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Holy Cross Church
Publish Date: 2020-02-23
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Lastjudgement1
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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

Third Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:9-20

When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table; and he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 146.5;134.3.
Great is our Lord, and great is his power.
Verse: Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2.

Brethren, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.


Gospel Reading

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)
The Reading is from Matthew 25:31-46

The Lord said, "When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."


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Saints and Feasts

Lastjudgement1
February 23

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)

The foregoing two parables -- especially that of the Prodigal Son -- have presented to us God's extreme goodness and love for man. But lest certain persons, putting their confidence in this alone, live carelessly, squandering upon sin the time given them to work out their salvation, and death suddenly snatch them away, the most divine Fathers have appointed this day's feast commemorating Christ's impartial Second Coming, through which we bring to mind that God is not only the Friend of man, but also the most righteous Judge, Who recompenses to each according to his deeds.

It is the aim of the holy Fathers, through bringing to mind that fearful day, to rouse us from the slumber of carelessness unto the work of virtue, and to move us to love and compassion for our brethren. Besides this, even as on the coming Sunday of Cheese-fare we commemorate Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight -- which exile is the beginning of life as we know it now -- it is clear that today's is reckoned the last of all feasts, because on the last day of judgment, truly, everything of this world will come to an end.

All foods, except meat and meat products, are allowed during the week that follows this Sunday.


Allsaint
February 23

Polycarp the Holy Martyr & Bishop of Smyrna

This apostolic and prophetic man, and model of faith and truth, was a disciple of John the Evangelist, successor of Bucolus (Feb. 6), and teacher of Irenaeus (Aug. 23). He was an old man and full of days when the fifth persecution was raised against the Christians under Marcus Aurelius. When his pursuers, sent by the ruler, found Polycarp, he commanded that they be given something to eat and drink, then asked them to give him an hour to pray; he stood and prayed, full of grace, for two hours, so that his captors repented that they had come against so venerable a man. He was brought by the Proconsul of Smyrna into the stadium and was commanded, "Swear by the fortune of Caesar; repent, and say, 'Away with the atheists.'" By atheists, the Proconsul meant the Christians. But Polycarp, gazing at the heathen in the stadium, waved his hand towards them and said, "Away with the atheists." When the Proconsul urged him to blaspheme against Christ, he said: "I have been serving Christ for eighty-six years, and He has wronged me in nothing; how can I blaspheme my King Who has saved me?" But the tyrant became enraged at these words and commanded that he be cast into the fire, and thus he gloriously expired about the year 163. As Eusebius says, "Polycarp everywhere taught what he had also learned from the Apostles, which also the Church has handed down; and this alone is true" (Eccl. Hist., Book IV, ch. 14,15).


Photini
February 26

The Holy Great Martyr Photine, the Samaritan Women

Saint Photine was the Samaritan Woman who encountered Christ our Saviour at Jacob's Well (John 4:1-42). Afterwards she laboured in the spread of the Gospel in various places, and finally received the crown of martyrdom in Rome with her two sons and five sisters, during the persecutions under the Emperor Nero.


Allsaint
February 28

Righteous John Cassian the Confessor

Note: If it is not a leap year the hymns of Saint John are transferred to the 28th.

This Saint was born about the year 350, and was, according to some, from Rome, according to others, from Dacia Pontica (Dobrogea in present-day Romania). He was a learned man who had first served in the military. Later, he forsook this life and became a monk in Bethlehem with his friend and fellow-ascetic, Germanus of Dacia Pontica, whose memory is also celebrated today. Hearing the fame of the great Fathers of Scete, they went to Egypt about the year 390; their meetings with the famous monks of Scete are recorded in Saint John's Conferences. In the year 403 they went to Constantinople, where Cassian was ordained deacon by Saint John Chrysostom; after the exile of Saint Chrysostom, Saints Cassian and Germanus went to Rome with letters to Pope Innocent I in defence of the exiled Archbishop of Constantinople. There Saint Cassian was ordained priest, after which he went to Marseilles, where he established the famous monastery of Saint Victor. He reposed in peace about the year 433.

The last of his writings was On the Incarnation of the Lord, Against Nestorius, written in 430 at the request of Leo, the Archdeacon of Pope Celestine. In this work he was the first to show the spiritual kinship between Pelagianism, which taught that Christ was a mere man who without the help of God had avoided sin, and that it was possible for man to overcome sin by his own efforts; and Nestorianism, which taught that Christ was a mere man used as an instrument by the Son of God, but was not God become man; and indeed, when Nestorius first became Patriarch of Constantinople in 428, he made much show of persecuting the heretics, with the exception only of the Pelagians, whom he received into communion and interceded for them to the Emperor and to Pope Celestine.

The error opposed to Pelagianism but equally ruinous was Augustine's teaching that after the fall, man was so corrupt that he could do nothing for his own salvation, and that God simply predestined some men to salvation and others to damnation. Saint John Cassian refuted this blasphemy in the thirteenth of his Conferences, with Abbot Chairemon, which eloquently sets forth, at length and with many citations from the Holy Scriptures, the Orthodox teaching of the balance between the grace of God on one hand, and man's efforts on the other, necessary for our salvation.

Saint Benedict of Nursia, in Chapter 73 of his Rule, ranks Saint Cassian's Institutes and Conferences first among the writings of the monastic fathers, and commands that they be read in his monasteries; indeed, the Rule of Saint Benedict is greatly indebted to the Institutes of Saint John Cassian. Saint John Climacus also praises him highly in section 105 of Step 4 of the Ladder of Divine Ascent, on Obedience.


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Holy Cross Notices

Dear Fait

Dear Faithful and Friends of Holy Cross,

 Please accept my most humble and sincerest gratitude for the recent festivities celebrating, a Priesthood, a Faith, and a parish.  I am grateful for each of you being part of it.  I am most overwhelmed by the kind words expressed and the love given to myself, my family, and to each other.  The committee who planned and executed the whole event-thank you.  Parish Council who coordinated the Sunday Services-cudos, all who came and worshipped-grateful for praying together and giving thanks to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Thank you for the cards, the reflections, and words of endearment.   It will be a while before I get over the afterglow.  Thank you mostly for making this parish home to myself and my family.  It is not good bye but a time away for the time being.  I pray our Lord will send His Holy Spirit to bring a new and refreshing spirit in the next chapter in the life of our parish.  May our Lord Jesus Christ bless each and every one of you with His abundant and inexhaustible grace now and forever more.

 With much gratitude and Agape,

+frdean

 

SEE ATTACHED FLYER BELOW FOR ADDITIONAL NOTE

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UPCOMING: 
 
 Feb. 22: Saturday of Souls
Divine Liturgy 10:00 AM, followed by Memorials
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Feb. 23: Macaronatha CANCELLED

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MEMORIALS:

MARCH 1: 1 year Helen Varveris & 6 month Ann Christo

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 MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

MARCH 2- Clean Monday/Lent begins

MARCH 6, 13, 20, 27 -Salutations @7:00 PM

(Goya Readers)

MARCH 7- Saturday of Souls @10:00 AM 

MARCH 8- Sunday of Orthodoxy

MARCH 14- GOYA Lenten Retreat @St. George Southgate

MARCH 22-  Veneration of the Holy Cross

MARCH 25- Divine Liturgy @10:00 am

April 3- Akathist Hymn @7:00 PM

 

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 holycrossgo.org

Links to eBulletin, Facebook, Metropolis
Facebook: HolyCrossGreekOrthodoxChurch
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 SHOP AT ACE HARDWARE? 5% minus tax = (!)
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church or #214538.  5% line discount off everyday pricing in the store Ace Rewards as well as 6% Tax Exempt will come off automatically.  2% Ace Rewards
+++

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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Ladies Philoptochos News

Philoptochos_seal_new
 
NEXT PHILOPTOCHOS MEETING: 
MARCH 8TH AFTER CHURCH
 
SAVE THE DATE: MAY 9, 2020
ANNUAL SALAD LUNCHEON & FASHION SHOW

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FEBRUARY COFFEE HOUR HOSTS:

 
23- Barr/Blough/Casoglos Families
 
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 MARCH COFFEE HOUR HOSTS:
 
1- Maria Heller & Christo Family (2 memorials)
8- Julie Hiotaky
15- George & Irene Katsias
22- open
29- Dave & Andrea Gordon 
 
COFFEE HOUR SIGN UP
Call Bonnie Sitaras or Debbie George
Thank you to all who sign up in offering hospitality/filoxenia!
 

 

 

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Altar Boy List

HOLY CROSS ALTAR BOYS 2019 - 2020            

Captains:  Sam Zervos, Yianni Giannakis, Alex Matthews

_______________________________________

TEAM 1                          TEAM 2

Nicholas Barnaby             

Benjamin Barnaby     Cristo Stilianos

Mateo Pesaros            Pano Stilianos

Stavros Fekaris           Dino Thanos            

Dimitri Sitaras             Niko Thanos                  

______________________________________

Team 1                          Team 2

December 1,15,29       December 8, 22

January 12, 26            January 5, 19

February 9, 23             February 2, 16

March 8, 22                 March 1, 15, 29

April 5,  Holy Week 12-19    April 26

May 3, 17, 31               May 10, 24

June 14, 28                 June 7, 21

July - August (Open)

September 13, 27        September 6,20

 

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 :

 

NICK KARRAS

M/M Peter Zervos

LIZA PAPAGEORGE

Mr. Angelo Gaggos

 CAROL A. TAYLOR

 M/M Steve Fekaris

ANGIE PERESKY

M/M James Heller & Family

Holy Cross Philoptochos

 M/M Stephen Economy

Ms. Anastasia Spanos

M/M Tom Casoglos

Mrs. Elaine Ioanou

M/M Evans Lucas

Marilyn Myers, Christina Morris, Tom Morris

M/M Peter Zervos

M/M Bill Williams

Mr. Tony & Dr. Nahed Zakaria

M/M George Katsias

Mrs. Paula Andres

 PATRICIA SCHWAMBERGER

 Mrs. Elaine Ioanou

HARRY SITARAS

 Mrs. Elaine Ioanou

Mrs. Ann Kargilis

M/M Anthony Barr

Dr/Mrs. Angelo M. Zervos

M/M Andrew Bittinger

Ms. Anastasia Spanos

M/M Marty & Penny Gehan

M/M Bill Williams

John Alexander Family

Mrs. Despina Sitaras

M/M George Katsias

M/M Peter Angelas

M/M Tad Krear

M/M Tim Keros

 PETER G. MALLIARAS

 M/M Dan Dallas

 SAM & DOLLY KAPAS

Valerie McCauley

 MICHAEL E. ZERVOS

 M/M Anthony Barr

Ms. Anastasia Spanos

 

MAY THEIR MEMORY BE ETERNAL

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