Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode

By means of Your Cross, O Lord, You abolished death. * To the robber You opened Paradise. * The lamentation of the myrrhbearing women You transformed, * and You gave Your Apostles the order to proclaim to all * that You had risen, O Christ our God, * and granted the world Your great mercy.

Κατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τὸν θάνατον, ἠνέῳξας τῷ Λῃστῇ τὸν Παράδεισον, τῶν Μυροφόρων τὸν θρῆνον μετέβαλες, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις κηρύττειν ἐπέταξας, ὅτι ἀνέστης Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for Translation of the relics of Stephen in the Fourth Mode

The crown of the Kingdom hath adorned the brow of thy head because of the contests that thou hast endured for Christ God, thou first of the martyred Saints; for when thou hadst censured the Jews' madness, thou sawest Christ thy Saviour standing at the right hand of the Father. O Stephen, ever pray Him for us, that He would save our souls.

Βασίλειον διάδημα, εστέφθη σή κορυφή, εξ άθλων ών υπέμεινας, υπέρ Χριστού τού Θεού, Μαρτύρων πρωτόαθλε, σύ γάρ τήν Ιουδαίων, απελέγξας μανίαν, είδές σου τόν Σωτήρα, τού Πατρός δεξιόθεν, Αυτόν ούν εκδυσώπει αεί, υπέρ τών ψυχών ημών.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Grave Mode

You were transfigured upon the mount, O Christ our God, and Your disciples, in so far as they could bear, beheld Your glory. Thus, when they see You crucified, they may understand Your voluntary passion, and proclaim to the world that You are truly the effulgence of the Father.

Επί τού όρους μετεμορφώθης, καί ως εχώρουν οι Μαθηταί σου τήν δόξαν σου, Χριστέ ο Θεός εθεάσαντο, ίνα όταν σε ίδωσι σταυρούμενον, τό μέν πάθος νοήσωσιν εκούσιον, τώ δέ κόσμω κηρύξωσιν, ότι σύ υπάρχεις αληθώς, τού Πατρός τό απαύγασμα.

Services and Sacraments

AUGUST 2, 2020 – 8^th SUNDAY OF MATTHEW

Memorial: THEMETRA TOULA BRATA – 6 Months

May her memory be eternal!

SERVICES THIS WEEK:

Saints Constantine and Helen services are open for parishioners and we encourage those who are not in high-risk categories to attend services. Parish guidelines regarding capacity limits and safety restrictions are posted on the home page of our church website, https://www.stcons.org

The church building is professionally cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized weekly.

We strongly encourage those who will not be attending church to participate in services through our website, at https://www.stcons.org/video-streaming

Sunday, August 2^nd – 8^TH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW, Orthros 9:00 am; Divine Liturgy 10:00 am

If you wish to follow along with the text, please use the link listed below:

https://www.agesinitiatives.com/dcs/public/dcs/p/s/2020/08/02/li/gr-en/se.m08.d02.li.pdf

Wednesday, August 5^th – PARAKLESIS SERVICE, 6:30 pm

Thursday, August 6^th – TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST,Orthros 9:00 am; Divine Liturgy 10:00 am. If you wish to follow along with the text, please use the link listed below:

https://www.agesinitiatives.com/dcs/public/dcs/p/s/2020/08/06/li/gr-en/se.m08.d06.li.pdf

Friday, August 7^th – PARAKLESIS SERVICE, 6:30 pm

FAST OF THE THEOTOKOS: The two-week period of fasting dedicated to the Virgin Mary began yesterday, August 1^st, and concludes on August 15^th. During this Lenten period, it is customary to offer communal prayers of intercession to the Virgin Mary Theotokos with a service known as the Paraklesis Service. At St. Cons we will have Paraklesis Services on the following evenings:
Wednesday, August 5^that 6:30 pm.

Friday August 7^that 6:30 pm-

Monday, August 10^that 6:30 pm.

Wednesday August 12^th at 6:30 p.m.

TO SUBMIT NAMES FOR PARAKLESIS: You may submit the first names of the living to be read at each Paraklesis service for health, forgiveness, and salvation online at the following link: https://forms.gle/BaKcn9FWMyEmCqn7A Names may also be left at the church office or by email to stcons2@gmailcom.

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 Father Teodor will light 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.

PLEASE PRAY FOR: James, Alexandra, Tracy, Dianna, Lazarus, Henry, Betty, Catherine, Susan, Evelyn, Gregg, Peter, Stella, Ann Marie, Vasilios, Carol, George, Demetri, Steve, Molly, Maria, Elizabeth, Carol, Evans, Katherine, Mike, Connie, Mary, Margaret, Angela, Connie, Bill, Carrie, Vito, Pete, Amalia, Stephanie, Lisa, Bill, Connie, Jacob, Anastasia, Rima, Kylie, Effie, Camryn, Nicholas, and Maria. (Names may be added by request to the prayer list.)

Saints and Feasts

August 02

Plegmund, Archbishop of Canterbury

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 28.11,1.
The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 1:10-17.

Brethren, I appeal to you by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brethren. What I mean is that each one of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispos and Gaius; lest any one should say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any one else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Προκείμενον. Grave Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 28.11,1.
Κύριος ἰσχὺν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ δώσει.
Στίχ. Ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ υἱοὶ Θεοῦ, ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ δόξαν καὶ τιμήν.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 1:10-17.

Ἀδελφοί, παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, διὰ τοῦ ὀνόματος τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἵνα τὸ αὐτὸ λέγητε πάντες, καὶ μὴ ᾖ ἐν ὑμῖν σχίσματα, ἦτε δὲ κατηρτισμένοι ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ νοῒ καὶ ἐν τῇ αὐτῇ γνώμῃ. Ἐδηλώθη γάρ μοι περὶ ὑμῶν, ἀδελφοί μου, ὑπὸ τῶν Χλόης, ὅτι ἔριδες ἐν ὑμῖν εἰσιν. Λέγω δὲ τοῦτο, ὅτι ἕκαστος ὑμῶν λέγει, Ἐγὼ μέν εἰμι Παύλου, Ἐγὼ δὲ Ἀπολλώ, Ἐγὼ δὲ Κηφᾶ, Ἐγὼ δὲ Χριστοῦ. Μεμέρισται ὁ Χριστός; Μὴ Παῦλος ἐσταυρώθη ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν, ἢ εἰς τὸ ὄνομα Παύλου ἐβαπτίσθητε; Εὐχαριστῶ τῷ θεῷ ὅτι οὐδένα ὑμῶν ἐβάπτισα, εἰ μὴ Κρίσπον καὶ Γάϊον· ἵνα μή τις εἴπῃ ὅτι εἰς τὸ ἐμὸν ὄνομα ἐβάπτισα. Ἐβάπτισα δὲ καὶ τὸν Στεφανᾶ οἶκον· λοιπὸν οὐκ οἶδα εἴ τινα ἄλλον ἐβάπτισα. Οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλέν με Χριστὸς βαπτίζειν, ἀλλʼ εὐαγγελίζεσθαι· οὐκ ἐν σοφίᾳ λόγου, ἵνα μὴ κενωθῇ ὁ σταυρὸς τοῦ Χριστοῦ.

Gospel Reading

8th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 14:14-22

At that time, Jesus saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.

8th Sunday of Matthew
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 14:14-22

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐξελθὼν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶδε πολὺν ὄχλον, καὶ ἐσπλαγχνίσθη ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐθεράπευσε τοὺς ἀρρώστους αὐτῶν. ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης προσῆλθον αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ λέγοντες· ἔρημός ἐστιν ὁ τόπος καὶ ἡ ὥρα ἤδη παρῆλθεν· ἀπόλυσον τοὺς ὄχλους, ἵνα ἀπελθόντες εἰς τὰς κώμας ἀγοράσωσιν ἑαυτοῖς βρώματα. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· οὐ χρείαν ἔχουσιν ἀπελθεῖν· δότε αὐτοῖς ὑμεῖς φαγεῖν. οἱ δὲ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· οὐκ ἔχομεν ὧδε εἰ μὴ πέντε ἄρτους καὶ δύο ἰχθύας. ὁ δὲ εἶπε· φέρετέ μοι αὐτοὺς ὧδε. καὶ κελεύσας τοὺς ὄχλους ἀνακλιθῆναι ἐπὶ τοὺς χόρτους, λαβὼν τοὺς πέντε ἄρτους καὶ τοὺς δύο ἰχθύας, ἀναβλέψας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εὐλόγησε, καὶ κλάσας ἔδωκε τοῖς μαθηταῖς τοὺς ἄρτους, οἱ δὲ μαθηταὶ τοῖς ὄχλοις. καὶ ἔφαγον πάντες καὶ ἐχορτάσθησαν, καὶ ἦραν τὸ περισσεῦον τῶν κλασμάτων δώδεκα κοφίνους πλήρεις. οἱ δὲ ἐσθίοντες ἦσαν ἄνδρες ὡσεὶ πεντακισχίλιοι χωρὶς γυναικῶν καὶ παιδίων. Καὶ εὐθέως ἠνάγκασεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ ἐμβῆναι εἰς τὸ πλοῖον καὶ προάγειν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ πέραν, ἕως οὗ ἀπολύσῃ τοὺς ὄχλους.

Parish News and Updates

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES:

Although the church has reopened for services, no group meetings or activities, including Sunday School, Choir, Events at the Hellenic Cultural Center, etc. will be held until further notice.

ADULT BIBLE STUDY THIS WEEK: Adult Bible Study group will continue this Tuesday evening, August 4th at 7:00 pm, via the Zoom platform. Father Teodor will continue the discussion of the Book of Job. All are welcome to join. Zoom link is: https://zoom.us/j/7345256789, Meeting ID: 734 525 6789 If you have any questions or problems connecting, please contact: stcons2@gmail.com

NEWS AND NOTICES:

PROJECT SAMARITAS: From August 1^st – August 30^th, the St. Helen Philoptochos is sponsoring a drive to collect and distribute essential items to the Samaritas Family Center in Westland, offering emergency and transitional shelter for homeless families. Priority needs include: Hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies (hand soap, disinfecting wipes and spray, laundry supplies); Diapers, Baby formula and foods; Activity and learning materials for children (coloring books, reading books, arts and crafts, crayons, bubbles, etc.); and non-perishable foods and bottled water. Please leave items in boxes marked “Samaritas” in the church Narthex. If you choose to donate money, please make your check payable to St. Helen Philoptochos and leave it in the small donation box also in the narthex.

VBS UNIT #2: It may be summer, but our kids are still learning! Our Sunday School team members delivered bags with Vacation Bible School (at home!) activities to the homes of our young people, ages 4 – 12 this week. VBS Unit #2 focuses on the Old Testament stories of Noah and the Great Flood, and the Tower of Babel. Many thanks to Frances, Caryl, David, Theodora, Georgia, Corrin, and Maria for helping to make this happen!

FEED THE NEEDY UPDATE: The Men’s Club annual Gold Outing, which raises funds for the “Feed the Needy” project was cancelled this year due to COVID 19 concerns. The Men’s Club has operated the Feed the Needy Program for more than 20 years and provided Thanksgiving dinners to needy families in Westland and Livonia. Last year they delivered dinners to the homes of 181 families consisting of 496 individuals, and are still planning on distributing food to needy families in Westland and Livonia this year. There are giving envelopes available at the Pangari, if you would like to make a donation toward their effort.

ICONOGRAPHY Parishioners received a mailing this week about the upcoming Saints Constantine and Helen Iconography Project, Phase One: East and Dome. If you have questions about the project or sponsoring and icon, please speak to Fr. Teodor, any member of the Iconography Committee, or contact the church office.

SUMMER SURVIVAL BOARD: We are grateful to all who have contributed to help cover regular building maintenance and expenses by making an additional donation to our “Summer Survival” campaign. If you would like to contribute, you can send a check to the church office, or make a donation via our website at https://my-site-107644-106007.square.site/shop/summer-survival/3?limit=60

SERVICES AND SACRAMENTS

Baptism:

7/30/20 – NICHOLAS CHRISTOPHER BOLOVEN, Parents: Chris and Victoria Boloven, Godparents: Mike and Maritsa Kalasz

Congratulations!

CHURCH OFFICE and HELLENIC CULTURAL CENTER: The church office is currently staffed most weekdays, with flexible hours. Please call first before you come by to be sure somebody is in the building to let you in. Annette has 24/7 access to our office email at stcons2@gmail.com and on days when she is not in the office will access our answering machine remotely and respond to messages. The church office phone number is 734.525.6789. In emergency situations, please call Fr. Teodor directly at 248.330.3177.

The Hellenic Cultural Center is beginning to book events with limited capacity for September and beyond. If you need to discuss future bookings or other issues with the HCC staff, please contact Kathy at 313.303.6350 or kathysmcmullen@yahoo.com

Non-Orthodox Visitors Please Note: Holy Communion is offered to Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared themselves. Visitors are welcome to receive the Antidoron (Blessed Bread), which is distributed at the end of the Divine Liturgy.

Wisdom of the Fathers

And another thing too we learn, the self-restraint of the disciples which they practised in necessary things, and how little they accounted of food.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 49 on Matthew 14, 4th Century

For being twelve, they had five loaves only and two fishes; so secondary to them were the things of the body: so did they cling to the things spiritual only. And not even that little did they hold fast, but gave up even it when asked.