Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode

When the women Disciples of the Lord had learned from the Angel the joyful message of the Resurrection and had rejected the ancestral decision, they cried aloud to the Apostles triumphantly: Death has been despoiled, Christ God has risen, granting His great mercy to the world.

Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον· Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.

Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, μεσιτεία πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀμετάθετε. Μὴ παρίδῃς ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι· Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιμώντων σε.

Services and Sacraments

February 18, 2024 – Sunday of The Canaanite

TODAY IS GODPARENTS’ SUNDAY AT ST. CONS!

It’s a special day to honor our Godparents and an opportunity to share our faith together. If you are with your godparent/godchild today, please come up together to take communion.

Memorial:

JACK APOSTOL – 1 Year

May his memory be eternal!

SERVICES THIS WEEK

Wednesday, February 21 – HOLY UNCTION SERVICE, 7:00 pm

Holy Cross Church, Farmington Hills

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 WISDOM: Lord Jesus Christ, I pray for strength and wisdom as I navigate life’s challenges. Your Word is my refuge and strength, and I find hope in you.

PLEASE PRAY FOR: Michael, Theodoros, Georgia, Niko, Maria, Sevasti, Mariam, George, Gene, Pete, Lazaros, Bill, Katy, John, Christopher, George, David, Marcos, Evangelia, Lela, Doris, Dawn, Panagioti, Nanette, Joanna, Suzanne, Lambrine, Nick, Fotini, Niki, George, Matthew, 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, 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

February 18

Agapetus the Confessor, Bishop of Sinai

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:16-18; 7:1.

Brethren, you are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.

Προκείμενον. Fourth Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 103.24,1.
Ὡς ἐμεγαλύνθη τὰ ἔργα σου Κύριε, πάντα ἐν σοφίᾳ ἐποίησας.
Στίχ. Εὐλόγει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν Κύριον.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κορινθίους β' 6:16-18, 7:1.

Ἀδελφοί, ὑμεῖς ἐστε ναὸς Θεοῦ ζῶντος, καθὼς εἶπεν ὁ θεός ὅτι Ἐνοικήσω ἐν αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐμπεριπατήσω· καὶ ἔσομαι αὐτῶν θεός, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔσονταί μοι λαός. Διὸ, Ἐξέλθετε ἐκ μέσου αὐτῶν καὶ ἀφορίσθητε, λέγει κύριος, καὶ ἀκαθάρτου μὴ ἅπτεσθε· κἀγὼ εἰσδέξομαι ὑμᾶς, καὶ ἔσομαι ὑμῖν εἰς πατέρα, καὶ ὑμεῖς ἔσεσθέ μοι εἰς υἱοὺς καὶ θυγατέρας, λέγει κύριος παντοκράτωρ. Ταύτας οὖν ἔχοντες τὰς ἐπαγγελίας, ἀγαπητοί, καθαρίσωμεν ἑαυτοὺς ἀπὸ παντὸς μολυσμοῦ σαρκὸς καὶ πνεύματος, ἐπιτελοῦντες ἁγιωσύνην ἐν φόβῳ θεοῦ.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Canaanite
The Reading is from Matthew 15:21-28

At that time, Jesus went to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon." But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.

Sunday of the Canaanite
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 15:21-28

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐξελθὼν ἐκεῖθεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὰ μέρη Τύρου καὶ Σιδῶνος. καὶ ἰδοὺ γυνὴ Χαναναία ἀπὸ τῶν ὁρίων ἐκείνων ἐξελθοῦσα ἐκραύγαζεν αὐτῷ λέγουσα· ἐλέησόν με, Κύριε, υἱὲ Δαυΐδ· ἡ θυγάτηρ μου κακῶς δαιμονίζεται. ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῇ λόγον. καὶ προσελθόντες οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἠρώτων αὐτὸν λέγοντες· ἀπόλυσον αὐτήν, ὅτι κράζει ὄπισθεν ἡμῶν. ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν· οὐκ ἀπεστάλην εἰ μὴ εἰς τὰ πρόβατα τὰ ἀπολωλότα οἴκου ᾿Ισραήλ. ἡ δὲ ἐλθοῦσα προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ λέγουσα· Κύριε, βοήθει μοι. ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν· οὐκ ἔστι καλὸν λαβεῖν τὸν ἄρτον τῶν τέκνων καὶ βαλεῖν τοῖς κυναρίοις. ἡ δὲ εἶπε· ναί, Κύριε· καὶ γὰρ τὰ κυνάρια ἐσθίει ἀπὸ τῶν ψυχίων τῶν πιπτόντων ἀπὸ τῆς τραπέζης τῶν κυρίων αὐτῶν. τότε ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῇ· ὦ γύναι, μεγάλη σου ἡ πίστις! γενηθήτω σοι ὡς θέλεις. καὶ ἰάθη ἡ θυγάτηρ αὐτῆς ἀπὸ τῆς ὥρας ἐκείνης.

Parish News and Updates

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES:

LENTEN SEAFOOD BUFFET: Each Friday evening through March 29th, the HCC will continue serving their delicious Lenten Seafood Buffet Supper from 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm. (There will be no Seafood Buffet on February 23^rd, as we prepare for our GreekFest). Please invite your friends and neighbors to join you for supper, no reservations are required. WE ARE IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS TO WORK THE DOOR FOR EACH FRIDAY SEAFOOD BUFFET. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP, CONTACT ANNETTE AT THE CHURCH OFFICE.

ADULT BIBLE STUDY: Bible Study will resume this week, Tuesday, February 20^th at 7:00 pm on the ZOOM platform. ZOOM LINK is: https://zoom.us/j/7345256789, Meeting ID: 734 525 6789.We will continue our study of the Book of Matthew. All adults are welcome to join.

FAMILY WORSHIP: There will be no Sunday School classes next Sunday, February 25^th. Please plan to worship together as a family, and then stay to have lunch and enjoy the fun at GreekFest!

ORATORICAL FESTIVAL: The St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival for our parish will be held on Sunday, April 7^TH. The festival is a national program where Orthodox youth, grades 7 – 12, present speeches discussing the Greek Orthodox faith and the Church. Youth can also earn cash awards at the parish level and scholarship awards if they make it to the Nationals. For more information, https://www.goarch.org/oratorical, or any 7^th grade – 12^th grade Sunday School teacher

ST CONS’ GREEK FEST IS NEARLY HERE! Bring your parea! Our GreekFest will be held NEXT WEEKEND, 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!

T-SHIRT PICK UP: Those who have already signed up to volunteer can pick up your t-shirt today at coffee hour. T-shirts, hats, and aprons will also be available the days of the event.
FAMILY AD COMP PICK UP: For those who paid for family listings or ads, your 4 complimentary admission tickets can be picked up at the church office today.
JOIN THE FUN AND VOLUNTEER: If you haven’t signed up to volunteer yet – what are you waiting for?? There are still plenty of volunteer slots to be filled. Please see Mark Chuey at Coffee Hour to see how you might help! If you have available time during the week to help with set up, talk to Annette in the church office and let her know your availability.
CALLING ALL BAKERS: We still need help with homemade Greek pastry donations to sell at GreekFest. If you are able to make Baklava, Diples, Galatoboureko (rolls), Kourambiedes, Melomacarona, Koulourakia, or Karidopita please contact Carol at: 248-471-4369.

NEWS AND NOTICES:

THANK YOU! Thanks to everybody who bought delicious sweets and snacks at the Moms’ Group Super Sale last week! Our Mom’s Group sponsors several family activities for the church throughout the year, including the annual Name Day Dinner Dance, the Fall Festival, and the Easter Egg Hunt. We appreciate your support! Thanks also to our Moms and friends who made the tasty treats to sell!

ANNUAL HOME BLESSINGS: Father Teodor will continue to do home blessings until Lent begins. 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. Pledge cards are available at the Pangari and at the church office.

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.

Did You Know?

GODPARENTING 101: It is a known practice in the Orthodox Church that every person, child or adult, should have a Godparent (sponsor) at the time that they enter into the faith through Holy Baptism and Chrismation. To be a Godparent is at the same time a great honor and a tremendous responsibility. God asks each Godparent to assist in leading souls along the narrow path which leads to the Kingdom of Heaven. For this reason the role of the Godparent is not to be minimized or trivialized. It is in fact a role that is holy and needs to be taken seriously.

The task of steering a child along the narrow path, and bringing them up according to the law of God is perhaps the greatest of all things in life. St. Theophan the Recluse says that there is no holier act. What better thing can we offer our children than to lead them to our Lord and teach them to imitate Him in their life.

What are some other things that are expected of the Godparent?

1. A faithful Godparent will make the effort to maintain close contact with their Godchild, building up their relationship. The main focus, however, is the progress of the child in the knowledge and practice of the Christian life. He should at all times model a Christ-like example. For this reason it is important that the Godparent stay on top of their own spiritual life. The Godparent should pray, fast, read from Holy Scripture, and participate in the sacramental life of the Church. As they grow and mature in the faith, they will in turn be able to offer more and more to their Godchild who has been entrusted to them. To neglect their own spiritual life is ultimately to neglect the spiritual life of their Godchild.

2. Godparents are encouraged to call to remembrance the sacred and joyous moment of Baptism, which may be done by participating in "Godparents' Sunday", a National Observance by the Greek Orthodox Church in America.

3. Appropriate gift-giving honoring the occasion of the Godchild's nameday, birthday or baptism day, could include such things as icons, a Bible, and religious books that will be helpful in building up the spiritual life of the child. These are the most important, but it is not wrong to give other things as well that the child would enjoy and make use of.

4. Most of all, the greatest duty of the Godparent is to pray fervently for their Godchild that God will always watch over them and guide them throughout his/her life.

SERVICES AND SACRAMENTS:

Funeral: THEODORA KANELLOS

Sunday, February 18^th Visitation 3:00 – 8:00 pm, Trisagion 7:00 pm

Santeiu Funeral Home, Garden City

Monday, February 19^th Funeral 10:30 am

Saints Constantine and Helen

May her memory be eternal!

Wisdom of the Fathers

She had a great perfection of faith. She had no uncertainty about His divine majesty. She had no small measure of the virtue of patience. Yet the pitying Physician of the pitiful disdained her petitions. He kept her waiting for answer in order to demonstrate to us the perseverence of this woman that we can always imitate. She had the characteristics of constancy and humility. She willingly embraced the indignity she received, and even confirmed the Lord`s statement. This woman rightly signifies the faith and devotion of the Church gathered from the nations

Saint Bede

Hom. I. 22, In Lent, Homilies on the Gospels, Bk. One, 216, 217.

He kept her waiting for an answer in order to declare that the minds of His disciples should also be merciful. As human beings they were ashamed of the clamor of the woman as she pursued them publicly, but He Himself knew the character of His mercy.

St. Bede

Hom. I. 22, In Lent, Homilies on the Gospels, Bk. One, 216

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