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Nativity of The Virgin Mary Church
Publish Date: 2021-01-31
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Unmercenaries
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Nativity of The Virgin Mary Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (734) 420-0131
  • Fax:
  • (734) 420-0602
  • Street Address:

  • 39851 Five Mile Road

  • Plymouth Township, MI 48170


Contact Information






Services Schedule

 

Sundays 

9:00 am - Orthros

10:00 am - Divine Liturgy

Wednesday 

7:00 pm - Paraklesis 

Abundant Online Giving:  

https://abundant.co/nativitygochurch

 

 


Past Bulletins


Come and Worship!

Just in case you don't know - Nativity is open for worship! Join us in person (masks and social distancing required) or watch online: Visit our livestream web page to see the services.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, January 30, 2020, Three Hierarchs 9am Orthros & 10am Divine Liturgy (click here to view the Liturgy for the Day) 

Sunday, January 31, 15th Sunday of Luke, Sunday of Zacchaeus 8:45am Orthros & 10am Divine Liturgy (click here to view the Liturgy for the Day)

Tuesday Bible Study returns next week - Join us for worship in person or online for the Feast of the Presentation

Tuesday, February 2 - The Presentation of Our Lord and Savior in the Temple. 9am Orthros & 10am Divine Liturgy (click here to view the Liturgy for the Day)

Wednesday, February 3, Paraklesis  at 7pm Call or email the church office with your prayer requests. 

Saturday, February 27 - Drive-Thru Lamb Dinner - Order envelopes available at church or print the attached file and mail it to the office with your payment. Online sales will be up next week.

Lamb Dinner 

News and Announcements

TO ALL MEMBERS WHO WORK WITH OUR YOUTH - Those who received their certification last year are due to once again complete the two online training courses. You should have recently received an email about this from our youth safety contractor, Praesidium Armatus.

Please log onto the website and complete these two training courses as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline of February 28. Only after your training is completed will you be a certified youth safety worker allowed to work with children in the parish. If you completed a background check last year, there is no need to complete one again this year. 

If you did not receive your certification last year and would like to receive it now, please get in touch with me, Christina Tzilos. I can be reached via email at ctzilos@gmail.com or by telephone at 248-798-3627. 

NATIVITY FOOD PANTRY Many people have asked if they can help our parishioners in this time of need with food donations. We have decided to collect a few specific items that may be hard to find or may be needed.  A new pantry cupboard is here! Help us fill it up.  Suggested pantry items:

Canned soups, cereals, pasta/sauce, Mac and Cheese (the kind that doesn't require milk and butter), Toilet paper, Paper towels, soap.

If you need assistance feel free to reach out to Father Nick, the church office or Parish Council President, Pete Tsaprazis at any time.  Your needs will be kept confidential. 

THE BLESSING OF OUR HOMES AT EPIPHANY As is customary, following the days of the Epiphany feast, the priest visits the homes of parishioners to perform the Agiasmo and to bless the family. If you wish to have your home blessed, please pick up a form at the candlestand, print the attached form or contact the church office to schedule a visit. If you are uncomfortable with Father Nick entering your home during the pandemic, he will come, greet you at your door, and bless the exterior of your home.

Keep track of Feasts, Fasts, Saints and Celebrations in 2021- Pick up a new Ecclesiastical Calendar. Thanks to Charles R. Step Funeral Home for sponsoring them for Nativity.

TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY Did you know that Fr. Nick offers a Zoom Bible study on Tuesdays at 11:00 am? He'd love to have you join the lively discussion.  Click here to join the zoom session.

DON'T MISS THE DEADLINE!  The Panhellenic Scholarship Foundation offers $250,000 in scholarship awards to 40 exceptional Greek American undergraduates.  See the flyer attached to this message or check it out on the GOYA bulletin Board.  Click here to apply online. The deadline to apply is Sunday, January 31, 2021. The scholarships will be distributed at our Awards Ceremony and Gala, which will be held on Saturday, June 19, 2021.

"THE THREE HIERARCHS" GREEK SCHOOL RESUMES CLASSES ONLINE - You may contact Anna Liakou-Hentnik for more specific information at nativity_greek_school@yahoo.com

ALTAR BOYS Please arrive no later than 9:45 am if you plan to serve.   Masks are required, social distance must be maintained. Contact Bill Smith if you have any questions.

NEWS FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL Visit our web page to read about a potential property development near the church.  Contact Kathy in the office if you need to have a letter printed out for you to mail.

Those in Our Prayers

Nicholas the Bishop, George the Priest, Philemon the Priest, Svetomir the Priest, Cassani the Presvytera, Adel Boles and Family, Mary Caracostas, Brandi Cauthen, Angeliki Dellas, Maria  Dionyssopoulos, Constantin Dumitrescu, Kosta Efthimiou, Maria Espinosa, George Fine, Donna Hollis, John Houstoulakis, Kathy Jenaras, Maria Kalas, Helen Kaneris, Constantine Kondyles, Panagiotis Korelis, George Kotsonis, Soula Koumariotis, Panayiota Koutoupa, Nick Kyriacou, Anastasia Kyriazako, Andrula Loisides, John and Julie Long, Anyssa Mahfoud, Wade Mahfoud, Anna Marcus, Bessie Marcus, Angela Mareskas, Frank Maroudis, David Meadors, Chris Milianis, Freda Mollasis, Evelyn Morris, Donka Nanovski, Pavle Nanovski, Alexander Nichoff, Carlo Nichoff, Freda Nicozisis, Marcy Papageorgakis, John Pappas, Marilyn Popyk, Penny Poulos, Maria Rifat, Helen Sitaras, Joan Stockdale, Evan Kostonas Stocklane, Mike  Tjilos, Rick Tobin, Jim Tsakos, Evris and Helen Tsaprazis, John and Catherine Vardouniotis, Maryann Varverakis, Jim Vlahakis, Irene Vouharas, Sheri Wilkins, Irene Yiannati, Sandy Zembylas, Lisa Zervos, Hunsinger Family, Constandina “Michele”, Kyriakos “Chaz”, Stephanos “Roy”, Norma and Basom.

 

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Stewardship and Online Giving

Thank you Faithful Stewards! - 2020 Giving Statements were sent by Email to members who have addresses in their member profile.  Paper copies will be mailed early next week. If you do not receive your giving statement or if corrections are needed, contact the Parish Office.  

We can set up your electronic giving - it's safe, easy and means more accuracy and less work for our offering counters and office staff.  Just print out the attached enrollment form and return it to Kathy in the Parish Office.

 

abundant giving

Introducing Abundant Online Giving

Nativity's new online giving service! You can donate by App (available for Apple or Android devices) by web (link on our web page) by ACH/EFT (Kathy will set it up for you) or by texting the keyword "nativitygochurch" to 73256 followed by your desired gift amount. This program connects directly with our parish data system - so your stewardship gifts are imported directly into your record.  Contact Kathy in the church office if you have questions. 

Abundant

 

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Mode

The stone had been secured with a seal by the Judeans, * and a guard of soldiers was watching Your immaculate body. * You rose on the third day, O Lord * and Savior, granting life unto the world. * For this reason were the powers of heaven crying out to You, O Life-giver: * Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ; * glory to Your eternal rule; * glory to Your dispensation, only One who loves mankind.
Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, καὶ στρατιωτῶν φυλασσόντων τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα, ἀνέστης τριήμερος Σωτήρ, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὴν ζωήν. Διὰ τοῦτο αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν ἐβόων σοι Ζωοδότα· Δόξα τῇ ἀναστάσει σου Χριστέ, δόξα τῇ Βασιλείᾳ σου, δόξα τῇ οἰκονομίᾳ σου, μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε.

Apolytikion for Unmercenaries Cyrus & John in the Plagal First Mode

You have given us the miracles of Your holy Martyrs as an impregnable fortress, O Christ our God. At their entreaties, frustrate the plots of foreign enemies, and strengthen our nation, for You alone are good and love humanity.
Τὰ θαύματα τῶν Ἁγίων σου Μαρτύρων, τεῖχος ἀκαταμάχητον ἡμῖν δωρησάμενος, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, ταὶς αὐτῶν ἱκεσίαις, βουλὰς Ἐθνῶν διασκέδασον, τῆς Βασιλείας τὰ σκῆπτρα κραταίωσον, ὡς μόνος ἀγαθὸς καὶ φιλάνθρωπος.

Apolytikion of the Church in the First Mode

Your Nativity, O Theotokos, brought joy to the whole world, for from you dawned the sun of righteousness, Christ our God. Freeing us from the curse, He gave us His blessings. Abolishing death, He granted us eternal life

 Ἦχος δʹ

H yέννησίς σου, Θεοτόκε, χαρὰν ἐμήνυσε πάσῃ τῇ οἰκουμένῃ· ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἀνέτειλεν ὁ ἥλιος τῆς δικαιοσύνης, Χριστὸς ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν· καὶ λύσας τὴν κατάραν, ἔδωκε τὴν εὐλογίαν· καὶ καταργήσας τὸν θάνατον, ἐδωρήσατο ἡμῖν ζωὴν τὴν αἰώνιον

Seasonal Kontakion in the First Mode

You sanctified the virginal womb by Your birth, O Lord, and blessed the hands of Symeon fittingly, O Christ God; and even now You came and saved us. Now, give peace to our Nation in time of war, and empower our Leaders, so loved by You, the only one who loves humanity.
Ὁ μήτραν παρθενικὴν ἁγιάσας τῶ τόκω σου, καὶ χείρας τοῦ Συμεὼν εὐλογήσας ὡς ἔπρεπε, προφθάσας καὶ νὺν ἔσωσας ἡμᾶς Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός. Ἀλλ' εἰρήνευσον ἐν πολέμοις τὸ πολίτευμα, καὶ κραταίωσον Βασιλεῖς οὓς ἠγάπησας, ὁ μόνος φιλάνθρωπος.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. First Mode. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to Timothy 4:9-15.

Timothy, my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and suffer reproach, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Till I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you. Practice these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.

Προκείμενον. First Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 32.22,1.
Γένοιτο, Κύριε, τὸ ἔλεός σου ἐφ' ἡμᾶς.
Στίχ. Ἀγαλλιᾶσθε δίκαιοι ἐν Κυρίῳ

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Τιμόθεον α' 4:9-15.

Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, πιστὸς ὁ λόγος καὶ πάσης ἀποδοχῆς ἄξιος. Εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ κοπιῶμεν καὶ ὀνειδιζόμεθα, ὅτι ἠλπίκαμεν ἐπὶ θεῷ ζῶντι, ὅς ἐστιν σωτὴρ πάντων ἀνθρώπων, μάλιστα πιστῶν. Παράγγελλε ταῦτα καὶ δίδασκε. Μηδείς σου τῆς νεότητος καταφρονείτω, ἀλλὰ τύπος γίνου τῶν πιστῶν ἐν λόγῳ, ἐν ἀναστροφῇ, ἐν ἀγάπῃ, ἐν πνεύματι, ἐν πίστει, ἐν ἁγνείᾳ. Ἕως ἔρχομαι, πρόσεχε τῇ ἀναγνώσει, τῇ παρακλήσει, τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ. Μὴ ἀμέλει τοῦ ἐν σοὶ χαρίσματος, ὃ ἐδόθη σοι διὰ προφητείας μετὰ ἐπιθέσεως τῶν χειρῶν τοῦ πρεσβυτερίου. Ταῦτα μελέτα, ἐν τούτοις ἴσθι, ἵνα σου ἡ προκοπὴ φανερὰ ᾖ ἐν πᾶσιν.


Gospel Reading

15th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 19:1-10

At that time, Jesus was passing through Jericho. And there was a man named Zacchaios; he was a chief collector, and rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaios, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." And Zacchaios stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost."

15th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 19:1-10

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, διήρχετο τὴν ῾Ιεριχώ· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνὴρ ὀνόματι καλούμενος Ζακχαῖος, καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν ἀρχιτελώνης, καὶ οὗτος ἦν πλούσιος, καὶ ἐζήτει ἰδεῖν τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν τίς ἐστι, καὶ οὐκ ἠδύνατο ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄχλου, ὅτι τῇ ἡλικίᾳ μικρὸς ἦν. καὶ προδραμὼν ἔμπροσθεν ἀνέβη ἐπὶ συκομορέαν, ἵνα ἴδῃ αὐτόν, ὅτι ἐκείνης ἤμελλε διέρχεσθαι. καὶ ὡς ἦλθεν ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον, ἀναβλέψας ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶδεν αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν· Ζακχαῖε, σπεύσας κατάβηθι· σήμερον γὰρ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου δεῖ με μεῖναι. καὶ σπεύσας κατέβη, καὶ ὑπεδέξατο αὐτὸν χαίρων. καὶ ἰδόντες πάντες διεγόγγυζον λέγοντες ὅτι παρὰ ἁμαρτωλῷ ἀνδρὶ εἰσῆλθε καταλῦσαι. σταθεὶς δὲ Ζακχαῖος εἶπε πρὸς τὸν Κύριον· ἰδοὺ τὰ ἡμίση τῶν ὑπαρχόντων μου, Κύριε, δίδωμι τοῖς πτωχοῖς, καὶ εἴ τινός τι ἐσυκοφάντησα, ἀποδίδωμι τετραπλοῦν. εἶπε δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ὅτι σήμερον σωτηρία τῷ οἴκῳ τούτῳ ἐγένετο, καθότι καὶ αὐτὸς υἱὸς ᾿Αβραάμ ἐστιν. ἦλθε γὰρ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ζητῆσαι καὶ σῶσαι τὸ ἀπολωλός.


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Wisdom of the Fathers

For Christ's presence is like that of some life-giving, scented balsam which restores health, enriches life and gives savor to the soul, the thoughts, the words of a man. In brief, distance from Christ means corruption and death, and closeness to Him means salvation and life.
Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic
Prolog, 4 February

In this reading we note Zacchaeus' sense of eager expectation, the intensity of his desire to see our Lord, and we apply this to ourselves. If, as we prepare for Lent, there is real eagerness in our hearts, if we have an intense desire for a clearer vision of Christ, then our hopes will be fulfilled during the fast; indeed, we shall, like Zacchaeus, receive far more than we expect.
Bishop Kallistos of Diokleia
The Meaning of the Great Fast from the Lenten Triodion

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Saints and Feasts

Unmercenaries
January 31

Cyrus & John the Unmercenaries

These Saints lived during the years of Diocletian. Saint Cyrus was from Alexandria, and Saint John was from Edessa of Mesopotamia. Because of the persecution of that time, Cyrus fled to the Gulf of Arabia, where there was a small community of monks. John, who was a soldier, heard of Cyrus' fame and came to join him. Henceforth, they passed their life working every virtue, and healing every illness and disease freely by the grace of Christ; hence their title of "Unmercenaries." They heard that a certain woman, named Athanasia, had been apprehended together with her three daughters, Theodora, Theoctiste, and Eudoxia, and taken to the tribunal for their confession of the Faith. Fearing lest the tender young maidens be terrified by the torments and renounce Christ, they went to strengthen them in their contest in martyrdom; therefore they too were seized. After Cyrus and John and those sacred women had been greatly tormented, all were beheaded in the year 292. Their tomb became a renowned shrine in Egypt, and a place of universal pilgrimage. It was found in the area of the modern day resort near Alexandria named Abu Kyr.


Triphon
February 01

Trypho the Martyr

The Holy Martyr Trypho was from Lampsacus in Phrygia, and as a young man he tended geese. Being filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, he also healed sufferings and cast out demons. During the reign of the Emperor Decius, about the year 250, he was betrayed as a Christian and taken to Nicaea, where he was beaten, bound to horses and dragged over rough ground, then dragged naked over nails; his sides were burned with torches; finally he was sentenced to beheading, but gave up his holy soul in his torments before the stroke of the sword. Saint Trypho is one of the Holy Unmercenaries, and is also invoked for the protection of gardens from insects and pests.


Preslord
February 02

The Presentation of Our Lord and Savior in the Temple

When the most pure Mother and Ever-Virgin Mary's forty days of purification had been fulfilled, she took her first-born Son to Jerusalem on this, the fortieth day after His birth, that she might present Him in the temple according to the Law of Moses, which teaches that every first-born male child be dedicated to God, and also that she might offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons, as required by the Law (Luke 2:22-24; Exod. 13:2; Lev. 12:6-8). On this same day, a just and devout man, the greatly aged Symeon, was also present in the temple, being guided by the Holy Spirit. For a long time, this man had been awaiting the salvation of God, and he had been informed by divine revelation that he would not die until he beheld the Lord's Christ. Thus, when he beheld Him at that time and took Him up into his aged arms, he gave glory to God, singing: "Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, O Master. . ." And he confessed that he would close his eyes joyfully, since he had seen the Light of revelation for the nations and the Glory of Israel (Luke 2:25-32). From ancient times, the Holy Church has retained this tradition of the churching of the mother and new-born child on the fortieth day and of the reading of prayers of purification.

The Apodosis of the Feast of the Meeting in the Temple is usually on the 9th of February. This, however, may vary if the Feast falls within the period of the Triodion. Should this occur, the Typicon should be consulted for specific information concerning the Apodosis of the Feast.


Allsaint
February 04

Isidore of Pelusium

This Saint was from Alexandria and was a disciple of Saint John Chrysostom. He struggled in asceticism in a monastery at Mount Pelusium, and became abbot of the monks struggling in that monastery. He wrote a great many epistles replete with divine grace, wisdom, and much profit. Over 2,000 of them are preserved in Volume 78 of Migne's Patrologia Graeca (PG 78:177-1646); according to some, he wrote over 3,000 epistles, according to others, 10,000. He reposed on February 4, 440.


Agatha
February 05

Agatha the Martyr

This Martyr, who was from Panormus (that is, Palermo) or perhaps Catania of Sicily, was a most comely and chaste virgin. After many exceedingly harsh torments, she gave up her spirit in prison at Catania in 251, because she did not consent to the seductions of Quintian, the Governor of Sicily. At her burial, an Angel placed a stone tablet on her grave inscribed with the words, "A righteous mind, self-determining, honor from God, the deliverance of her father-land." The following year this was fulfilled when Mount Etna erupted, spewing forth violent fire from which Catania was manifestly saved by Saint Agatha's prayers. The holy Martyr Agatha, the protectress and chief patroness of Sicily, is, with perhaps the exception of Saint Agnes of Rome, the most highly venerated Virgin Martyr of the West. Saint Damasus, Pope of Rome, and Saint Ambrose of Milan both wrote in praise of her.


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Memorials and Trisagion

 40 Day Memorial for Dimitra Katsika

Dimitra Katsika, of Drymos Thessalonikis, Greece, wife of Athanasios Katsikas, beloved mother of Theodora (Angelos) Katramados and Tasos (Georgia) Katsikas, cherished yiayia of Michael and Thanos, and two grand-children in Greece (Athanasios and Nikolaos)

 May her memory be eternal.

 

Many thanks to the Katramados Family for bringing extra goodies and sponsoring our coffee hour following Liturgy

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Bulletin Inserts

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Nativity's Gmail Calendar

  • Nativity Calendar

    January 31 to February 15, 2021

    Sunday, January 31

    Memorials

    15th Sunday of Luke

    8:45AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    Monday, February 1

    Trypho the Martyr

    Tuesday, February 2

    The Presentation of Our Lord and Savior in the Temple

    9:00AM Orthros and Divine Liturgy - Presentation of Our Lord

    Wednesday, February 3

    The Synaxis of the Holy and Righteous Symeon the God-Receiver and the Holy Prophetess Anna

    7:00PM Paraklesis

    Thursday, February 4

    Isidore of Pelusium

    Friday, February 5

    Agatha the Martyr

    Saturday, February 6

    Photius the Great, Patriarch of Constantinople

    Sunday, February 7

    16th Sunday of Matthew

    Memorials and Trisagion

    8:45AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    Monday, February 8

    Theodore the Commander & Great Martyr

    Tuesday, February 9

    Leavetaking of the Presentation of Our Lord and Savior in the Temple

    11:00AM Zoom Bible Study

    Wednesday, February 10

    Hieromartyr Haralambos

    7:00PM Paraklesis

    Thursday, February 11

    Blaise the Holy Martyr of Sebastia

    Friday, February 12

    Meletius, Archbishop of Antioch

    Saturday, February 13

    Martinian of Palestine

    Sunday, February 14

    Sunday of the Canaanite

    8:45AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    Monday, February 15

    Onesimus the Apostle of the 70

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