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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2024-03-10
Bulletin Contents
Father Paisius McGrath, Presbyter
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Saints and Feasts
Holy Trinity Calendar
Announcements and Events
Inserts
Lastjudgement1
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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

Father Paisius McGrath
Parish Presbyter

paisiusmcgrath@gmail.com | 228-546-4541
Mr. Edward Maikranze
Parish Council President

edmaikranze@gmail.com | 325-260-8891

Services Schedule

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

 

Past Bulletins


Father Paisius McGrath, Presbyter

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Message from Father Paisius

03/10/2024

Glory to Jesus Christ! Greetings to the faithful members and families of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. May the blessing of the Lord continue to guide us as every day we endeavor to share the Gospel and our faith in Him!

Today on the 3rd Sunday of preparation for the beginning of Great Lent, we find ourselves at the Sunday of the Last Judgment/ Sunday of Meatfare. In today's Gospel Reading from Saint Matthew 25:31-46 we encounter our Lord's Parable of the Last Judgment. Here we find our Lord defining the criteria for the Divine Judgment and the dividing of all humanity into those on the right side of God and those on the left side of of God. The defining point is of course did we live out our Faith in God by ministering to those in need around us or did we not. By so ministering so and living out our Faith practically we have developed and built up our spiritual lives and if we did not do so then we failed in building up our spiritual lives. Our Lord is very clear that the blessed are those with true faith shown developing their spiritual lives through living out the necessary consequences of a life of faith. On the other those who have failed to do so are those God will tell to depart out of His presence because they have failed to practice true faith in word and deed. Let us be faithful in word and deed, let us grow in our faith through our actions!
 
Today is also important for us as Orthodox Christians because today we begin to enter into fasting as today is the last day we eat meat until Holy Pascha. This is why we call this day Sunday of Meatfare. Let us enter this time with faithfulness and humility and repentance and so gain the spiritual rewards of  Great Lent.
 
          Your Pastor; 
          Father Paisius R McGrath

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Tone

By means of Your Cross, O Lord, You abolished death. * To the robber You opened Paradise. * The lamentation of the myrrhbearing women You transformed, * and You gave Your Apostles the order to proclaim to all * that You had risen, O Christ our God, * and granted the world Your great mercy.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 1st Tone

O God, when You come upon the earth in glory, the whole world will tremble. A river of fire will bring all before Your Judgment Seat and the books will be opened, and everything in secret will become public. At that time, deliver me from the fire which never dies, and enable me to stand by Your right hand, O Judge most just.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 4th Tone. Psalm 146.5;134.3.
Great is our Lord, and great is his power.
Verse: Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2.

Brethren, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

Gospel Reading

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)
The Reading is from Matthew 25:31-46

The Lord said, "When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

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Wisdom of the Fathers

"Christian love is the 'possible impossibility' to see Christ in another man, whoever he is..."
Alexander Schmemann
Great Lent, 20th Century

So great was the honour and providential care which God bestowed upon man that He brought the entire sensible world into being before him and for his sake. The kingdom of heaven was prepared for him from the foundation of the world (cf. Matt. 25:34); God first took counsel concerning him, and then he was fashioned by God's hand and according to the image of God (cf. Gen. 1:26-27). God did not form the whole man from matter and from the elements of this sensible world, as He did the other animals. He formed only man's body from these materials; but man's soul He took from things supercelestial or, rather, it came from God Himself when mysteriously He breathed life into man (cf. Gen. 2:7).
St. Gregory Palamas
Topics of Natural and Theological Science no. 24, The Philokalia Vol. 4 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pg. 356, 14th century

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Saints and Feasts

Lastjudgement1
March 10

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)

The foregoing two parables -- especially that of the Prodigal Son -- have presented to us God's extreme goodness and love for man. But lest certain persons, putting their confidence in this alone, live carelessly, squandering upon sin the time given them to work out their salvation, and death suddenly snatch them away, the most divine Fathers have appointed this day's feast commemorating Christ's impartial Second Coming, through which we bring to mind that God is not only the Friend of man, but also the most righteous Judge, Who recompenses to each according to his deeds.

It is the aim of the holy Fathers, through bringing to mind that fearful day, to rouse us from the slumber of carelessness unto the work of virtue, and to move us to love and compassion for our brethren. Besides this, even as on the coming Sunday of Cheese-fare we commemorate Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight -- which exile is the beginning of life as we know it now -- it is clear that today's is reckoned the last of all feasts, because on the last day of judgment, truly, everything of this world will come to an end.

All foods, except meat and meat products, are allowed during the week that follows this Sunday.

Allsaint
March 11

Sophronios, Patriarch of Jerusalem

This Saint was born in Damascus. As a young man he became a monk at the Monastery of Saint Theodosius the Cenobiarch in Palestine, where he met John Moschus and became his close friend. Having a common desire to search out ascetics from whom they could receive further spiritual instruction, they journeyed together through Palestine, Syria, Asia Minor, and Egypt, where they met the Patriarch of Alexandria, Saint John the Almsgiver, with whom they remained until 614, when Persians captured Jerusalem (see also Saint Anastasius the Persian, Jan. 22). Saint Sophronius and John Moschus departed Alexandria for Rome, where they remained until 619, the year of John Moschus' death. Saint Sophronius returned to the Monastery of Saint Theodosius the Cenobiarch, and there buried the body of his friend. He laboured much in defence of the Holy Fourth Council of Chalcedon, and traveled to Constantinople to remonstrate with Patriarch Sergius and the Emperor Heraclius for changing the Orthodox Faith with their Monothelite teachings. After the death of Patriarch Modestus in December of 634, Sophronius was elected Patriarch of Jerusalem. Although no longer in the hands of the Persians, the Holy Land was now besieged by the armies of the newly-appeared religion of Mohammed, which had already taken Bethlehem; in the Saint's sermon for the Nativity of our Lord in 634, he laments that he could not celebrate the feast in Bethlehem. In 637, for the sins of the people, to the uttermost grief of Saint Sophronius, the Caliph Omar captured Jerusalem. Having tended the flock of his Master for three years and three months, Saint Sophronius departed in peace unto Him Whom he loved on March 11, 638.

Saint Sophronius has left to the Church many writings, including the life of Saint Mary of Egypt. The hymn "O Joyous Light," which is wrongly ascribed to him, is more ancient than Saint Basil the Great, as the Saint himself confirms in his work "On the Holy Spirit" (ch. 29). However, it seems that this hymn, which was chanted at the lighting of the lamps and was formerly called "The Triadic Hymn," was later supplemented somewhat by Saint Sophronius, bringing it into the form in which we now have it. Hence, some have ascribed it to him.

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Holy Trinity Calendar

  • Holy Trinity Calendar

    March 10 to March 18, 2024

    Sunday, March 10

    Daylight Savings Time Begins

    Sunday of Last Judgement

    Meatfare Sunday

    9:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    12:30PM General Assembly

    Monday, March 11

    Saint Sophronios of Jerusalem

    9:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    Wednesday, March 13

    6:00PM Daily Vespers and Talk with Potluck Meal

    Saturday, March 16

    Saturday of the Souls

    9:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:30AM Memorial Service

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, March 17

    Forgiveness Sunday

    Saint Patrick of Ireland

    Cheesefare Sunday

    Saint Alexis

    9:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:30AM Foregiveness Service

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    Monday, March 18

    Clean Monday

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Announcements and Events

OUR JOURNEY TO PASCHA INFORMATION

On February 25, the Lenten Triodion began with the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee. This began the several weeks of our Pre Lent season of preparation for Great Lent and consists of the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee, Sunday of the Prodigal Son, Sunday of the Last Judgment( Meatfare Sunday) and Sunday of Forgiveness (Cheese fare Sunday). Following the Triodion Great Lent and the Great Fast will begin on Monday, March 18 and Holy Pascha will then be on Sunday, May 5.  Please pick up the special flyer on the Pre-Lenten and Lenten Sundays on the candle table in the Narthex.

Also as we prepare to enter this Pascha season you can use a wonderful resource on the Archdiocese website.  Click on each day of the Triodion, Great Lent, Holy Week, or Pentekostarion to see a detailed explaination of the day and on many occasions it's respective icon.  Go to https://www.goarch.org/lent.  See the bulletin insert for a screenshot of the website.

Another great site our parishiners can use is a series of videos called Pilgrimage to Pascha.  Total time for the 8 videos is about 45 minutes.  Video titles include:  Pilgimage to Pascha,  Repentence, Family Prayer, Lenten Services, Fasting from Food, Fasting from Vices, Almsgiving, and The Light of Christ.  The videos were created by Greek Orthodox Church Archdiocese Center for Family Care.  Videos can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWopa4I5g3xCxfPh5dvQvsP8BIC4LuWn-

As we prepare to enter our Pre Lenten preparation, we offer a reminder that we will have our three Lenten Soul Saturday services on March 16, 23 and 30. Please make sure the names of your departed family members and friends are handed in to Father Paisius so that we can pray for them all at these special Memorial Services.  Forms to list your names are available in the Narthex or you can print from the bulletin insert.  Please provide your names to Father Paisius before services begin.  

ANNOUNCEMENTS

We are pleased to announce that our Parish Council for this year of 2024 will be Ed Maikranz -President, Eleni Vganges - Vice President, Rodney Bridges - Treasurer, Seth Williston - Secretary and Cassidy Anderson - At Large. Let us support our new Parish Council in prayer and support every day.  May the Lord our God bless and guide our Parish Council as they work on behalf of our Parish Community.  See the bulletin insert for a photo of your new Parish Council.  

We wish to announce that our next Parish General Assembly will be following Divine Liturgy on Sunday, March 10. Please join us as we discuss together the ongoing life and ministry of our Parish Community. Please remember that to vote at our Parish General Assembly everyone needs to have met your financial commitment to the Parish, please check with Rodney Bridges for more on this.

We are pleased to announce that Father Ambrose Perry will be assigned to his new posting with the US Navy this coming  week in Pascagoula Mississippi. Father Ambrose is an Orthodox Priest and Navy Chaplain and he and his family will be part of our Parish Community here at Holy Trinity while they are living here.

The Metropolis Western District Council will have its 2024 Meeting with Bishop Sebastian on Saturday, March 23 at 1:00 pm at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Mobile Alabama. The Metropolis Western District Council meets to plan and coordinate events and other things meant to help our District parish work together as we all grow in Christ and each parish is represented by its clergy and 2 lay delegates. As last year our Parish will be represented by Father Paisius McGrath, Donna Collins and Seth Williston. Please pray for the continued work and ministry of our Metropolis Western District Council!

On Saturday, March 30, the Metropolis Western District GOYA Lenten Retreat will be held at Saints Markella and Demetrius in Mary Esther (Fort Walton Beach) Florida. Please see the event flyer on our Parish Bulletin Board for further information about this exciting Retreat.

We offer a reminder that this coming Sunday, March 10 time changes as we return to Daylight Savings Time. Please remember to turn your clocks ahead on Saturday night.

Our Parish website calendar has been updated with our schedule for March and printed copies of the monthly schedule are available today on the tables in the Narthex and Church side entrance.

 BIRTHDAYS

Today we offer our best wishes and congratulations to Nick Portaritis as he celebrates his birthday on March 10, to Grady Ross as he celebrates his birthday on March 10, and to Liz Skochil as she celebrates her birthday on March 13. May the Lord our God bless His servants, Nick, Grady and Liz and may He grant to them many more blessed and happy years!
 
If we missed your anniversary or birthday it means we don't have you information listed on our roster.  Please let us know so we can make the updates.
 
      PRAYERS FOR THE SICK AND RECOVERING 

Pray for Saidi Maalouf, Niki Arnold, Karen Henderson, Tristan Freeman, Photine Hagicostas, and Demetri Vlahos as they recover from their illnesses.  May the Lord our God quickly heal His servants.  Get well soon. 

Please let Father Paisius know of any parishioner who is sick so we may pray for them. 

ORTHODOX STEWARDSHIP

Orthodox Christian Stewardship is a way of life, which acknowledges accountability, reverence, and responsibility before God. A primary goal of Stewardship is to promote spiritual growth and strengthen faith. Becoming a Steward begins when we believe in God, to whom we give our love, loyalty and trust and act on those beliefs. As Stewards, we affirm that every aspect of our lives comes as a gift from Him. Stewardship calls on the faithful to cheerfully offer back to God a portion of the gifts with which they have been blessed.  See bulletin insert for 2024 Stewardship Pledge Form.  

 

 

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Inserts

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