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Sunday Highlights

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An amazing and busy Sunday at Holy Trinity! The Bible lesson of Zacchaios and his height was highlighted by Fr. Nick to the Sunday School using students as the examples. In addition, the Greek School gave a short program on the occasion of the Feast of the Three Hierarchs (January 30). Finally, Fr. Nick officially welcomed Fr. Andrew Cadieux as Holy Trinity’s part time assistant pastor and announced the commencement of Monday School - on January 28th led this year by Dr. Matthew Lootens.

Young Adult Outing!

Our Young Adults joined Fr. Nick for an evening of Fun and Fellowship with young adults from other Communities in Manhattan, on Thursday, Jan 24th at OUSIA Greek Restaurant in Manhattan.

Sunday Highlights

The annual cutting of the Visilopita for the ministries and organizations of our parish was held today at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. Peter Lambros, parishioner and Vice President of St. Michaels Home was the recipient of the first Vasilopita coin.

Additionally, the Oath of Office was administered by Fr. Nick to the 2019 Parish Council. Elected members of the new Executive Board include: John Dos Santos, President; George Kourakos, Vice President; George Kontos, Treasurer; and Ron Nicholas, Secretary.

Sunday Highlights

Lord, when You were baptized in the Jordan, the veneration of the Trinity was revealed. For the voice of the Father gave witness to You, calling You Beloved, and the Spirit, in the guise of a dove, confirmed the certainty of His words. Glory to You, Christ our God, who appeared and enlightened the world.

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Visit to Saint Michael's

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Our GOYA and Scout Troop visited with the residents of Saint Michael’s Home in Yonkers on Saturday, December 29th to spread some holiday cheer with our seniors!

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Last Night's Soup Run

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by Despina Kartson

During last night's soup run, we served 125 complete meals - turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables, rolls, snacks and juice - to our guests in New York City who were waiting for us when our caravan of cars filled with 22 volunteers and an abundance of cold weather gear arrived on 33rd Street.

We connected with guests we serve regularly, met new people and missed those we have come to know over the years - wondering where they were. Much gratitude was expressed from so many, including the couple with five children ages 7-17. They were overwhelmed with appreciation when we gave them enough meals, hats, scarves and gloves for their children. With about 20 meals remaining, we went into Penn Station and distributed food, toiletries and clothing. In the train station, we met a man who had a bandage over his eye, was wearing dirty clothes and a thin jacket. He asked us where we were from and when we told him a Greek Orthodox church, he said he had always wanted to understand more about the Orthodox faith. Deacon Simon had an engaging conversation with the man and was impressed with his knowledge of religion.

As we were packing up and just about to leave, we noticed a man, Jose, settling in for the night on steps nearby. Jose had a grocery cart with a few personal belongings in them and a small blanket that he was pulling over him. We see many homeless on the soup run and throughout New York City who sleep on the street but it really struck us to see this man getting ready to spend a cold and breezy night outside. Racing back to our cars, we searched for any remaining blankets. Miraculously, there was one large afghan in a car. We put it on Jose and gave him a hat, scarf, gloves and toiletries. He thanked us. We were amazed that we had one last blanket to provide.

Our final amazing experience last night happened on the subway as one of our volunteers was distributing a few meals. After giving a meal to a woman, she handed him a note that said: "You are precious in God's eyes".

The soup run is a demonstration of love, compassion and commitment from the many volunteers and supporters who come together every month to share their time, talent and treasures. Our volunteers go above and beyond and last night was no different. One volunteer chose to spend her birthday serving the homeless instead of attending a celebratory dinner and another volunteer delivered bags of clothing even though it was the day after her father passed away. This month, we express thanks and gratitude to everyone involved and to the following:

  • Dennis Grammas from the Greentree Country Club in New Rochelle for donating the meals

  • Helen Hiotakis for sponsoring the soup run

  • Minos Samoladas for his generous donation which enables us to purchase much-needed socks and underwear

  • Amy and Mark of Mark Seiden Real Estate in Briarcliff Manor, NY for four large bags of coats from a neighborhood coat drive

  • Margaret Luberda and the staff from the law firm Wilson Elser for six large bags of coats

  • Deb van der Heyden for bags of new coats

  • Carmela Capobianco (Peter Caviris' mother-in-law) for a bag of new coats 

  • The Holy Trinity Philoptochos Knitting for Charity group and the entire community for donating 120 hand-knit scarves and hats

  • Maria and Claudio Iaccarino of Bronxville's Park Place Bagels for hundreds of brownies, coffee cakes, socks, knit hats and scarves

  • Alexis Livanos for homemade Christmas cookies

  • Emmy Kalmanides from St. George (Norwalk, CT) homemade koulourakia, scarves and toothpaste

  • Tara Fappiano and Jacqui Stix from the Tuckahoe Middle/High School PTA and students for toiletry kits in hand-decorated bags

  • Georgianna Koulianos for toiletry kits

  • Kathy Caffentzis for thermal underwear

  • Athena Gregory for hand warmers

All are welcome to join the monthly Soup Run. In-kind donations, including warm clothing, hoodies and backpacks, as well as financial donations, are very much appreciated. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and one that is filled with good health, joy and compassion. In the words of Maya Angelou: "The thing to do, it seems to me, is to prepare yourself so you can be a rainbow in somebody else's cloud. Somebody who may not look like you. May not call God the same name you call God - if they call God at all. I may not dance your dances or speak your language. But be a blessing to somebody. That's what I think."