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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2024-03-17
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
Allsaint
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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

03/17/2024

Glory to Jesus Christ! Greetings to the faithful members and families of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. May the Lord our God shower His blessings upon us all, may He fill us with strength as we begin our spiritual journey through Great Lent to Holy Week and on to Holy Pascha!

Today we reach the end of our preparation time for Great Lent and begin our Lenten spiritual journey towards Holy Pascha. Today on Forgiveness Sunday we are reminded of the importance of beginning this journey with forgiveness for ourselves and towards each other. In today's Gospel Reading from Saint Matthew 6:14-21, our Lord reminds us of the importance and necessity of forgiving others just as we pray for God to forgive us. Our Lord is very clear that just as we pray to God to forgive us of all our trespasses so we must forgive everyone their trespasses against. This forgiveness must be total and complete not conditioned on the quality of the trespass, only then can we move forward in growing spiritual lives pleasing to God. As we begin Great Lent we are asked to empty our lives of wrongs we have committed and forgive the wrongs others have done to us. Only then can we truly reap the spiritual rewards of a faithful practice of our Lenten journey, only then can we truly prepare ourselves to joyously celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Holy Pascha!
 
          Your Pastor; 
          Father Paisius R McGrath

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal 4th Tone

You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and condescended to be buried for three days, so that from the passions You might set us free. Our life and resurrection, O Lord, glory be to You.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal 2nd Tone

O Master, Prudence, Guide of Wisdom, Instruction to the foolish and Defender of the poor, strengthen my heart and grant it discernment. Give me words, Word of the Father, for behold, I shall not keep my lips from crying out to You, "O Merciful One, have mercy on me who has fallen."
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal 4th Tone. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4.

Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand.

Gospel Reading

Forgiveness Sunday
The Reading is from Matthew 6:14-21

The Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

"And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

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Wisdom of the Fathers

You easily forgive yourself, if you have sinned against God, or against men; accordingly easily forgive other people too. Love your neighbour as yourself, forgive him much.
St. John of Kronstadt
My Life in Christ: Part 1, Holy Trinity Monastery pg. 177, 19th century

Do we forgive our neighbors their trespasses? God also forgives us in His mercy. Do we refuse to forgive? God, too, will refuse to forgive us. As we treat our neighbors, so also does God treat us. The forgiveness, then, of your sins or unforgiveness, and hence also your salvation or destruction, depend on you yourself, man. For without forgiveness of sins there is no salvation.
St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
Unknown, 18th century

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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
March 17

Patrick the Enlightener of Ireland

Saint Patrick, the Apostle of the Irish, was seized from his native Britain by Irish marauders when he was sixteen years old. Though the son of a deacon and a grandson of a priest, it was not until his captivity that he sought out the Lord with his whole heart. In his Confession, the testament he wrote towards the end of his life, he says, "After I came to Ireland - every day I had to tend sheep, and many times a day I prayed - the love of God and His fear came to me more and more, and my faith was strengthened. And my spirit was so moved that in a single day I would say as many as a hundred prayers, and almost as many at night, and this even when I was staying in the woods and on the mountain; and I would rise for prayer before daylight, through snow, through frost, through rain, and I felt no harm." After six years of slavery in Ireland, he was guided by God to make his escape, and afterwards struggled in the monastic life at Auxerre in Gaul, under the guidance of the holy Bishop Germanus. Many years later he was ordained bishop and sent to Ireland once again, about the year 432, to convert the Irish to Christ. His arduous labours bore so much fruit that within seven years, three bishops were sent from Gaul to help him shepherd his flock, "my brethren and sons whom I have baptized in the Lord - so many thousands of people," he says in his Confession. His apostolic work was not accomplished without much "weariness and painfulness," long journeys through difficult country, and many perils; he says his very life was in danger twelve times. When he came to Ireland as its enlightener, it was a pagan country; when he ended his earthly life some thirty years later, about 461, the Faith of Christ was established in every corner.

Allsaint
March 20

Cuthbert the Wonderworker, Bishop of Lindisfarne

Saint Cuthbert was born in Britain about the year 635, and became a monk in his youth at the monastery of Melrose by the River Tweed. After many years of struggle as a true priest of Christ, in the service both of his own brethren and of the neglected Christians of isolated country villages, he became a solitary on Farne Island in 676. After eight years as a hermit, he was constrained to leave his quiet to become Bishop of Lindisfarne, in which office he served for almost two years. He returned to his hermitage two months before he reposed in peace in 687. Because of the miracles he wrought both during his life and at his tomb after his death, he is called the "Wonderworker of Britain." The whole English people honoured him, and kings were both benefactors to his shrine and suppliants of his prayers. Eleven years after his death, his holy relics were revealed to be incorrupt; when his body was translated from Lindisfarne to Durham Cathedral in August of 1104, his body was still found to be untouched by decay, giving off "an odour of sweetest fragrancy," and "from the flexibility of its joints representing a person asleep rather than dead." Finally, when the most impious Henry VIII desecrated his shrine, opening it to despoil it of its valuables, his body was again found incorrupt, and was buried in 1542. It is believed that after this the holy relics of Saint Cuthbert were hidden to preserve them from further desecration.

17_theodore3
March 23

First Saturday of Lent: The Commemoration of the Miracle of Kollyva wrought by Saint Theodore the Tyro

Julian the Apostate, knowing that the Christians purify themselves by fasting most of all during the first week of the Fast -- which is why we call it Clean Week -- planned to defile them especially at that time. Therefore he secretly commanded that during those days the markets be filled with foods that had been defiled with the blood of animals offered in sacrifice to idols. But by divine command the Martyr Theodore (see Feb. 17) appeared during sleep to Eudoxius, then Archbishop of Constantinople. The Saint revealed to him the tyrant's plan, then told him to call the faithful together immediately on Monday morning and prevent them from purchasing those foods, but rather to make kollyva to supply their needs. The bishop asked what kollyva might be, and the Saint answered, "Kollyva is what we call boiled wheat in Euchaita." Thus, the purpose of the Apostate was brought to nought, and the pious people who were preserved undefiled for the whole of Clean Week, rendered thanks to the Martyr on this Saturday, and celebrated his commemoration with kollyva. These things took place in 362. Wherefore, the Church keeps this commemoration each year to the glory of God and the honour of the Martyr.

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Holy Trinity Calendar

  • Holy Trinity Calendar

    March 17 to March 25, 2024

    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

    6:00PM Compline and Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete

    Tuesday, March 19

    Clean Tuesday

    6:00PM Compline and Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete

    Wednesday, March 20

    10:00AM Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts

    6:00PM Compline and Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete

    Thursday, March 21

    Clean Thursday

    6:00PM Compline and Great Conan of Saint Andrew of Crete

    Friday, March 22

    10:00AM Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts

    6:00PM Compline wit Akathyst Hymn: First Stasis

    Saturday, March 23

    Miracle of Kolyva

    Saturday of Saint Theodore Tyro

    Saturday of the Souls

    9:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:30AM Memorial service

    1:00PM Western Conference Meeting

    Sunday, March 24

    First Sunday of Great Lent

    Forefeast of the Annunciation

    Sunday of Orthodoxy

    9:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:30AM Procession of the Holy Icons

    5:30PM Great Vespers with Artoklasia: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Mobile AL

    Monday, March 25

    Annunciation of the Theotokos

    Greek Independence Day

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Announcements and Events

OUR JOURNEY TO PASCHA INFORMATION

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-

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. Please provide your names to Father Paisius before services begin. 

Sunday March 17, at sundown with Great Vespers, we mark the beginning of the Lenten Fast and 40 days of Great Lent. After the Entrance at Vespers we see the beginning of Great Lent as the vestment colors of the Clergy and the Church are changed from light to dark.

As we begin the Great Fast and Great Lent, let us engage faithfully into the Lenten disciplines of fasting, holy confession, prayer, doing good for others and good spiritual reading. Let us fast from meat and dairy but also let us fasting from anger and jealousy and wrong words and actions. For more specific questions about how to engage ourselves with fasting and the other Lenten spiritual practices, please talk with Father Paisius.

During Great Lent we have special Lenten services such as the Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete, the Salutations to the Holy Theotokos, the Liturgy of Pre Sanctified Gifts on Wednesday and Friday and the Liturgy of Saint Basil on Lenten Sundays. Let us all participate in these beautiful Lenten services and through this grow in our lives spiritually.

We also are asked to prepare ourselves spiritually through the Sacrament of Holy Repentance or Holy Confession . Let us all avail ourselves of the spiritual necessity during our coming time of Great Lent.

During Great Lent another way in which we help others is through participating in the ministry of the Orthodox Christian Ministry Center or OCMC. We can all help with this through their Lenten Coin Box ministry: we collect our loose change throughout Lent and offer it as an offering to God through supporting the mission efforts of OCMC. We have available today in the Narthex these Coin Boxes for everyone, please help us support the growth of our Faith in this way!

Sunday, March 24 we celebrate the Sunday of Orthodoxy with the Procession of Holy Icons. Please remember to bring your icons from home to properly celebrate this Holy Day.

We wish to announce that next Sunday, March 24, we all are invited to attend Great Vespers at 5:30 pm at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Mobile Alabama. His Grace, Bishop Sebastian will leading us in this service as part of the celebration of Annunciation  of the Holy Theotokos and the Patronal Feast Day of our sister parish in Mobile. Because of this we will not have Great Vespers with Artoklasia here at Holy Trinity next Sunday evening.

  ANNOUNCEMENTS

MANY YEARS TODAY TO METROPOLITAN ALEXIOS:  March 17, our Holy Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Alexios the Man of God - Patron Saint of our beloved Metropolitan Alexios. May the Lord our God bless His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios, and may He grant to him many for blessed and happy years! MANY YEARS REVEREND MASTER!

March 17 we celebrate Saint Patrick of Ireland, the Evangelizer and Parish Saint of the Irish land and it's people!  Saint Patrick was blessed by God with a faithful and successful ministry in Ireland and so we honor him on this day !

Our parish welcomes Father Ambrose to our community. We pray that you and your family will find your time here with us to be spiritually inspiring for both you and us.  Father Ambrose Perry is assigned to his new posting with the US Navy  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.

 BIRTHDAYS

Today we offer our best wishes and congratulations to Mellisa Bridges and Angela Petritsis Cupp as they celebrate their birthday on March 20 Onilov Dan as he celebrates his birthday on March 23. May the Lord our God bless His servants, Mellisa, Angela, and Onilov. 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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