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.

Apolytikion for Sun. of St. John Climacus in the Plagal Fourth Mode

With the streams of thy tears, thou didst cultivate the barrenness of the desert; and by thy sighings from the depths,thou didst bear fruit a hundredfold in labours; and thou becamest a luminary, shining with miracles upon the world, O John our righteous Father. Intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Ταίς τών δακρύων σου ροαίς, τής ερήμου τό άγονον εγεώργησας, καί τοίς εκ βάθους στεναγμοίς, εις εκατόν τούς πόνους εκαρποφόρησας, καί γέγονας φωστήρ, τή οικουμένη λάμπων τοίς θαύμασι, Ιωάννη Πατήρ ημών, Όσιε, Πρέσβευε Χριστώ τώ Θεώ, σωθήναι τάς ψυχάς ημών.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, 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.

Services and Sacraments

April 14, 2024 – Sunday of St John Climacus

Memorial: STEVEN XANTHEAS – 40 Days

Coffee Hour Sponsor

May his memory be eternal!

Services This Week

Wednesday, April 17^rd – PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY 5:30 pm

Followed by lecture, “EXPLAINING THE DIVINE LITURGY: Liturgy of the Faithful”, presented by Fr. Teodor Petruitu (*St. Helen Philoptochos host Lenten Pot Luck Supper)

Fr. Teodor’s lecture will be live-streamed ½ hour following the Liturgy on the parish facebook page athttps://www.facebook.com/stconswestland.

Friday, April 19^th – AKATHIST HYMN, SALUTATIONS TO THE THEOTOKOS 6:00 pm

Fr. Teodor will be available for one hour on Friday April 19^th after the Salutations service to hear confession for those who are interested. If that time is not convenient for you, contact the church office to schedule an appointment.

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

“Lord Jesus, in the midst of life’s busyness and distractions, I pause to seek your peace and wisdom. Help me to align my will with yours, surrendering my worries and fears into your loving hands. Grant me the courage to step out in faith, trusting in your perfect plan for my life. May your light shine brightly through me, illuminating the darkness and spreading your love to all whom I encounter. Amen.”

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

April 14

Ardalion the Actor and Martyr

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 Letter to the Hebrews 6:13-20.

BRETHREN, when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

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 Ἑβραίους 6:13-20.

Ἀδελφοί, τῷ Ἀβραὰμ ἐπαγγειλάμενος ὁ θεός, ἐπεὶ κατʼ οὐδενὸς εἶχεν μείζονος ὀμόσαι, ὤμοσεν καθʼ ἑαυτοῦ, λέγων, Ἦ μὴν εὐλογῶν εὐλογήσω σε, καὶ πληθύνων πληθυνῶ σε. Καὶ οὕτως μακροθυμήσας ἐπέτυχεν τῆς ἐπαγγελίας. Ἄνθρωποι μὲν γὰρ κατὰ τοῦ μείζονος ὀμνύουσιν, καὶ πάσης αὐτοῖς ἀντιλογίας πέρας εἰς βεβαίωσιν ὁ ὅρκος. Ἐν ᾧ περισσότερον βουλόμενος ὁ θεὸς ἐπιδεῖξαι τοῖς κληρονόμοις τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τὸ ἀμετάθετον τῆς βουλῆς αὐτοῦ, ἐμεσίτευσεν ὅρκῳ, ἵνα διὰ δύο πραγμάτων ἀμεταθέτων, ἐν οἷς ἀδύνατον ψεύσασθαι θεόν, ἰσχυρὰν παράκλησιν ἔχωμεν οἱ καταφυγόντες κρατῆσαι τῆς προκειμένης ἐλπίδος· ἣν ὡς ἄγκυραν ἔχομεν τῆς ψυχῆς ἀσφαλῆ τε καὶ βεβαίαν, καὶ εἰσερχομένην εἰς τὸ ἐσώτερον τοῦ καταπετάσματος· ὅπου πρόδρομος ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν εἰσῆλθεν Ἰησοῦς, κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδὲκ ἀρχιερεὺς γενόμενος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. John Climacus
The Reading is from Mark 9:17-31

At that time, a man came to Jesus kneeling and saying: "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again." And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise."

Sunday of St. John Climacus
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 9:17-31

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἄνθρωπός τις προσῆλθε τῷ Ἰησοῦ λέγων, διδάσκαλε, ἤνεγκα τὸν υἱόν μου πρός σε, ἔχοντα πνεῦμα ἄλαλον. καὶ ὅπου ἂν αὐτὸν καταλάβῃ, ῥήσσει αὐτόν, καὶ ἀφρίζει καὶ τρίζει τοὺς ὀδόντας αὐτοῦ, καὶ ξηραίνεται· καὶ εἶπον τοῖς μαθηταῖς σου ἵνα αὐτὸ ἐκβάλωσι, καὶ οὐκ ἴσχυσαν. ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς αὐτῷ λέγει· ὦ γενεὰ ἄπιστος, ἕως πότε πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἔσομαι; ἕως πότε ἀνέξομαι ὑμῶν; φέρετε αὐτὸν πρός με. καὶ ἤνεγκαν αὐτὸν πρὸς αὐτόν. καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν εὐθέως τὸ πνεῦμα ἐσπάραξεν αὐτόν, καὶ πεσὼν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἐκυλίετο ἀφρίζων. καὶ ἐπηρώτησε τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ· πόσος χρόνος ἐστὶν ὡς τοῦτο γέγονεν αὐτῷ; ὁ δὲ εἶπε· παιδιόθεν. καὶ πολλάκις αὐτὸν καὶ εἰς πῦρ ἔβαλε καὶ εἰς ὕδατα, ἵνα ἀπολέσῃ αὐτόν· ἀλλ᾿ εἴ τι δύνασαι, βοήθησον ἡμῖν σπλαγχνισθεὶς ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ τὸ εἰ δύνασαι πιστεῦσαι, πάντα δυνατὰ τῷ πιστεύοντι. καὶ εὐθέως κράξας ὁ πατὴρ τοῦ παιδίου μετὰ δακρύων ἔλεγε· πιστεύω, κύριε· βοήθει μου τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ. ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ὅτι ἐπισυντρέχει ὄχλος, ἐπετίμησε τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἀκαθάρτῳ λέγων αὐτῷ· τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἄλαλον καὶ κωφόν, ἐγώ σοι ἐπιτάσσω, ἔξελθε ἐξ αὐτοῦ καὶ μηκέτι εἰσέλθῃς εἰς αὐτόν. καὶ κράξαν καὶ πολλὰ σπαράξαν αὐτὸν ἐξῆλθε, καὶ ἐγένετο ὡσεὶ νεκρός, ὥστε πολλοὺς λέγειν ὅτι ἀπέθανεν. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς κρατήσας αὐτὸν τῆς χειρὸς ἤγειρεν αὐτόν, καὶ ἀνέστη. Καὶ εἰσελθόντα αὐτὸν εἰς οἶκον οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπηρώτων αὐτὸν κατ᾿ ἰδίαν, ὅτι ἡμεῖς οὐκ ἠδυνήθημεν ἐκβαλεῖν αὐτό. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τοῦτο τὸ γένος ἐν οὐδενὶ δύναται ἐξελθεῖν εἰ μὴ ἐν προσευχῇ καὶ νηστείᾳ. Καὶ ἐκεῖθεν ἐξελθόντες παρεπορεύοντο διὰ τῆς Γαλιλαίας, καὶ οὐκ ἤθελεν ἵνα τις γνῷ· ἐδίδασκε γὰρ τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς ὅτι ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδίδοται εἰς χεῖρας ἀνθρώπων, καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν αὐτόν, καὶ ἀποκτανθεὶς τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστήσεται.

Parish News and Updates

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES:

GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE: The Detroit Greek Independence Day Parade will be held TODAY, Sunday, April 14^th at 3:00 pm in Historic Greektown. Plan to wear your Greek colors and march with our Saints Constantine and Helen parish in the parade! Because of events related to the NFL draft, the parade route is different this year, The parade will begin on Brush and then go to Monroe. The parade will line up behind the Old County Building on Brush north of Congress. Look for our St. Cons group and banner in the second grouping of marchers. Maps of the parade route are at the Pangari for those who need them.

PALM SUNDAY LUNCHEON: Our parish will hold its traditional Palm Sunday fish luncheon on Sunday, April 28^th, immediately following the Divine Liturgy service. We have a delicious meal planned of whitefish, calamari and shrimp and rice, along with sides. Plan to stay after service and attend with your family, as we begin Holy Week together. Tickets are $30 for adults, $15 for kids, and will be on sale at today’s coffee hour. The event is Open Seating - only full tables of 8 or 10 will be reserved.

MEN’S CLUB and GOYA MEETINGS NEXT WEEK: Next Sunday, April 21^st there will be a Men’s Club meetingfollowing the Divine Liturgy service. There will also be a GOYA meeting following the service in the Board Room. Please plan to stay to discuss upcoming activities.

HOLY FRIDAY YOUTH RETREAT: From the Mystical Supper to Christ’s final moments on the cross and burial in the tomb, our youth will spend May 3rd, Holy Friday afternoon from 12:30 pm – 4:30 pm in learning, reflection, and prayer. Please contact the church office by Sunday, April 21^st to let us know your young people’s availability to participate in this special Holy Friday Retreat. stcons2@gmail.com or 734.525.6789. The church will provide a letter signed by Father Teodor requesting an excused absence for your child from school on that day.

EUCHRE TOURNAMENT: Our Men’s Club will be hosting their annual Euchre Tournament on Friday, May 10^th at 6:30 pm. The $45 ticket price includes cash prizes, keg beer, wine, pizza, hot dogs, slider, snacks and a contribution to the Men’s Club “Feed the Needy” program. If you have any questions, contact Paul Stavropoulos at 248.709.9876 or paulstavropoulos@att.net

NAME DAY DINNER DANCE: Polish up your dancing shoes! Our annual Name Day Dinner Dance will be held on Saturday, May 18^th. We will have live Greek music, delicious new menu items, and a fun time for the whole family! Adult tickets are $45, Youth (up to age 18) tickets are $20, and will be on sale soon!

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: Our Vacation Bible School will be held the week of June 17^th – 21^st. If you have a young person K – 6^th grade, save this week for learning about our faith, making new friends, and big fun! If you can help, contact Frances Marinos at fmarinos@comcast.net.

NEWS AND NOTICES:

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ORATORICAL SPEAKERS! Congratulations to our young people who participated in this year's St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival. The speeches were well thought out and presented. You make us so proud! Our Parish finalists were Ava Tsikaris (Junior Division) and Irene Petrutiu (Senior Division); other speakers included Ioannis Liabotis, and runners up Christian Tyranski and Nicholas Tyranski. Many thanks to our Oratorical Festival Coordinator, Angie Colovas, our Emcee, Dean Peratsakis, and to our volunteer Judges.

HOLY WEEK BOOKS, RED EGG DYE ARE IN! The parish bookstore has just received a shipment of Holy Week books, and we are again in stock. The books sell for $35 each. We also have Anatoli Red Egg dye just in from Greece for $4/package. While you’re in the bookstore, consider a small gift to fill your children’s Easter Baskets!

READERS NEEDED: Those interested in being a reader for the Friday Salutations services, Holy Week services, or young people interested in being a Sunday Epistle reader, please contact the church office to Fr. Teodor.

MYRRHOPHORES: We are in need of young girls, up to age 12, to act as myrrhophores, (myrrh-bearers) for the Good Friday 6:30 pm Lamentations service. Girls should wear all white, and will scatter rose petals on the Epitaphio, and walk in the procession around the church. To sign your child up, or for more information, please talk to Joy Kisabeth.

GREAT LENT/EASTER FLOWER DONATIONS: For each Friday night Salutations to the Theotokos service, and throughout Great Lent and Holy week, our parish icons are decorated with flowers. If you would like to make a donation towards the Icon flowers, please make a check out to Saints Constantine and Helen Church and put “Flowers” in the memo line.

ST. CONS YOUNG ADULT LEAGUE: We will be starting a YAL group (Young Adult League) at Saints Constantine and Helen! YAL serves the Orthodox Christian college student, young professional and young adult communities, ages 18 – 35. Participants may be single or married. YAL provides a variety of Fellowship and Service activities, and it’s a wonderful opportunity for those who want to get more involved with our Orthodox faith. If you are interested, please contact Jeniya at jeniyadabish@outlook.com or the church office at stcons2@gmail.com and leave your name and contact information.

SERVICES AND SACRAMENTS

Funeral: Tuesday, April 16 - EFFIE MORRIS

Visitation 9:30 am, Funeral 10:30 am, Saints Constantine and Helen Church

May her memory be eternal!

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. Coffee Hour sponsorship is not required, however the church is grateful to those who wish to make a sponsorship donation of $200, and the HCC will set up a table with cloth and coffee, etc. for your family.

Wisdom of the Fathers

Seest thou how He now proceeds to lay beforehand in them the foundation of His doctrine about fasting? ... See, at any rate, how many blessings spring from them both. For he that is praying as he ought, and fasting, hath not many wants, and he that hath not many wants, cannot be covetous; ...

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 57 on Matthew 17,4,5. B#54, pp.355,356., 4th Century

... he that is not covetous, will be also more disposed for almsgiving. He that fasts is light, and winged, and prays with wakefulness, and quenches his wicked lusts, and propitiates God, and humbles his soul when lifted up. Therefore even the apostles were almost always fasting.