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 12, 2023 – SUNDAY OF ST. GREGORY PALAMAS

Memorials:

WILLIAM DALLAS – 40 Days
THOMAS PETCOU - 3 years

May their memory be eternal!

SERVICES THIS WEEK:

Wednesday, March 15 – PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY, 5:30 pm

Service will be followed by a lecture on the lives of St. John Chrysostom, St. Cyril of Alexandria; and a Lenten Pot Luck supper hosted by the Mom’s Group and GOYA in the Hellenic Cultural Center.

Friday, March 17 – SALUTATIONS TO THE THEOTOKOS, 6:00 pm

Father Teodor will be available after the service for confession for those who wish. No appointment is necessary.

Saints Constantine and Helen Church

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 this link: https://dcs.goarch.org/

VIDEO ARCHIVE: Previously recorded Sunday Divine Liturgy services will now be archived and available on our website! Go to https://www.stcons.org/video-streaming and you can click on the service you would like to view.

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: Suzanne, Lambrini, Nick, Fotini, Niki, Angelo the Priest, George, Irene, Matthew, Maria, Tom, Stefanos, Leonidas, Gus, Connie, Maria, Brenda, Panagiota, Nicholas, Vicki, Susan, Tom, Suzanne, Tom, Thomas, Jim, Panagioti, Gloria, Evans, Phyllis, Marti, Marty, Janet, John, Paul, Zacharias, Vanessa (Vasiliki), Jake, Maegan, Irene, Lisa, Pat, Jonathan, Alexandra, Tracy, Dianna, Betty, Catherine, Susan, Evelyn, Gregg, Peter, Angela, Bill, Carrie, Vito, Pete, Amalia, Stephanie, Lisa, Anastasia, Kylie, Effie, Nicholas, and Maria.

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

Saints and Feasts

March 12

Paul Aurelian, Bishop of Brittany

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:

ORATORICAL FESTIVAL: The St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival will be held TODAY, Sunday, March 12^th. The festival is a national program where Orthodox youth, grades 7 – 12, present speeches discussing the Greek Orthodox faith and the Church. Parishioners are encouraged to stay after the Divine Liturgy service and listen to our young people make their presentations.

HOPE and JOY LENTEN “GOOD DEEDS” BRUNCH: On March 19^th, following the Divine Liturgy service, our HOPE and JOY families will gather in the Hellenic Cultural Center and share a brunch meal, and assemble Easter Baskets to be distributed by FOCUS Detroit to needy Detroit-area children. Please RSVP to Frances Marinos at fmarinos@comcast.net by March 15^th if you will be attending. GOYA members and parents are also needed as volunteers for the event.

PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY/ICONOGRAPHY LECTURES: Each Wednesday evening during Lent, following the 5:30 pm Presanctified Liturgy service, Father Teodor and guest presenters will discuss the lives of the Holy Hierarchs. The schedule is as follows:

March 15 – Lives of St. John Chrysostom, St. Cyril of Alexandria
March 22 – Special presentation by David Conrad Director, Ecumenical & Interfaith Relations, Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit, The Center of the Earth: The Church of the Holy Sepulcher
March 29 – The life of St. Nektarios

Both the service 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.

MEN'S CLUB MEETING: Our next Men's Club meeting will be held following church service on Sunday, March 26 in the HCC hall.

LENTEN SEAFOOD BUFFET: Each Friday evening through April 7^th, the HCC will be serving a delicious Lenten Seafood Buffet Supper from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Please invite your friends and neighbors to join you for supper, no reservations are required. Parish volunteers are still needed to work the door for some Fridays. If you can help, contact the church office.

PRAY WITH US: All are welcome! Each Tuesday morning during Lent at 10:00 am, please gather with us, as we read prayers honoring one of the Church Hierarchs featured in our newly installed Iconography. We will meet in the Board Room. Our small group will also pray for those on our parish prayer list. You are welcome to attend and just listen to the prayers being read. Please allow approx. 45 minutes to an hour for the prayer gathering each week.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY AT THE HCC: Spend your St. Patrick’s Day at the Hellenic Cultural Center! The HCC are hosting “Irish Fest” from 3:00 pm until about 9:00 pm. Live Irish music, dance throughout the afternoon and evening, traditional Irish food and drink. The HCC receives the proceeds from all food and drink sold at the event, and we are in need of a few volunteers who can help to sell food/drink tickets. If you can help, contact Annette in the church office.

YOUNG ADULT LENTEN RETREAT: Presented by the Metropolis of Detroit and Motor City Orthodox, “Love Actually”, is a Young Adult (ages (18-35) Lenten Retreat, to be held at St. George GOC in Bloomfield Hills on Saturday, March 18, 2023, from 12 noon to 6 pm. Registration is only $20. www.detroit.goarch.org/yalentenretreat

PALM SUNDAY LUNCHEON: Our parish will hold its traditional Palm Sunday fish luncheon on Sunday, April 9^th, immediately following the Divine Liturgy service. Plan to stay after service and attend with your family, as we begin Holy Week together. Tickets will be on sale soon!

NEWS AND NOTICES:

MANY THANKS FROM HOPE & JOY! Many thanks to our all our parishioners for their generous donations toward our H.O.P.E. and J.O.Y. Lenten Good Deeds project! The basket collection last Sunday raised nearly $1,000 to pay for Easter baskets our children will assemble to be given to low-income kids. Each child will receive a basket filled with goodies and personal care items, along with a brand new hard cover book. FOCUS Detroit will distribute the baskets and books through their feeding and in-school ministries.

CONFESSION: Fr. Teodor will be available for one hour each Friday after the 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.

COLLEGE CONNECTION: The Mom's Group is planning to mail the spring College Connection care packages to our undergrad and graduate students (either living at home or away) in mid-March. Please let us know if your student's address changed from the fall mailing by March 14 , so we can send their package to the correct address. Please email their new address to Cathy Brylinski cbrylins@gmail.com.

CHILDREN’S LAMBATHES: Our Mom’s Group is selling personalized lambathes this year! Order forms are available in today’s bulletin, or at the church office. You have many selections to choose from – they are made to order, and no two are exactly alike! Lambathes are $20, plus an additional $5 if you would like them personalized. Orders must be received by March 26^th, for a Holy Week pick up. For more information, contact Corrin at cstamatakos@gmail.com

MDSC SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE: If you plan to register your young person for the Metropolis of Detroit Summer Camp program, our parish has scholarships available to assist with registration fees. Please talk to Fr. Teodor or the church office for more information.

GREAT LENT/EASTER FLOWER DONATIONS: For each Friday night Salutations to the Theotokos service, and throughout Great Lent and Holy week, our parish icons are decorated with flowers. If you would like to make a donation towards the Icon flowers, please make a check out to Saints Constantine and Helen Church and put “Friday flowers” in the memo line, or talk to Helene Petcou after church.

AHEPA DISTRICT 10 SCHOLARSHIPS - AHEPA District 10, which encompasses Michigan, is offering scholarships for graduating high school students and for current college students! Sixty scholarships totaling $80,000 were distributed in 2022. Applications are available now at ahepadistrict10.org/educational-foundation and are due on April 1, 2023.

MEMORIAL SERVICES: Please call the church office to schedule all memorials and coffee hour sponsorships at least two weeks in advance. On the day of the service, please bring a list of family names you would like Father to remember in prayer. Coffee Hour sponsorship is not required, however the church is grateful to those who wish to make a sponsorship donation of $150, and the HCC will set up a table with cloth and coffee, etc. for your family.

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.Their loving legacy made a big difference! May their memory be eternal.

Wisdom of the Fathers

Take up your bed. Carry the very mat that once carried you. Change places, so that what was the proof of your sickness may now give testimony to your soundness. Your bed of pain becomes the sign of healing, its very weight the measure of the strength that has been restored to you.

St. Peter Chrysologus

Homily 50.6. Taken from: Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Vol. 2: Mark. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2005, p. 27.

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

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