"Let us not give up the habit of meeting together... Instead, let us encourage each other all the more,"
the earliest Christians said (Hebrews 10:25). So join us for worship and fellowship. To find us, click here: Find HTOC.
For a printer-friendly PDF version of our monthly newsletter, click here: HTOC Newsletter.
For a printer-friendly PDF version of our weekly update, click here: HTOC Weekly Update.
Holy Trinity Orthodox Church is the little church with a big heart and room for all, where Jesus nourishes modern lives through ancient roots! With our priest Father Alexis Woytek on board and common-sense health and safety precautions in place, we continue to gather safely for Sunday Divine Liturgy at 9:30 a.m. and share groceries with hungry neighbors through our friends at People Helping People in Hernando County.
There are 10,800 minutes in one week. We’re awake for around 6,720 of them. Out of those 6,720, church gets about 75 for Divine Liturgy. And over the other 6,645, media and marketing bombard us with messages and mindsets often at odds with Christ Jesus’ gospel.
That puts the church at quite a disadvantage: 1.1% of our week versus 98.9%!
And how much of that 98.9% between Sundays do we spend working on our relationship with God through prayer, Bible reading, charity, and other spiritual exercises? If we’re not showing up for church, we’re likely not doing much of those things either.
Christian writer Richard Rohr noted: “If we’re honest, culture forms us much more than the gospel. It seems we have kept the basic story-line of human history in place rather than allow the gospel to reframe and redirect the story.”
How can we reverse that misdirection? What healthy, holy habits can we cultivate during Great Lent and beyond, so that our lives are shaped by Jesus, rather than by the greed, violence, and lust that saturate contemporary culture?
Friday, April 5 · 6 p.m.
Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
Saturday, April 6 · 9:30 a.m.
All Souls Saturday Divine Liturgy and Memorial Service
Sunday, April 7 · 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy
Third Sunday of Great Lent: Veneration of the Cross
Wednesday, April 10 · 12 noon
Moleben to the Holy Cross
Friday, April 12 · 12 noon
Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
Saturday, April 13 · 9:30 a.m.
All Souls Saturday Divine Liturgy and Memorial Service
Sunday, April 14 · 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy
Fourth Sunday of Great Lent: Saint John Climacus
Guest priest: Father Demetrious Glimidakis
Thursday, April 18 · 6 p.m.
Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete
Friday, April 19 · 6 p.m.
Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
Saturday, April 20 · 12 noon
Akathist to Mary the Virgin Birthgiver of God
Sunday, April 21 · 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy
Fifth Sunday of Great Lent: Saint Mary of Egypt
Friday, April 26 · 12 noon
Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
Sunday, April 28 · 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy and Blessing of Palms and Willows
Palm Sunday: Entry of Christ Jesus into Jerusalem
The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts gives us opportunity to be nourished with Holy Communion on weekdays of Great Lent, when the Divine Liturgy is not held. Come, receive Jesus as your food and drink.
The Moleben to the Holy Cross is a prayer service in honor of the role that Jesus’ cross played in his death, and thus his resurrection, which broke death’s grip on humankind. The word moleben comes from the Church Slavic verb moliti, which means “to pray.” Come, honor Christ crucified for your sake before his holy cross.
The Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete is also known as the Canon of Repentance. In poetic hymns, it covers a sweeping spectrum of Biblical cases of sin and repentance to inspire our own change of heart and mind in a more Godward direction. Come, learn through song and prayer the meaning of repentance — the very goal of Great Lent.
The Akathist to Mary the Virgin Birthgiver of God is a poetic hymn in 13 stanzas that honors her role in the incarnation — God’s embodiment as a human being in the person of Christ Jesus. The word akathist comes from a Greek word that means “without sitting,” as originally the congregation — aside from the elderly and the ailing — stood through it out of respect for Jesus’ virgin mother. Come, honor Mary as a model of faith at this special service.
During Great Lent, our diocese has a tradition of Lenten Mission — seasonal gatherings where neighboring parishes meet together for worship and fellowship. Since that is not feasible in Florida — where our diocese’s parishes are few and far apart — we will honor that intention with a “priest exchange” on April 14. On that Sunday, Father Alexis Woytek will lead the Divine Liturgy at Saint Nectarios Church in Lakeland, while its priest Father Demetrious Glimidakis will lead the Divine Liturgy in our parish. Let’s all be on hand to give Father Demetrious a warm welcome!
“Rejoice with those who rejoice” (Romans 12:15). Best wishes to our kinfolk in Christ celebrating special milestones this month! Birthdays: Alex Onishenko (April 16) and Debbie Romanyak (April 24). God grant you many years!
Help Ukraine! Ukraine continues to bear the brunt of unprovoked Russian warfare at a cost of innocent lives, brutal destruction, and human heartbreak. Please relieve the horror by funding humanitarian aid by clicking this link: tinyurl.com/iocc-ukraine.
Church doesn't just happen on its own. It happens when we come together and put our time, talent, and treasure at God's disposal to do his will as followers of Christ Jesus. In a word, that's stewardship. Want to lend a helping hand? See our parish priest, Father Alexis Woytek to find out what needs doing. Want to become a supporting member? See our parish treasurer, Mrs. Lydia Pinkowski to find out how. Thank you for pitching in to make your church happen!
The Church doesn't exist for itself. God calls it to reach out and share his love with the world that it lives in. Our parish charity bin is one way we do such outreach, collecting nonperishable food that our friends at People Helping People in Hernando County share with locals in need. Click here for an online grocery list. Thank you for reaching out and helping others through your church's charity!
COVID is no longer a global pandemic, but coronavirus still crops up now and then, here and there. Please keep alert and take sensible precautions while our church remains open.
If you feel ill, please stay home, follow doctor’s orders, and take good care of yourself. Let us know if you want us to pray for you. We look forward to seeing you again once you get well!
Please feel free to wear a face mask if your health requires it or you just feel safer doing so.
Please respect personal space and give each other courteous leeway.
Thanks for your consideration, which is simply part of doing what Christ Jesus told us to do: “Love others as much as you love yourself” (Mark 12:31).
