Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and condescended to be buried for three days, so that from the passions You might set us free. Our life and resurrection, O Lord, glory be to You.

Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν καταδέξω τριήμερον, ἵνα ἡμᾶς ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν παθῶν. Ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ Ἀνάστασις ἡμῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion for Maximus the Confessor in the Plagal Fourth Mode

The guide of Orthodox beliefs, and sacred teacher of true religion and of dignity, the luminary of the world, the God-inspired adornment of the episcopate, O Maximos the wise, through your instructions you have illumined all, O harp of the Spirit. Intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of our souls.

Ορθοδοξίας Οδηγέ, ευσεβίας διδάσκαλε καί σεμνότητος, τής οικουμένης ο φωστήρ, αρχιερέων θεόπνευστον εγκαλλώπισμα, Μάξιμε σοφέ, ταίς διδαχαίς σου πάντας εφώτισας, λύρα τού Πνεύματος, πρέσβευε Χριστώ τώ Θεώ, σωθήναι τάς ψυχάς ημών.

Seasonal Kontakion in the First Mode

Your birth sanctified a Virgin's womb and properly blessed the hands of Symeon. Having now come and saved us O Christ our God, give peace to Your commonwealth in troubled times and strengthen those in authority, whom You love, as only the loving One.

Ὁ μήτραν παρθενικὴν ἁγιάσας τῶ τόκω σου, καὶ χείρας τοῦ Συμεὼν εὐλογήσας ὡς ἔπρεπε, προφθάσας καὶ νὺν ἔσωσας ἡμᾶς Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός. Ἀλλ' εἰρήνευσον ἐν πολέμοις τὸ πολίτευμα, καὶ κραταίωσον Βασιλεῖς οὓς ἠγάπησας, ὁ μόνος φιλάνθρωπος.

Services and Sacraments

JANUARY 21, 2024 – 12^TH SUNDAY OF LUKE

Memorials:

GIORGO APOSTOLOU - 40 Days

ZAHAROULA DEJARLD - 1 Year

MIHALI APOSTOLOU - 6 Years

MARINA APOSTOLOU - 7 Years

May their memory be eternal!

SERVICES THIS WEEK:

No additional services this week

VIDEO ARCHIVE: Previously recorded Sunday Divine Liturgy services are archived and available on our website! Go to https://www.stcons.org/video-streaming and you can click on the service you would like to view.

LIGHT A CANDLE AND SAY A PRAYER: When you are not able to attend church, you can purchase a candle from our church website (home page or video-streaming page), which will be lit before the following service or a service that you specify. Please give specific names, living or deceased, that you would like Father to remember in prayer. Father will light candles one hour before each service. For Sunday services, please place candle orders prior to 8:00 am Sunday morning.

GOYA WEEKLY PRAYER

PRAYER FOR A BLESSING: Father God, I ask that you bless my coming and going today. Be before me, behind me, and beside me - protect me and move me toward that which will bring me closer to you, Amen.

PLEASE PRAY FOR: Kate, Theodoros, Georgia, Niko, Maria, Sevasti, Meriam, George, Gene, Pete, Lazaros, Bill, Katy, John, Nick, Christopher, George, David, Marcos, Evangelia, Lela, Doris, Dawn, Panagioti, Nanette, Joanna, Suzanne, Lambrine, Nick, Fotini, Niki, George, Matthew, Tom, Stefanos, Georgia, Leonidas, Gus, Connie, Maria, Brenda, Panagiota, Nicholas, Vicki, Susan, Tom, Thomas, Jim, Gloria, Evans, Phyllis, Marti, Marty, Janet, John, Paul, Zacharias, Vanessa (Vasiliki), Jake, Maegan, Irene, Lisa, Pat, Jonathan, Tracy, Dianna, Betty, Catherine, Susan, Evelyn, Gregg, Peter, Angela, Bill, Carrie, Vito, Pete, Amalia, Stephanie, Lisa, Anastasia, Kylie, Effie, Nicholas, and Maria. If you would like to add a name to the prayer list, or if there is a name that should be removed from the prayer list, please contact the church office at stcons2@gmail.com

Saints and Feasts

January 21

Neophytos the Martyr of Nicaea

The Martyr Neophytos, who was from Nicea in Bithynia, was the son of pious parents, Theodore and Florence. Led by grace from his childhood, he took up his dwelling in a cave upon Mount Olympus at the age of nine and lived there in asceticism and prayer. At the age of fifteen, during the reign of Diocletian about the year 290, he presented himself to the local Governor named Decius. Roused to fury by his unexpected boldness, Decius had him scourged, then laid out on a bed of fire. When he had been preserved by grace through these torments, he gave him up to wild beasts. But since the Saint remained unharmed, a certain pagan fell on him with a sword and slew him.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Mode. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians 3:4-11.

Brethren, when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.

Προκείμενον. Plagal Fourth Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 75.11,1.
Εὔξασθε καὶ ἀπόδοτε Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν.
Στίχ. Γνωστὸς ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ ὁ Θεός, ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ μέγα τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κολοσσαεῖς 3:4-11.

Ἀδελφοί, ὅταν ὁ Χριστὸς φανερωθῇ, ἡ ζωὴ ἡμῶν, τότε καὶ ὑμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ φανερωθήσεσθε ἐν δόξῃ. Νεκρώσατε οὖν τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, πορνείαν, ἀκαθαρσίαν, πάθος, ἐπιθυμίαν κακήν, καὶ τὴν πλεονεξίαν, ἥτις ἐστὶν εἰδωλολατρεία, διʼ ἃ ἔρχεται ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῆς ἀπειθείας· Ἐν οἷς καὶ ὑμεῖς περιεπατήσατέ ποτε, ὅτε ἐζῆτε ἐν αὐτοῖς. Νυνὶ δὲ ἀπόθεσθε καὶ ὑμεῖς τὰ πάντα, ὀργήν, θυμόν, κακίαν, βλασφημίαν, αἰσχρολογίαν ἐκ τοῦ στόματος ὑμῶν· μὴ ψεύδεσθε εἰς ἀλλήλους, ἀπεκδυσάμενοι τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον σὺν ταῖς πράξεσιν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐνδυσάμενοι τὸν νέον, τὸν ἀνακαινούμενον εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν κατʼ εἰκόνα τοῦ κτίσαντος αὐτόν· ὅπου οὐκ ἔνι Ἕλλην καὶ Ἰουδαῖος, περιτομὴ καὶ ἀκροβυστία, βάρβαρος, Σκύθης, δοῦλος, ἐλεύθερος· ἀλλὰ τὰ πάντα καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν Χριστός.

Gospel Reading

12th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 17:12-19

At that time, as Jesus entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices and said: "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus's feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then said Jesus: "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" And he said to him: "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."

12th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 17:12-19

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσερχομένου αὐτοῦ εἴς τινα κώμην ἀπήντησαν αὐτῷ δέκα λεπροὶ ἄνδρες, οἳ ἔστησαν πόρρωθεν, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἦραν φωνὴν λέγοντες· ᾿Ιησοῦ ἐπιστάτα, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς. καὶ ἰδὼν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· πορευθέντες ἐπιδείξατε ἑαυτοὺς τοῖς ἱερεῦσι. καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ὑπάγειν αὐτοὺς ἐκαθαρίσθησαν. εἷς δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν, ἰδὼν ὅτι ἰάθη, ὑπέστρεψε μετὰ φωνῆς μεγάλης δοξάζων τὸν Θεόν, καὶ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον παρὰ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ εὐχαριστῶν αὐτῷ· καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν Σαμαρείτης. ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν· οὐχὶ οἱ δέκα ἐκαθαρίσθησαν; οἱ δὲ ἐννέα ποῦ; οὐχ εὑρέθησαν ὑποστρέψαντες δοῦναι δόξαν τῷ Θεῷ εἰ μὴ ὁ ἀλλογενὴς οὗτος; καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἀναστὰς πορεύου· ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέ σε.

Parish News and Updates

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES:

PHILOPTOCHOS MEETING: There will be a General Meeting of the St. Helen Philoptochos after church TODAY Sunday, January 21^stin the Hellenic Cultural Center. Please plan to attend and help to plan our charitable efforts for the year 2024.

FRAPPE AND BREAD SALE: Our GOYAns will be selling frappe and Greek bread at TODAY’s coffee hour. Stop by and show our young people some support!

ADULT BIBLE STUDY: Adult Bible Study will resume this week, Tuesday, January 23^rd at 7:00 pm on the ZOOM platform. We will continue our study of the Book of Matthew. ZOOM LINK is: https://zoom.us/j/7345256789, Meeting ID: 734 525 6789. No pre-registration is needed. All adults are welcome to join.

HOPE and JOY CELEBRATE LOVE: Our HOPE and JOY groups and their families will be meeting after church on Sunday, February 4^th. All kids, ages 4 – 12 and their families are invited to join us for lunch, crafts, stories, and lots of fun! Please RSVP by 1/28/24 at the kids’ coffee hour table or by email to: lpace918@gmail.com or zmiller2872@gmail.com GOYA volunteer help is needed. If interested, RSVP to one of the emails listed above.

“SUPER” SWEETS AND SNACKS SALE: Once again, our Moms’ Group will be holding a Bake/Snack sale on Sunday, February 11^th. Just in time for Superbowl Sunday and Valentine's Day, our Moms will be selling sweet and salty snacks! If you can help by making/bringing items to sell, such as cookies, cupcakes, chip and dips, snack mix, etc. please contact Corrin at cstamatakos@gmail.com or Tracy at tracym522@gmail.com

AXIOS! On Saturday, January 27^th, the Reverend Deacon Spiridon Morris will be ordained to the Holy Priesthood at the St. George Greek Orthodox Church, where he will be assigned as parish priest beginning March 1st. Orthros begins at 8:45, Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am. All are welcome to attend, there will also be a reception following the service. Our congratulations to Deacon Spiro, who is a familiar face at St. Cons, having served the Divine Liturgy with Father Teodor and accompanied His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas many times at our parish.

SAVE THE DATES! ST CONS’ GREEK FEST! Our GreekFest 2024 will be held February 24^TH and 25^TH in the Hellenic Cultural Center! From specialty Greek cocktails and updated food selections to a vibrant “Plaka” Greek marketplace and live Greek music and dancing, every corner of our Hellenic Cultural Center will offer a fresh slice of Greece.

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE GREEKFEST A SUCCESS!

SHOW YOUR FAMILY SUPPORT AND BUY A PROGRAM AD: This year, our parish families can purchase a ¼ page ad in the GreekFest Program Book for $150, or a 2-line listing (Name and Greeting) for $75. Forms are available at the church office and at Sunday Coffee Hour.

PUT OUT A LAWN SIGN: Help us to spread the word!We have GreekFest lawn signs available in the church office, pick one up on your way to coffee hour to place on your front lawn at home or at a local business. In most areas, signs are allowed if placed between the sidewalk and the building (private property), but not between the sidewalk and the street (public property).

CALLING ALL BAKERS: We need help with homemade Greek pastry donations to sell at GreekFest. If you are able to make Bakalava, Diples, Galatoboureko (rolls), Kourambiethes, Melomacarona, Koulourakia, or Karithopita please contact Carol at: 248-471-4369 or the church office.

JOIN THE FUN AND VOLUNTEER: There are many volunteers needed the days of the festival in all areas - from food service, sales, bussing table, to parking lot attendants; and prior to the festival for set up, food preparation, Marketplace pricing and inventory, etc. etc. “It takes a village” to make our Festival a Success! Please complete a volunteer form, available in the church office or at Sunday Coffee Hour to let us know about your availability and work schedule preferences.

NEWS AND NOTICES:

ANNUAL HOME BLESSINGS: After the Epiphany and through the beginning of Lent, Father Teodor will be available for home blessings. This is a beautiful and very important tradition of our church; every Orthodox Christian should have their home blessed annually. Please call the office to schedule your home blessing for the new year.

STEWARDSHIP CARDS: Have you completed your 2024 Stewardship Commitment card yet? You are not considered members in good standing for Saints Constantine and Helen for the year 2024 until you turn in a completed pledge card. You can turn them in at the Pangari, in the church office, or when the basket is passed in church. The cards were sent out right after the New Year with the church calendars. Pledge cards are also available at the Pangari and at the church office. Unfortunately, we do not have extra calendars to give out this year.

ORATORICAL FESTIVAL: The St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival for our parish will be held on Sunday, April 7^TH. The festival centers around faith, education, and fellowship. It is a national program where Orthodox youth, grades 7 – 12, present speeches discussing the Greek Orthodox faith and the Church. Youth get to explore and deepen their faith; and hone their public speaking, writing, and personal presentation skills. They can also earn cash awards at the parish level and scholarship awards if they make it to the Nationals. Our own Nicole Petrutiu won the Senior Division National competition in 2023! For more information, https://www.goarch.org/oratorical, or any 7^th grade – 12^th grade Sunday School teacher.

MEMORIAL SERVICES: Please call the church office to schedule all memorials and coffee hour sponsorships at least two weeks in advance. On the day of the service, please bring a list of family names you would like Father to remember in prayer. The requested Coffee Hour Sponsorship donation is $200. The HCC will set up a table with cloth and coffee, etc. for Sponsor Families. Koliva will be distributed to parishioners at the coffee hour; if you wish to bring in paximadia, koulourakia, or other dry cookie it may also be distributed.

PARKING SAFETY AND COURTESY: In these months of cold, snow and ice, please be courteous and save handicapped parking spaces for those who have a need. Please also be respectful of fire lanes and entrances to the church and the Hellenic Cultural Center. Most importantly – STAY SAFE – and help to ensure the safety of all of our parish family.

Wisdom of the Fathers

Having met the Savior, therefore, the lepers earnestly besought Him to free them from their misery, and called Him Master, that is. Teacher. No one pitied them when suffering this malady, but He Who had appeared on earth for this very reason, and had become man that He might show pity to all, He was moved with compassion for them, and had mercy on them.

St. Cyril of Alexandria

Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, Homilies 113-116. B#42, pp. 465-466, 4th Century

And why did He not rather say, I will, be you cleansed; as He did in the case of another leper, but commanded them rather to show themselves to the priests? It was because the law gave directions to this effect to those who were delivered from leprosy (Lev. 14-2); for it commanded them to show themselves to the priests, and to offer a sacrifice for their cleansing.