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.

Apolytikion of Sun. of the Elevation of the Cross in the First Tone

Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting victory to the faithful over the enemy, and by Your Cross protecting Your commonwealth.

Apolytikion for the Church in the Fourth Mode

Liberator of captives, defender of the poor, physician of the sick and champion of kings, O trophy-bearer Great Martyr George, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

O Champion General, I your City now inscribe to you Triumphant anthems as the tokens of my gratitude, Being rescued from the terrors, O Theotokos. Inasmuch as you have power unassailable, From all kinds of perils free me, so that unto you I may cry aloud: Rejoice, O unwedded Bride.

Saints and Feasts

March 31

Sunday of the Holy Cross

With the help of God, we have almost reached the middle of the course of the Fast, where our strength has been worn down through abstinence, and the full difficulty of the labour set before us becomes apparent. Therefore our holy Mother, the Church of Christ, now brings to our help the all-holy Cross, the joy of the world, the strength of the faithful, the staff of the just, and the hope of sinners, so that by venerating it reverently, we might receive strength and grace to complete the divine struggle of the Fast.

April 01

Mary of Egypt

When Mary was only twelve years old, she left her parents and departed to Alexandria, where she lived a depraved life for seventeen years. Then, moved by curiosity, she went with many pilgrims to Jerusalem, that she might see the Exaltation of the venerable Cross. Even in the Holy City she gave herself over to every kind of licentiousness and drew many into the depth of perdition. Desiring to go into the church on the day of the Exaltation of the Cross, time and again she perceived a certain invisible power preventing her entrance, whereas the multitude of people about her entered unhindered. Therefore, wounded in heart by this, she decided to change her way of life and reconcile herself to God by means of repentance. Invoking our Lady the Theotokos as her protectress, she asked her to open the way for her to worship the Cross, and vowed that she would renounce the world. And thus, returning once again to the church, she entered easily. When she had worshipped the precious Wood, she departed that same day from Jerusalem and passed over the Jordan. She went into the inner wilderness and for forty-seven years lived a most harsh manner of life, surpassing human strength; alone, she prayed to God alone. Toward the end of her life, she met a certain hermit named Zosimas, and she related to him her life from the beginning. She requested of him to bring her the immaculate Mysteries that she might partake of them. According to her request, he did this the following year on Holy and Great Thursday. One year after this, Zosimas again went thither and found her dead, laid upon the ground, and letters written in the sand near her which said: "Abba Zosimas, bury here the body of wretched Mary. I died on the very day I partook of the immaculate Mysteries. Pray for me." Her death is reckoned by some to have taken place in 378, by some, in 437, and by others, in 522. She is commemorated also on the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent. Her life was recorded by Saint Sophronius of Jerusalem.

April 02

Titus the Wonderworker

Little is known of this Saint except that he took up the monastic life from his youth, became the abbot of a monastery, and reposed in peace.

April 03

Nicetas, Abbot of the Monastery of Medicium

Saint Nicetas lived in the eighth century and became the Abbot of the Monastery of Medicium, which was near the city of Triglia on the Sea of Marmara. For his Orthodox confession of the veneration of the holy icons, he was persecuted and exiled twice by the Iconoclast Emperor Leo the Armenian, but recalled by Michael the Stutterer, and reposed, adorned with the twofold crown of holiness and of confession of the Orthodox Faith, about the year 824.

April 03

Joseph the Hymnographer

Saint Joseph was from Sicily, the son of Plotinus and Agatha. Because Sicily had been subjugated by the Moslems, he departed thence and, passing from place to place, came with Saint Gregory of Decapolis (see NOV. 20) to Constantinople, where he endured bitter afflictions because of his pious zeal. Travelling to Rome, he was captured by Arab pirates and taken to Crete, whence he later returned to Constantinople. He became an excellent hymnographer and reposed in holiness shortly after 886 (according to some, it was in 883). The melismatic canons of the Menaion are primarily the work of this Joseph; they bear his name in the acrostic of the Ninth Ode. He also composed most of the sacred book known as the Paracletike, which complements the Octoechos For this reason, Joseph is called par excellence the Hymnographer.

April 04

George the Righteous of Maleon

This Saint took up the monastic life from his youth, and went to Mount Maleon, where a community of monks gathered about him. He foretold his death from three years before, and reposed in an odour of sanctity.

April 05

Monk-Martyrs Claudius, Diodore, Victor, Victorinus, and those with them

Of these Martyrs, Saint Claudius died when his arms and legs were severed; Saint Diodore was burned alive; Saints Victor, Victorinus, and Nicephorus were crushed to death by a large boulder; Saint Serapion was burned alive; Saint Pappias was cast into the sea. According to some accounts, they contested in Corinth under Decius in 251; according to others, in Diospolis in Egypt under Numerian in 284.

April 06

Eutychius, Patriarch of Constantinople

Born in Theia Kome of Phrygia, Eutychius was the son of illustrious parents, from whom he received a pious upbringing. He studied in Constantinople, and became a monk in a certain monastery of Amasia. In 552 he was chosen Patriarch of New Rome, but was exiled in 565 as a result of the machinations of the Origenists. In 577 he was restored to his throne and reposed on April 6, 582.

Ecclesiastical Feast

For the 3rd Sunday of the Fast (of the Veneration of the Cross).

Of the Holy Hieromartyr and Wonderworker Hypatios, Bishop of Gangra.

Of the Holy Martyr Theophilos and of those with him.

Upcoming Church Services

Wednesday, April 3

6:00 pm - Presanctified Liturgy; Potluck following

Friday, April 5

6:00 pm - Salutations to the Theotokos

Saturday, April 6

NO Great Vespers

Wednesday, April 10

6:00 pm - Presanctified Liturgy; Potluck following

Friday, April 12

Akathist Hymn

6:00 pm - Salutations to the Theotokos

Saturday, April 13

4:30 pm - Great Vespers w/GOYA

6:00 pm - Q&A w/Fr. Anthony & GOYA

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Eleventh Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 21:14-25

At that time, Jesus revealed himself to his disciples after he was raised from the dead, and he said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me."

Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" So, the word went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die; but Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

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 4:14-16; 5:1-6.

BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek."

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1

The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

Wisdom of the Fathers

"Do not say that faith in Christ alone can save you, for this is not possible if you do not attain love for Him, which is demonstrated by deeds. As for mere faith: "The demons also believe and tremble" (James 2:19). The action of love consists in heartfelt good deeds toward one's neighbor, magnanimity, patience, and sober use of things. "

St. Maximos the Confessor

Digging Deeper into the Divine Liturgy

by Fr. Anthony Cook

Part 69

We said last time that the Creed, discussing the Holy Spirit, does three things, on the same model as the clause concerning the Son. 1) It calls him Lord, affirming His full divinity. 2) It describes His relationship with the Father. 3) It describes His role in the Creation.

The relationship of the Holy Spirit with the Father is contrasted with that of the Son, Who “was begotten of the Father before all ages,” while the Holy Spirit “proceeds from the Father.” This contrast makes clear to us that the Holy Spirit is a distinct Person of the Holy Trinity, not just a different mode of action of the Father or of the Son. The Son, as is appropriate for a Son, is begotten, while the Holy Spirit, as is appropriate for Spirit/Breath/Wind/Air/Life, proceeds from the Father. For both, the origin, the principle of unity, is the Father. But both are co-equal with the Father, of one and the same Being with the Father, fully one God together with the Father and one another. Thus we say that the Holy Spirit “together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,” for worship and glory are due to God alone.

Announcements

From Fr. Anthony - Office Hours

The Church's office hours are 9-5 Monday-Friday, and you can stop by to speak with the office staff any time during those hours. If you have a specifically Church-related question, you should speak with Susan Solo, who is in the office Tuesday, Wednesday, & Friday. If you need to meet with me, however, it's best to call first, as I may already be with another appointment, and am frequently called away to other visitations and appointments. If you prefer, I am happy to arrange a time in advance if you prefer. Please note that I am available for hospital visitations, but hospitals no longer give patient information to clergy. Please call me, or have someone in your family call me, so that I can come to visit you.

Church Etiquette

We ask that the doors of the Narthex be closed and no one enters the Church during the following portions of the service:

Epistle, Gospel, Sermon, Great Entrance, Creed, Consecration, and Lord's Prayer.

Please be respectful of the prayer and attention of those who are in the Church as you enter.

When it is time for Holy Communion, please remain in your pews until the young people of the Sunday school have finished receiving Communion. When they are finished, the Parish Council will usher you forward by row.

Epistle Reader Today: Katerina Tsipras, 4th Grade

Spring General Assembly - Today

Our Spring General Assembly will be held today following the Divine Liturgy. To participate, you must have paid your 2018 stewardship of $300 for families and $200 for seniors in full. A light luncheon will be served to those in attendance.

Donuts for Sunday School Students - Today

The Sunday School will have its donuts after class in the Activity Room today. The donuts are sponsored by Sam Kiousis in loving memory of his father, John Kiousis (20 years).

Greek School - Tuesday

Just a reminder that there will be no Greek School this Tuesday. It will resume on April 9.

Presanctified Liturgies - Wednesdays

Please join us for our Presanctified Liturgies each Wednesday from 6:00-7:30 pm, with a Lenten Potluck dinner following. See the flyer and bring the Lenten food item according to the beginning letter of your last name.

Palm Sunday Fish Dinner

Please make your reservations for our Palm Sunday Fish Dinner on April 21. You can make your reservations online at our website, at the Reservation Table, or by calling the Church office by April 17. Cost: Adults 12 years and up: $15; Children 11 and under: Free.

Benefit Bake Sale

Please see the flyer at the Candle Counter or Literature Rack for our annual Bake Sale to benefit Holy Trinity Monastery in Smiths Creek on Palm Sunday. If you would like to help with this endeavor, please contact Kyriaki Makarounas at 734.752.0575.

Children's Easter Egg Hunt

The Ladies of Lydia will host a Children's Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 13, at 11 am (note the date change), in the Park. If inclement weather, they will have the hunt in the upstairs of the school. Make sure you mark your calendars and bring your children out!

Missions Coinboxes - Sunday School

The Sunday School is collecting donations for our Orthodox Missions during Lent. Please encourage your student to participate. Collection due date is Palm Sunday.

Rose City Summer Camp

Registration is open for summer camp (www.gomdsc.org). Camp Fee: $425. First-time campers will receive a $325 scholarship from the parish. If the fees for first-time or continuing campers create a burden for the family, additional scholarship funds will be available - in such cases, please see Fr. Anthony. First time campers should contact the Church office if participating.

Byzantine Chant for Everyone

Our Byzantine Chant on Saturdays is postponed until May 11.

Memorial Coffee Hour & Light Luncheons

A friendly reminder to please schedule all Memorials with the Church office at least 2 weeks in advance. If you will have a memorial light luncheon, please contact the Grecian Center as soon as you have a date.

Literature Rack

Information comes in frequently from other churches hosting events as well as scholarship information. Check it out weekly!

FOCUS Detroit Bags of Food for Needy Schoolchildren - Volunteers and Donations Needed!

Please note the new day and time - the third Thursday of each month!

Please use the link below to get to the sign-up sheet for this monthly event. You will notice that you can now sign-up all the way through May if you'd like. Please remember to list how many from your family will be coming to help out. Our goal is to provide enough supplies for all the bags ourselves!

Please consider donating any of the following: Boxes of individual oatmeal packets - Cereal bowls or small individual cereal boxes - Fruit cups - Individual Cheez-Its or Goldfish bags - Mac & Cheese Cups - Chef Boyardee/Spaghettios pop top cans or cups - Ramen Noodles - Fruit snacks (the kind with real fruit juice and added Vitamin C 100%) - Cereal bars or ganola bars.

Please call Eleni Gikas at 313.300.4903 to let her know what you plan to donate, or if you prefer to make a cash donation. All donated items can be dropped off in the Activity Room. Our next meeting date will be on THURSDAY, APRIL 18, at 6:00 pm.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044facaa23a0f94-food1

Upcoming Events

Today

Spring General Assembly

2:00 pm - Ladies of Lydia Bowling

Tuesday, April 2

NO Greek School

6:00 pm - Orthodox Life

Sunday, April 7

Philoptochos

12:15 pm - Sunday School Teachers

3:30 pm - Game/Social Night

Tuesday, April 9

5:30-7:30 pm - Greek School

6:00 pm - Orthodox Life

April 13

11 am - Children's Easter Egg Hunt in the Park

Coffee Servers

Today: General Assembly

4/7: Memorial Luncheon, SERVERS NEEDED

4/14: Memorial Lunch, SERVERS NEEDED

4/21: Palm Sunday Fish Dinner

Volunteers are needed for 2019!

Please sign-up outside the Church office next to the bulletin board.

We need coffee servers during the coffee hour on Sundays. Please consider serving our Lord in this capacity. Thank you!

Memorial Service

No Memorials today.

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins