"Come and see" was Jesus' invite for the curious back in his day (John 1:39) — and it's ours at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church today.
We're a little church with a big heart and room for all, where Christ Jesus nourishes modern lives through ancient roots,
as a parish of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of North America
within the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
So just come and see, as Christ Jesus said. Check us out. We're looking forward to meeting you!
At the direction of our bishop,
as a precaution against coronavirus (COVID-19), worship and fellowship at our church are temporarily canceled until further notice.
At the direction of our bishop,
as a precaution against coronavirus (COVID-19), worship and fellowship at our church are temporarily canceled until further notice.
Click this map or link for online directions from your starting point: Your Route to HTOC.
Call us at 352 584 5461.
Click here to email us: Email HTOC.
Click here to sign up for our weekly email updates: HTOC Updates.
Click here to learn about our beliefs, worship, history, and spirituality: Orthodox Christianity 101.
Click here for "daily bread" to fuel your spiritual life day by day:
Daily Prayer
Daily Bible Readings
Daily Lives of Saints
"Love does not dishonor other people, it does not insist on its own way" (1 Corinthians 13:5). Amid these worrisome days of deadly pandemic, economic upset, and social unrest, we need more than ever to heed these words from the earliest followers of Christ Jesus. His message boils down to this: Love God, love neighbor (friend or foe), treat others the same way you want them to treat you. What might putting those "Jesus values" into practice look like right now? Wearing a face mask in public even though we don't feel like it. Limiting our outings even though we'd rather not stay at home. Sharing with those in need even though people are hoarding. Thinking of others even though we're tempted just to look out for "me, myself, and I." Because with Jesus, love is more about behavior than emotion or sentiment. It acts in the best interest of others and takes their well-being into account. And that's precisely the spirit we need if we're going to get through these turbulent times in one piece. If our world seems toxic, Jesus' way of love is the antidote. Following it can turn our human nightmare into the dream God has in mind for us.
With an eye toward reopening our church, our parish council has researched safety guidelines for regathering. Volunteers have tidied up our house of worship and parish grounds. Professionals have worked on floor refinishing, pest control, air conditioning, and parish house repairs. We still await word about clergy assignment from our diocese, with whom our parish council has been in constant contact. And naturally we're keeping a wary eye on Florida's coronavirus surge, which is cause for deep concern. We all want to be back in church — but given the utter seriousness of this lethal disease with no vaccine or cure yet, it must be done as safely as possible, given the risk to health and life. Thank you for your patience, prayers, and support while we work and wait! "In God's peace, at God's pace..."
Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa, head of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of North America, has issued a number of directives for public worship amid the current health crisis as conditions change. To read them online or as a printer-friendly PDF file, click these links:
July 16, 2020 Letter: Online | PDF File
May 8, 2020 Letter: Online | PDF File
April 7, 2020 Letter: Online | PDF File
April 3, 2020 Letter: Online | PDF File
March 19, 2020 Letter: Online | PDF File
March 18, 2020 Letter: Online | PDF File
March 12, 2020 Letter: Online | PDF File
