Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2024-09-15
Bulletin Contents
Father Paisius McGrath, Presbyter
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Saints and Feasts
Upcoming Services and Events
Announcements
Bulletin Inserts

Organization Icon
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

[email protected] | 228-546-4541
Mr. Edward Maikranze
Parish Council President

[email protected] | 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

Glory to Jesus Christ! Greetings to the faithful members and families of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. May our Lord continue to bless our Parish Community as we grow in Faith and His Holy Will for our lives.

Today in the Orthodox Church we commemorate the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross as we see the instrument of our Salvation elevated in the Church for our Veneration. In the Gospel Reading for the Feast from Saint John 19 and in Today's Gospel Reading for Sunday After from Saint Mark, we hear of the importance of the Holy Cross of Christ as that which brings to us Grace and Salvation. Our Lord willingly ascends the Cross to save His people from death and the results of sin. On the Cross we see revealed the new Adam fulfilling what began with the Incarnation. Therefore we are called upon not only to venerate the Cross but also to take the kenosis or self emptying of our Lord as a model for all who would follow him. Let us all endeavor to take up our own cross and truly and sincerely follow our Lord in giving our lives completely to Him.
 
In the Feast today we celebrate not only our Lord willingly ascending the Cross but also two historical events in which the True Cross was found and then elevated. The first in the 4th Century when the True Cross was found by Saint Helen and brought in triumph and elevation into the Church in Jerusalem. The second was in the 7th century when the True Cross was returned from captivity in the Persian Empire and again elevated and returned to its proper place in Jerusalem.
 
Let us bow and venerate the Holy Cross today as we celebrate its Holy Elevation in the middle of the Church today!
 
         Your Pastor;
         Father Paisius R McGrath 

 

 

  

BACK TO TOP

Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion for Afterfeast 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.

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.
BACK TO TOP

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 3rd Tone. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20.

Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Gospel Reading

Sunday after Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1

The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

BACK TO TOP

Wisdom of the Fathers

The key to knowledge is the humility of Christ. The door of the Kingdom of Heaven is open, not to those who only know in their learned minds the mysteries of faith and the commandments of their Creator, but to those who have progressed far enough to live by them.
St. Bede the Venerable
Unknown, 8th century

To deny oneself means to give up one's bad habits; to root out of the heart all that ties us to the world; not to cherish bad thoughts and desires; to suppress every evil thought; to avoid occasions of sin; not to desire or to do anything out of self-love, but to do everything out of love for God. To deny oneself, according to St. Paul means "to be dead to sin. . . but alive to God."
St. Innocent of Alaska
The Lenten Spring, SVS Press, p. 147, 19th Century

BACK TO TOP

Saints and Feasts

September 17

Sophia & her three daughters: Faith, Hope, and Love

These Saints were from Italy and contested for the Faith about the year 126, during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian. Faith was twelve years old, Hope, ten, and Love, nine; each was tormented and then beheaded, from the eldest to the youngest. Their mother Sophia mourned at their grave for three days, where she also fell asleep in peace; because of her courageous endurance in the face of her daughters' sufferings, she is also counted a martyr. The name Sophia means "wisdom" in Greek; as for her daughters' names, Faith, Hope, and Love (Charity), they are Pistis, Elpis, and Agape in Greek, and Vera, Nadezhda, and Lyubov in Russian.

September 21

Jonah the Prophet

The Prophet Jonah, the son of Amathi, of the town of Geth-hopher (IV Kings 14:25), was of the tribe of Zabulon; he prophesied during the years 838-810 before Christ. God commanded him to go to Nineveh, the great city of the Assyrians, and to proclaim that its destruction was nigh at hand because of the sins of its people. But he, as a Prophet who knew the great compassion of God, feared that at his preaching the Ninevites would repent; that God, accepting their repentance in His love for man, would not fulfill Jonah' threats; and that he would be branded a false prophet. So he disobeyed the divine command, and boarded a ship and departed elsewhere. Yet, the sudden and fearful sea-storm and the revelation of Jonah' disbedience caused the sailors to cast him into the sea. A great sea-monster appeared straightway by divine providence, and swallowed him up. For three days and nights he was found in its belly and he prayed, saying the words, "I cried aloud in my affliction unto the Lord my God..." (Jonah 2:3, the Sixth ode of the Holy Psalter). The sea-monster then vomited him up on dry land and he again heard God's command. Wherefore, he went and preached, saying, "In three days, Nineveh shall be destroyed." The people became terrified and all repented. The great, the small, babes at the breast, and even the irrational beasts themselves fasted, and thus, having found mercy from God, they were spared His wrath. Jonah' book of prophecy is divided into four chapters, and is placed fifth in order among the twelve minor Prophets. His three-day sojourn in the sea-monster's belly is an image of our Saviour's three-day burial and His life-bringing Resurrection (Matt. 12:39-40). His name means "dove."

BACK TO TOP

Upcoming Services and Events

  • Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Calendar

    September 15 to September 22, 2024

    Sunday, September 15

    Elevation of the Holy Cross (transfered from 9/14)

    9:30AM Orthros with Procession of the Holy Cross

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:30AM Memorial Stavros Zafeiratos and Nicolaie Bulumac

    Wednesday, September 18

    6:00PM Daily Vespers and Talk with Potluck Meal

    Saturday, September 21

    5:00PM Great Vespers

    6:00PM Byzantine Chant Class

    Sunday, September 22

    Saint Thekla Equal to the Apostles

    Saint Silouan of Mount Athos (transfered from 9/24)

    Saint Phocas

    1st Sunday of Luke

    9:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

BACK TO TOP

Announcements

ANNOUNCEMENTS

We are pleased to announce that on Sunday, October 13 we will have a Parish General Assembly for nominations for 2 open positions on our Parish Council, to elect our Parish Council Election Committee and our Parish Audit Committee. Please join us for this very important meeting and make sure to be current on stewardship pledges to be eligible to vote. As we consider making nominations please remember that to serve on Parish Council and these Committees a member must be a member in good standing spiritually and financially. Lord willing our Parish Council Elections will then be held on Sunday, November 17.

We are pleased to announce that beginning on Monday, September 30, we will begin our once a month new Practical Orthodoxy Group. We encourage everyone to join us as we fellowship and learn together the practical and nuts and bolts practices in our lives as Orthodox Christians and faithful members of this Parish Community. For more information please talk with Father Paisius and Cassidy and Crystal Anderson.

We offer a reminder that every Sunday following Divine Liturgy we offer the Prayers of Thanksgiving after Holy Communion. We encourage anyone who can to join us as we offer these beautiful prayers of Thanksgiving for having received the Precious Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion!

We offer a reminder that next weekend the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross will be celebrated on Sunday, September 15 and so the Feast will include Great Vespers with Artoklasia on Saturday, September 14, Orthros with Procession and Veneration of the Holy Cross and Divine Liturgy on Sunday, September 15.

We are opening for donations for anyone willing to help our Parish Community in the purchase of a new Chalice set. We encourage individuals or families who our willing to consider making a donation towards the  total cost of $1250 for this beautiful new Chalice set to beautify our Parish life.

For anyone who is interested in learning more about our Byzantine Chant, we will have a Chanting class every Saturdays at 5:00 pm beginning on Saturday, September 7. Please talk with our Chanter Angelos Vamvakas for further information.

Today we ask that everyone please note that when you light candles in the Narthex Sandbox to be careful not to put them to close to the edges and too close to the Icon Stands and Icon Vestments. Thanks in advance!

We are happy to announce that our printed copies of the Holy Trinity September schedule is now available in the Narthex and Side Entrance today. Please notice our upcoming schedule in the new month and join us as we worship together as a Community.

CATECHUMEN

This Sunday we welcome our newest Catechumens Brad and Mandy Sartor to our parish.  We all pray for them as they begins their journey to the Orthodox faith.  We now have 21 Catechumens in study to be Orthodox Christians!  A true blessing.  

🎂BIRTHDAYS🎂

Today we offer our best wishes and congratulations to Adrianna Vaporis as she celebrates her 1st birthday on September 15, to Oleksandra Petrovska as she celebrates her birthday on September 19, and to Costa Glennis as he celebrates his birthday on September 21. May the Lord our God bless His servants, Adrianna, Oleksandra, and Costa 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.

✝️MEMORIAL✝️

Today we offer the 40th Day Memorial Service for Stavros and Eriktria - brother and sister-in-law of Eleni Vganges and the 1 year Memorial for Nicalous and Ann- parents of Meri Ionescu. May the Lord our God grant to them a blessed repose and may their memory be eternal!

On Sunday, September 29, following Divine Liturgy we will offer the 1 year Memorial for our faithful parishioner, Mihalis Kastrinos. May his memory be eternal!

        🙏PRAYERS FOR THE SICK AND RECOVERING🙏

Pray for Father Paisius, Saidi Maalouf, Niki Arnold, Wilson Arnold, Karen Henderson, Photine Hagicostas, and Demetri Vlahos as they recover from their illnesses.  May the Lord our God quickly heal His servants.  Get well soon. Let us continue to pray for those of our Parish Community who are recovering in various ways. Let us always remember that praying for each other is important and beneficial to all!

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 inserts for the 2024 Stewardship Pledge Form and a current list of parishioners who have pledged for this year.  

 

 

BACK TO TOP

Bulletin Inserts

BACK TO TOP