"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.
This month (May 5) we celebrate Pascha — Christ Jesus rising from death.
But Pascha isn’t just a holiday. It’s something that happened to us when we were baptized: 
“By being baptized, we were buried with Christ into his death. Christ has been raised from the dead by the Father’s glory. And like Christ we can live a new life” (Romans 6:4).
And with that new life comes new family, for “we were all baptized into one body by one Spirit. All of us, though there are so many of us, make up one body in Christ, and as different parts we are all joined to one another” (1 Corinthians 12:13 and Romans 12:5).
Baptism — our own personal Pascha — birthed our Christian identity and kinship in Christ. Starting this Pascha, let’s build anew on our baptismal bond with Jesus and each other to live a new life as a church family!
Wednesday, May 1 · 6 p.m.
Holy Wednesday Unction:
Healing Sacrament of Anointing
Thursday, May 2 · 10 a.m.
Holy Thursday Vespers and Divine Liturgy:
Last Supper of Christ Jesus
Thursday, May 2 · 6 p.m.
Holy Thursday Matins:
The Twelve Passion Gospels
Friday, May 3 · 6 p.m.
Good Friday Vespers
Burial of Christ Jesus
Saturday, May 4
Church open for Holy Saturday prayer and veneration
at the tomb of Christ Jesus
Times to be announced in church
Sunday, May 5 · 9 a.m.
Matins and Divine Liturgy of Pascha:
Resurrection of Christ Jesus
Blessing of Easter baskets in parish house
Sunday, May 12 · 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy
Second Sunday of Pascha: Thomas Sunday
Mother’s Day
Sunday, May 19 · 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy
Third Sunday of Pascha: Myrrhbearing Women Sunday
Sunday, May 26 · 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy
Fourth Sunday of Pascha: Paralyzed Man Sunday
Holy Wednesday Unction is the sacrament of anointing with blessed oil for healing in body, mind, and spirit as we prepare to ponder over the days ahead the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ Jesus.
Holy Thursday Vespers and Divine Liturgy marks the last supper of Jesus, at which he initiated the eucharist, the sacrament of his body and blood for our spiritual nourishment.
Holy Thursday Matins of the Twelve Passion Gospels follows Jesus through the Last Supper, his betrayal by Judas, his arrest, his unjust trials, his execution on the cross, and his burial in a tomb.
Good Friday Vespers marks the death of Jesus with a solemn funeral procession with the “shroud” or “winding sheet” (plashchanitsa in Church Slavic, epitaphion in Greek) — a large icon that shows Jesus laid out for burial.
Holy Saturday allows opportunity for people to keep watch in quiet prayer and veneration at the tomb of Jesus set up in the church.
Matins and Divine Liturgy of Pascha joyously celebrate the good news — that Jesus has risen from death and, being both our Lord and brother, has thus freed us from being hostage to its grip on us! His resurrection is the pledge of our own.
Blessing of Easter Baskets kicks off our feasting after the long fast of Great Lent. Among Slavs, traditional items in them include colored eggs, sausage, ham, farmer’s cheese, and special Easter sweet bread called babka by Belarusians, paska by Carpatho-Rusyns and Ukrainians, and kulich by Russians. Bring whatever foodstuffs you gave up during Great Lent and want to feast on now with God’s blessing!
“Rejoice with those who rejoice” (Romans 12:15). Best wishes to our kinfolk in Christ celebrating special milestones this month! Anniversaries: Stephen and Joann Kuzmiak (May 6) and Michael and Julie Narancich (May 26). Birthdays: Olga Spontak (May 3), Chanrath Pizza (May 4), Lucy Fonseca (May 13), Julie Narancich (May 15), Lydia Pinkowski (May 26), and Emil Andrejkanic (May 31). 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).
