Holy Trinity Orthodox Christian Church

Serving free, hot meals every Saturday and Sunday

Every Saturday, Noon - 1 p.m., and Sunday, 4 - 5 p.m., everyone is welcome to enjoy a full, hot meal. We also provide free bus transportation from downtown Elmira -- from and to the Elmira Business Institute parking lot at Main and Church Streets: Saturday, 11:30a.m.; Sunday, 3:30 p.m. The Hospitality Spot is a labor of love from your friends at Holy Trinity Orthodox Christian Church. We are grateful for the chance to serve!

Faithful students visit our parish.

Members of the Cornell and Penn State Universities chapters of the Orthodox Christian Campus Fellowship, spent the day with us last Saturday, celebrating the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord, serving meals at our Hospitality Spot ministry and engaging in some good discussion and fellowship. We look forward to their next visit.

FORMING A HUMAN CHAIN FOR HUMAN LIFE

Holy Trinity's faithful participated in a national, pro-life Life Chain, standing in silent prayer and public witness for a change in human hearts and minds regarding respect for human life.

The Myrrh-streaming icon of Saint Anna,
holding her daughter,
the Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.

The Myrrh-streaming icon of St. Anna was venerated by hundreds in our church.

This icon, written in Jerusalem and blessed on the tomb of the Lord Jesus, began to stream myrrh in Philadelphia on March 9th, 2004 - appropriately on Mother's Day. The myrrh, which first appeared on the right hand and left shoulder of Anna's image, then began streaming from the eyes. Myrrh is a very fragrant, light oily substance which inexplicably streams from certain icons and from the relics of certain saints. It is gathered and used for the anointing of the faithful.

COMMUNITY LIFE:
A LABOR OF LOVE

Getting together to make "From-the-Heart Health Kits" for victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

VESPERS & CONCERT

The Ithaca Community Chorus
RACHMANINOFF VESPERS

The Chorus sung the beyond-beautiful liturgical music of renowned composer Sergei Rachmaninoff for the celebration of Vespers, and the music of Matins in concert format.

Mission Akathist to Jesus Christ
Hammondsport / Bath, NY

We're grateful for the wonderful turn-out for our Mission Akathist service in Bath, New York. After celebrating the Akathist, the history of Orthodoxy was presented, followed by personal testimonies of current parishioners who came to Orthodoxy as adults. This Orthodox outreach event was held at Keuka Medical Commons, the office of parishioner Dr. Carol Holobinko-Haluszczak.

The Feast of the Theophany of the Lord was marked with the blessing of Keuka Lake in Hammondsport, NY. Forty-five parishioners and their pastor traveled the 50 miles to the lake by bus to celebrate the Great Blessing of Water. The blessing was followed by lunch in Bath, NY. Much festal joy was shared by all.

Theophany

Theophany is the Orthodox Christian Feast of Jesus Christ's Baptism and the revelation of God as Trinity. Jesus as God and the Savior of the world sanctified all the waters of the world with His presence in the Jordan River. For many centuries, the Church has renewed that blessing by blessing streams, rivers or lakes nearby each parish.

Witnessing at the March for Life

Orthodox Christianity and our parish were well represented at the "March for Life" in Washington, DC. At the end of the March, we attended a memorial service near the Supreme Court, celebrated by His Beatitude, Metropolitan HERMAN.

Chemung County Fair

The Holy Trinity Book & Gift Shop was at the Chemung County Fair, offering information about the Orthodox Faith. John Kohena and Kathleen Loveland were among several parishioners who manned our booth.