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Holy Cross Church
Publish Date: 2018-12-09
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Nicholas
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Holy Cross Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (248) 477-1677
  • Fax:
  • (248) 477-0231
  • Street Address:

  • 25225 Middlebelt Rd.

  • Farmington Hills, MI 48336


Services Schedule

facebook: HolyCrossGreekOrthodoxChurch

DIVINE LITURGY SUNDAYS 10 A.M.

OFFICE HOURS 10 A.M.- 3 P.M.  MONDAY-WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY  (CLOSED THURSDAY)

BONNIE SITARAS: OFFICE COORDINATOR

 


Past Bulletins


Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Sixth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:36-53

At that time, Jesus, having risen from the dead, stood in the midst of his disciples and said to them, "Peace to you." But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.

Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high."

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 63.11,1.
The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord.
Verse: Oh God, hear my cry.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 4:22-27.

Brethren, Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in travail; for the children of the desolate one are many more than the children of her that is married."


Gospel Reading

10th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 13:10-17

At that time, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity." And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day." Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?" As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.


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Saints and Feasts

Nicholas
December 06

Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra

This Saint lived during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great, and reposed in 330, As a young man, he desired to espouse the solitary life. He made a pilgrimage to the holy city Jerusalem, where he found a place to withdraw to devote himself to prayer. It was made known to him, however, that this was not the will of God for him, but that he should return to his homeland to be a cause of salvation for many. He returned to Myra, and was ordained bishop. He became known for his abundant mercy, providing for the poor and needy, and delivering those who had been unjustly accused. No less was he known for his zeal for the truth. He was present at the First Ecumenical Council of the 318 Fathers at Nicaea in 325; upon hearing the blasphemies that Arius brazenly uttered against the Son of God, Saint Nicholas struck him on the face. Since the canons of the Church forbid the clergy to strike any man at all, his fellow bishops were in perplexity what disciplinary action was to be taken against this hierarch whom all revered. In the night our Lord Jesus Christ and our Lady Theotokos appeared to certain of the bishops, informing them that no action was to be taken against him, since he had acted not out of passion, but extreme love and piety. The Dismissal Hymn for holy hierarchs, The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock ... was written originally for Saint Nicholas. He is the patron of all travellers, and of sea-farers in particular; he is one of the best known and best loved Saints of all time.


Anna
December 09

The Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos

According to the ancient tradition of the Church, since Saint Anna, the Ancestor of God, was barren, she and her husband Joachim remained without children until old age. Therefore, sorrowing over their childlessness, they besought God with a promise that, if He were to grant them the fruit of the womb, they would offer their offspring to Him as a gift. And God, hearkening to their supplication, informed them through an Angel concerning the birth of the Virgin. And thus, through God's promise, Anna conceived according to the laws of nature, and was deemed worthy to become the mother of the Mother of our Lord (see also Sept. 8).


Allsaint
December 09

The Consecration of the Church of the Resurrection (Holy Sepulchre) in the Holy City of Jerusalem

The majestic Church of the Resurrection, built by Saint Constantine the Great and his mother Helen, was consecrated in the year 336. In the year 614, this edifice was destroyed by the Persians, who set fire to it. Modestus, the Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Theodosius, and later Patriarch of Jerusalem, rebuilt the church in 626 and had it reconsecrated. In 637, Jerusalem fell to the Moslems; however, the holy shrines were left intact. But in 934, on the Sunday of Pascha, the Saracens set fire to part of this church. Again in 969, the Moslems set fire to the dome of the church, plundered all the sacred objects that were found therein, and surrendered John IV, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, to the flames. In 1010, the Moslems, under Hakim the Mad, Caliph of Egypt, destroyed the church to its foundations, but in 1028, by the mediation of Emperor Romanus III Argyrus of Constantinople, the church began to be rebuilt on a more modest scale. This third edifice was completed and reconsecrated in 1048. In 1099, the crusaders took Jerusalem and ruled there for eighty-eight years, and during this time they made certain changes in the structure, which, for the most part, has remained unaltered ever since (See also Sept. 13).

Spyridon
December 12

Spyridon the Wonderworker of Trymithous

Spyridon, the God-bearing Father of the Church, the great defender of Corfu and the boast of all the Orthodox, had Cyprus as his homeland. He was simple in manner and humble of heart, and was a shepherd of sheep. When he was joined to a wife, he begat of her a daughter whom they named Irene. After his wife's departure from this life, he was appointed Bishop of Trimythus, and thus he became also a shepherd of rational sheep. When the First Ecumenical Council was assembled in Nicaea, he also was present, and by means of his most simple words stopped the mouths of the Arians who were wise in their own conceit. By the divine grace which dwelt in him, he wrought such great wonders that he received the surname 'Wonderworker." So it is that, having tended his flock piously and in a manner pleasing to God, he reposed in the Lord about the year 350, leaving to his country his sacred relics as a consolation and source of healing for the faithful.

About the middle of the seventh century, because of the incursions made by the barbarians at that time, his sacred relics were taken to Constantinople, where they remained, being honoured by the emperors themselves. But before the fall of Constantinople, which took place on May 29, 1453, a certain priest named George Kalokhairetes, the parish priest of the church where the Saint's sacred relics, as well as those of Saint Theodora the Empress, were kept, took them away on account of the impending peril. Travelling by way of Serbia, he came as far as Arta in Epirus, a region in Western Greece opposite to the isle of Corfu. From there, while the misfortunes of the Christian people were increasing with every day, he passed over to Corfu about the year 1460. The relics of Saint Theodora were given to the people of Corfu; but those of Saint Spyridon remain to this day, according to the rights of inheritance, the most precious treasure of the priest's own descendants, and they continue to be a staff for the faithful in Orthodoxy, and a supernatural wonder for those that behold him; for even after the passage of 1,500 years, they have remained incorrupt, and even the flexibility of his flesh has been preserved. Truly wondrous is God in His Saints! (Ps. 67:3 5)


Forefathers
December 16

11th Sunday of Luke

On the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we commemorate Christ's forefathers according to the flesh, both those that came before the Law, and those that lived after the giving of the Law.

Special commemoration is made of the Patriarch Abraham, to whom the promise was first given, when God said to him, "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 22:18). This promise was given some two thousand years before Christ, when Abraham was seventy-five years of age. God called him and commanded him to forsake his country, parents, and kinsmen, and to depart to the land of the Canaanites. When he arrived there, God told him, "I will give this land to thy seed" (Gen. 12:7); for this cause, that land was called the "Promised Land," which later became the country of the Hebrew people, and which is also called Palestine by the historians. There, after the passage of twenty-four years, Abraham received God's law concerning circumcision. In the one hundredth year of his life, when Sarah was in her ninetieth year, they became the parents of Isaac. Having lived 175 years altogether, he reposed in peace, a venerable elder full of days.


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Holy Cross Notices

12/05: Vespers of Saint Nicholas @ 7:00pm
Saint Nicholas Church - Troy, MI
Guest Homilist: His Excellency Archbishop Vegneron

DECEMBER 6: FEAST OF ST. NICHOLAS

DIVINE LITURGY @ TROY & ANN ARBOR (10 A.M.)


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MEMORIALS
12/09:  1 year John Ioanou

12/16: 40 days Katherine Lago

12/16: Trisagion following Services: Milton Alexander


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12/09: PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS - After Divine Liturgy

Candidates: Doug Garber, Ed Power, Paul Stewart, Benny Zervos

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12/09: Metropolis Open House (1-5pm)
2560 Crooks Road, Troy, MI (next to Desmond Funeral Home)
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12/12: 50th ANNIVERSARY MEETING @ 6:30pm
followed by the
PARISH COUNCIL MEETING @ 7:30pm
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12/16: CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
After Dismissal
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12/23: ALTAR BOY REUNION SUNDAY
A 50th Anniversay Celebration Event
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PHILANTHROPY
Philoptochos and Parish Community (including GOYA)

Collecting items for Homeless Shelter in Detroit: see Flyer below for what is needed!
will deliver to shelter within the "12 days of Christmas"
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SIGN UP FOR PICTURES FOR 50TH YEARBOOK
December 27,28,29
(Details can be found on the attached flyer)
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holycrossgo.org

Links to eBulletin, Facebook, Metropolis
Facebook: HolyCrossGreekOrthodoxChurch
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Farmington Hills Nursery School/ Early Childhood Center

  FHNS/Early Childhood Center- is owned and operated by Holy Cross. This is a premier Nursery School and Early Childhood Center for infants and children ages 6 weeks to 5 years of age.  We have been providing these services to our community for the past 30 years.  We are always in need of volunteers, donations, or special program directors (reading, music, art, etc.). We are now accepting new students. Please refer your family or friends in need of childhood services to our school. FHNS/Early Childhood Center is a curriculum based, non-denominational school committed to preparing our students to enter Kindergarten.  We have a very caring, talented and well-trained staff. 

  All inquiries should be directed to our School Director:  Katherine Melistas

 Katherine@FarmingtonNurserySchool.com

Phone: 248.476.3110 

Visit our web page:   www.farmingtonnurseryschool.com

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 SHOP AT ACE HARDWARE?

5% minus tax = (!)

  Holy Cross has been entered into our system for business rewards and discounts.  When you or any of your church members visit any our stores right around the corner or any 47 stores (list attached), simply let the cashier know your Church is in the system under Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church or #214538.  This will give you a 5% line discount off everyday pricing in the store + earn you 2% Ace Rewards as well as 6% Tax Exempt will come off automatically. 

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SHOP AT KROGER?
Register your card in a few steps. Each May the registration needs to be renewed,
so if you were part of the program last year and haven't renewed, please do so. Go to:
http://www.krogercommunityrewards.com
Holy Cross' ID # 83567
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Holy Cross 50th Anniversary News

Anniversary-logo

This section of the Holy Cross eBulletin is dedicated to the events and announcements leading up to the Holy Cross 50th Anniversary Celebration. Save this important date - September 15, 2019.

Stay tuned to this section for updates and see the Events, Announcements and Flyers section of this bulletin to print out and save reminders.

UPCOMING EVENTS - Mark Your Calendars!

- Dec 23: Altar Boy Sunday
- Feb 2019: Bowling Event (Date TBD)
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PHOTO COLLECTION
The 50th Anniversary Committee is looking for photos documenting 50 years of history at Holy Cross.  If you have pictures you would like to share, please drop them off in the Photo Drop Box located near the Church office.  Label each picture with your name if you would like them returned.  Thank you!
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COMMEMORATIVE DIRECTORY PHOTO SESSIONS
A friendly reminder to please go to the LifeTouch website and sign up for a photo session for you and your family .

https://booknow-lifetouch.appointment-plus.com/yz9z37t4

No personal sign in /login is necessary for you to secure your session. 

Dates and times are:

Thursday, December 27:   2:00 - 9:00pm
Friday, December 28:   2:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturday, December 29: 10:00am - 5:00pm

If you need help in selecting a date and time to bring your family please call or text Mary Lucas 248-496-9172.
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Ladies Philoptochos News

Philoptochos_seal_new
12/16: PHILOPTOCHOS BAKE SALE
Contact Debbie George to participate
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DECEMBER COFFEE HOURS HOSTS
09: Ioanou Family
16: Sunday School Pageant & Philoptochos Bake Sale
23: Altar Boy Reunion Sunday - 50th Anniversary Kick-Off Event
30: Steve & Madeleine Hountalas
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COFFEE HOUR SIGN UPS
Call Bonnie Sitaras or Debbie George
Thank you to all who sign up in offering hospitality/filoxenia
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NEXT PHILOPTOCHOS MEETING
January 6, 2019
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Altar Boy List

 

HOLY CROSS   ALTAR BOYS 2018-2019             

                            

Captains: Matthew Fekaris, Sam Zervos, Chris Zervos, Alex Matthews

_______________________________________

TEAM 1              TEAM 2

 

Nicholas Barnaby        Yianni Giannakis

Benjamin Barnaby      Dimitri Sitaras

Mateo Pesaros            Pano Stilianos

Stavros Fekaris           Dino Thanos             

                                 Niko Thanos                  

_________

Team 1                          Team 2

December 2,16,30           December 9,23

January 13, 27                January 6,20

February 10,24                February 3,17

March 10,24                    March 3, 17, 31

April 7, Palm Sunday 21   April 14-Holy Pascha 28

May 5,19                         May 12,26

June 2,16,30                   June 9, 23

July- open   come any Sunday!      July- open

August- open come any Sunday!      August-open

September 1,15,29  (registration again)      September 8,22

On holy days, if you come on Time you can serve :

for robes on holy days it’s first come-first serve.

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PLEASE NOTE ALTAR BOYS & PARENTS-

This is a great commitment to the Lord and it is an important RESPONSIBILTY to be on Time for the Divine Liturgy!

Liturgy begins at 10 a.m. SO please be on time !

DO NOT come into the Holy Altar  after 10:05 a.m.

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Events, Announcements and Flyers

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Memorial Donations to Holy Cross

OUR THANKS

 

To those who in lieu of flowers gave monetary

contributions to the Church in memory of :

 

KATHERINE LAGOS

Mr. & Mrs. John Liadis

Mr. & Mrs. Steve Fekaris

Christine Naife

Aggeliki Zafiropoulos

Mrs. Judy Lamanna

Mr. & Mrs. Tom Casoglos

Mr. & Mrs.  George Psaros

Mrs. Kanella Katsikas

Mr. & Mrs. Jimmy Fefopoulos

Mr. & Mrs. Evans Lucas

Mr. & Mrs. Lambros Stassinos

Dr. & Mrs. Marcus Zervos

Mr. & Mrs. John George

Mrs. Patrice Weaver

Mr. & Mrs. Jim Heller

Mr. & Mrs. George Golematis

Odisseys Zigouris Family

Mr. & Mrs. Gus Varlamos

Mr. & Mrs. Jim Sitaras

Mr. & Mrs. Edward Power

Mr. & Mrs. Peter Zervos

Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Kargilis

Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Bittinger

Mrs. Marge Lazarou

Mr. & Mrs. Emmanuel Angelakis

Mrs. Lambrine Ethans

Mr. & Mrs. Michael Tsavalias

Mr. & Mrs. James Lagos

Mrs. Audrey Kourtakis

Mr. & Mrs. John & Mary Kotsogiannis

Mr. & Mrs. Leonidas & Maria Pappas

Vassiliki Gikas

Mr. & Mrs. Evans & Diane Bageris

Mr. & Mrs. Pete & Koula Melistas

Mr. & Mrs. George & Leah Spanopoulos

Dr. Gregory Zotos

Mr. & Mrs. Dimos & Popi Renieris

Mr. & Mrs. Jim & Sofia Kavalos

Mr. Tom Lagos

Mr. & Mrs. Michael & Elizabeth Karamihas

Mr. & Mrs. John & Hariklia Sinanis

Mr. & Mrs. Peter & Fevronia Pappas

Mr. & Mrs. Emmanuel & Mary Marakis

Mr. & Mrs. Frank & Mary Varlamos

Mr. & Mrs. Gus & Lillian Demas

Mr. & Mrs. Mike & Mary Melhem

Mr. & Mrs. George & Barbara Tecos

Mr. & Mrs. Kon/os & Aspasia Dimopoulos

Maria Peslis

Barbara Paterakis

Mr. & Mrs. Lou & Venus Chalogianis

Mr. & Mrs. Peter & Regina Angelas

Mr. & Mrs. Frederic & Susan Meyers

Mr. & Mrs. Stylianos & Helen Sinanis

Mr. & Mrs. Michael & Lisa Sturm

Mr. & Mrs. Peter & Colleen Kapas

Mr. & Mrs. George & Terrie Stefanakis

Mr. & Mrs. John & Anna Petrou

Boloven, Tiano & Associates, PC

                                   

MILTON ALEXANDER

Mr. & Mrs. Steve Fekaris

Mr. & Mrs. Tom Casoglos

Mr. & Mrs. Jim Sitaras

Mr. & Mrs. Edward Power

Mr. & Mrs. Peter Zervos

Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Kargilis

Mr. George Matheos

Mr. & Mrs. James Heller

Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Bittinger

Mrs. Marge Lazarou

Mrs. Audrey Kourtakis

 

TOM SPANOS

Mr. & Mrs. John Liadis

Mr. & Mrs. Jim Sitaras

Mr. & Mrs. Edward Power

Mr. & Mrs. Peter Zervos

George Matheos

Mr. & Mrs. James Heller

Mr. & Mrs. Tim Keros

 

GEORGIA MORRIS/DOLORES MORRIS

JOHN & MARITSA ZERVOS

Susan Armstrong

Elaine Ioanou

 

MARY TOTH

Dr. & Mrs. James Stewart

 

NICK STRUMBOS

Lucy Macres

 

KEN BRILLINGER

Mr. & Mrs. Steve Fekaris

 

CHRISTINE VARVARESOS

Denise Varvaresos

 

KASSIANI GIKAS

Anastasia Spanos

Dr. & Mrs. Pan Pesaros

Mrs. Elaine Ioanou

 

SHIRLEY WELLS

Dr. & Mrs. James Stewart

 

ANGELO JOHN ZERVOS

Susan Armstrong

Maritsa Loizos

Mr. & Mrs. Adam Angelas

George & Irene Katsias

Scott & Angel Linzell

Mr. & Mrs. Peter Zervos

Mr. & Mrs. Edward Power

Mrs. Elaine Ioanou

Jason & Vivi Gehan

Mr. & Mrs. Martin Gehan

Mr. & Mrs. Tim Keros

 

NICK MADIAS

Kalliope Christo

Patty Weaver

 

MAY THEIR MEMORY BE ETERNAL

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