April 30
Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2023-04-30
Bulletin Contents
Hymns of the Day
Services and Sacraments
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Parish News and Updates
Wisdom of the Fathers
Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church
General Information
- Phone:
- (734) 525-6789
- Fax:
- (734) 525-3989
- Email:
- frteodor@mail.com
- 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
- Publish Date:
- 2023-05-07
- Publish Date:
- 2023-04-23
- Publish Date:
- 2023-04-09
- Publish Date:
- 2023-04-02
- Publish Date:
- 2023-03-26
- Publish Date:
- 2023-03-19
Hymns of the Day
Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal First Mode
Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life.
Χριστός ἀνέστη ἐκ νεκρῶν, θανάτῳ θάνατον πατήσας, καί τοῖς ἐν τοῖς μνήμασι ζωήν χαρισάμενος.
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Mode
When You descended unto death, O Lord who yourself are immortal Life, then did You mortify Hades by the lightning flash of Your Divinity. Also when You raised the dead from the netherworld, all the Powers of the heavens were crying out: O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory be to You.
Ὅτε κατῆλθες πρὸς τὸν θάνατον, ἡ Ζωὴ ἡ ἀθάνατος, τότε τὸν ᾅδην ἐνέκρωσας τῇ ἀστραπῇ τῆς Θεότητος, ὅτε δὲ καὶ τοὺς τεθνεῶτας ἐκ τῶν καταχθονίων ἀνέστησας, πᾶσαι αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν ἐπουρανίων ἐκραύγαζον·Ζωοδότα Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν δόξα σοι.
Apolytikion for Holy Myrrhbearers Sunday in the Second Mode
The noble Joseph, taking Thine immaculate Body down from the Tree, and having wrapped It in pure linen and spices, laid It for burial in a new tomb. But on the third day Thou didst arise, O Lord, granting great mercy to the world.
Ὁ εὐσχήμων Ἰωσήφ, ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου καθελὼν τὸ ἄχραντόν σου Σῶμα, σινδόνι καθαρᾷ, εἱλήσας καὶ ἀρώμασιν, ἐν μνήματι καινῷ κηδεύσας ἀπέθετο, ἀλλὰ τριήμερος ἀνέστης Κύριε, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.
Apolytikion for Holy Myrrhbearers Sunday in the Second Mode
Unto the myrrh-bearing women did the Angel cry out as he stood by the grave: Myrrh oils are meet for the dead, but Christ hath proved to be a stranger to corruption. But cry out: The Lord is risen, granting great mercy to the world.
Ταῖς Μυροφόροις Γυναιξί, παρὰ τὸ μνῆμα ἐπιστάς, ὁ Ἄγγελος ἐβόα. Τὰ μύρα τοῖς θνητοῖς ὑπάρχει ἁρμόδια, Χριστὸς δὲ διαφθορᾶς ἐδείχθη ἀλλότριος, ἀλλὰ κραυγάσατε, Ἀνέστη ὁ Κύριος, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.
Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode
Though You went down into the tomb, You destroyed Hades' power, and You rose the victor, Christ God, saying to the myrrh-bearing women, "Hail!" and granting peace to Your disciples, You who raise up the fallen.
Εἰ καὶ ἐν τάφῳ κατῆλθες ἀθάνατε, ἀλλὰ τοῦ ᾍδου καθεῖλες τὴν δύναμιν, καὶ ἀνέστης ὡς νικητής, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, γυναιξὶ Μυροφόροις φθεγξάμενος. Χαίρετε, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις εἰρήνην δωρούμενος ὁ τοῖς πεσοῦσι παρέχων ἀνάστασιν.
Services and Sacraments
April 30, 2023 –Sunday Of the Myrrh-Bearing Women
TODAY’S COFFEE HOUR WILL BE HELD IN THE MULTI-PURPOSE AREA OUTSIDE THE CHURCH OFFICE TODAY DUE TO A BOOKING IN THE HELLENIC CULTURAL CENTER.
Memorials:
ALEXZANDRA “LEXI” PEHRSON – 6 Months
Coffee Hour Sponsor
CONSTANCE GIVAS - 1 Year
GEORGE GIVAS - 13 years
MICHAEL CARDASIS - 20 years
May Their Memory be Eternal!
SERVICES THIS WEEK:
Sunday, April 30 SUNDAY OF THE MYRRH-BEARING WOMEN Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am
Saints Constantine and Helen Church, Westland
No additional 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 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: Joanna, Lambrine, Nick, Fotini, Niki, George, Matthew, Maria, Tom, Stefanos, Georgia, Leonidas, Gus, Connie, Maria, Brenda, Panagiota, Nicholas, Vicki, Susan, 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
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Second Mode. Psalm 117.14,18.
The Lord is my strength and my song.
Verse: The Lord has chastened me sorely.
The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7.
In those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "it is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochoros, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaos, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Προκείμενον. Second Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 117.14,18.
Ἰσχύς μου καὶ ὕμνησίς μου ὁ Κύριος.
Στίχ. Παιδεύων ἐπαίδευσέ με ὁ Κύριος.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 6:1-7.
Ἐν ταῖς ἡμεραῖς ἐκείναις, πληθυνόντων τῶν μαθητῶν, ἐγένετο γογγυσμὸς τῶν Ἑλληνιστῶν πρὸς τοὺς Ἑβραίους, ὅτι παρεθεωροῦντο ἐν τῇ διακονίᾳ τῇ καθημερινῇ αἱ χῆραι αὐτῶν. Προσκαλεσάμενοι δὲ οἱ δώδεκα τὸ πλῆθος τῶν μαθητῶν, εἶπον, Οὐκ ἀρεστόν ἐστιν ἡμᾶς, καταλείψαντας τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ, διακονεῖν τραπέζαις. Ἐπισκέψασθε οὖν, ἀδελφοί, ἄνδρας ἐξ ὑμῶν μαρτυρουμένους ἑπτά, πλήρεις πνεύματος ἁγίου καὶ σοφίας, οὓς καταστήσωμεν ἐπὶ τῆς χρείας ταύτης. Ἡμεῖς δὲ τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ τῇ διακονίᾳ τοῦ λόγου προσκαρτερήσομεν. Καὶ ἤρεσεν ὁ λόγος ἐνώπιον παντὸς τοῦ πλήθους· καὶ ἐξελέξαντο Στέφανον, ἄνδρα πλήρης πίστεως καὶ πνεύματος ἁγίου, καὶ Φίλιππον, καὶ Πρόχορον, καὶ Νικάνορα, καὶ Τίμωνα, καὶ Παρμενᾶν, καὶ Νικόλαον προσήλυτον Ἀντιοχέα, οὓς ἔστησαν ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀποστόλων· καὶ προσευξάμενοι ἐπέθηκαν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας. Καὶ ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ ηὔξανεν, καὶ ἐπληθύνετο ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν μαθητῶν ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ σφόδρα, πολύς τε ὄχλος τῶν ἱερέων ὑπήκουον τῇ πίστει.
Gospel Reading
Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women
The Reading is from Mark 15:43-47; 16:1-8
At that time, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 15:43-47, 16:1-8
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐλθὼν Ἰωσὴφ ὁ ἀπὸ Ἀριμαθαίας, εὐσχήμων βουλευτής, ὃς καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν προσδεχόμενος τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ, τολμήσας εἰσῆλθε πρὸς Πιλᾶτον καὶ ᾐτήσατο τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ. Ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος ἐθαύμασεν εἰ ἤδη τέθνηκε, καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος τὸν κεντυρίωνα ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτὸν εἰ πάλαι ἀπέθανε· καὶ γνοὺς ἀπὸ τοῦ κεντυρίωνος ἐδωρήσατο τὸ σῶμα τῷ Ἰωσήφ. Καὶ ἀγοράσας σινδόνα καὶ καθελὼν αὐτὸν ἐνείλησε τῇ σινδόνι καὶ κατέθηκεν αὐτὸν ἐν μνημείῳ, ὃ ἦν λελατομημένον ἐκ πέτρας, καὶ προσεκύλισε λίθον ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν τοῦ μνημείου. Ἡ δὲ Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία Ἰωσῆ ἐθεώρουν ποῦ τίθεται. Καὶ διαγενομένου τοῦ σαββάτου Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία ἡ τοῦ Ἰακώβου καὶ Σαλώμη ἠγόρασαν ἀρώματα ἵνα ἐλθοῦσαι ἀλείψωσιν αὐτόν. Καὶ λίαν πρωῒ τῆς μιᾶς σαββάτων ἔρχονται ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον, ἀνατείλαντος τοῦ ἡλίου. Καὶ ἔλεγον πρὸς ἑαυτάς· Τίς ἀποκυλίσει ἡμῖν τὸν λίθον ἐκ τῆς θύρας τοῦ μνημείου; Καὶ ἀναβλέψασαι θεωροῦσιν ὅτι ἀποκεκύλισται ὁ λίθος· ἦν γὰρ μέγας σφόδρα. Καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον εἶδον νεανίσκον καθήμενον ἐν τοῖς δεξιοῖς, περιβεβλημένον στολὴν λευκήν, καὶ ἐξεθαμβήθησαν. Ὁ δὲ λέγει αὐταῖς· μὴ ἐκθαμβεῖσθε· Ἰησοῦν ζητεῖτε τὸν Ναζαρηνὸν τὸν ἐσταυρωμένον· ἠγέρθη, οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε· ἴδε ὁ τόπος ὅπου ἔθηκαν αὐτόν. Ἀλλ᾿ ὑπάγετε εἴπατε τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ Πέτρῳ ὅτι προάγει ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν· ἐκεῖ αὐτὸν ὄψεσθε, καθὼς εἶπεν ὑμῖν. Καὶ ἐξελθοῦσαι ἔφυγον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου· εἶχε δὲ αὐτὰς τρόμος καὶ ἔκστασις, καὶ οὐδενὶ οὐδὲν εἶπον· ἐφοβοῦντο γάρ.
Parish News and Updates
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES:
PHILOPTOCHOS GENERAL MEETING: There will be a General Meeting of the St. Helen Philoptochos following church service TODAY, Sunday April 30th in the library/multi-purpose room. Please plan to attend.
BIBLE STUDY: Our Bible Study group will meet this Tuesday, May 2nd at 7:00 pm on the ZOOM platform. ZOOM LINK is: https://zoom.us/j/7345256789, Meeting ID: 734 525 6789. All adults are welcome to join, as we resume our study of the Book of Matthew. No pre-registration is required.
HOPE & JOY “MOM’s SURPRISE SUNDAY”: Our HOPE and JOY children, ages 12 and under, will gather in the library immediately following church (Sunday School) next Sunday, May 7th, to enjoy a snack and chat with Fr. Teodor and make a special surprise gift for Mom! The event will last approximately 45 minutes, so families will have plenty of time to get downtown for the Greek parade! Please RSVP to fmarinos@comcast.net, the church office, or sign up outside the library.
MOMS’S GROUP DANCE PLANNING MEETING: Our Name Day Dinner Dance, hosted by the Moms’ Group, will be held on Saturday, June 10th in the HCC. There will be a short planning meeting during coffee hour following church next Sunday, May 7th for Moms who are interested in working on a committee. Please join us! We need your help!
GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE: Show your Greek pride! The Greek Independence Day parade will be held on Sunday May 7th at 3:00 pm on Monroe Street in Detroit’s historic Greektown. Bring the family, wear your Greek colors, and march the parade route with our Sts. Constantine and Helen Church group!
MOTHERS DAY BRUNCH: Our Hellenic Cultural Center will host it’s annual Mothers’ Day Brunch, on Sunday, May 14th. An extensive gourmet brunch will be set out, featuring prime rib and a bountiful array of entrees, breakfast items, salads, and desserts. Tickets are $35 for adults and $15 for children under 10. The event is open to the public, and brunch will be served from 11:00 until 3:00 pm. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. Please call 734.525.3550 to reserve your time.
STS. CONSTANTINE AND HELEN FEAST DAY: The Great Vespers service for our parish Feast Day will be held on Saturday, May 20th at 6:30 pm. Our St. Helen Philoptochos will provide loukoumades following the Saturday evening Vespers service. Feast Day Divine Liturgy will be held on Sunday, May 21st at 10:00 am, followed by a complimentary lunch in the Hellenic Cultural Center. Please make an effort to attend both services as we come together as a community in celebration of our parish patron saints.
NEWS AND NOTICES:
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ORATORICAL COMPETITORS! We are so proud of our young people who were selected to represent our parish at the District level St. John Oratorical Festival! Our parish Junior Division winner, Drew Stamatakos received an Honorable Mention in the competition; and our Senior Division winner, Nicole Petrutiu was a finalist in the District competition! Nicole will continue as Senior Division representative of our district to compete later this month at the Metropolis level against young people from 7 states, including Michigan, New York, Ohio, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee and Indiana.
HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE GRADUATES! PLEASE SUBMIT PHOTOS AND INFORMATION! Please help us to honor our graduates! Submit the following to the church office by June 9th: a photo (headshot) of your graduate, the name of school they are graduating from, the school they will attend (HS grads) or the degree they have achieved (College grads) and their course of study, and the parents’/grandparents’ names. Please forward as a digital file if possible to: stcons2@gmail.com or drop off photo and information to the church office. Our graduates will be honored and receive a special gift on Sunday, June 18th.
AHEPA CONVENTION AND GALA: Announcing the 92nd Annual AHEPA District 10 Convention and Greek Gala! Join us for a fun evening with dinner and dancing on Saturday, June 3 at 4:30 pm at St. Nicholas GOC in Troy - please register online by May 19 at www.ahepadistrict10.org/district-10-convention-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.
WE’RE HIRING! WE NEED YOUR HELP! As we move into the very busy spring and summer months, our Hellenic Cultural Center needs more staff! The HCC is hiring servers, dishwashers, and kitchen prep workers now. If you are interested, or if you know somebody who would like to apply for work, please contact Kathy McMullen at helleniccc@gmail.com or 734.525.3550. These would be good jobs for people looking for some extra income, but not a full-time commitment; for college students and older teens during the summer months; or anybody who wants to join a great team and work hard for the benefit of our parish.
Wisdom of the Fathers
They [the women] had followed Him ministering to Him, and were present even unto the time of the dangers. Wherefore also they saw all; how He cried, how He gave up the ghost, how the rocks were rent, and all the rest.
Homily 88 on Matthew 27, 4th Century
And these [the women] first see Jesus; and the sex that was most condemned, this first enjoys the sight of the blessings, this most shows its courage. And when the disciples had fled, these were present.
Homily 88 on Matthew 27, 4th Century