Sunday, September 20, 2026 | Sunday After the Holy Cross
“Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me”
This Sunday, September 20, we gather at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church for the Sunday After the Holy Cross.
The Church continues to place before us the precious and life-giving Cross of our Lord. In the Gospel, Christ gives us words that are both challenging and life-giving:
“If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” — Mark 8:34
The Cross is not simply something we wear or display in our homes. As Fr. Michael reminds us this week, “The Cross is the very path by which we follow Christ.”
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A Message from Fr. Michael
Dearly Beloved Faithful:
As we continue to reflect upon the precious and life-giving Cross of our Lord, the Church reminds us today that the Cross is not simply something we wear around our neck or place in our homes. The Cross is the very path by which we follow Christ.
Our Lord says, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” These words are not easy, but they are words of love and salvation.
Each of us carries a cross. Sometimes it is a sickness, a difficulty in our family, a disappointment, loneliness, financial hardship, or a burden that no one else can see. At other times, our cross is simply the daily struggle to forgive, to be patient, to remain faithful, and to choose Christ when the world tells us to choose ourselves.
But the Christian does not carry the cross alone.
Christ carried the Cross before us, and He carries it with us. The Cross teaches us that suffering does not have the final word. Beyond the Cross is the Resurrection. Beyond the darkness is the light. Beyond death is life.
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Therefore, let us not be afraid of our crosses. Let us bring them before Christ in prayer. Let us ask Him not always to remove our difficulties, but to give us the strength, faith, and courage to carry them with Him.
And let us remember that the Cross is also a call to love. When we forgive someone who has hurt us, when we help someone who is struggling, when we visit the lonely, when we show patience instead of anger, and when we put another person’s needs before our own, we are living the Cross of Christ.
May the precious and life-giving Cross of our Lord protect our families, strengthen those who are suffering, give hope to those who are discouraged, and lead all of us more deeply into the joy of the Resurrection.
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Let us make the sign of the Cross with faith—not merely with our hands, but with our hearts—and remember that we belong to Christ.
To the Cross we bow down in worship, O Christ, and Thy Holy Resurrection we glorify.
May the blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ, through the intercessions of our Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, be with you and your families, now and always and unto the ages of ages.
Prayerfully yours,
+ Fr. Michael
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Scripture Readings
Prokeimenon — Grave Mode
Psalm 28:11, 1
“The Lord will give strength to his people.”
Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.
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Epistle
St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians 2:16–20
Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified.
But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor.
For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God.
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
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Προκείμενον. Ήχος βαρύς
ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 28.11,1
Κύριος ἰσχὺν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ δώσει.
Στίχ. Ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ υἱοὶ Θεοῦ, ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ δόξαν καὶ τιμήν.
Πρὸς Γαλάτας 2:16–20 τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα
Ἀδελφοί, εἰδότες ὅτι οὐ δικαιοῦται ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ἔργων νόμου, ἐὰν μὴ διὰ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐπιστεύσαμεν, ἵνα δικαιωθῶμεν ἐκ πίστεως Χριστοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων νόμου· διότι οὐ δικαιωθήσεται ἐξ ἔργων νόμου πᾶσα σάρξ.
Εἰ δέ, ζητοῦντες δικαιωθῆναι ἐν Χριστῷ, εὑρέθημεν καὶ αὐτοὶ ἁμαρτωλοί, ἆρα Χριστὸς ἁμαρτίας διάκονος; Μὴ γένοιτο. Εἰ γὰρ ἃ κατέλυσα, ταῦτα πάλιν οἰκοδομῶ, παραβάτην ἐμαυτὸν συνίστημι.
Ἐγὼ γὰρ διὰ νόμου νόμῳ ἀπέθανον, ἵνα θεῷ ζήσω. Χριστῷ συνεσταύρωμαι· ζῶ δέ, οὐκέτι ἐγώ, ζῇ δὲ ἐν ἐμοὶ Χριστός· ὃ δὲ νῦν ζῶ ἐν σαρκί, ἐν πίστει ζῶ τῇ τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ, τοῦ ἀγαπήσαντός με καὶ παραδόντος ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ.
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Holy Gospel
Mark 8:34–38; 9:1
The Lord said:
“If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for Christ’s sake and the Gospel’s will save it.
Christ asks us:
“For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”
And what can a man give in return for his life?
Our Lord continues that whoever is ashamed of Him and His words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.
He then tells those gathered:
“Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”
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Living the Gospel This Week
The Cross is at the center of this Sunday’s Epistle, Gospel, and Fr. Michael’s message.
St. Paul declares, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Christ then calls each of us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him.
That cross may look different for each person. It can be found in suffering and hardship, but it is also present in the everyday choices to forgive instead of holding a grudge, show patience instead of anger, help someone who is struggling, visit someone who is lonely, or place another person’s needs before our own.
And we never carry it alone.
Beyond the Cross is the Resurrection. Beyond the darkness is the light. Beyond death is life.
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Memorial Services Today
At the conclusion of Divine Liturgy today, our parish will offer two Memorial Services:
1-Year Memorial Service for Ilias Karamitsos
25-Year Memorial Service for his beloved wife, Eleni Karamitsos
Our prayers and best wishes go out to their children, Angela and Christopher, as well as to the rest of their family members.
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May their memory be eternal.
Αἰωνία ἡ μνήμη. ☦️
Bible Study & Catechism Classes
Bible Study: 9:00 AM–10:30 AM
Catechism: 10:30 AM–11:30 AM
The September 19 class was held yesterday. Upcoming class dates are:
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Saturday, December 5, 2026
Saturday, January 16, 2027
Saturday, March 13, 2027
All are invited to attend! We use the Orthodox Study Bible, so please make sure to bring it with you.
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Upcoming Special Services
These services are in addition to our general Sunday Orthros and Divine Liturgy services.
Friday, September 25, 2026 | 4:00 PM
Vespers on the Eve of the Falling Asleep of St. John the Evangelist and Theologian
Friday, October 23, 2026
Feast Day of St. James (Iakovos), the Brother of the Lord
Orthros: 9:00 AM
Divine Liturgy: 10:00 AM
Friday, November 13, 2026
Feast Day of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople
Divine Liturgy: 9:00 AM
No Orthros
Wednesday, November 25, 2026
Feast Day of St. Katherine the Great Martyr of Alexandria
There will be no services at Holy Trinity Church. Orthros and Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church in Naples, Florida.
Sunday, November 29, 2026 | 1:00 PM
Vespers for the Eve of the Feast Day of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle
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September Birthdays 🎂
May God grant all of our parishioners celebrating this month many blessed years!
September 1 — Levi Magallanes
September 3 — Nelly O’Dougherty
September 3 — Richard Walega
September 5 — Bill Sallas
September 5 — George & Argyro Nomikos
September 11 — Melody Pappas Jason
September 11 — Seuaste Filosofos
September 15 — Jessica Nipirakis
September 16 — Carolyn Walega
September 19 — Stamatia Mavrellis
September 19 — Charlee Hyser
September 20 — Robin Kontos
September 21 — Soula Climan
September 21 — Gary Nassar
September 24 — John Voyiatzis
September 25 — Mike Coombs
September 29 — Kathryn Healy
September 29 — George Nomikos
September 29 — Alexios Mullis
September 30 — Darla McCarthy
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September Anniversaries 💒
We celebrate and pray for the couples marking their anniversaries this month:
September 6 — Jim & Cathy Sanders
September 19 — Patrick & Jennifer Healy
September 21 — Nicholas & Soula Climan
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May God continue to bless their marriages and grant them many blessed years together!
Join Us at Holy Trinity
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
24411 Rampart Blvd.
Port Charlotte, FL 33980
Phone: 941-629-3888
V. Rev. Dr. Michael Bahlatzis, Protopresbyter
Presiding Priest-Proistamenos
Phone: (607) 215-3887
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We warmly invite our parish family, visitors, and anyone interested in learning more about the Orthodox Christian faith to worship with us.
Divine Liturgy Sundays at 10:00 AM
As we begin another week, may we remember that whatever cross we have been given, we do not carry it alone. Christ carried the Cross before us, and He carries it with us.
“To the Cross we bow down in worship, O Christ, and Thy Holy Resurrection we glorify.”
Christ is in our midst! He is and ever shall be. ☦️
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