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Nativity of The Virgin Mary Church
Publish Date: 2024-03-24
Bulletin Contents
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Nativity of The Virgin Mary Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (734) 420-0131
  • Fax:
  • (734) 420-0602
  • Street Address:

  • 39851 Five Mile Road

  • Plymouth Township, MI 48170


Contact Information








Services Schedule

Sundays
8:45am - Orthros 
10:00 am - Divine Liturgy

Wednesday
7:00 pm Paraklesis

Abundant Online Giving 

PARISH SUPPORT STAFF OFFICE HOURS

  • Bill’s weekday office hours are Tuesday-Friday
  • Kathy's weekday office hours are Monday-Thursday

 


Past Bulletins


Come and Worship!

Join us in person for Liturgy or watch online on our Facebook page or Youtube 

This Week's Calendar 

Saturday, March 23 - Third Saturday of Souls
9:00 am Orthros
10:00 Divine Liturgy

Sunday, March 24 - Sunday of Orthodoxy
Click here to view the printed liturgy
8:45 am Orthros
10:00 am Divine Liturgy
11:30 am Procession of Icons and Sunday Church School Annunciation presentation
12:00 pm Taste of Lent Agora Market during coffee hour
6:00 pm COCC Vespers - TRIUMPH of ORTHODOXY with Procession of Icons at St. Lazarus "Ravanica" Serbian Orthodox Cathedral 4575 E. Outer Drive, Detroit 48234
7:00 pm Vespers of the Annunciation - at Annunciation Cathedral in Detroit

Monday, March 25 - Annunciation of the Theotokos
8:45 am Orthros
10:00 am Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, March 26
11:00 am  Bible Study (Click here to join via Zoom)
12:00 pm Tuesday Lunch Group
5:00 pm Youth Greek School Classes
7:00 pm Great Compline
6:30 pm Adult Greek Class (on Zoom)

Wednesday, March 27
6:00 pm Presanctified Liturgy, Soup Supper and Lenten Discussion

Thursday, March 28
6:30 pm Adult Greek Classes (on Zoom)

Friday, March 29
7:00 pm Salutations to the Theotokos

Sunday, March 31 - Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas
Click here to view the printed liturgy
8:45 am Orthros
10:00 am Divine Liturgy
12:00 pm Nativity Oratorical Festival
6:00 pm COCC Vespers - ST GREGORY PALAMAS at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, 36075 W. Seven Mile Rd, Livonia 48152

Happening this Week

THE THIRD SATURDAY OF SOULS IS MARCH 23 - Remember your loved ones and offer their names for prayers! Use the attached form to submit names for prayers. Please submit your names only once. Paper copies are available in the narthex.

PROCESSION OF ICONS FOR THE SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY  Please bring your icons to church on Sunday for the procession of Icons during Divine Liturgy. 

ATTENTION FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN Sunday Church School Children will participate in the icon procession, therefore they will remain with their families following Holy Communion rather than being dismissed to classes.  Our Church School Children will offer a presentation on the Annunciation following Liturgy.  Please bring a lent friendly item for coffee hour -  the church school is sponsoring coffee hour this week.  Suggested items - fresh fruit and veggies; hommous and pita or crackers, etc.  

Taste of Lent Agora Market coming this Sunday - Our ladies will offer delicious homemade Lent friendly food "to go" during coffee hour on Sundays in Lent. Look for the marketplace table in the parish hall following Liturgy.

 agora

ANNUNCIATION OF THE THEOTOKOS Vespers for the Feastday at 7 pm on Sunday evening at Annunciation Cathedral in Detroit. See bulleten attachment below for details of the feastday celebration at the Cathedral.  Orthros and Divine Liturgy will be offered here beginning at 9 am on Monday, March 25. 

BIBLE STUDY WITH FR. NICK ON TUESDAY, March 26 -We hope you can join him at 11 am for lively discussion and stay for food and fellowship (Tuesday Lunch Group) following Bible Study. Join Zoom Meeting, Meeting ID: 833 1117 3595, Passcode: 2vNyh4

Great Lent Opportunities

Welcome to Holy Lent is a complete listing of the services offered during the season of lent.  They are available on the candlestand in the narthex or as a bulletin attachment below.  Services this week:

  • Great Compline on Tuesday, March 26 at 7 pm
  • Presanctified Liturgy, Soup Supper and Lenten Discussion on Wednesday, March 27 at 6 pm
  • Salutations to the Theotokos on Friday, March 29 at 7 pm

Pick up a Journey to Pascha sheet on the candlestand in the narthex with Scripture readings, themes and suggestions for how you can participate in Great and Holy Lent.  It is also included as a bulletin attachment below. 

SOUP MAKERS NEEDED—for Wednesday evenings following Presanctified Liturgy.  Sign up on the bulletin board outside the church office. 

Let's read the Psalms together during Great Lent this year—For those new to the practice, the Psalms are divided into Kathisma and each day, each person reads a segment of the Psalms. As a group, we will all read the book of Psalms everyday throughout lent and will go through the book twice. I will send instructions with how they are divided. It’s a great way to pray together and learn the Psalms. The time commitment is about 10-15 mins a day, done at your choice of time and location. If you are interested, please reach out to Harrietta Christodoulos at harriettaz@yahoo.com or 734-718-1017.

READERS NEEDED FOR GREAT COMPLINE AND SALUTATIONS TO THE THEOTOKOS 

If you would like more information or would like to serve, please contact Bill Smith at wm.smith@nativitygochurch.org

The Council of Orthodox Christian Churches is sponsoring Lenten Vespers on Sunday Evenings.  Services will be held at various locations at 6 pm.  A free will offering will be collected and refreshments will be served following the service.  Officiated by the St. John Chrysostom Clergy Brotherhood with responses by the Orthodox Choir of Detroit.  See bulletin insert below for details. 

Save the Date

ORATORICAL FESTIVAL: The St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival will be held on Sunday, March 31 at our parish.  The festival is a national program where Orthodox youth, grades 7 – 12, present speeches discussing the Greek Orthodox faith and the Church. Topics this year include His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew's teachings on caring for creation, Heroes of religious life, Orthodox Hymnody,  the Prodigal Son and Repentance, Please come out and support the young people who have prepared speeches for this event. 

THE 22ND ANNUAL GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE IS SUNDAY, APRIL 14 - We are looking for people to represent Nativity by marching in the parade with our new banner.  

GREEK PARADE

SPRING GOURMET SURF AND TURF DINNER sponsored by Nativity Men's Club on Friday, May 10.  Contact George Zervos for tickets.

SPRING DINNER

ANNUAL PARISH RETREAT AND BASKETBALL BANQUET - on Saturday, May 18.  More details coming soon!

PARISH RETREAT

AHEPA DISTRICT 10 SCHOLARSHIPS - We are excited to announce the opening of the 2024 AHEPA Educational Foundation District #10 Scholarship Application. Please forward the below information as appropriate.

  • The application will be submitted entirely online.
  • The application is available through a link at the Educational Foundation's website at www.ad10ef.org
  • Applicants can visit the Educational Foundation's website and follow the link to complete the application.
  • The deadline to complete submission is April 1, 2024. 
  • The Board of Directors of the AHEPA District #10 Educational Foundation look forward to celebrating our Scholarship Recipients at our Awards Banquet on May 19, 2024, at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Troy, Michigan.

A NOTE OF THANKS - The Christodoulos family extends their deepest thanks to the Nativity of The Virgin Mary Greek Dance Group, Peggy Collias, and all of the volunteers, and our Beloved Nativity family for the beautiful fundraiser held for Panagiotis. We are beyond grateful to you for your continued love and support. You are a light for us during this time and we love you all so much!

Stewardship Information

STEWARDSHIP 2024 - We know that people may have dropped their home phone, moved or had other changes in their household. information We would like to update our member database, so please be sure to complete all of the information on the Stewardship Cards for 2024! Stewardship cards are located on the table in the Narthex.

SUBMIT YOUR STEWARDSHIP COMMITMENT ONLINE - Click here to make your commitment online or to update your information.

GIVE ONLINE IN 2024 Abundant is Nativity's online giving service! You can donate by App (available for Apple or Android devices) by web (link on our web page) by ACH/EFT (Kathy will set it up for you). This program connects directly with our parish data system - so your stewardship gifts are imported directly into your record.  Click here to visit our online giving page.   

Those in Our Prayers 

Nicholas the Bishop, John the Priest, John the Priest, Cassani the Presvytera,Kalliope the Presvytera, Sevi Bertolis, Panayiotis Christodoulos, Mary Christopoulos, Constantin Dumitrescu, Kosta Efthimiou, Tracey Ford, Greg Georvassilis, Zoe Jaimee, Kathy Jenaras, Maria Kalas, Angela Kheir, George & Diane Kotsonas, Panayiota Koutoupa, Gus Kyriakou, Penelope Kyriakoula, Jim Lee, Nick Malamis, Bessie Marcus, Frank Maroudis, Freda Mollasis, Gregory Morakeas, Evelyn Morris, George Mortis, Alexander Nichoff, Marchela Papageorgakis, Stella Papasavva, Nikolia Pappas, Nicholas Pappas, George Peters, Helen Peters, Katerina Peters, Costas Photsios, Penny Poulos, Pam Provgna, Maria Rifat,  Helen Sitaras, Vasillios Sotiropoulos, Rick Stanley & Family, Evan Kostonas Stoecklein, Mike & Julia Tate, Jim Tsakos, Evris & Helen Tsaprazis, Pete Tsaprazis, John Vardouniotis, Alexander Varverakis, Jim Vlahakis, Irene Vouharas, Trevor Wilhelmi, Sandy Zembylas, Selina Zembylas-Hernandez, George Zervos, Little Jack and Sofia. 

THE CHURCH IS HERE FOR YOU In times of need or times of celebration, there are a number of pastoral situations that warrant contacting Father Nick.  

  • Any Hospital Stay: Illness, Surgery, etc.
  • Death - Call when a person is dying and at the actual time of death, regardless of the hour!
  • Substance abuse involving you or a loved one.
  • Domestic problems of any sort, Marital or children.
  • When you desire spiritual direction.
  • Birth of a child, (naming, and 40 day blessing).
  • When you become engaged and are planning a wedding.   
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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Mode

The stone having been sealed by the Pharisees and chief priests, * and Your allimmaculate body being guarded by soldiers, * You rose on the third day, O Lord and Savior, granting life unto the world. * Then the powers of the heavens cried out to You, O Giver of Life, and shouted, * “Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ! * Glory to Your eternal rule! * Glory to Your plan for saving us, only benevolent God!” (Αὐτόμελον. Automelon. Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος.)
Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, καὶ στρατιωτῶν φυλασσόντων τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα, ἀνέστης τριήμερος Σωτήρ, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὴν ζωήν. Διὰ τοῦτο αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν ἐβόων σοι Ζωοδότα· Δόξα τῇ ἀναστάσει σου Χριστέ, δόξα τῇ Βασιλείᾳ σου, δόξα τῇ οἰκονομίᾳ σου, μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε.

Apolytikion for Sun. of Orthodoxy in the Second Mode

We venerate Your immaculate icon, O good Lord, and entreat You to forgive our offenses, O Christ our God. By Your own choice you were pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh, to deliver us, whom You created, from our slavery to the foe. Therefore we cry to You with gratitude: You have filled all things with joy, O our Savior, by coming to save the world.
Τὴν ἄχραντον Εἰκόνα σου προσκυνοῦμεν Ἀγαθέ, αἰτούμενοι συγχώρησιν τῶν πταισμάτων ἡμῶν, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός· βουλήσει γὰρ ηὐδόκησας σαρκὶ ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ, ἵνα ῥύσῃ οὓς ἔπλασας ἐκ τῆς δουλείας τοῦ ἐχθροῦ· ὅθεν εὐχαρίστως βοῶμέν σοι· Χαρᾶς ἐπλήρωσας τὰ πάντα, ὁ Σωτὴρ ἡμῶν, παραγενόμενος εἰς τὸ σῶσαι τὸν Κόσμον.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

O Champion General, I your City now inscribe to you Triumphant anthems as the tokens of my gratitude, Being rescued from the terrors, O Theotokos. Inasmuch as you have power unassailable, From all kinds of perils free me, so that unto you I may cry aloud: Rejoice, O unwedded Bride.
Τὴ ὑπερμάχω στρατηγῶ τὰ νικητήρια, ὡς λυτρωθεῖσα τῶν δεινῶν εὐχαριστήρια, ἀναγράφω σοὶ ἡ Πόλις σου Θεοτόκε, Ἀλλ' ὡς ἔχουσα τὸ κράτος ἀπροσμάχητον, ἐκ παντοίων μὲ κινδύνων ἐλευθέρωσον, ἵνα κράζω σοί, Χαῖρε νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40.

Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered abuse suffered for the Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked to the reward.

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets -- who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign enemies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated -- of whom the world was not worthy -- wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Προκείμενον. Fourth Mode. Δανιήλ 3.26-27.
Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν.
Στίχ. Ὅτι δίκαιος εἶ ἐπὶ πᾶσιν, οἷς ἐποίησας ἡμῖν.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 11:24-26, 32-40.

Ἀδελφοί, πίστει Μωϋσῆς μέγας γενόμενος ἠρνήσατο λέγεσθαι υἱὸς θυγατρὸς Φαραώ, μᾶλλον ἑλόμενος συγκακουχεῖσθαι τῷ λαῷ τοῦ θεοῦ ἢ πρόσκαιρον ἔχειν ἁμαρτίας ἀπόλαυσιν· μείζονα πλοῦτον ἡγησάμενος τῶν Αἰγύπτου θησαυρῶν τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν τοῦ Χριστοῦ· ἀπέβλεπεν γὰρ εἰς τὴν μισθαποδοσίαν. Καὶ τί ἔτι λέγω; Ἐπιλείψει γὰρ με διηγούμενον ὁ χρόνος περὶ Γεδεών, Βαράκ τε καὶ Σαμψών καὶ Ἰεφθάε, Δαυίδ τε καὶ Σαμουὴλ καὶ τῶν προφητῶν· οἳ διὰ πίστεως κατηγωνίσαντο βασιλείας, εἰργάσαντο δικαιοσύνην, ἐπέτυχον ἐπαγγελιῶν, ἔφραξαν στόματα λεόντων, ἔσβεσαν δύναμιν πυρός, ἔφυγον στόματα μαχαίρας, ἐνεδυναμώθησαν ἀπὸ ἀσθενείας, ἐγενήθησαν ἰσχυροὶ ἐν πολέμῳ, παρεμβολὰς ἔκλιναν ἀλλοτρίων. Ἔλαβον γυναῖκες ἐξ ἀναστάσεως τοὺς νεκροὺς αὐτῶν· ἄλλοι δὲ ἐτυμπανίσθησαν, οὐ προσδεξάμενοι τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν, ἵνα κρείττονος ἀναστάσεως τύχωσιν· ἕτεροι δὲ ἐμπαιγμῶν καὶ μαστίγων πεῖραν ἔλαβον, ἔτι δὲ δεσμῶν καὶ φυλακῆς· ἐλιθάσθησαν, ἐπρίσθησαν, ἐπειράσθησαν, ἐν φόνῳ μαχαίρας ἀπέθανον· περιῆλθον ἐν μηλωταῖς, ἐν αἰγείοις δέρμασιν, ὑστερούμενοι, θλιβόμενοι, κακουχούμενοι - ὧν οὐκ ἦν ἄξιος ὁ κόσμος - ἐν ἐρημίαις πλανώμενοι καὶ ὄρεσιν καὶ σπηλαίοις καὶ ταῖς ὀπαῖς τῆς γῆς. Καὶ οὗτοι πάντες, μαρτυρηθέντες διὰ τῆς πίστεως, οὐκ ἐκομίσαντο τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν, τοῦ θεοῦ περὶ ἡμῶν κρεῖττόν τι προβλεψαμένου, ἵνα μὴ χωρὶς ἡμῶν τελειωθῶσιν.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of Orthodoxy
The Reading is from John 1:43-51

At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."

Sunday of Orthodoxy
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 1:44-52

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἠθέλησεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἐξελθεῖν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν· καὶ εὑρίσκει Φίλιππον καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ἀκολούθει μοι. ἦν δὲ ὁ Φίλιππος ἀπὸ Βηθσαϊδά, ἐκ τῆς πόλεως ᾿Ανδρέου καὶ Πέτρου. εὑρίσκει Φίλιππος τὸν Ναθαναὴλ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ὃν ἔγραψε Μωϋσῆς ἐν τῷ νόμῳ καὶ οἱ προφῆται, εὑρήκαμεν, ᾿Ιησοῦν τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ᾿Ιωσὴφ τὸν ἀπὸ Ναζαρέτ. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ· ἐκ Ναζαρὲτ δύναταί τι ἀγαθὸν εἶναι; λέγει αὐτῷ Φίλιππος· ἔρχου καὶ ἴδε. εἶδεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τὸν Ναθαναὴλ ἐρχόμενον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ λέγει περὶ αὐτοῦ· ἴδε ἀληθῶς ᾿Ισραηλίτης, ἐν ᾧ δόλος οὐκ ἔστι. λέγει αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ· πόθεν με γινώσκεις; ἀπεκρίθη ᾿Ιησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· πρὸ τοῦ σε Φίλιππον φωνῆσαι, ὄντα ὑπὸ τὴν συκῆν εἶδόν σε. ἀπεκρίθη Ναθαναὴλ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ῥαββί, σὺ εἶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, σὺ εἶ ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ. ἀπεκρίθη ᾿Ιησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ὅτι εἶπόν σοι, εἶδόν σε ὑποκάτω τῆς συκῆς, πιστεύεις; μείζω τούτων ὄψει. καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἀπ᾽ ἄρτι ὄψεσθε τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀνεῳγότα, καὶ τοὺς ἀγγέλους τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀναβαίνοντας καὶ καταβαίνοντας ἐπὶ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου.


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Saints and Feasts

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March 24

Sunday of Orthodoxy

For more than one hundred years the Church of Christ was troubled by the persecution of the Iconoclasts of evil belief, beginning in the reign of Leo the Isaurian (717-741) and ending in the reign of Theophilus (829-842). After Theophilus's death, his widow the Empress Theodora (celebrated Feb. 11), together with the Patriarch Methodius (June 14), established Orthodoxy anew. This ever-memorable Queen venerated the icon of the Mother of God in the presence of the Patriarch Methodius and the other confessors and righteous men, and openly cried out these holy words: "If anyone does not offer relative worship to the holy icons, not adoring them as though they were gods, but venerating them out of love as images of the archetype, let him be anathema." Then with common prayer and fasting during the whole first week of the Forty-day Fast, she asked God's forgiveness for her husband. After this, on the first Sunday of the Fast, she and her son, Michael the Emperor, made a procession with all the clergy and people and restored the holy icons, and again adorned the Church of Christ with them. This is the holy deed that all we the Orthodox commemorate today, and we call this radiant and venerable day the Sunday of Orthodoxy, that is, the triumph of true doctrine over heresy.


Annuncia
March 25

Annunciation of the Theotokos

Six months after John the Forerunner's conception, the Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth, a town of Galilee, unto Mary the Virgin, who had come forth from the Temple a mature maiden (see Nov. 21). According to the tradition handed down by the Fathers, she had been betrothed to Joseph four months. On coming to Joseph's house, the Archangel declared: "Rejoice, thou Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." After some consideration, and turmoil of soul, and fear because of this greeting, the Virgin, when she had finally obtained full assurance concerning God's unsearchable condescension and the ineffable dispensation that was to take place through her, and believing that all things are possible to the Most High, answered in humility: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." And at this, the Holy Spirit came upon her, and the power of the Most High overshadowed her all-blameless womb, and the Son and Word of God, Who existed before the ages, was conceived past speech and understanding, and became flesh in her immaculate body (Luke 1:26-38).

Bearing in her womb the Uncontainable One, the blessed Virgin went with haste from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea, where Zacharias had his dwelling; for she desired to find Elizabeth her kinswoman and rejoice together with her, because, as she had learned from the Archangel, Elizabeth had conceived in her old age. Furthermore, she wished to tell her of the great things that the Mighty One had been well-pleased to bring to pass in her, and she greeted Elizabeth and drew nigh to her. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, she felt her six-month-old babe, Saint John the Baptist, prophesied of the dawning of the spiritual Sun. Immediately, the aged Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and recognized her as the Mother of her Lord, and with a great voice blessed her and the Fruit that she held within herself. The Virgin also, moved by a supernatural rejoicing in the spirit, glorified her God and Savior, saying: "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour," and the rest, as the divine Luke hath recorded (1:39-55)


Matrona
March 27

Martyr Matrona of Thessaloniki

This martyr was the servant of a certain Jewish woman named Pantilla, the wife of the Governor of Thessalonica. When Matrona refused to follow her mistress into the synagogue Pantilla beat her so severly that she died in a few days, and thus received the crown of her confession.


Allsaint
March 28

Hilarion the New

Saint Hilarion took up the monastic life from his youth and lived in seclusion. Later, as Abbot of the Monastery of Pelecete in Asia Minor (believed to be in Bithynia, not far from Triglia), he suffered much from the Iconoclasts, and reposed in the year 754.


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Wisdom of the Fathers

Peter, when after so many miracles and such high doctrine he confessed that, "Thou art the Son of God" (Matt. xvi. 16), is called "blessed," as having received the revelation from the Father;
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 21 on John 1, 1. B#58, pp. 72, 73, 4th Century

... while Nathanael, though he said the very same thing before seeing or hearing either miracles or doctrine, had no such word addressed to him, but as though he had not said so much as he ought to have said, is brought to things greater still.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 21 on John 1, 1. B#58, pp. 72, 73, 4th Century

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Bulletin Inserts

    2024 Saturday of Souls

    2024 Saturday of Souls

    REMEMBER YOUR LOVED ONES - OFFER THEIR NAMES FOR PRAYER! Use this form to submit names for Saturday of Souls. Please submit your names only once.


    2024 Journey to Pascha

    2024 Journey to Pascha

    Great Lent Scriptures and Themes


    Welcome to Great Lent

    Welcome to Great Lent

    A schedule of services at Nativity for Great Lent and Holy Week.


    Stewardship information

    Stewardship information

    Stewardship letter and commitment card. Please be sure to update all information. We are missing contact information for members because they have moved or changed their phone number.


    COCC LENTEN VESPERS

    COCC LENTEN VESPERS

    The Council of Orthodox Christian Churches is sponsoring Lenten Vespers on Sunday Evenings. Services will be held at various locations at 6 pm. A free will offering will be collected and refreshments will be served following the service. Officiated by the St. John Chrysostom Clergy Brotherhood with responses by the Orthodox Choir of Detroit.


    Ushers and Coffee Hour

    Ushers and Coffee Hour

    Please note that we are entering into the Lenten fast - if you are serving coffee hour please choose appropriate food.


    2024 Pascha Card

    2024 Pascha Card

    Please use this form if you desire to add your name to the Pascha Greeting Card.


    Annunciation of the Theotokos

    Annunciation of the Theotokos

    information from Annunciation Cathedral for their feastday celebrations


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