish Sunday School 9:30 am Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m.
Memorial Service 11:45 a.m.
Parish Special Assembly 12:15 p.m.
 
 

The Ministry of Holy Trinity is enabled, thanks be to God, by the faithful support of the following stewards of our Parish:

Abraham Samander
Adam & Shauna Angel
Akaterina Vamvakas
Alijah King
Angele Lorio
Angelos and Elizabeth Vamvakas
Brad & Mandy Sartor
Carl & Nancy Malek
Chris Mavromihalis
Chrissanthi Beach
Colleen Collins
Crystal & Cassidy Anderson
Del & Jill Wilber
Edward S. Maikranz
Eleni Vganges
George & Janie Mavromihalis
George & Sheila Yurchak
George J. Vaporis
George L. Contas
Gus Ravenous
Guy Bowering
Jeff & Christie Maung
Irene Adeline
Irene Koskan
Jaime Ross
John & Donna Collins
Katie Monroe
Louis and Linda Peters
Malama Thrasivoulou
Mousa Maloof
Mihnea C. & Viorica M Ionescu
Nada D. Harris
Nataliya Petrovska Kirkby
Nicoletta Conner
Panagiotis "Peter" & Maria Loukatos
Rodney and Karen Bridges
Seth Willison
Spiro Vganges
Tim Gilmore
Trent & Rachel Milan
William Patrick Weaver
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Bulletin

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