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Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2023-10-22
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Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (734) 525-6789
  • Fax:
  • (734) 525-3989
  • 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


Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode

Let the heavens sing for joy, and let everything on earth be glad. * For with His Arm the Lord has worked power. * He trampled death under foot by means of death; * and He became the firstborn from the dead. * From the maw of Hades He delivered us; * and He granted the world His great mercy.
Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον, πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for Abercius of Hierapolis in the Fourth Mode

The truth of your manner of life manifested you to your flock as a rule of faith and an icon of gentleness and a teacher of self-control. By humility, therefore, you acquired the things on high, and riches through poverty. Father Holy Hierarch Abercius, intercede with Christ our God, entreating that our souls be saved.
Κανόνα πίστεως καί εικόνα πραότητος, εγκρατείας Διδάσκαλον, ανέδειξέ σε τή ποίμνη σου, η τών πραγμάτων αλήθεια, διά τούτο εκτήσω τή ταπεινώσει τά υψηλά, τή πτωχεία τά πλούσια, Πάτερ Ιεράρχα Αβέρκιε, πρέσβευε Χριστώ τώ Θεώ, σωθήναι τάς ψυχάς ημών.

Apolytikion for 7 Youths of Ephesus in the Fourth Mode

Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.
Οι Μάρτυρές σου, Κύριε, εν τή αθλήσει αυτών, στεφάνους εκομίσαντο τής αφθαρσίας, εκ σού τού Θεού ημών, σχόντες γάρ τήν ισχύν σου, τούς τυράννους καθείλον, έθραυσαν καί δαιμόνων, τά ανίσχυρα θράση. Αυτών ταίς ικεσίαις, Χριστέ ο Θεός, σώσον τάς ψυχάς ημών.

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.
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Services and Sacraments

OCTOBER 22, 2023 – 6th  SUNDAY OF LUKE

Memorials:                

KATHERINE REYNOLDS   - 4 years

May her memory be eternal!

SERVICES THIS WEEK:

Sunday, October 22 - 6TH SUNDAY OF LUKE, Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am  Saints Saints Constantine and Helen Church, Westland

Thursday, October 26 – FEAST DAY, ST. DEMETRIOS, Orthros 8:45, Divine Liturgy 10:00 Saints Constantine and Helen, Westland

VIDEO ARCHIVE:  Previously recorded Sunday Divine Liturgy services are 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:   Lazaros, Rene, Bill, Katy, John, Nick, Christopher, Sarantos, George, David, Marcos, Evangela, Lela, Doris, Dawn, Panagioti, Nannette, Joanna, Suzanne, Lambrine, Nick, Fotini, Niki, George, Matthew, 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.

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

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Saints and Feasts

Sevensleepers
October 22

Seven Holy Martyred Youths of Ephesus

The Seven Youths hid themselves in a certain cave near Ephesus in the year 250, to escape the persecution of Decius. By divine grace, a sleep came upon them and they slept for 184 years, until the reign of Saint Theodosius the Younger, when the doctrine of the resurrection was being assailed by heretics. They then awoke, that is, were resurrected, confirming in the sight of all the bodily resurrection; and again after a short time, by divine command, they reposed in the Lord in the year 434.


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Third Mode. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 1:11-19.

Brethren, I would have you know that the gospel which was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.

Προκείμενον. Third Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 46.6,1.
Ψάλατε τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν, ψάλατε.
Στίχ. Πάντα τὰ ἔθνη κροτήσατε χεῖρας.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Γαλάτας 1:11-19.

Ἀδελφοί, γνωρίζω δὲ ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τὸ εὐαγγελισθὲν ὑπʼ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν κατὰ ἄνθρωπον. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐγὼ παρὰ ἀνθρώπου παρέλαβον αὐτό, οὔτε ἐδιδάχθην, ἀλλὰ διʼ ἀποκαλύψεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἠκούσατε γὰρ τὴν ἐμὴν ἀναστροφήν ποτε ἐν τῷ Ἰουδαϊσμῷ, ὅτι καθʼ ὑπερβολὴν ἐδίωκον τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ ἐπόρθουν αὐτήν· καὶ προέκοπτον ἐν τῷ Ἰουδαϊσμῷ ὑπὲρ πολλοὺς συνηλικιώτας ἐν τῷ γένει μου, περισσοτέρως ζηλωτὴς ὑπάρχων τῶν πατρικῶν μου παραδόσεων. Ὅτε δὲ εὐδόκησεν ὁ θεὸς ὁ ἀφορίσας με ἐκ κοιλίας μητρός μου καὶ καλέσας διὰ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ, ἀποκαλύψαι τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐμοὶ ἵνα εὐαγγελίζωμαι αὐτὸν ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, εὐθέως οὐ προσανεθέμην σαρκὶ καὶ αἵματι· οὐδὲ ἀνῆλθον εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα πρὸς τοὺς πρὸ ἐμοῦ ἀποστόλους, ἀλλὰ ἀπῆλθον εἰς Ἀραβίαν, καὶ πάλιν ὑπέστρεψα εἰς Δαμασκόν. Ἔπειτα μετὰ ἔτη τρία ἀνῆλθον εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα ἱστορῆσαι Πέτρον, καὶ ἐπέμεινα πρὸς αὐτὸν ἡμέρας δεκαπέντε. Ἕτερον δὲ τῶν ἀποστόλων οὐκ εἶδον, εἰ μὴ Ἰάκωβον τὸν ἀδελφὸν τοῦ κυρίου.


Gospel Reading

6th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 8:26-39

At that time, as Jesus arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, there met him a man from the city who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes and he lived not in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you, do not torment me." For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters, but he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them leave. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. When the herdsmen saw what happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but he sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

6th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 8:26-39

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐλθόντι τῷ Ἰησοῦ εἰς τὴν χώραν τῶν Γαδαρηνῶν, ἥτις ἐστὶν ἀντίπερα τῆς Γαλιλαίας. ἐξελθόντι δὲ αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ὑπήντησεν αὐτῷ ἀνήρ τις ἐκ τῆς πόλεως, ὃς εἶχε δαιμόνια ἐκ χρόνων ἱκανῶν, καὶ ἱμάτιον οὐκ ἐνεδιδύσκετο καὶ ἐν οἰκίᾳ οὐκ ἔμενεν, ἀλλ᾿ ἐν τοῖς μνήμασιν. ἰδὼν δὲ τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν καὶ ἀνακράξας προσέπεσεν αὐτῷ καὶ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ εἶπε· τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί, ᾿Ιησοῦ, υἱὲ τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ὑψίστου; δέομαί σου, μή με βασανίσῃς. παρήγγειλε γὰρ τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἀκαθάρτῳ ἐξελθεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου. πολλοῖς γὰρ χρόνοις συνηρπάκει αὐτόν, καὶ ἐδεσμεῖτο ἁλύσεσι καὶ πέδαις φυλασσόμενος, καὶ διαρρήσσων τὰ δεσμὰ ἠλαύνετο ὑπὸ τοῦ δαίμονος εἰς τὰς ἐρήμους. ἐπηρώτησε δὲ αὐτὸν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς λέγων· τί σοί ἐστιν ὄνομα; ὁ δὲ εἶπε· λεγεών· ὅτι δαιμόνια πολλὰ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς αὐτόν· καὶ παρεκάλει αὐτὸν ἵνα μὴ ἐπιτάξῃ αὐτοῖς εἰς τὴν ἄβυσσον ἀπελθεῖν. ἦν δὲ ἐκεῖ ἀγέλη χοίρων ἱκανῶν βοσκομένων ἐν τῷ ὄρει· καὶ παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν ἵνα ἐπιτρέψῃ αὐτοῖς εἰς ἐκείνους εἰσελθεῖν· καὶ ἐπέτρεψεν αὐτοῖς. ἐξελθόντα δὲ τὰ δαιμόνια ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου εἰσῆλθον εἰς τοὺς χοίρους, καὶ ὥρμησεν ἡ ἀγέλη κατὰ τοῦ κρημνοῦ εἰς τὴν λίμνην καὶ ἀπεπνίγη. ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ βόσκοντες τὸ γεγενημένον ἔφυγον, καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν εἰς τὴν πόλιν καὶ εἰς τοὺς ἀγρούς. ἐξῆλθον δὲ ἰδεῖν τὸ γεγονός, καὶ ἦλθον πρὸς τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν καὶ εὗρον καθήμενον τὸν ἄνθρωπον, ἀφ᾿ οὗ τὰ δαιμόνια ἐξεληλύθει, ἱματισμένον καὶ σωφρονοῦντα παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τοῦ ᾿Ιησοῦ, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν. ἀπήγγειλαν δὲ αὐτοῖς οἱ ἰδόντες πῶς ἐσώθη ὁ δαιμονισθείς. καὶ ἠρώτησαν αὐτὸν ἅπαν τὸ πλῆθος τῆς περιχώρου τῶν Γαδαρηνῶν ἀπελθεῖν ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν, ὅτι φόβῳ μεγάλῳ συνείχοντο. αὐτὸς δὲ ἐμβὰς εἰς τὸ πλοῖον ὑπέστρεψεν. ἐδέετο δὲ αὐτοῦ ὁ ἀνήρ, ἀφ᾿ οὗ ἐξεληλύθει τὰ δαιμόνια, εἶναι σὺν αὐτῷ· ἀπέλυσε δὲ αὐτὸν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς λέγων· ὑπόστρεφε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου καὶ διηγοῦ ὅσα ἐποίησέ σοι ὁ Θεός. καὶ ἀπῆλθε καθ᾿ ὅλην τὴν πόλιν κηρύσσων ὅσα ἐποίησεν αὐτῷ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς.


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Parish News and Updates

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES:

HOPE AND JOY PUMPKIN PALOOZA:  The first HOPE and JOY family event will take place after church TODAY, Sunday, October 22nd.  Children, grades K – 6, and their families are welcome to stay for complimentary lunch and activities. 

ANNUAL FAMILY FALL FESTIVAL:  TICKETS ON SALE TODAY!  Our annual Fall Festival, sponsored by the Moms’ Group will be held this coming Friday, October 27th!  Join us in the Hellenic Cultural Center for a safe indoor party with lots of prizes, games, bounce house, crafts, photo booth, BINGO, music, food, and FUN for kids of all ages!. Tickets will be available after church or in the church office at $10/person, or $35 for a family of 4 or more. Teen and adult volunteers are also needed.

GET YOUR “GLITZ” ON!:  Our parish’s biggest annual fundraiser, “Putting on the Glitz” will be held on Sunday, November 12th at 6:00 pm!  The Dinner, Auction and live drawing will be held at the Hellenic Cultural Center.  Dinner and raffle is $150, Dinner only is $40, and each raffle ticket is $125, with the top prize of $5,000!  Tickets are available from any Parish Council member, from Fr. Teodor, or in the church office.

PHILOPTOCHOS MEETING: There will be a General Meeting of the St. Helen Philoptochos next Sunday, October 29th following the Divine Liturgy service.  Philoptochos Sunday will be celebrated on November 12th.  Please plan to attend both of these events.

ADULT BIBLE STUDY Our Adult Bible Study group will meet on Tuesday, October 24 at 7:00 pm. The group meets each Tuesday evening 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.

GOYA HAPPENINGS: Next Sunday, October 29, our GOYA group (grades 7 – 12) will visit the Anthology Senior Living Facility in Northville, and deliver blankets that GOYA members made.  If you can attend, please RSVP online.  The following Sunday, 11/5, our GOYA members will once again be selling Greek Coffee, Frappe, and Greek Bread at the Coffee Hour.  Please stop by and support our GOYA group activities.

CHOIR WORKSHOP: On Saturday, November 11th, there will be a Choir workshop from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm. There will be two workshop sessions, one by our Choir Director Maritsa Kalasz, and the 2nd will be with Evey Simon, the conductor for the 2024 MEFGOX convention.  Please let Maritsa know if you will be attending.

TLC LUNCHEON:  Our November Tuesday Lunch Club will be held on November 14th at noon.  All parishioners are welcome to attend as we celebrate and give thanks for our abundant blessings!  RSVP to Caryl Lowes no later than November 10th.

NEWS AND NOTICES:

POINSETTIA SALE:  Our Choir is once again selling beautiful red, white, or tri-color poinsettias for the Christmas season! Buy a plant or two for your home, as a gift, or to decorate our church solea for Christmas!  There is a form in today’s bulletin, please fill it out and give to any Choir member or leave in the church office with your payment. Plants are $25 each, and payment is due by November 12, for a December 1st delivery.

FALL FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Our Fall Festival will be held on Friday, October 27th. Adult and teen volunteers are needed to help with food service, games, crafts, and more! GOYA volunteers are also needed to run games.   If you can help, please reach out to Corrin Stamatakos at cstamatakos@gmail.com or 312.961.8615 or the church office.

YOUTH BASKETBALL AND DANCE:  It’s not too late to sign your children up for Biddy Basketball or Dance! 

Basketball: All kids ages 5-10 are welcome to join our Biddy B and Biddy C teams younger children can join us for practice.  Practices are Saturdays from 4:45pm -5:45 pm at Hillside Middle School, in Northville. To sign up or for more information, reach out to Joy Kisabeth, 734-673-4400 or Joy_Kisabeth@comcast.com or coaches Tim Georvassilis, Tim Kokalis, and Trey Souchock. 

Dance: Greek Dance practice is held on selected Sundays at 1:00 pm in preparation for our GreekFest in February and other events. For more information or to register for Greek Dance, reach out to Christina Vougiouklakis at lucas251@hotmail.com or Joy Kisabeth 734-673-4400 or Joy.Kisabeth@comcast.com

AUCTION DONATIONS NEEDED:  We are in need of live or silent auction item donation for our “Putting on the Glitz” event, Sunday, November 12th.  Gift cards, baskets, services, entertainment, sports memorabilia, etc. Please notify Annette at stcons2@gmail.com about any donation opportunities or bring your donations into the church office.

ORTHODOX CHOIR CONCERT: The Orthodox Choir of Metropolitan Detroit will be presenting a concert, “Hymns of Praise and Worship” next Sunday, October 29th at 6:00 pm at the St. Clement Church in Dearborn. Admission is free, and guests are invited to stay for a reception afterward.

MEMORIAL SERVICESPlease 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. Requested Coffee Hour sponsorship donation is $150, and the HCC will set up a table with cloth and coffee, etc. for your family. Koliva will be distributed at the coffee hour; if you wish to bring in paximadia, koulourakia, or other dry cookie it may also be distributed. 

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Wisdom of the Fathers

For if we, going about on the earth which is familiar and well known to us, being encompassed with a body, when we are journeying in a strange road, know not which way to go unless we have some one to lead us; how should the soul, being rent away from the body, and having gone out from all her accustomed region, know where to walk without one to show her the way?
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 28 on Matthew 8, 4th Century

Some say, 'Why do they [demons] possess people?' I answer those who wish to have this explained that the reason of these things is very deep. Somewhere one of His saints addressed God by saying, 'Your judgments are a vast abyss.' As long as we bear this in mind, we will perhaps not miss the mark.
St. Cyril of Alexandria
Commentary on Luke, Homily 44. (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture; vol 3: Luke, Intervarsity Press)

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