Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Second Mode

When the angelic powers appeared at Your grave, the soldiers guarding it feared and became as dead. And standing by the sepulcher was Mary who was seeking Your immaculate body. You devastated Hades, not afflicted by it. You went to meet the virgin, and granted eternal life. You resurrected from the dead. O Lord, glory to You.

Ἀγγελικαὶ Δυνάμεις ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμά σου, καὶ οἱ φυλάσσοντες ἀπενεκρώθησαν, καὶ ἵστατο Μαρία ἐν τῷ τάφῳ, ζητοῦσα τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα. Ἐσκύλευσας τὸν ᾍδην, μὴ πειρασθεὶς ὑπ' αὐτοῦ, ὑπήντησας τῇ Παρθένῳ, δωρούμενος τὴν ζωήν, ὁ ἀναστὰς ἐκ των νεκρῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion for Sun. of St. Gregory Palamas in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Light of Orthdoxy, pillar and teacher of the Church, adornment of monastics, invincible champion of theologians, O Gregory thou wonderworker, boast of Thessalonica, herald of grace: ever pray that our souls be saved.

Ὀρθοδοξίας ὁ φωστὴρ, Ἐκκλησίας τὸ στήριγμα καὶ διδάσκαλε, τῶν μοναστῶν ἡ καλλονὴ, τῶν θεολόγων ὑπέρμαχος ἀπροσμάχητος· Γρηγόριε θαυματουργὲ Θεσσαλονίκης τὸ καύχημα κήρυξ τῆς χάριτος· ἱκέτευε διὰ παντός, σωθῆναι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"

Τὴ ὑπερμάχω στρατηγῶ τὰ νικητήρια, ὡς λυτρωθεῖσα τῶν δεινῶν εὐχαριστήρια, ἀναγράφω σοὶ ἡ Πόλις σου Θεοτόκε, Ἀλλ' ὡς ἔχουσα τὸ κράτος ἀπροσμάχητον, ἐκ παντοίων μὲ κινδύνων ἐλευθέρωσον, ἵνα κράζω σοί, Χαῖρε νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε.

Services and Sacraments

MARCH 20, 2022 – SUNDAY OF ST. GREGORY PALAMAS

40-Day Blessing:

LEO MICH, Parents: Iwan and Christie (Mouzourakis) Mich

Congratulations!

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 If you wish to follow along with the text, please use the link listed below: https://dcs.goarch.org/

Wednesday, March 23 – PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY, 5:30 pm

Service will be followed by a lecture on the icons of Annunciation, Nativity, Presentation of Christ to the Temple, Jesus in the Temple at 12 years old; and a Lenten Pot Luck supper in the Hellenic Cultural Center. Saints Constantine and Helen Church, Westland

Thursday, March 24 – ANNUNCIATION GREAT VESPERS 7:00 pm Annunciation Cathedral, Detroit

Friday, March 25 – FEAST DAY OF THE ANNUNCIATION, Orthros 8:45, Divine Liturgy, 10:00 am

Saints Constantine and Helen Church, Westland

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.

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PLEASE PRAY FOR:

Jim, Panagioti, Gloria, Evans, Phyllis, Christina, Cynthia, Marti, Marty, Janet, Patricia, Juliana, John, Paul, Zacharias, Connie, Vanessa (Vasiliki), Jake, Maegan, Irene, Lisa, Pat, Jonathan, Alexandra, Tracy, Dianna, Lazarus, Betty, Catherine, Susan, Evelyn, Gregg, Peter, Ann Marie, Vasilios, Carol, George, Demetri, Steve, Molly, Maria, Elizabeth, Evans, Katherine, Mary, Margaret, Angela, Connie, Bill, Carrie, Vito, Pete, Amalia, Stephanie, Lisa, Anastasia, Rima, Kylie, Effie, Nicholas, and Maria.

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

Saints and Feasts

March 20

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas

This divine Father, who was from Asia Minor, was from childhood reared in the royal court of Constantinople, where he was instructed in both religious and secular wisdom. Later, while still a youth, he left the imperial court and struggled in asceticism on Mount Athos, and in the Skete at Beroea. He spent some time in Thessalonica being treated for an illness that came from his harsh manner of life. He was present in Constantinople at the Council that was convened in 1341 against Barlaam of Calabria, and at the Council of 1347 against Acindynus, who was of like mind with Barlaam; Barlaam and Acindynus claimed that the grace of God is created. At both these Councils, the Saint contended courageously for the true dogmas of the Church of Christ, teaching in particular that divine grace is not created, but is the uncreated energies of God which are poured forth throughout creation: otherwise it would be impossible, if grace were created, for man to have genuine communion with the uncreated God. In 1347 he was appointed Metropolitan of Thessalonica. He tended his flock in an apostolic manner for some twelve years, and wrote many books and treatises on the most exalted doctrines of our Faith; and having lived for a total of sixty-three years, he reposed in the Lord in 1359.

His holy relics are kept in the Cathedral of Thessalonica. A full service was composed for his feast day by the Patriarch Philotheus in 1368, when it was established that his feast be celebrated on this day. Since works without right faith avail nothing, we set Orthodoxy of faith as the foundation of all that we accomplish during the Fast, by celebrating the Triumph of Orthodoxy the Sunday before, and the great defender of the teachings of the holy Fathers today.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 1:10-14; 2:1-3.

IN THE BEGINNING, Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end." But to what angel has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet?" Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?

Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him.

Προκείμενον. Plagal Second Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 27.9,1.
Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου.
Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 1:10-14, 2:1-3.

Κατʼ ἀρχάς, Κύριε, τὴν γῆν ἐθεμελίωσας, καὶ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σού εἰσιν οἱ οὐρανοί· αὐτοὶ ἀπολοῦνται, σὺ δὲ διαμένεις· καὶ πάντες ὡς ἱμάτιον παλαιωθήσονται, καὶ ὡσεὶ περιβόλαιον ἑλίξεις αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἀλλαγήσονται· σὺ δὲ ὁ αὐτὸς εἶ, καὶ τὰ ἔτη σου οὐκ ἐκλείψουσιν. Πρὸς τίνα δὲ τῶν ἀγγέλων εἴρηκέν ποτε, Κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου; Οὐχὶ πάντες εἰσὶν λειτουργικὰ πνεύματα, εἰς διακονίαν ἀποστελλόμενα διὰ τοὺς μέλλοντας κληρονομεῖν σωτηρίαν; Διὰ τοῦτο δεῖ περισσοτέρως ἡμᾶς προσέχειν τοῖς ἀκουσθεῖσιν, μήποτε παραρρυῶμεν. Εἰ γὰρ ὁ διʼ ἀγγέλων λαληθεὶς λόγος ἐγένετο βέβαιος, καὶ πᾶσα παράβασις καὶ παρακοὴ ἔλαβεν ἔνδικον μισθαποδοσίαν, πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας; Ἥτις, ἀρχὴν λαβοῦσα λαλεῖσθαι διὰ τοῦ κυρίου, ὑπὸ τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐβεβαιώθη.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas
The Reading is from Mark 2:1-12

At that time, Jesus entered Capernaum and it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak thus? It is a blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-he said to the paralytic-"I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 2:1-12

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσῆλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς εἰς Καπερναοὺμ δι᾿ ἡμερῶν καὶ ἠκούσθη ὅτι εἰς οἶκόν ἐστι. καὶ εὐθέως συνήχθησαν πολλοί, ὥστε μηκέτι χωρεῖν μηδὲ τὰ πρὸς τὴν θύραν· καὶ ἐλάλει αὐτοῖς τὸν λόγον. καὶ ἔρχονται πρὸς αὐτὸν παραλυτικὸν φέροντες, αἰρόμενον ὑπὸ τεσσάρων· καὶ μὴ δυνάμενοι προσεγγίσαι αὐτῷ διὰ τὸν ὄχλον, ἀπεστέγασαν τὴν στέγην ὅπου ἦν, καὶ ἐξορύξαντες χαλῶσι τὸν κράβαττον, ἐφ᾿ ᾧ ὁ παραλυτικὸς κατέκειτο. ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τὴν πίστιν αὐτῶν λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ· τέκνον, ἀφέωνταί σοι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου. ἦσαν δέ τινες τῶν γραμματέων ἐκεῖ καθήμενοι καὶ διαλογιζόμενοι ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν· τί οὗτος οὕτω λαλεῖ βλασφημίας; τίς δύναται ἀφιέναι ἁμαρτίας εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ Θεός; καὶ εὐθέως ἐπιγνοὺς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ ὅτι οὕτως αὐτοὶ διαλογίζονται ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί ταῦτα διαλογίζεσθε ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν; τί ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον, εἰπεῖν τῷ παραλυτικῷ, ἀφέωνταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι, ἢ εἰπεῖν, ἔγειρε καὶ ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει; ἵνα δὲ εἰδῆτε ὅτι ἐξουσίαν ἔχει ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀφιέναι ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἁμαρτίας - λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ· σοὶ λέγω, ἔγειρε καὶ ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ ὕπαγε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου. καὶ ἠγέρθη εὐθέως, καὶ ἄρας τὸν κράβαττον ἐξῆλθεν ἐναντίον πάντων, ὥστε ἐξίστασθαι πάντας καὶ δοξάζειν τὸν Θεὸν λέγοντας ὅτι οὐδέποτε οὕτως εἴδομεν.

Parish News and Updates

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

PHILOPTOCHOS MEETING: There will be a General Meeting of the St. Helen Philoptochos TODAY, Sunday, March 20 following the service in the multi-purpose room. Please plan to stay as we discuss Lent, Easter, and future philanthropic efforts.

ORATORICAL FESTIVAL: Our Oratorical Festival for youth, grades 7 – 12 will be held immediately following church today. If you would like to hear our young people give their speeches, you are asked to remain in the church following today’s service.

PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY/ICONOGRAPHY/POT LUCK SUPPERS: Each Wednesday evening during Lent, following the 5:30pm Presanctified Liturgy service, Father Teodor will have a short presentation on our new iconography and its symbolism. Following the presentation, please join us for a complimentary Lenten Pot-Luck Supper in the HCC. Bring a Lenten dish to pass if you can! The schedule is as follows:

March 23 – Icons of Annunciation, Nativity, Presentation to the Temple, Jesus in the Temple at 12 years old (Pot-luck sponsored by Choir/GOYA)
March 30 – Baptism of Christ, Transfiguration, Resurrection of Lazarus, and Palm Sunday; Guest Speaker, Fr. Mark Sietsema – Holy Trinity Church, Lansing. (Pot -luck sponsored by Philoptochos/Moms’ Group)

April 6 – Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension, Decent of the Holy Spirit (Pot -luck sponsored by HOPE & JOY/Sunday School)

Both the services and the lectures will be available via live video-feed on the parish website, www.stcons.org, if you are unable to attend in person.

HOPE AND JOY EASTER BASKET BRUNCH: Our children, ages 4 – 12 and their families are invited to join us on April 3^rd for an “Easter Basket Brunch”! We will put together Easter baskets to be given to low-income children, have fun craft activities, and learn about Holy Week and Easter from Fr. Teodor! Please RSPV to Frances Marinos at 734.776.4484 or fmarinos@comcast.net no later than March 27^th if your family can attend. We are also in need of GOYA and teen volunteers.

GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE: The Detroit Greek Independence Day Parade will be held on Sunday, April 10^th, starting at 3:00 pm on Monroe Street in Detroit’s Greektown Historic District. His Eminence, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America will be in attendance. Please plan to walk the parade route with your family in the Saints Constantine and Helen Church group!

FRIDAY SALUTATIONS/CONFESSION: There will be no Friday Salutations service this week (March 25). We will still be having our Lenten Seafood Buffet and Carry Out in the Hellenic Cultural Center on Friday, from 5:00 – 8:00 pm until April 15th. The remaining Friday night Salutation to the Theotokos services will be held at 6:00 pm. Father Teodor will be available after the service for confession for those who wish. No appointment is necessary.

COCC VESPERS: Each Sunday evening throughout Lent the Council of Orthodox Christian Churches holds a Vespers service at a different area Orthodox church, beginning at 6:00 pm. Tonight’s 3/20/22 service will be held at the Holy Transfiguration Church, Livonia. Fr. Radomir Obsenica, will serve as Homilist. All are welcome. For a full schedule, visit their website at www.coccdetroit.org

PALM SUNDAY LUNCH: After church on April 17^th, we will have our annual Palm Sunday Lunch. Let’s begin Holy Week together with our parish family! The menu includes baked White Fish, Fried Calamari, Pasta, Roasted Potatoes, Peas, Salad Fries, and Sorbet. There will be open seating, no reserved seats., so buy your tickets in advance and skip the line at the door. Tickets will be available for sale at coffee hour and in the church office.

MAN OF GOD: An additional screening of the award-winning film “Man of God” about the life of St. Nektarios of Aegina, has been added on Monday, March 28^th at 7:00pm at the Phoenix Theatres, Laurel Park Place. If you wish to see the film, purchase tickets directly from the theatre, or your regular online ticket source.

NEWS AND NOTICES

ICON DONATIONS: Our Sunday School will continue accepting donations through the Saturday of Lazarus (April 16^th) of used icons to be sent to the Orthodox Public Action Project, to distribute to Orthodox Christians facing religious persecution in the Middle East and South Africa. Please leave your icons in the basket in the Narthex when you come to church.

THANK YOU! Many thanks to all who donated to our H.O.P.E. and J.O.Y. Easter Basket project! Your generous donations will be given to the City of Westland Housing Commission, providing Easter Baskets for 36 low-income Westland area families. Baskets will include toys, books, personal care items, and some special treats from our children to theirs!

“SENSE-SATIONAL” VCS - SAVE THE DATES! Our Vacation Church School will be held the week of August 8^th – 12^th. This year we will focus on the 5 Senses – sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell – as we help our kids connect with our unseen, untouchable God through their physical senses. If you have a young person between the ages of 4 and 12, save this week for learning about our faith, making new friends, and big fun! Teens ages 13 – 18 are needed to work as volunteers, teacher’s aids, etc. We also need adult help that week with teaching, crafts, and outside play. If you can help, contact Frances Marinos at fmarinos @comcast.net or the church office.

STEWARDSHIP PLEDGE: If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to submit your 2022 Stewardship Pledge card today. You ae not considered a member in good standing at the parish, unless this card is completed each year. Stewardship Pledge cards are available at the Pangari or the church office. Parishioners can also complete the 2022 Stewardship Pledge Card online from our website, or at this direct link: https://form.jotform.com/220062911610138

MEMORIAL SERVICES: Koliva that has been prepared for memorial services can now be distributed to parishioners at the end of service. Requested Coffee Hour 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.

WE’RE HIRING! We are looking for staff to fill several positions at the Hellenic Cultural Center, including servers, event managers, bartenders, office staff, and maintenance. If you are interested, or know somebody who might be a good fit, please talk to Nicki at helleniccc@gmail.com or 734.525.3550; or the church office.

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

Now Matthew indeed saith, that "they brought him," but the others, that they also broke up the roof, and let him down. And they put the sick man before Christ, saying nothing, but committing the whole to Him.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 29 on Matthew 9, 1. B#54, pp. 195, 196, 4th Century

For though in the beginning He Himself went about, and did not require so much faith of them that came unto Him; yet in this case they both approached Him, and had faith required on their part. For, "Seeing," it is said, "their faith;" that is, the faith of them that had let the man down.