Service schedule varies. The current schedule can be found in the bulletin or parish website.
Glory to Jesus Christ! Greetings to the faithful members and families of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. May the grace and blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ continue to guide and lead us in all things!
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 Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:16-18; 7:1.
Brethren, you are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.
The Reading is from Luke 8:26-39
At that time, as Jesus arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, there met him a man from the city who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes and he lived not in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you, do not torment me." For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters, but he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them leave. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. When the herdsmen saw what happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but he sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
Saint Artemius lived during the years of Saint Constantine the Great, and was appointed by him to be Governor of Alexandria; later, he was honoured with the rank of patrician. During the reign of Julian the Apostate, in the year 361, Artemius appeared before the Emperor and censured him for his apostasy. For this, he endured many torments and was finally beheaded.
Saint Gerasimus was from the Peloponnesus, the son of Demetrius and Kale, of the family of Notaras. He was reared in piety by them and studied the Sacred writings. He left his country and went throughout various lands, and finally came to Cephalonia, where he restored a certain old church and built a convent around it, where it stands to this day at the place called Omala. He finished the course of his life there in asceticism in the year 1570. His sacred relics, which remain incorrupt, are kept there for the sanctification of the faithful.
According to some, this Saint was a son of Joseph the Betrothed, born of the wife that the latter had before he was betrothed to the Ever-virgin. Hence he was the brother of the Lord, Who was also thought to be the son of Joseph (Matt. 13: 55). But some say that he was a nephew of Joseph, and the son of his brother Cleopas, who was also called Alphaeus and Mary his wife, who was the first cousin of the Theotokos. But even according to this genealogy, he was still called, according to the idiom of the Scriptures, the Lord's brother because of their kinship.
This Iakovos is called the Less (Mark 15:40) by the Evangelists to distinguish him from Iakovos, the son of Zebedee, who was called the Great. He became the first Bishop of Jerusalem, elevated to this episcopal rank by the Apostles, according to Eusebius (Eccl. Hist., Book II: 23), and was called Obliah, that is, the Just, because of his great holiness and righteousness. Having ascended the crest of the Temple on the day of the Passover at the prompting of all, he bore testimony from there concerning his belief in Jesus, and he proclaimed with a great voice that Jesus sits at the right hand of the great power of God and shall come again upon the clouds of heaven. On hearing this testimony, many of those present cried, "Hosanna to the Son of David." But the Scribes and Pharisees cried, "So, even the just one hath been led astray," and at the command of Ananias the high priest, the Apostle was cast down headlong from thence, then was stoned, and while he prayed for his slayers, his head was crushed by the wooden club wielded by a certain scribe. The first of the Catholic (General) Epistles written to the Jews in the Diaspora who believed in Christ was written by this Iakovos.
Saint Gerasimos of Kefelonia
6th Sunday of Saint Luke
Saint Artemis of Antioch
9:30AM Orthros
10:00AM Divine Liturgy
12:30PM Catechuman Class and Parish Council Nominees Classes
6:00PM Great Vespers with Artoklasia, Talk and Potluck Meal
Saint Iakovos (James) brother of our Lord
9:30AM Orthros
10:00AM Divine Liturgy
6:00PM Daily Vespers, Talk and Potluck Meal
6:00PM Great Vespers
Saint Demetrius the Myrrh Streamer of Thessaloniki
9:30AM Orthros
10:00AM Divine Liturgy
5:00PM Great Vespers
6:00PM Byzantine Chant Class
Commemoration of Greek OXI Day
Saint Nestor of Thessaloniki
7th Sunday of Luke
9:30AM Orthros
10:00AM Divine Liturgy
12:30PM Catechuman Class
Saint Job of Pochaev
Anniversary of Ordination to Holy Priesthood of Father Paisius
Holy Protection of the Theotokos
Greek OXI Day
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Hurricane Helene brought devastation to the southeast from Florida to North Carolina. The pictures we see on the news broadcasts are horrific but also remind us of our battle with Hurricane Katrina. We received significant help from the Metropolis of Atlanta as well as nearly every church in the Metropolis. We know what our brothers and sisters are going through. Our Metropolis and the Philoptochos have started a fund raising campaign. Let's be generous in any way we can. Time, Talent, or Treasure. The fund raising campaign has been moved to the Archdiocese. Future donations must go there. Go to https://www.goarch.org/donate/hurricane. See the bulletin insert for the letter from President of the Metropolis of Atlanta Philoptochos.
Our once a month new Practical Orthodoxy Group began September 30. We thank everyone who joined us for this evening of good food, fellowship and learning. We encourage everyone who is interested to join us for the next meeting on Monday, October 28 at a site to be determined! 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.
This week we will celebrate the Great Feast Day of the Holy Apostle of Saint Iakovos (James) with Vespers with Artoklasia at 6pm on Tuesday, October 22 and Orthros at 9:30 am and Divine Liturgy at 10 am. We will also add to our schedule the celebration of Saint and Great Martyr Demetrius the Wonderworker with Great Vespers at 6 pm on Friday, October 25 and Orthros at 9:30 am and Divine Liturgy at 10 am on Saturday, October 26. Come and join us as we honor Saints Iakovos and Demetrius and pray together on these days. We also offer many years to James Milam and the three Demetrius' in our Parish Community!
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!
For anyone who is interested in learning more about our Byzantine Chant, we are having a Chanting class every Saturday at 5:00 pm. Please talk with our Chanter Angelos Vamvakas for further information.
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!
With Greek OXI Day coming up next Monday, October 28 on the Feast of the Protection of the Holy Theotokos, we will commemorate this both next Sunday, October 27 and Monday, October 28.
Printed copies of our Parish October service schedule are now available in the Narthex and Church Side Entrance. Please pick up your copy and join us in the worship of our Parish Community. The schedule is also on the church website at www.holytrinitybiloxi.org
UPCOMING PARISH ELECTIONS
At this Fall General Assembly nominations were taken for two positions on the Parish Council and selectees for the Election and Audit Committees. Nominees for the two Parish Council positions are Cassidy Anderson, Olga Angel, and George Vaporis. A leter was sent to all parishioners announcing the election and procedures for absentee balloting. See the bulletin insert for a copy of the letter. Our Parish Council Elections will be held Lord Willing on Sunday, November 17. Please join us in supporting our Parish Community by participating in our Parish General Assembly!
Please note anyone nominated for Parish Council Elections will be asked to attend several classes, beginning Sunday, October 20, with Father Paisius before the election to learn the duties and responsibilities of a Parish Council Member in our Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.
CATECHUMENS
We offer a reminder for our Catechumens that October 6 following Coffee Hour we will begin our new Catechumen class. Please join as we learn and develop our Faith and grow in our spiritual journey!
BIRTHDAYS
Today we extend our best wishes and congratulations to Peter Georgian as he celebrates his birthday on October 21, to Nicholas Kaleto as he celebrates his birthday on October 21 and to Chris Mavromihalis as he celebrates his birthday on October 22. May the Lord our God bless His servants Peter, Nicholas and Chris and may He grant to them many more blessed and happy years!
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.
Letter to parishioners announcing Parish Elections and processes for absentee ballots.
New process for donating to hurricane relief as of Oct 9, 2024.
2024 Stewardship Pledge Form