Holy Trinity Orthodox Church

All Orthodox Christians—clergy and laity—of the Pittsburgh area are invited to a retreat being sponsored by the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and W. Pa. (OCA) at the Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, located in Rostraver Twp./Belle Vernon at 222 Mary Street, on Saturday, February 8, 2020.

Presenter Archpriest Steven Voytovich will speak on the topic “Our Life in Christ in 2020,” a topic which is especially appropriate as we reflect on the 50th anniversary of the Canonization St. Herman of Alaska this year. The retreat will begin with an Akathist Prayer Service to St. Herman at 10:00 a.m.; lunch will be included; the retreat will end at approximately 2 p.m. Registration is $10.00; please make the check payable to the “Archdiocese of Pgh and W PA – OCA” and mail it to: “Archdiocese of Pgh and W PA (OCA), P.O. Box 1769, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066-1769.”

RSVP’s must be received at the chancery no later than Tuesday, February 4. Please provide a name and contact information with the check should it become necessary to contact you.

Please email Archpriest William J. Evansky, Chancellor, at (frbill158@verizon.net) or call (724-266-5009) if you have any questions.

On Christmas Eve beginning at 4:30 p.m., the parish will sponsor a traditional Holy Supper and everyone is invited. (The custom of the “holy supper” comes from central Europe and parts of Russia. It provided the family a time to gather and share the last meal of the Fast prior to attending the evening liturgical services.) Please sign up in the Parish Hall or email Mka. Kelly Oleynik so that we may have an accurate count. 

There are traditionally twelve Lenten foods served (representing the twelve Apostles) such as barley, honey, stewed prunes, pierogi, sauerkraut, potatoes, garlic, Lenten bread, and mushroom soup. Please consider preserving (or starting) this family tradition by attending and sharing with your parish family a favorite Lenten food. (Thanks in advance for bringing fast-friendly foods: as a friendly reminder, the Nativity Fast is broken following the Divine Liturgy on December 25.)

The Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania (OCA) will conduct a retreat led by Steven Christoforou (of the popular “Be the Bee” podcast) at Christ the Savior Church in Harrisburg on Friday and Saturday, February 8-9. The retreat is open to school children ages 12 and older.

To promote fellowship among our own students and to have the opportunity to engage with Orthodox students from other parishes, the parish’s Sunday School and Orthodox Youth Association are inviting your children to attend the retreat. Participants will depart from Holy Trinity at 4:30 p.m., stay overnight at the parish in Harrisburg (bring your sleeping bags), and return following Vespers in Harrisburg on Saturday.

While the majority of the trip’s costs will be assumed by the parish, the suggested donation is $15 to cover part of the registration fee and transportation costs. If you are interested in attending, please contact Deacon Mark. After RSVPing with Deacon Mark, you may download and complete a release form for your child to bring prior to the event.