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 Dormition of the Theotokos in the First Mode

In giving birth you retained your virginity, and in dormition you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos. You were translated unto life, being the Mother of Life. And thus by virtue of your intercessions you deliver our souls from death.

Εν τή Γεννήσει τήν παρθενίαν εφύλαξας, έν τή Κοιμήσει τόν κόσμον ού κατέλιπες Θεοτόκε, Μετέστης πρός τήν ζωήν, μήτηρ υπάρχουσα τής ζωής, καί ταίς πρεσβείαις ταίς σαίς λυτρουμένη, εκ θανάτου τάς ψυχάς ημών.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

Neither the grave nor death could contain the Theotokos, the unshakable hope, ever vigilant in intercession and protection. As Mother of life, He who dwelt in the ever-virginal womb transposed her to life.

Τήν εν πρεσβείαις ακοίμητον Θεοτόκον, καί προστασίαις αμετάθετον ελπίδα, τάφος καί νέκρωσις ουκ εκράτησεν, ως γάρ ζωής Μητέρα, πρός τήν ζωήν μετέστησεν, ο μήτραν οικήσας αειπάρθενον.

Services and Sacraments

SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2021 – DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS

THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL TRAY OFFERRED TODAY FOR DONATIONS TO GREECE WILDFIRE RELIEF.

SERVICES THIS WEEK

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, July 15th - DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS – Orthros 8:45 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/2021/08/15/li/gr-en/se.m08.d30.li.pdf

No additional services this week.

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 be lit 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:

Ryan, Anna, Patricia, Juliana, John, Lou, Paul, Zacharias, Connie, Vanessa (Vasiliki), Jake, Maegan, Irene, Michael, Barbara, Lisa, Pat, Christopher, Jonathan, Alexandra, Tracy, Dianna, Lazarus, Betty, Catherine, Susan, Evelyn, Gregg, Peter, Stella, Ann Marie, Vasilios, Carol, George, Demetri, Steve, Molly, Maria, Elizabeth, Evans, Katherine, Mike, Mary, Margaret, Angela, Connie, Bill, Carrie, Vito, Pete, Amalia, Stephanie, Lisa, Jacob, Anastasia, Rima, Kylie, Effie, Nicholas, and Maria.

Names may be added to the prayer list by request. If you would like to add someone to the prayer list, or if someone should be removed from the list, please contact the church office at stcons2@gmail.com

Saints and Feasts

August 15

The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary

Concerning the Dormition of the Theotokos, this is what the Church has received from ancient times from the tradition of the Fathers. When the time drew nigh that our Savior was well-pleased to take His Mother to Himself, He declared unto her through an Angel that three days hence, He would translate her from this temporal life to eternity and bliss. On hearing this, she went up with haste to the Mount of Olives, where she prayed continuously. Giving thanks to God, she returned to her house and prepared whatever was necessary for her burial. While these things were taking place, clouds caught up the Apostles from the ends of the earth, where each one happened to be preaching, and brought them at once to the house of the Mother of God, who informed them of the cause of their sudden gathering. As a mother, she consoled them in their affliction as was meet, and then raised her hands to Heaven and prayed for the peace of the world. She blessed the Apostles, and, reclining upon her bed with seemliness, gave up her all-holy spirit into the hands of her Son and God.

With reverence and many lights, and chanting burial hymns, the Apostles took up that God-receiving body and brought it to the sepulchre, while the Angels from Heaven chanted with them, and sent forth her who is higher than the Cherubim. But one Jew, moved by malice, audaciously stretched forth his hand upon the bed and immediately received from divine judgment the wages of his audacity. Those daring hands were severed by an invisible blow. But when he repented and asked forgiveness, his hands were restored. When they had reached the place called Gethsemane, they buried there with honor the all-immaculate body of the Theotokos, which was the source of Life. But on the third day after the burial, when they were eating together, and raised up the artos (bread) in Jesus' Name, as was their custom, the Theotokos appeared in the air, saying "Rejoice" to them. From this they learned concerning the bodily translation of the Theotokos into the Heavens.

These things has the Church received from the traditions of the Fathers, who have composed many hymns out of reverence, to the glory of the Mother of our God (see Oct. 3 and 4).

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Third Mode. Luke 1: 46-48.
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Verse: For he has regarded the humility of his servant.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians 2:5-11.

Brethren, have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Προκείμενον. Third Mode. Λουκάν 1:46-48.
Μεγαλύνει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν Κύριον, καὶ ἠγαλλίασε τὸ πνεῦμά μου ἐπὶ τῷ Θεῷ τῷ σωτῆρί μου.
Στίχ. Ὅτι ἐπέβλεψεν ἐπὶ τὴν ταπείνωσιν τῆς δούλης αὐτοῦ.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Φιλιππησίους 2:5-11.

Ἀδελφοί, τοῦτο γὰρ φρονείσθω ἐν ὑμῖν ὃ καὶ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ· ὃς ἐν μορφῇ θεοῦ ὑπάρχων, οὐχ ἁρπαγμὸν ἡγήσατο τὸ εἶναι ἶσα θεῷ, ἀλλʼ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν, μορφὴν δούλου λαβών, ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος· καί σχήματι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος, ἐταπείνωσεν ἑαυτόν, γενόμενος ὑπήκοος μέχρι θανάτου, θανάτου δὲ σταυροῦ. Διὸ καὶ ὁ θεὸς αὐτὸν ὑπερύψωσεν, καὶ ἐχαρίσατο αὐτῷ ὄνομα τὸ ὑπὲρ πᾶν ὄνομα· ἵνα ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ πᾶν γόνυ κάμψῃ ἐπουρανίων καὶ ἐπιγείων καὶ καταχθονίων, καὶ πᾶσα γλῶσσα ἐξομολογήσηται ὅτι κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ πατρός.

Gospel Reading

The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary
The Reading is from Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28

At that time, Jesus entered a village; and a woman called Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve you alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her." As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!" But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 10:38-42, 11:27-28

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσῆλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς κώμην τινά· γυνὴ δέ τις ὀνόματι Μάρθα ὑπεδέξατο αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτῆς. καὶ τῇδε ἦν ἀδελφὴ καλουμένη Μαρία, ἣ καὶ παρακαθίσασα παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τοῦ ᾿Ιησοῦ ἤκουε τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ. ἡ δὲ Μάρθα περιεσπᾶτο περὶ πολλὴν διακονίαν· ἐπιστᾶσα δὲ εἶπε· Κύριε, οὐ μέλει σοι ὅτι ἡ ἀδελφή μου μόνην με κατέλιπε διακονεῖν; εἰπὲ οὖν αὐτῇ ἵνα μοι συναντιλάβηται. ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· Μάρθα Μάρθα, μεριμνᾷς καὶ τυρβάζῃ περὶ πολλά· ἑνὸς δέ ἐστι χρεία· Μαρία δὲ τὴν ἀγαθὴν μερίδα ἐξελέξατο, ἥτις οὐκ ἀφαιρεθήσεται ἀπ᾿ αὐτῆς. ᾿Εγένετο δὲ ἐν τῷ λέγειν αὐτὸν ταῦτα ἐπάρασά τις γυνὴ φωνὴν ἐκ τοῦ ὄχλου εἶπεν αὐτῷ· μακαρία ἡ κοιλία ἡ βαστάσασά σε καὶ μαστοὶ οὓς ἐθήλασας. αὐτὸς δὲ εἶπε· μενοῦνγε μακάριοι οἱ ἀκούοντες τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ φυλάσσοντες αὐτόν.

Parish News and Updates

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

FIRST DAY OF SUNDAY SCHOOL! Our Sunday School program will kick off on September 12^th! You can register your children online at: https://forms.gle/4KzidE8L32BoPFGJ9 There will be also be registration forms available on the church website later this week. Classes will be in person at the church for the first time since March 2020, and our Sunday School team all excited to be getting back together. Please plan to involve your children in our Sunday School program. We are also in need of parent volunteers and teachers – if you are interested in helping out, please contact Frances at fmarinos@comcast.net

GOLF OUTING: Please join the St. Cons. Men’s Club for their 9^th Annual John Koinis Feed the Needy Golf Outing. The Outing and Banquet will be held at 9:00 A.M. on September 11, 2021 at Fellows Creek Golf Club in Canton. Last year the Feed the Needy Program provided Thanksgiving dinners to 118 needy families and 314 individuals in Westland and Livonia. Funds also help support several St. Cons. Church related events. If you need sponsorship or registration information contact Jeff Zeh at (484) 868-8736 or at jzeh@comcast.net. Registration and sponsor forms are also available at the Church Office.

CHOIR: Our Choir will return to a regular schedule of singing for the Divine Liturgy, and Wednesday evening rehearsals after Labor Day. Those interested in joining, should contact Choir Director Maritsa Kalasz at madiaskalasz@gmail.com.

ADULT BIBLE STUDY: Our Adult Bible Study will begin meeting on Tuesday evenings, after Labor Day. We are exploring the idea of continuing Zoom access to meetings, while simultaneously returning to in-person discussion. If you would like to stay informed about Bible Study activity, contact the church office at 734.525.6789.

NEWS AND NOTICES

GREECE WILDFIRE RELIEF FUND: As you are most likely aware, Greece is currently being ravaged by wildfires. The Archdiocese has set up a fund to provide aid. If you would like to make a donation, there is a link below. There will be a special collection tray at the Sunday Divine Liturgy service as well, the same day on which we celebrate the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos.
GOARCH donation page:
https://www.goarch.org/greecefiresdonate
Youtube video:
https://youtu.be/MlN-5lmFJK0
GoFundMe donation page:
https://gofund.me/291b0813

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS: We appreciate your patience as during the month of August, church office hours are reduced. If you need to visit the office, please call first to be sure that the building is open. Phone messages and emails will be monitored, so please leave a message, and we will get back with you as soon as possible. As always, if there is an urgent need or emergency situation, call Fr. Teodor on his cell at 248.330.3177.

ST CONS GREEK FESTIVAL COMMITTEE: Our indoor Greek Festival will be back in February of 2022 – bigger and better than ever! We are putting together the event planning committee now, and we need you! If you are interested in helping to plan and organize the Saints Constantine and Helen GREEKFEST 2022, please contact Mark Chuey at markchuey@aol.com

SUMMER SURVIVAL BOARD: Many thanks to those who have already contributed to our Summer Survival board! We appreciate your support! You may still make a pledge by signing onto one of the boxes on the sign in our Narthex; or make a donation by mailing payment to the church, or via our website. Your help will make a big difference!

ICONOGRAPHY UPDATE: At this time, all icons for Phase One of our Iconography project have received sponsorship, but we are still in need of general donations of any amount to complete our Iconography project fundraising. These donations provide support for installation, travel, and other associated fees. Pending travel restrictions, we are hoping for a visit from our iconographer before the end of the year.

PHILOPTOCHOS RAFFLE: Carol Bozadzis still has raffle tickets available for sale for the National Philoptochos Children’s Medical Fund to be drawn on Saturday, November 6, 2021. 100% of the raffle’s income will go to the Medical Fund, which assists children with medical, surgical, or mental health needs as well as financially supports innovative programs and services benefitting our precious children. Please contact Carol at 248-471-4369 if you are interested and would like to support this worthy cause.

MEMORIAL SERVICES: Koliva that has been prepared for memorial services can now be distributed to parishioners at the end of service. We are also again able to accept Coffee Hour Sponsors, for those having a memorial or other special day in church. Requested sponsorship donation is $150, and the HCC will set up a table with cloth and coffee, etc. for your family. Paximadia and koulourakia may also be distributed at the coffee hour. Please call the church office to schedule memorials and coffee hour sponsorships 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.

HELLENIC CULTURAL CENTER BOOKING: We are having parties and events in the HCC again! Consider booking your next event at the Hellenic Cultural Center, and help the church get our HCC back into business! The HCC also has staff positions available. If you would like to discuss future bookings, employment, or other issues with the HCC staff, please contact Kathy at 734.525.3550 or 313.303.6350 or helleniccc@gmail.com

REMEMBER THE CHURCH IN YOUR WILL: You’ve supported the church your whole life, remembering us in your estate plan will help the church when you’re gone. Consult your estate planner or contact the Church office for information. We are grateful to our parishioners who have left bequests to the church in the last few years: Thomas Goffas, Irene Barbas, Anthony Keros, Kris Merikas, John and Alice Koinis, Joan Keker, Katherine Socol, Ted and Demetra Monolidis, Zoe Kokenakes, Peter and Eileen Lekas. Their loving legacy made a big difference! May their memory be eternal.

SERVICES AND SACRAMENTS

FUNERAL: Nick Sittas

Visitation: Tuesday, August 17, 2021 4-8 pm, Trisagion 7:00 pm

Funeral Service: Wednesday, August 18, 2021 12:00 pm. Visitation 11 am-12 pm

May his 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.

Wisdom of the Fathers

What Mary might well have said to Martha, the Lord, anticipating her, replied that she had left everything to sit at the Lord's feet, and bless God all day long. You see, her sitting was for love's sake.

St. Makarios the Great

Homily XII, 4th Century

But that God's word may be made clearer, listen to this. If any one loves Jesus, and attends to Him in earnest, and not in a casual way, but in love abides by Him, God is already devising to make some return to that soul for its love, although the man does not know what he is to receive or what portion God is about to give to the soul.