His Eminence Archbishop Melchisedek of the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania (OCA) will make an informal visit to the parish this weekend. His Eminence will attend Great Vespers on Saturday, July 25 at 6 p.m. and serve for Fr. Ignatius Hunter at the Divine Liturgy in State College on Sunday, July 26 at 10 a.m.
(Father Ignatius will celebrate with the faithful of the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, filling in for the vacationing Smith Family.)
Eis polla eti despota!
In conjunction with the Feast of the Prophet Elijah—who was carried up to heaven in a fiery chariot—Fr. Ignatius will bless our vehicles (cars, trucks, bicycles, etc.) following the 6 p.m. Sunday, July 19 Vespers and 8 a.m. Monday, July 20, Liturgy. If you cannot attend in-person on these dates, please contact the church office and we will gladly arrange a time for Father to come to your home.
The entire Adult Study Group on the Catechetical Lectures of St. Cyril that ran from Pascha to Pentecost is now available on YouTube. Father Ignatius Hunter is soliciting feedback on this past series as well as your ideas for sessions in the fall. Thank you for your interest and participation.
UPDATE (May 26, 2020): With Centre County moving to the Green Phase of Reopening on Friday, May 29, the parish’s full liturgical schedule resumes Saturday, May 30, with heightened cleaning, a reduction in the amount of seating to allow for social distancing, and other temporary measures.
ORIGINAL MESSAGE (March 17, 2020): In-person worship services are suspended until further notice, but parish clergy and volunteers are available to assist you should a pastoral issue or emergency arise. Please continue to utilize the Reader’s Services and other resources posted at holytrinity-oca.org, and check the website often to view the latest schedule. (Also please pray for the Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, who are meeting this Monday to determine if/when liturgical services can resume.)
Additional reflections and information will be included in the April Trisagion being mailed this week. Not yet a member of our mailing list? Send us your address today.
More than 20 families have been joining Holy Trinity’s Conference Call line each night at 6 p.m. to hear the readings of Great and Holy Week. Tonight, because of the unique solemnity of the Twelve Passion Gospels service (Matins of Holy Thursday), Frs. Ignatius and David have decided to celebrate the full service and simulcast it in high-definition at Holy Trinity’s webpage, the Chapel’s homepage, and the Facebook accounts of both Holy Trinity and the Chapel.
Parishioners without a computer or internet access may continue to use the Conference Call line at (508) 924-5540 to hear each broadcast (see the remaining schedule below). Note, we will continue using the Conference Call line for the remaining readings.
To prevent the evil one from stealing our Paschal joy (and festal foods!), baskets will be blessed during Saturday’s Open House from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. To participate, place your basket on the table outside the main doors of the church for Father to bless while you offer your personal prayers and meditation. As with the other Open Houses, clergy will strictly limit access to the Nave to ten people at all times (thank you in advance for your cooperation).
Parishioners may also arrange a time through the Parish Office by email or phone (814-231-2855) for Father to bless your family’s basket before the front door of your home. Similar to home blessings, you will receive a time to place your basket outside; Father will ring the doorbell when the service is complete.
Join Father Ignatius Virtually this Wednesday at 7 p.m. for an interactive reading of the life of St. Mary of Egypt on her names day. Parents with their children are especially encouraged to join by computer to familiarize themselves with video teleconferencing should an online Holy Trinity Sunday School be formed in the near future. All are welcome to join and participate.
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.
Help fill our van to the 47th Annual March for Life!
HolyTrinity and the Chapel of the Holy Spirit are currently accepting reservations by email through this Wednesday for the annual one-day pilgrimage to Washington, D.C. Our vans depart Friday, January 24 at 6:30 a.m., and return around 10 p.m. College students and youth are especially encouraged to attend. As in previous years, all costs are covered by the parish.
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.)
