Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-07-13
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. May Christ our God continue to bless and guide us all now and always as we shine His light to the world!

Today we have an opportunity to reflect on Christ as the light of the world and our participation in His light in the world in which we live. In today's Gospel Reading from Saint Matthew 5:14-19, our Lord teaches us about His being the Light that shines into the world and chasing away the darkness. We as His disciples receive this Light which we are called to reflect and let shine through our lives. The Church as the Body of Christ has received His light and are called to let it shine as the shining City on the Hill illumining the world. We are not to hide the light of truth but to let it shine so the world may come to see, know, and embrace the Light of Christ that they see shining through His people and His Body the Church!

 

       Your Pastor,
 
       Father Paisius R. McGrath

 

 

  

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal 2nd Tone. Psalm 31.11,1.
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous.
Verse: Blessed are they whose transgressions have been forgiven.

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 Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council
The Reading is from Matthew 5:14-19

The Lord said to his disciples, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."


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Saints and Feasts

July 13

Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council

On the Sunday that falls from the 13th to the 19th of the present month, we chant the Service to the 630 Holy and God-bearing Fathers who came together for the 4th Ecumenical Council who assembled in Chalcedon in 451, to condemn Eutyches, who taught that there was only one nature, the divine, in Christ after the Incarnation, and Dioscorus, Patriarch of Alexandria, who illegally received Eutyches back into communion and deposed Saint Flavian, Patriarch of Constantinople, who had excommunicated Eutyches.

In the Slavic tradition, on this Sunday, the Fathers of the first six Ecumenical Councils are all commemorated.


July 15

Julitta & Kyrikos the Martyrs

Saint Julitta was from the city of Iconium. Fearing the persecution of Diocletian, she took her son Cyricus, who was three years old, and departed for Seleucia; but finding the same evil there, she went over to Tarsus in Cilicia, where the ruler arrested her. He took her son from her and tried with flatteries to draw the youth to himself. But the little one, in his childish voice, called on the Name of Christ and kicked the ruler in the belly so hard, that the tyrant became enraged and cast him down the steps of the tribunal. In this manner, the child's head was crushed, and he gave up the spirit. As for his blessed mother, she first endured many torments, and finally was beheaded in the year 296.


July 20

Elias the Prophet

Elias of great fame was from Thisbe or Thesbe, a town of Galaad (Gilead), beyond the Jordan. He was of priestly lineage, a man of a solitary and ascetical character, clothed in a mantle of sheep skin, and girded about his loins with a leathern belt. His name is interpreted as "Yah is my God." His zeal for the glory of God was compared to fire, and his speech for teaching and rebuke was likened unto a burning lamp. From this too he received the name Zealot. Therefore, set aflame with such zeal, he sternly reproved the impiety and lawlessness of Ahab and his wife Jezebel. He shut up heaven by means of prayer, and it did not rain for three years and six months. Ravens brought him food for his need when, at God's command, he was hiding by the torrent of Horrath. He multiplied the little flour and oil of the poor widow of Sarephtha of Sidon, who had given him hospitality in her home, and when her son died, he raised him up. He brought down fire from Heaven upon Mount Carmel, and it burned up the sacrifice offered to God before all the people of Israel, that they might know the truth. At the torrent of Kisson, he slew 450 false prophets and priests who worshipped idols and led the people astray. He received food wondrously at the hand of an Angel, and being strengthened by this food he walked for forty days and forty nights. He beheld God on Mount Horeb, as far as this is possible for human nature. He foretold the destruction of the house of Ahab, and the death of his son Ohozias; and as for the two captains of fifty that were sent by the king, he burned them for their punishment, bringing fire down from Heaven. He divided the flow of the Jordan, and he and his disciple Elisseus passed through as it were on dry land; and finally, while speaking with him, Elias was suddenly snatched away by a fiery chariot in the year 895 B.C., and he ascended as though into heaven, whither God most certainly translated him alive, as He did Enoch (Gen. 5:24; IV Kings 2: 11). But from thence also, after seven years, by means of an epistle he reproached Joram, the son of Josaphat, as it is written: "And there came a message in writing to him from Elias the Prophet, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the way," and so forth (II Chron. 21:12). According to the opinion of the majority of the interpreters, this came to pass either through his disciple Elisseus, or through another Prophet when Elias appeared to them, even as he appeared on Mount Tabor to the disciples of Christ (see Aug. 6).


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 4th Tone

When the women Disciples of the Lord had learned from the Angel the joyful message of the Resurrection and had rejected the ancestral decision, they cried aloud to the Apostles triumphantly: Death has been despoiled, Christ God has risen, granting His great mercy to the world.

Apolytikion for Sun. of the Holy Fathers in the Plagal 4th Tone

Most glorified art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast established our Fathers as luminous stars upon the earth, and through them didst guide us all to the true Faith. O Most Merciful One, glory be to Thee.

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 2nd Tone

O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.
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Wisdom of the Fathers

The Lord says to His disciples, 'Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven' (Matt. 5:16). He does not say this to urge them to show off, but to urge them to organize their lives as is pleasing to God. Just as light effortlessly attracts people's gaze, so a way of life pleasing to God draws their minds along with their eyes. We do not praise the air which shares in the brilliance of the sunlight, but the sun which is the source of this brilliance and bestows it on us. Even if we do praise the air for its brightness, we praise the sun much more. So it is when someone makes the brilliance of the Sun of righteousness (Mal. 4:2) visible through his virtuous deeds. As soon as anyone looks at him, they are immediately led towards the glory of the Father in heaven of Christ, the Sun of righteousness.
St. Gregory Palamas
Homilies Vol. 1, Homily Ten para. 14; Saint Tikhon's Seminary Press pgs. 110-111, 14th century

Every work which does not have love as its beginning and root is nothing.
St. John Chrysostom
Unknown, 4th century

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Upcoming Services and Events

  • Upcoming Services and Events

    July 13 to July 20, 2025

    Sunday, July 13

    Holy Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council

    9:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy (served by Father Timothy Yates)

    Sunday, July 20

    Holy Prophet Elias (Elijah)

    9:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    12:00PM Blessing of the Vehicles

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Announcements

 

BIRTHDAYS

This week we as a parish community extend our best wishes and congratulations to George Vaporis as he celebrates his birthday on July 14, to Akaterina Vamvakas as she celebrates her birthday on July 18 and to T'Erica Kelley as she celebrates her birthday on July 18. May the Lord our God bless His servants George, Akaterina, and T'Erica and may He grant to them all many more blessed and happy years!
 

ANNIVERSARIES

Today we as a parish community extend our best wishes and congratulations to Cristian and Meri Ionescu as they celebrate their wedding anniversary on July 19. May the Lord our God bless His servants Cristian and Meri, and may He grant to them many more blessed and happy years!

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

This morning we welcome Father Timothy Yates USAF and his family to Holy Trinity as he serves Orthros and Divine Liturgy with us in place of Father Paisius who is filling in at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Mobile, Alabama today. Thanks to Father Timothy for being with us and serving with us today!
 
Today on the Sunday between July 11-18 in the Orthodox Church we celebrate the Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council. This Ecumenical Council in Chalcedon in 451 A.D. met under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to define our teaching that Jesus Christ has Divine Nature and Human Nature complete with no mixing or confusion and both natures are complete. This Council rejected the heretical teaching of One Nature taught by some by which the Divine Nature took over the Human Nature at the Incarnation leaving only One Composite Nature. Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council, intercede for us!
 
This week Father Paisius will be traveling and so we will not have Wednesday Vespers or Saturday Vespers. But we will have our Parish Bible Study on Thursday evening led by Cassidy Anderson. Father Paisius will be back for next Sunday.
 
We are pleased to offer our congratulations to George Contas and Nicoletta Connors on their nomination as our 2025 Holy Trinity Archangel Michael Award Nominees. May God bless you for all you have done on behalf of the Parish and may He continue to bless and guide you!
 
We offer a reminder that next Sunday, July 20 in the Orthodox Church we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Prophet Elias (Elijah).  As a part of the Orthodox celebration of this feast, we bless vehicles in honor of Saint Elijah being translated into Paradise in the fiery chariot. So next Sunday following Divine Liturgy, Father Paisius will be blessing vehicles in our Church parking lot and we invite everyone to participate in this special and beautiful Blessing!
 
It is time for our Parish to submit our calendar orders to the Archdiocese for the 2026 GOA Calendar. For those wishing to make donations for this, we ask this be done by Sunday, August 3 so we can make the orders in time. For more information about, please talk with Cassidy Anderson or one of our Parish Council Members.
 

HOLY TRINITY SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

Wednesday, July 16, NO DAILY VESPERS
 
Thursday, July 17, Parish Bible Study 6:00 p.m.
 
Saturday, July 19, NO GREAT VESPERS OR BYZANTINE CHANT CLASS
 
Sunday, July 20, Holy Prophet Elias (Elijah),
Orthros 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m.
Blessing of Vehicles 11:45 a.m.
 

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

Abrahem 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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