Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode

When the women Disciples of the Lord had learned from the Angel the joyful message of the Resurrection and had rejected the ancestral decision, they cried aloud to the Apostles triumphantly: Death has been despoiled, Christ God has risen, granting His great mercy to the world.

Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον· Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for Sun. of St. Mary of Egypt in the Plagal Fourth Mode

In thee the image was preserved with exactness, O Mother; for taking up thy cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to overlook the flesh, for it passeth away, but to attend to the soul since it is immortal. Wherefore, O righteous Mary, thy spirit rejoiceth with the Angels.

Ἐν σοὶ Μῆτερ ἀκριβῶς διεσώθη τὸ κατ' εἰκόνα, λαβοῦσα γὰρ τὸν Σταυρόν, ἠκολούθησας τῷ Χριστῷ, καὶ πράττουσα ἐδίδασκες ὑπερορᾶν μὲν σαρκὸς παρέρχεται γάρ, ἐπιμελεῖσθαι δὲ ψυχῆς, πράγματος ἀθανάτου· διὸ καὶ μετὰ Ἀγγέλων συναγάλλεται Ὁσία Μαρία τὸ πνεῦμά σου.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.

Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, μεσιτεία πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀμετάθετε. Μὴ παρίδῃς ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι· Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιμώντων σε.

Services and Sacraments

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021 – SUNDAY OF ST. MARY OF EGYPT

Memorial: SOPHIE ETHANS - 40 Days

May her memory be eternal!

SERVICES THIS WEEK

Saturday, April 24 – SATURDAY OF LAZARUS, Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am Pancake Breakfast/Making of Palm Crosses, Saints Constantine and Helen, Westland

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

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.

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.

Please Pray For: Father Teodor, Presbytera Roxana, Nicole, Irene, Rene, Irene, 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)

Saints and Feasts

April 18

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt

The memory of this Saint is celebrated on April 1, where her life is recorded. Since the end of the holy Forty Days is drawing nigh, it has been appointed for this day also, so that if we think it hard to practice a little abstinence forty days, we might be roused by the heroism of her who fasted in the wilderness forty-seven years; and also that the great loving-kindness of God, and His readiness to receive the repentant, might be demonstrated in very deed.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:11-14.

BRETHREN, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Προκείμενον. Fourth Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 103.24,1.
Ὡς ἐμεγαλύνθη τὰ ἔργα σου Κύριε, πάντα ἐν σοφίᾳ ἐποίησας.
Στίχ. Εὐλόγει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν Κύριον.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 9:11-14.

Ἀδελφοί, Χριστὸς δὲ παραγενόμενος ἀρχιερεὺς τῶν μελλόντων ἀγαθῶν, διὰ τῆς μείζονος καὶ τελειοτέρας σκηνῆς, οὐ χειροποιήτου, τοῦτʼ ἔστιν, οὐ ταύτης τῆς κτίσεως, οὐδὲ διʼ αἵματος τράγων καὶ μόσχων, διὰ δὲ τοῦ ἰδίου αἵματος εἰσῆλθεν ἐφάπαξ εἰς τὰ ἅγια, αἰωνίαν λύτρωσιν εὑράμενος. Εἰ γὰρ τὸ αἷμα ταύρων καὶ τράγων, καὶ σποδὸς δαμάλεως ῥαντίζουσα τοὺς κεκοινωμένους, ἁγιάζει πρὸς τὴν τῆς σαρκὸς καθαρότητα, πόσῳ μᾶλλον τὸ αἷμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὃς διὰ πνεύματος αἰωνίου ἑαυτὸν προσήνεγκεν ἄμωμον τῷ θεῷ, καθαριεῖ τὴν συνείδησιν ὑμῶν ἀπὸ νεκρῶν ἔργων, εἰς τὸ λατρεύειν θεῷ ζῶντι;

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
The Reading is from Mark 10:32-45

At that time, Jesus took his twelve disciples, and he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant of James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 10:32-45

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, παραλαβάνει ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοὺς δώδεκα μαθητάς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἤρξατο αὐτοῖς λέγειν τὰ μέλλοντα αὐτῷ συμβαίνειν, ὅτι ἰδοὺ ἀναβαίνομεν εἰς ῾Ιεροσόλυμα καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθήσεται τοῖς ἀρχιερεῦσι καὶ γραμματεῦσι, καὶ κατακρινοῦσιν αὐτὸν θανάτῳ καὶ παραδώσουσιν αὐτὸν τοῖς ἔθνεσι, καὶ ἐμπαίξουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ μαστιγώσουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐμπτύσουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν αὐτόν, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστήσεται. Καὶ προσπορεύονται αὐτῷ ᾿Ιάκωβος καὶ ᾿Ιωάννης υἱοὶ Ζεβεδαίου λέγοντες· διδάσκαλε, θέλομεν ἵνα ὃ ἐὰν αἰτήσωμεν ποιήσῃς ἡμῖν. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί θέλετε ποιῆσαί με ὑμῖν; οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ· δὸς ἡμῖν ἵνα εἷς ἐκ δεξιῶν σου καὶ εἷς ἐξ εὐωνύμων σου καθίσωμεν ἐν τῇ δόξῃ σου. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· οὐκ οἴδατε τί αἰτεῖσθε. δύνασθε πιεῖν τὸ ποτήριον ὃ ἐγὼ πίνω, καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα ὃ ἐγὼ βαπτίζομαι βαπτισθῆναι; οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ· δυνάμεθα. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τὸ μὲν ποτήριον ὃ ἐγὼ πίνω πίεσθε, καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα ὃ ἐγὼ βαπτίζομαι βαπτισθήσεσθε· τὸ δὲ καθίσαι ἐκ δεξιῶν μου καὶ ἐξ εὐωνύμων οὐκ ἔστιν ἐμὸν δοῦναι, ἀλλ᾿ οἷς ἡτοίμασται. Καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ δέκα ἤρξαντο ἀγανακτεῖν περὶ ᾿Ιακώβου καὶ ᾿Ιωάννου. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς προσκαλεσάμενος αὐτοὺς λέγει αὐτοῖς· οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ δοκοῦντες ἄρχειν τῶν ἐθνῶν κατακυριεύουσιν αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ μεγάλοι αὐτῶν κατεξουσιάζουσιν αὐτῶν· οὐχ οὕτω δὲ ἔσται ἐν ὑμῖν, ἀλλ᾿ ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ γενέσθαι μέγας ἐν ὑμῖν, ἔσται ὑμῶν διάκονος, καὶ ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ ὑμῶν γενέσθαι πρῶτος, ἔσται πάντων δοῦλος· καὶ γὰρ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἦλθε διακονηθῆναι, ἀλλὰ διακονῆσαι, καὶ δοῦναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν.

Parish News and Updates

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES:

PALMS AND PANCAKES: Join us on the Saturday of Lazarus, April 24^th, for the Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am and then stay afterward to help us make palm crosses!

A complimentary pancake breakfast will be served in the Hellenic Cultural Center. This is a long-standing tradition in our church – children and adults come together for this fun and meaningful volunteer effort in preparation for Palm Sunday.

Here is how it will work:

YOU MUST MAKE A RESERVATION BY THURSDAY, APRIL 22^nd IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND. Seating will be reserved, one family per table.
You must wear a mask at all times, unless you are seated at your table and eating.
Pancakes will be brought to your table “family style.”
After breakfast, we will all mask back up and make palm crosses at our tables.

To reserve a spot for your family, please call the church office at 734.525.6789 or by email at stcons2@gmail.com no later than Thursday, April 22^nd.

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

GRADES 8 – 9: Monday, April 19^th; 7:00 pm
GRADES 2 – 4: Thursday April 22^nd 6:00 pm
GRADES 5 – 7: Thursday, April 22^nd ; 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!

MEN’S CLUB ZOOM MEETING: We have scheduled a Zoom Men's Club Meeting for 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, April 21. ZOOM LINK is: https://zoom.us/j/7345256789, The dial in number for the Zoom Meeting is 734-525-6789. There will be planning and discussion for the September 11^th Feed the Needy Golf Outing. Any questions, contact Jeff Zeh at 484.868.8736.

ADULT BIBLE STUDY: There will be no Adult Bible Study this week. Adult Bible Study sessions will resume after Easter.

NEWS AND NOTICES:

PETRUTIU FAMILY UPDATE: Father Teodor, Presbytera, Nicole and Irene are all making steady progress to good health. The family is quarantined at home for another week. God willing, and pending doctor’s approval, Father will return to church services on April 24^th, the Saturday of Lazarus, and serve throughout Holy Week and Pascha.

EASTER LAMBATHES: Our Mom’s group will be selling beautiful red and white Easter lambathes for children beginning today, Sunday April 18^th, in the Narthex. Lambathes are used for the Anastasi and Agape services, and are decorated with a keepsake ornament – helping us to remember Christ’s resurrection throughout the year. The cost of each lambatha is $20.

HOLY WEEK SERVICES SCHEDULE: A Holy Week services schedule and Easter offertory envelope were mailed out to parishioner’s homes this week. Additional copies of the schedule and envelopes are available at the Pangari. To maintain COVID safety precautions during Holy Week, we will be setting up additional seating in the Hellenic Cultural Center with a screen showing the live video-feed of the service in cases where the church has reached its capacity. Additional accommodations are detailed in the recent mailing.

MORE ORATORICAL CONGRATULATIONS! Our parish Senior Division finalist, Nicole Petrutiu and Junior Division finalist, Irene Petrutiu competed on Saturday, April 11^th in the District Festival and placed to represent our MI District in the Metropolis finals on May 15^th! An outstanding accomplishment, made even more impressive by the fact that they were in COVID quarantine at the time! The Metropolis of Detroit encompasses about 50 parishes in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and New York. Congratulations!

ICONOGRAPHY UPDATE: There are still icons available for sponsorship, and we are still in need of general donations of any amount to complete our fundraising on Phase One: East and Dome. For those who are interested in sponsoring an icon, please talk to Father Teodor or contact the church office for more information.

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.

Memorial Service Information - UPDATE

Koliva that has been prepared for memorial services can now be distributed to parishioners. The koliva will be put in small baggies and distributed with antidoron at the end of the service. We are not currently allowed to have coffee hour, or distribute any cookies, paximadia or koulourakia. Please call the church office to schedule memorials in a timely manner so we can include the information in the bulletin. On the day of the service, please bring a list of family names you would like Father to remember in prayer.

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

But let no man be troubled at the apostles being in such an imperfect state. For not yet was the cross accomplished, not yet the grace of the Spirit given. But if thou wouldest learn their virtue, notice them after these things, and thou wilt see them superior to every passion.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 65 on Matthew 20, 2,3,4,6. B#54, pp.399-401,403., 4th Century

For with this object He reveals their deficiencies, that after these things thou mightest know what manner of men they became by grace. ... No one shall sit on His right hand nor on His left.