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Holy Cross Church
Publish Date: 2022-02-20
Bulletin Contents
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Hymns of the Day
Saints and Feasts
Announcements
Prayer Requests
Ladies Philoptochos News
Employment Opportunity
Altar Boys
Memorial Donations to Holy Cross
Events, Announcements and Flyers
Prodson
Organization Icon
Holy Cross Church

General Information

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

  • 25225 Middlebelt Rd.

  • Farmington Hills, MI 48336

Contact Information

Fr. Alex Radulescu
Parish Priest

fralex@holycrossgo.org | (248) 306-9162

Bonnie Sitaras
​Office Administrator

bonnie@holycrossgo.org

Services Schedule

DIVINE LITURGY

Sundays 10 am

OFFICE HOURS

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

10 am - 3 pm

(Closed Wednesday) 

Past Bulletins


Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Second Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back, for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Second Mode. Psalm 117.14,18.
The Lord is my strength and my song.
Verse: The Lord has chastened me sorely.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 6:12-20.

Brethren, "all things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food" -- and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two shall become one flesh." But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body and in your spirit which belong to God.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Prodigal Son
The Reading is from Luke 15:11-32

The Lord said this parable: "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his belly with the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

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Wisdom of the Fathers

But if he had despaired of his life, and, ... had remained in the foreign land, he would not have obtained what he did obtain, but would have been consumed with hunger, and so have undergone the most pitiable death: ...
St. John Chrysostom
AN EXHORTATION TO THEODORE AFTER HIS FALL, 4th Century

... but since he repented, and did not despair, he was restored, even after such great corruption, to the same splendour as before, and was arrayed in the most beautiful robe, and enjoyed greater honours than his brother who had not fallen.
St. John Chrysostom
AN EXHORTATION TO THEODORE AFTER HIS FALL, 4th Century

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Mode

When You descended unto death, O Lord who yourself are immortal Life, then did You mortify Hades by the lightning flash of Your Divinity. Also when You raised the dead from the netherworld, all the Powers of the heavens were crying out: O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory be to You.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Mode

O Father, foolishly I ran away from Your glory, and in sin, squandered the riches You gave me. Wherefore, I cry out to You with the voice of the Prodigal, "I have sinned before You Compassionate Father. Receive me in repentance and take me as one of Your hired servants."
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Saints and Feasts

Prodson
February 20

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Through the parable of today's Gospel, our Saviour has set forth three things for us: the condition of the sinner, the rule of repentance, and the greatness of God's compassion. The divine Fathers have put this reading the week after the parable of the Publican and Pharisee so that, seeing in the person of the Prodigal Son our own wretched condition -- inasmuch as we are sunken in sin, far from God and His Mysteries -- we might at last come to our senses and make haste to return to Him by repentance during these holy days of the Fast.

Furthermore, those who have wrought many great iniquities, and have persisted in them for a long time, oftentimes fall into despair, thinking that there can no longer be any forgiveness for them; and so being without hope, they fall every day into the same and even worse iniquities. Therefore, the divine Fathers, that they might root out the passion of despair from the hearts of such people, and rouse them to the deeds of virtue, have set the present parable at the forecourts of the Fast, to show them the surpassing goodness of God's compassion, and to teach them that there is no sin -- no matter how great it may be -- that can overcome at any time His love for man.

Allsaint
February 21

Timothy the Righteous

Saint Timothy took up the monastic life from his youth, became a vessel of the Holy Spirit, and reposed in deep old age.

Lastjudgement1
February 26

Saturday of Souls

Through the Apostolic Constitutions (Book VIII, ch. 42), the Church of Christ has received the custom to make commemorations for the departed on the third, ninth, and fortieth days after their repose. Since many throughout the ages, because of an untimely death in a faraway place, or other adverse circumstances, have died without being deemed worthy of the appointed memorial services, the divine Fathers, being so moved in their love for man, have decreed that a common memorial be made this day for all pious Orthodox Christians who have reposed from all ages past, so that those who did not have particular memorial services may be included in this common one for all. Also, the Church of Christ teaches us that alms should be given to the poor by the departed one's kinsmen as a memorial for him.

Besides this, since we make commemoration tomorrow of the Second Coming of Christ, and since the reposed have neither been judged, nor have received their complete recompense (Acts 17:31; II Peter 2:9; Heb. 11:39-40), the Church rightly commemorates the souls today, and trusting in the boundless mercy of God, she prays Him to have mercy on sinners. Furthermore, since the commemoration is for all the reposed together, it reminds each of us of his own death, and arouses us to repentance.

Photini
February 26

The Holy Great Martyr Photine, the Samaritan Women

Saint Photini lived in 1st century Palestine and was the woman that Christ met at Jacob's Well in Samaria as recorded in the Gospel according to John (4:4-26). After her encounter with Christ, she and her whole family were baptized by the Apostles and became evangelists of the early Church. Photini and her children eventually were summoned before the emperor Nero and instructed to renounce their faith in Christ. They refused to do so, accepting rather to suffer various tortures. After many efforts to force her to surrender to idolatry, the emperor ordered that she be thrown down a well. Photini gave up her life in the year 66.

St. Photini is commemorated on three occasions during the year: February 26 (Greek tradition), March 20 (Slavic tradition), and the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman on the 5th Sunday of Pascha.

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Announcements

 CONGRATULATIONS TO

 Drs. Tom & Cynthia Zervos for the Churching of baby Emmanuel on February 13, 2022.

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 PHILOPTOCHOS APOKRIATIKI MAKARONATHA

Orders due by February 21st. Pick up orders February 27th after Services. See flyer attached or order online.

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TRANSFORMATIVE CHRISTIANITY WEBINAR

March 2nd via zoom. Click here for more information. 

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ORATORICAL FESTIVAL

Parish Festival Date: March 5th, 2022. See flyer attached. Click here for more information.

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GOYA LENTEN RETREAT

Saturday, March 12th @ St. Nick's Ann Arbor. See flyer attached. Click here to register. 

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MDSC 70th Anniversary

Saturday, May 21st. See flyer attached. Click here for ticket information.

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HOUSE BLESSINGS

Please contact the Church Office to schedule your annual house blessing with Fr. Alex.

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TODAY

Sunday, February 20 - Divine Liturgy @ 10:00 am

              - Coffee Hour hosted by Angel Linzell

              - Church School & Catechesis

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UPCOMING

Monday, February 21 - Bible Study @ 7:00 pm (Read Exodus 37-40)

Thursday, February 24 - Choir Rehearsal @ 7:00 pm

Saturday, February 26 - Divine Liturgy for Saturday of Souls @ 10:00 am followed by Memorials 

Sunday, February 27 - Divine Liturgy @ 10:00 am

              - Trisagion Helen Varveris             

              - Coffee Hour hosted by Cathy Blough & Maria Heller

             - Church School & Catechesis

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ICONS IN THE ALTAR

If you brought icons to be blessed in the altar, please retrieve them soon. 

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HOUSE BLESSINGS

Please contact the Church Office to schedule your annual house blessing with Fr. Alex. 

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 PROSPHORA

 Interested in sponsoring prosphora? Please contact Church Office. 

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WORSHIP

THE CHURCH IS OPEN. Please join us in prayer. 

Please use this link to view the Divine Liturgy book.

Please download the Daily Readings App Lite (free download) for the daily Gospel & Epistle readings.

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LIVESTREAM SERVICES

www.holycrossgo.org/webcam

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STEWARDSHIP PLEDGE

Please continue to support our Chuch during this difficult time via your Stewardship pledge and donations. Please mail your checks directly to the church or donate online by clicking on the "GIVE" button on our website. Visit the Stewardship webpage to fill out your annual pledge card and/or to pay your stewardship.

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VIGIL CANDLES

If you would like us to light a vigil candle for you, please call the Church Office or email office@holycrossgo.org with your name(s) and Fr. Alex will light a vigil candle for you and say a prayer. Donations are optional.

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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

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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:
www.krogercommunityrewards.com
Holy Cross' ID # 83567

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Prayer Requests

Please continue to pray for the health and healing of the following friends:

  • Fr. John Stavropoulos
  • Meg
  • Baby George
  • Ted Andris
  • Bettie Fekaris
  • Nancy Temple
  • Zoe Jaimee
  • Kalliope Christo
  • Mary Christo Alexiades
  • Heather
  • Irene Katsias
  • Mr. Adam Angelas
  • Elise Gorman
  • Paraskevi Theodorou
  • Niki Brogger
  • Dr. Nicholas Varveris
  • Irene Zervos
  • Tina Johnson
  • Tula Georgeson
  • Marilyn Georgeson
  • George Benardos
  • Gina Weiler
  • Terrie Stefanakis
  • Evelyn Morris
  • Dr. Pan Pesaros
  • Faye Prekeges
  • Dr. Maureen Kelly
  • Dr. Rick Wilson
  • Dina Rand

If you would like to add your name or a loved one's to the prayer list, please email the office. Thank you!

 

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Ladies Philoptochos News

Philoptochos_seal_new

NEXT PHILOPTOCHOS MEETING

Tuesday, March 15, 2022 @ 6:30 pm

 

 

 

 

 2022 STEWARDSHIP

New and returning members are encouraged to complete the stewardship form. New members and new ideas are always welcome, so please consider joining and attending a meeting. Click here for the stewardship form.

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FLOWERS

If you are interested in donating to purchase flowers or decorate an icon for a feast day, please contact Debbie George or the Church Office. 

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COFFEE HOUR

If you are interested in hosting Coffee Hour, please contact Denise Liberty or the Church Office.  

Sunday, February 20 - Angel Linzell

Sunday, February 27 - Cathy Blough & Maria Heller

Sunday, March 6 - TBD

Sunday, March 13 - TBD

 

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Employment Opportunity

Preschool Teachers and Preschool Teacher Aides

Teachers: Qualifications required are Child Development Associate credentials (CDA), Associates in Early Childhood or ZA endorsement, 2 years’ experience at minimum and 2 letters of reference.

Teacher Aides: Qualifications required 2 years’ experience at minimum and 2 letters of reference.

We seek energetic, playful, loving, engaging nursery school teachers and nursery school assistants needed. Hours are flexible. Competitive pay. Room for growth. All applicants will need verifiable credentials, references and clear criminal history. The Farmington Hills Nursery School is a Church based non-denominational day care servicing the local community. We are licensed for 87 children ages 3 months to 4 years. We employ 13 staff members. If you are someone who loves being with children, can work well with others and wants to be apart of our family, please send resume and cover letter to Bonnie@FarmingtonNurserySchool.com. We are an equal opportunity employer.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

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Altar Boys

NOTICE FOR ALTAR BOYS & PARENTS

Being an Altar Server is a GREAT RESPONSIBILITY AND COMMITMENT to the Lord. Please BE ON TIME (arrive at least 15 minutes prior to any Church Service).

 

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LIST OF ALTAR BOYS 

 TEAM A

 TEAM B

​ Dimitri Sitaras (Cpt)

 Ioannis Yiannakis (Cpt)​​ 

 Stavros Fekaris

 Louis Foster

 Alex Matthews

 Christo Stilianos

 Mateo Pesaros

 Dino Thanos

 

  Nikolas Thanos

SCHEDULE 2021-2022 

TEAM A

TEAM B

2021

2021

SEP 26

​SEP 19

OCT 10, 24

OCT 3, 17, 31

NOV 7, 21

NOV 14, 28

DEC 5, 19

DEC 12, 26

2022

2022

JAN 2, 16, 30

JAN 9, 23

FEB 13, 27

FEB 6, 20

MAR 13, 27

MAR 6, 20

APR 10, 24

A​PR 3, 17

MAY 8, 22

MAY 1, 15, 29

JUN 5, 19

JUN 12

 

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Memorial Donations to Holy Cross

OUR THANKS

To those who in lieu of flowers gave monetary

contributions to the Holy Cross Church in memory of :

KYRIAKI (KOULLA) IOANOU

Elaine Ioanou

M/M George Katsias

Dr/M Marcus Zervos

CHRIS RAFAILL

M/M Tom Casoglos

M/M John George

Mr. Harry Gaggos

Mrs. Anna Zervos

M/M Steve Economy

M/M Bill Williams

M/M Evans Lucas

M/M George Gaggos

M/M James Bournias

M/M Angelo Metas

Dr/M Marcus Zervos

M/M Bob Czech

M/M Tom Rafaill

Dennis Rafaill

M/M Edward Power

M/M George Katsias

M/M Steve Fekaris

M/M Lou Chalogianis

M/M James Heller

M/M Michael Blough

M/M John Liadis

Drs. Pamela Georgeson & Mark Decco

M/M Van Kyriakopoulos

M/M Albert Scaglione

M/M Dean Demos

M/M Peter Angelas

M/M Tino Boudouris

M/M Gus Stavropoulos

Margarita Shukla

M/M Anthony Barr

M/M George Stefanakis

Denise Liberty

Tula Georgeson

WILLIAM (BILL) HIOTAKY

Ellen Ernst

Mrs. Anna Zervos

M/M George Katsias

M/M Tad Krear

M/M Edward Power

Dr/M Marcus Zervos

M/M Kirk Dunlap

M/M Kostas Voutsinas

M/M Evans Lucas

M/M Tom Casoglos

M/M John George

M/M James Terry

M/M Limperis Zervos

Matthew Herbster

M/M Paul Wywrot

Elizabeth Exner

Kelly Gilling-Coburn

M/M Mike Sturm

M/M Andrew Bittinger

Denise McKewan

Catherine Pikulas

Margarita Shukla

M/M Bill Williams

Hountalas Family

Sophie Paron

Angelo P. Zervos & Family

M/M Steve Fekaris

Helen Hiotaky

M/M Jim Grove

Charlotte Van Neck

Todd Van Neck

Cynthia Porter

Rochelle McCrone

M/M James Heller

M/M Michael Blough

M/M John Liadis

Drs. Pamela Georgeson & Mark Decco

M/MTim Keros

M/M Van Kyriakopoulos

M/M Raymond Rowe

M/M Mark & Stacey Rogers

M/M Peter Angelas

M/M Tino Boudouris

Angela "Kixie" Cosma

M/M Patrick Murray

M/M Anthony Barr

M/M George Stefanakis

M/M Stelios Sinanis

Dr/M Angelo Zervos

M/MDoug Garber

The Jabbori-Ryan Family

Mr. James Vandenberg

M/M William Kroppe Sr.

Theresa Banka

Lucy Macres

Elaine Ioanou

M/M Peter Morris

Ellen Ernst

M/M Nick Ilitch & Family

M/M Kevin Barrett

M/M Michael Holland

 MARITSA LOIZOS

M/M Nicholas & Victoria Madias

M/M Steve Fekaris

Drs. Pamela Georgeson & Mark Decco

M/M Edward Power

Elaine Ioanou

Maria Madias & Thomas Barkulis

Dr/M Marcus Zervos

Mrs. Anna Zervos

M/M Tim Keros

Susan Armstrong

Tula Georgeson

VENA MARIE THANOS

Holy Cross Philoptochos

M/M Tad Krear & Family

M/M George Katsias

M/M James Heller & Family

M/M Evans Lucas

Dr/M Marcus Zervos

M/M Edward Power

M/M Michael Blough

M/M Tom Casoglos

M/M Lou Chalogianis

Elaine Ioanou

M/M Martin Gehan

M/M Doug Garber

Holy Cross GOYA

M/M John George

M/M John Liadis

Mrs. Mary Kargilis

James Sitaras

M/M Bill Williams

M/M Mike Sturm & Family

Denise Liberty

M/M Limperis Zervos

M/M Steve Fekaris

M/M Dan Dallas

Drs. Pamela Georgeson & Mark Decco

M/M Anthony Barr

M/M George Stefanakis

M/M Stelios Sinanis

M/M Peter Angelas

Mrs. Anna Zervos

 

 MAY THEIR MEMORY BE ETERNAL

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Events, Announcements and Flyers

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