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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2024-04-21
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
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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

04/21/2024

Glory to Jesus Christ! Greetings to the faithful members and families of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. May the Lord our God continue to bless and guide us as we continue on our journey through Great Lent to the celebration of His Resurrection!

Today on this 5th Sunday of Great Lent we are reminded that we are rapidly approaching the end of Great Lent and our entrance into Holy Week with the commemoration of our Lord's sufferings, death, burial and Resurrection for our Salvation. In today's Gospel Reading from Saint Mark 10:32-45, we hear our Lord teaching the Disciples about what was to come in Jerusalem and how He would go through suffering for humanity. Here once again we are reminded that He suffers for all humanity so that we may have access to Grace, Salvation and the great power that comes from these to live changed and truly spiritual lives every day. Salvation is more than a ritual but grants great power for change to us if we allow it to truly become real in our lives.
 
Today we see a real example of the transforming power of salvation and faith in Jesus Christ as today our Holy Church honors Saint Mary of Egypt on this the 5th Sunday of Great Lent. In her life we see a radical and complete transformation from sinfulness to faithfulness. We can have this same transformation in our lives as we have available to us the same grace and salvation that allowed her to completely change her life. Let us allow Christ's transforming power to be alive and working in our lives today 
 
          Your Pastor; 
          Father Paisius R McGrath

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal 1st Tone

Let us worship the Word who is unoriginate * with the Father and the Spirit, and from a Virgin was born * for our salvation, O believers, and let us sing His praise. * For in His goodness He was pleased * to ascend the Cross in the flesh, and to undergo death, * and to raise up those who had died, * by His glorious Resurrection.

Apolytikion for Sun. of St. Mary of Egypt in the Plagal 4th Tone

In thee the image was preserved with exactness, O Mother; for taking up thy cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to overlook the flesh, for it passeth away, but to attend to the soul since it is immortal. Wherefore, O righteous Mary, thy spirit rejoiceth with the Angels.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal 1st Tone. Psalm 11.7,1.
You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:11-14.

BRETHREN, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
The Reading is from Mark 10:32-45

At that time, Jesus took his twelve disciples, and he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant of James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

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Wisdom of the Fathers

Before He humbled Himself, only the angels knew him. After He humbled Himself, all human nature knew Him. You see how His humbling of Himself did not make Him have less but produced countless benefits, countless deeds of virtue, and made His glory shine forth with greater brightness? God wants for nothing and has need of nothing. Yet, when He humbled Himself, He produced such great good, increased His household, and extended His kingdom. Why, then, are you afraid that you will become less if you humble yourself?
St. John Chrysostom
On the Incomprehensible Nature of God. 8.46-47. Taken from: Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Vol: Mark. Intervarsity Press, 2005, p. 143.

But let no man be troubled at the apostles being in such an imperfect state. For not yet was the cross accomplished, not yet the grace of the Spirit given. But if thou wouldest learn their virtue, notice them after these things, and thou wilt see them superior to every passion.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 65 on Matthew 20, 2,3,4,6. B#54, pp.399-401,403., 4th Century

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Saints and Feasts

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April 21

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt

The memory of this Saint is celebrated on April 1, where her life is recorded. Since the end of the holy Forty Days is drawing nigh, it has been appointed for this day also, so that if we think it hard to practice a little abstinence forty days, we might be roused by the heroism of her who fasted in the wilderness forty-seven years; and also that the great loving-kindness of God, and His readiness to receive the repentant, might be demonstrated in very deed.

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April 23

George the Great Martyr and Triumphant

George, this truly great and glorious Martyr of Christ, was born of a father from Cappadocia and a mother from Palestine. Being a military tribune, or chiliarch (that is, a commander of a thousand troops), he was illustrious in battle and highly honoured for his courage. When he learned that the Emperor Diocletian was preparing a persecution of the Christians, Saint George presented himself publicly before the Emperor and denounced him. When threats and promises could not move him from his steadfast confession, he was put to unheard-of tortures, which he endured with great bravery, overcoming them by his faith and love towards Christ. By the wondrous signs that took place in his contest, he guided many to the knowledge of the truth, including Queen Alexandra, wife of Diocletian, and was finally beheaded in 296 in Nicomedia.

His sacred remains were taken by his servant from Nicomedia to Palestine, to a town called Lydda, the homeland of his mother, and then were finally transferred to the church which was raised up in his name. (The translation of the Saint's holy relics to the church in Lydda is commemorated on November 3; Saint Alexandra the Queen, on April 21.)

If April 23 falls on or before Great and Holy Pascha, the Feast of St. George is translated to Bright Monday.

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Holy Trinity Calendar

  • Holy Trinity Calendar

    April 21 to April 29, 2024

    Sunday, April 21

    Sunday of Saint Mary of Egypt

    5th Sunday of Great Lent

    9:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Liturgy of Saint Basil

    6:00PM Lenten Sunday Vespers

    Wednesday, April 24

    6:00PM Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts and Talk with Potluck Meal

    Friday, April 26

    10:00AM Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts

    6:00PM Compline with Canon of Saint Lazarus

    Saturday, April 27

    Lazarus Saturday

    9:30AM Orthros and Holy Christmation of Alijah King

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, April 28

    Palm Sunday

    9:30AM Orthros witn Blessing of the Palms and Willows

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy with Procession of Palms

    11:30AM Palm Sunday Fish Luncheon

    6:00PM Bridegroom Orthros

    Monday, April 29

    Holy Monday

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Announcements and Events

OUR JOURNEY TO PASCHA INFORMATION

This Sunday we celebrate the life of Saint Mary of Egypt and her life of repentance.  See the truly beautiful and inspiring video about her life by Triagion films, Human Transformation through Repentance: St. Mary of Egypt, at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBXvDuNElB8 

This week in addition to our usual Lenten weekly services, we pray the entire Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete on Thursday evening and the entire Akathist Hymn to the Holy Theotokos on Friday evening. These are very beautiful and spiritually inspiring and uplifting services, please join us!  Our Holy Orthodox Church has given us Great Lent for our spiritual edification and growth with the many different special Lenten Services and Lenten practices. These help us to truly prepare to properly prepare to celebrate Holy Pascha and the Holy Resurrection of Christ. Come and participate! 

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.

In 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.

We also are asked to prepare ourselves spiritually through the Sacrament of Holy Repentance or Holy Confession . We offer a reminder that everyone is expected to come for Holy Confession prior to receiving Holy Communion on Holy Pascha. Holy Confession  is a beautiful and necessary part of our Faith and Christian Life. Please be kind to your Clergy and don't wait until Holy Week!  Contact Father Paisius to schedule Holy Confession.  Go to https://www.goarch.org/-/preparation-for-holy-confession for more information about the sacrament of Holy Confession. 

During Great Lent we have special Lenten services such as 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 once again ask for everyone to participate in donations for the flowers that will decorate our Kouvukion for Holy Pascha. Please use your offering envelopes and mark them for Easter Flowers and indicate if the donation is honor of the living or in memory of the departed. Please talk with Eleni Vganges for more information about this.

This year for Holy Pascha we will also be decorating our Church for Holy Pascha with Lilies and other flowering plants. Help us with this effort to beautify our Church as we celebrate our Lord's Holy Resurrection. For more information about donations for this wonderful decoration of the Church please talk with Cassidy and Crystal Anderson.

Glory to Jesus Christ! Greetings to the faithful members and families of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. May the Lord our God continue to guide through the journey of Great Lent to His Holy Resurrection!

  ANNOUNCEMENTS

We wish to announce that on Sunday, May 19, following Divine Liturgy we will have a Special Parish Assembly to discuss the project of the new Roof for the Church. We will hear a presentation of the bids for this project and vote on the one to accept for this necessary improvement for our Church. We urge everyone to mark this day on your calendars and plan to participate in this Special Parish Assembly.

We are pleased offer our best wishes and congratulations to our Catechumens Trent and Rachel Milam on the birth of their first child and son Oscar Milam today!  Oscar was born at 5 pounds 6 ounces and 19 inches. Everyone is doing well and thankful to God for His blessings of new life in their family. Let us continue to pray for Trent, Rachel and infant Oscar!

Our Parish April Schedule is now available on the Parish website and printed copies are available in the Narthex and Church Side Entrance. Please pick up your copy and join us in worship as we continue our spiritual journey through Great Lent.

   BIRTHDAYS

Today we offer our best wishes and congratulations to Cornelia Koniditsiotis and Chad Sommers who celebrate their birthday on April 21, Jonah Sommers and Cassidy Anderson who celebrate their birthday April 22, Betty-Alexandra Jayaraman who celebrates her birthday on April 23, and John Black who celebrates his birthday on April 19.  May the Lord our God bless His servants Angelo, Rena, Michael, and Garrett. 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, George Vaporis, 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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