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Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2021-03-14
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Eden
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Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (734) 525-6789
  • Fax:
  • (734) 525-3989
  • Street Address:

  • 36375 Joy Rd.

  • Westland, MI 48185


Contact Information




Services Schedule

Orthos

Sunday & Weekdays: 9:00 a.m.

Divine Liturgy

Sunday: 10:00 a.m. Weekdays: 10:00 a.m.

Vespers

None


Past Bulletins


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.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Second Mode

O Master, Prudence, Guide of Wisdom, Instruction to the foolish and Defender of the poor, strengthen my heart and grant it discernment. Give me words, Word of the Father, for behold, I shall not keep my lips from crying out to You, "O Merciful One, have mercy on me who has fallen."
Τῆς σοφίας ὁδηγέ, φρονήσεως χορηγέ, τῶν ἀφρόνων παιδευτά, καὶ πτωχῶν ὑπερασπιστά, στήριξον, συνέτισον τὴν καρδίαν μου Δέσποτα. Σὺ δίδου μοι λόγον, ὁ τοῦ Πατρός Λόγος· ἰδοὺ γὰρ τὰ χείλη μου, οὐ μὴ κωλύσω ἐν τῷ κράζειν σοι· Ἐλεῆμον, ἐλέησόν με τὸν παραπεσόντα.
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Services and Sacraments

SUNDAY MARCH 14, 2021 – FORGIVENESS SUNDAY/CHEESEFARE SUNDAY

Memorials:                

CHRIST KOUZIKAS – 1 Year

May his 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, March 14th FORGIVENESS SUNDAY - 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/2021/03/14/li/gr-en/se.m08.d30.li.pdf

Monday, March 15 – GREAT COMPLINE SERVICE/FIRST DAY OF LENT, 10:00 am

Wednesday, March 17– PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY, 5:30 pm

Fr. Teodor will present an explanation of one or more icons to be installed in the church following the Presanctified Liturgy each Wednesday.

Friday, March 19 – SALUTATIONS TO THE THEOTOKOS, 6:00 pm

Saturday, March 20th 3rd SATURDAY OF SOULS, Orthros 8:45, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am 

All services at Saints Constantine and Helen, Westland

SEATING FOR SERVICES:  We are so pleased that church attendance has been increasing!  Please be aware that masks and social distancing are still required. There are no exceptions to this.  When you attend service, please wait in the Narthex for an usher to seat you according to those in attendance, and be aware that you may not be able to sit in your preferred location. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we look to maintain a safe environment for all our parishioners.

ΚΑΘΙΣΜΑ ΣΤΟ ΝΑΟ:  Με ιδιαίτερη ευχαρίστηση σας ανακοινώνουμε ότι αυξήθηκε ο αριθμός των πιστών που μπορούν να παρευρεθούν στη Θεία Λειτουργία και τις ακολουθίες. Λάβετε υπόψιν ότι παραμένει υποχρεωτική η χρήση μάσκας και η τήρηση των απαραίτητων κοινωνικών αποστάσεων. Δεν υπάρχουν εξαιρέσεις σε αυτό. Κατά την προσέλευσή σας στο ναό, παρακαλούμε περιμένετε στο νάρθηκα για τον επίτροπο να σας οδηγήσει στο κάθισμά σας ανάλογα με τον αριθμό των

παρευρισκομένων. Ενδέχεται να μην μπορείτε να καθίσετε στην προτιμώμενη θέση σας. Σας ευχαριστούμε για την κατανόηση και την υπομονή σας καθώς προσπαθούμε να διατηρήσουμε ένα ασφαλές περιβάλλον για όλους τους ενορίτες μας.

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.

For the next few weeks, Father Teodor will be preaching on 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.'"

Please Pray For:  Rene, Irene, Sylvia, Angello, Michael, Barbara, Lisa, Pat, Christopher, Jonathan, 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, Connie, Jacob, Anastasia, Rima, Kylie, Effie, Nicholas, and Maria. (Names may be added by request. Please contact the church office)

 

 

 

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Saints and Feasts

Eden
March 14

Forgiveness Sunday

The Holy Fathers have appointed the commemoration of Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight here, on the eve of the holy Forty-day Fast, demonstrating to us not by simple words, but by actual deeds, how beneficial fasting is for man, and how harmful and destructive are insatiety and the transgressing of the divine commandments. For the first commandment that God gave to man was that of fasting, which the first-fashioned received but did not keep; and not only did they not become gods, as they had imagined, but they lost even that blessed life which they had, and they fell into corruption and death, and transmitted these and innumerable other evils to all of mankind. The God-bearing Fathers set these things before us today, that by bringing to mind what we have fallen from, and what we have suffered because of the insatiety and disobedience of the first-fashioned, we might be diligent to return again to that ancient bliss and glory by means of fasting and obedience to all the divine commands. Taking occasion from today's Gospel (Matt. 6:14-21) to begin the Fast unencumbered by enmity, we also ask forgiveness this day, first from God, then from one another and all creation.


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Mode. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4.

Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand.

Προκείμενον. Plagal Fourth Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 75.11,1.
Εὔξασθε καὶ ἀπόδοτε Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν.
Στίχ. Γνωστὸς ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ ὁ Θεός, ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ μέγα τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς ῾Ρωμαίους 13:11-14, 14:1-4.

Ἀδελφοί, νῦν ἐγγύτερον ἡμῶν ἡ σωτηρία ἢ ὅτε ἐπιστεύσαμεν. Ἡ νὺξ προέκοψεν, ἡ δὲ ἡμέρα ἤγγικεν· ἀποθώμεθα οὖν τὰ ἔργα τοῦ σκότους, καί ἐνδυσώμεθα τὰ ὅπλα τοῦ φωτός. Ὡς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ, εὐσχημόνως περιπατήσωμεν, μὴ κώμοις καὶ μέθαις, μὴ κοίταις καὶ ἀσελγείαις, μὴ ἔριδι καὶ ζήλῳ. Ἀλλʼ ἐνδύσασθε τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, καὶ τῆς σαρκὸς πρόνοιαν μὴ ποιεῖσθε, εἰς ἐπιθυμίας. Τὸν δὲ ἀσθενοῦντα τῇ πίστει προσλαμβάνεσθε, μὴ εἰς διακρίσεις διαλογισμῶν. Ὃς μὲν πιστεύει φαγεῖν πάντα, ὁ δὲ ἀσθενῶν λάχανα ἐσθίει. Ὁ ἐσθίων τὸν μὴ ἐσθίοντα μὴ ἐξουθενείτω, καὶ ὁ μὴ ἐσθίων τὸν ἐσθίοντα μὴ κρινέτω· ὁ θεὸς γὰρ αὐτὸν προσελάβετο. Σὺ τίς εἶ ὁ κρίνων ἀλλότριον οἰκέτην; Τῷ ἰδίῳ κυρίῳ στήκει ἢ πίπτει. Σταθήσεται δέ· δυνατὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θεὸς στῆσαι αὐτόν.


Gospel Reading

Forgiveness Sunday
The Reading is from Matthew 6:14-21

The Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

"And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Forgiveness Sunday
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 6:14-21

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· ᾿Εὰν γὰρ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, ἀφήσει καὶ ὑμῖν ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, οὐδὲ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ἀφήσει τὰ παραπτώματα ὑμῶν. ῞Οταν δὲ νηστεύητε, μὴ γίνεσθε ὥσπερ οἱ ὑποκριταὶ σκυθρωποί· ἀφανίζουσι γὰρ τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν ὅπως φανῶσι τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύοντες· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἀπέχουσι τὸν μισθὸν αὐτῶν. σὺ δὲ νηστεύων ἄλειψαί σου τὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ τὸ πρόσωπόν σου νίψαι,ὅπως μὴ φανῇς τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύων, ἀλλὰ τῷ πατρί σου τῷ ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ, καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου ὁ βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ ἀποδώσει σοι ἐν τῷ φανερῷ. Μὴ θησαυρίζετε ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅπου σὴς καὶ βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται διορύσσουσι καὶ κλέπτουσι· θησαυρίζετε δὲ ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐν οὐρανῷ, ὅπου οὔτε σὴς οὔτε βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται οὐ διορύσσουσιν οὐδὲ κλέπτουσιν· ὅπου γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θησαυρὸς ὑμῶν, ἐκεῖ ἔσται καὶ ἡ καρδία ὑμῶν.


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Parish News and Updates

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES:

PHILOPTOCHOS LENTEN LUNCHEON AND MARKETPLACE:  DRIVE-THRU AND CARRY-OUT our traditional Lenten foods!  TODAY - Sunday, March 14th, and TOMORROW, Monday March 15th, the start of our Lenten period, our St. Helen Philoptochos will be holding a Lenten “Marketplace.  Sale will be held after church services on both days, for drive-thru and carry out. 

SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY/FAMILY SUNDAY:  Our next Family Sunday, March 21st is the Sunday of Orthodoxy.  All children should bring an icon from home and will participate in the procession of the icons during the service.   Please bring your icons to hold during the procession.

FRIDAY SALUTATIONS/CONFESSION: Fr. Teodor will be available for one hour each Friday after the Salutations service to hear confession for those who are interested.  If that time is not convenient for you, contact the church office to schedule an appointment.

SUNDAY SCHOOL ZOOMS: Listed below are upcoming Zoom meeting times for each grade level:

  • SENIOR DISCUSSION – GRADES 10 – 12:  Sunday, 3/14; 2:00 pm
  • GRADES 8 – 9:  Monday, 3/22/21; 7:00 pm
  • GRADES 5 – 7:  Wednesday, 4/7/21;  7:00 pm

ZOOM LINK is: https://zoom.us/j/7345256789, Meeting ID: 734 525 6789  If you have trouble connecting, or are in need of more information, contact: stcons2@gmail.com  Whether you are physically attending church right now or not, please make every effort, especially during this Lenten period to involve your children in church activities!

3RD SATURDAY OF SOULS The Saturday of Souls are dedicated to those who have left this world. Please come to church on Saturday, March 20th for the 3rd Saturday of Souls service, so we can pray together for their souls and if you can, bring koliva, and the names of the deceased that you would like remembered in prayer. IF YOU HAVE ALREADY TURNED IN NAMES, YOU DO NOT NEED TO TURN THEM IN AGAIN.  FO THIS FINAL SATURDAY OF SOULS, KOLIVA WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO ALL PARISHIONERS.  Prayer sheets are available at the Pangarii.

YOUNG ADULT BIBLE STUDY: All of our young adults (if you think you're a young adult, they think you are, too!) are invited to join the Metropolis of Detroit for the first Average Joe's Young Adult Bible Study. Starting Monday, March 15th, the group will meet each Monday during Lent, 8:30 pm Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83453584533  Meeting ID: 834 5358 4533

The Assistant to the Metropolitan, Nick Lionas, and Fr. Niko Tzetzis, the assistant priest from Holy Trinity - St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Cincinnati, OH will be leading a discussion and study of Genesis.

ORATORICAL FESTIVAL:  It’s not too late to schedule your appointment for the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival! Due to COVID precautions, young people, grades 7 – 12, are invited to participate. All speeches will be videotaped in the church, without an audience, March 19 - 24, 2021.  Please set up an appointment this week with the church office if your young person would like to participate. 

FRIDAY FISH FRYS: Tell a friend! Each Friday, through April 2nd, the Hellenic Cultural Center will be serving fish and chips dinners for CARRY-OUT ONLY. Chicken tenders and Calamari are also available. Pick up will be between 4:00 and 7:00 each Friday. Place advance orders by phone to the church office, 734.525.6789 or on the Hellenic Cultural Center website. Order forms are also available at the Pangari or church office. Please support this effort and help us get business going at the HCC! We are also in need of volunteers to help each Friday.  If you are available, please contact Annette at the church office, 734.525.6789.

ADULT BIBLE STUDY:  Our Adult Bible Study group will meet on Tuesday evening, March 16 at 7:00 pm on the Zoom platform. We will continue study of the Book of Ruth. All adults are welcome to join.  Zoom link is: https://zoom.us/j/7345256789, Meeting ID: 734 525 6789  If you have trouble connecting, or are in need of more information, contact: stcons2@gmail.com

NEWS AND NOTICES

TEDDY BEAR FUND:  Put a Teddy Bear in the arms of a child when they need a hug the most! During the period of Great Lent we will be collecting donations for the “Teddy Bear Fund” of the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.  When you donate $15 to pay for a new Teddy Bear, we will place a small paper bear with your name on it in the church entrance. Checks can be made payable to Saints Constantine and Helen and left in the donation box in the Narthex, or the church office.  Let’s fill the windows with Bear Hugs!

SERVICES AND SACRAMENTS

Funerals:        

3/12/21           JOHN KOTSOPOULOS

 3/16/21          SOPHIE ETHANS, Visitation: 10:00 am, Funeral: 11:00 am

May their memory be eternal!

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.

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Wisdom of the Fathers

Here it were well to sigh aloud, and to wail bitterly: for not only do we imitate the hypocrites, but we have even surpassed them.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 20 on Matthew 6, 4th Century

For I know, yea I know many, not merely fasting and making a display of it, but neglecting to fast, and yet wearing the masks of them that fast, and cloaking themselves with an excuse worse than their sin.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 20 on Matthew 6, 4th Century

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