Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-03-02
Bulletin Contents

Organization Icon
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (228) 388-6138
  • Street Address:

  • 255 Beauvoir Rd.

  • Biloxi, MS 39531


Contact Information




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 and Saviour Jesus Christ guide us all as we begin our spiritual journey through Great Lent!

Today we encounter the necessary virtue of forgiveness in Lent and throughout all of our lives as we have before us Forgiveness Sunday.  In today's Gospel Reading from Saint Matthew 6:14- 21 we hear the teaching of our Lord on forgiveness for ourselves and for each other. Forgiveness at the level of our human relationships is necessary for us to receive and experience the forgiveness of our Heavenly Father, which we all long for in our lives. We begin Great Lent with the Sunday of Forgiveness so that we may understand its importance especially during season Great Lent as we prepare ourselves to experience God's ultimate act of forgiveness on Holy Pascha.

            Your Pastor,

            Father Paisius R. McGrath 

 

 

  

BACK TO TOP

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."


BACK TO TOP

Saints and Feasts

March 02

Forgiveness Sunday

The Holy Fathers have appointed the commemoration of Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight here, on the eve of the holy Forty-day Fast, demonstrating to us not by simple words, but by actual deeds, how beneficial fasting is for man, and how harmful and destructive are insatiety and the transgressing of the divine commandments. For the first commandment that God gave to man was that of fasting, which the first-fashioned received but did not keep; and not only did they not become gods, as they had imagined, but they lost even that blessed life which they had, and they fell into corruption and death, and transmitted these and innumerable other evils to all of mankind. The God-bearing Fathers set these things before us today, that by bringing to mind what we have fallen from, and what we have suffered because of the insatiety and disobedience of the first-fashioned, we might be diligent to return again to that ancient bliss and glory by means of fasting and obedience to all the divine commands. Taking occasion from today's Gospel (Matt. 6:14-21) to begin the Fast unencumbered by enmity, we also ask forgiveness this day, first from God, then from one another and all creation.


March 08

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.


BACK TO TOP

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 3rd Tone

Let the heavens sing for joy, and let everything on earth be glad. * For with His Arm the Lord has worked power. * He trampled death under foot by means of death; * and He became the firstborn from the dead. * From the maw of Hades He delivered us; * and He granted the world His great mercy.

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."
BACK TO TOP

Wisdom of the Fathers

Spiritual delight is not enjoyment found in things that exists outside the soul.
St. Isaac of Syria
Unknown, 7th 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

BACK TO TOP

Upcoming Services and Events

  • Upcoming Services and Events

    March 2 to March 9, 2025

    Sunday, March 2

    Forgiveness Sunday

    Cheesfare Sunday

    Saint Chad of Lichfield

    9:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:45AM Forgiveness Service

    12:30PM Catechumen Class

    6:00PM Forgiveness Sunday Vespers

    Monday, March 3

    Clean Monday

    9:30AM Orthros and Hours

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

    Tuesday, March 4

    Clean Tuesday

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

    Wednesday, March 5

    Clean Wednesday

    10:00AM Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts

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

    7:30PM Potluck Meal

    Thursday, March 6

    Clean Thursday

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

    Friday, March 7

    Clean Friday

    10:00AM Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts

    6:00PM Salutations to the Holy Theotokos - 1st Stasis

    Saturday, March 8

    Miracle of Kolyva

    Saturday of the Souls

    1st Saturday of Great Lent

    9:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy and Memorial Service

    5:00PM Great Vespers

    6:00PM Byzantine Chant Class

    Sunday, March 9

    1st Sunday of Great Lent

    Sunday of Orthodoxy

    9:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil

    11:45AM Procession of the Holy Icons

    3:00PM Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers - Holy Cross Orthodox Church, 702 N 30th Ave, Hattiesburg

BACK TO TOP

Announcements

BIRTHDAYS
 
This morning we extend our best wishes and congratulations to Nicoletta Connors as she celebrates her birthday on March 2, to Alexandru Tulburi as he celebrates his birthday on March 2, to Elefterios Vganges as he celebrates his birthday on March 3, to Jennifer Rood as she celebrates her birthday on March 5, and Evangelos Hagicostas whose birthday is on March 7. May the Lord our God bless His servants, Nicoletta, Alexandru, Elefterios, and Jennifer, and may He grant to them many more blessed and happy years! May the Lord our God grant a blessed repose to His departed servant, Evangelos, and may his memory be eternal!
 
 
MEMORY ETERNAL
 
Today we pray that the Lord our God will grant a blessed repose to our former parishioner, James Mitchell, and may his memory be eternal!
 
Today we offer the 1 year Memorial for the departed servant of God and our devoted parishioner, Evangelos Hagicostas. May the Lord our God to him a blessed repose and may his memory!
 
 
CHRISMATIONS
 
Today we offer our best wishes and congratulations to the George Garret John Roux who was received into the Orthodox Faith by Holy Chrismation this past Wednesday.  His Patron Saint is the Holy Great Martyr George and his sponsor was Seth Willison. May the Lord our God bless His newly illumined servant, George and his family and his sponsor, and may He grant to them all many more blessed and happy years!

  

ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Today we together will ask forgiveness of each other in the Forgiveness Service at the end of Divine Liturgy today. Great Lent will begin this evening with the Forgiveness Sunday Vespers as the altar cloths and vestments will be changed during the Vespers service. This week us enter into Great Lent with forgiveness for ourselves and each other.
 
In the Orthodox Church this coming week is often called Clean Week as we begin the Great Fast and embark on our Lenten Spiritual Journey. In this week we have very meaningful and spiritually uplifting services such as the Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete, Liturgy of Pre Sanctified Gifts, Liturgy of Saint Basil on Sundays and Salutations to Holy Theotokos. Let us join together so that we all may experience all that this First Week of Lent offers.
 
This year in addition to the Lenten Services we are so familiar with we will also have Lenten Orthros and Lenten 1st, 3rd, and 6th Hours each Monday morning as well as a Lenten Bible Study each Thursday evening (after the 1st Week). Let us all endeavor to take every opportunity to learn from experiencing our beautiful Orthodox Lenten Services.
 
Our printed copies of our Parish March Schedule are available in the Narthex and Church Side Entrance. Take your copy with you and join us as we worship together!
 
As we begin Great Lent and the Great Fast, we offer a reminder that we prepare ourselves for Holy Pascha during this time with fasting, prayer, visiting the sick, caring for the needy and good spiritual reading. Along with our fast from meat and dairy, we also fast in the words we speak and the activities that we engage in. For any questions about our Lenten Fast or other practices, please talk with Father Paisius.
 
As we begin practicing our Lenten journey, we offer a reminder that it is the duty of every Orthodox Christian to be faithful in Holy Confession before Holy Pascha. This is a very important part of our preparation to receive Holy Communion on Holy Pascha.
 
This year during Great Lent we will be having a Parish Bible study on Thursday evenings each week. Please be on the lookout in the bulletin in the coming weeks about this, and come and join us.
 
We offer a reminder this morning that printed copies of the Parish February schedule are available as are the Archdiocesan calendars in the narthex and side entrance.

 

 The Ministry of Holy Trinity is enabled, thanks be to God, by the faithful support of the following stewards of our Parish:
 
Abrahem Samander
Adam & Shauna Angel
Akaterina Vamvakas
Alijah King
Angelos and Elizabeth Vamvakas
Carl & Nancy Malek
Chrissanthi Beach
Colleen Collins
Crystal & Cassidy Anderson
Edward S. Maikranz
Eleni Vganges
George & Janie Mavromihalis
George & Sheila Yurchak
George J. Vaporis
George L. Contas
Gus Ravenous
Guy Bowering
Jeff & Christie Maung
Irene Koskan
Jaime Ross
John & Donna Collins
Louis and Linda Peters
Malama Thrasivoulou
Mihnea C. & Viorica M Ionescu
Nada D. Harris
Nataliya Petrovska Kirkby
Nicoletta Conner
Panagiotis "Peter" & Maria Loukatos
Rodney and Karen Bridges
Seth Willison
Spiro Vganges
Tim Gilmore
William Patrick Weaver
BACK TO TOP

Bulletin

BACK TO TOP