Publish-header
Holy Cross Church
Publish Date: 2024-06-09
Bulletin Contents

Organization Icon
Holy Cross Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (248) 477-1677
  • Street Address:

  • 25225 Middlebelt Rd.

  • Farmington Hills, MI 48336


Contact Information






Services Schedule

holycrossgo.org/calendar

DIVINE LITURGY

Sundays 10am

OFFICE HOURS

Monday-Friday, 10am - 3pm


Past Bulletins


Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Eighth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:11-18

At that time, Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb, and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus has lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni," which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, "Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God." Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and she told them that He had said these things to her.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 5th Mode. Psalm 11.7,1.
You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 16:16-34.

IN THOSE DAYS, as we apostles were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by soothsaying. She followed Paul and us, crying, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." And this she did for many days. But Paul was annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, "I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the rulers; and when they had brought them to the magistrates they said, "These men are Jews and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to accept or practice." The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one's fetters were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, "Men, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family. Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them; and he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Blind Man
The Reading is from John 9:1-38

At that time, as Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man's eyes with the clay, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is he"; others said, "No, but he is like him." He said, "I am the man." They said to him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash'; so I went and washed and received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, "He put clay on my eyes and I washed, and I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, "What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself." His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess him to be Christ he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age, ask him."

So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become his disciples?" And they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out.

Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you." He said, "Lord, I believe"; and he worshiped him.


BACK TO TOP

Wisdom of the Fathers

The work of God is, after all, the forming of man. He did this by an outward action, as Scripture says, 'And the Lord took clay from earth, and formed man.' Notice here too how the Lord spit on the earth, and made clay and smeared it on his eyes, showing how the ancient creation was made. He was making clear to those who can understand, that this was the [same] hand of God through which man was formed from clay.
St. Irenaeus
Against Heresies. 5.15.2. Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Vol: John 1-10. Intervarsity Press, 2006, p. 324.

But I assert that he even received benefit from his blindness: since he recovered the sight of the eyes within.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 56 on John 9, 4th Century

BACK TO TOP

Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the 5th Mode

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and bestowing life on those in the graves.

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 5th Mode

Let us worship the Word who is unoriginate * with the Father and the Spirit, and from a Virgin was born * for our salvation, O believers, and let us sing His praise. * For in His goodness He was pleased * to ascend the Cross in the flesh, and to undergo death, * and to raise up those who had died, * by His glorious Resurrection.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 8th 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.
BACK TO TOP

Saints and Feasts

June 09

Sunday of the Blind Man

The Lord Jesus was coming from the Temple on the Sabbath, when, while walking in the way, He saw the blind man mentioned in today's Gospel. This man had been born thus from his mother's womb, that is, he had been born without eyes (see Saint John Chrysostom, Homily LVI on Matthew; Saint Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book V:15; and the second Exorcism of Saint Basil the Great). When the disciples saw this, they asked their Teacher, "Who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" They asked this because when the Lord had healed the paralytic at the Sheep's Pool, He had told him, "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee" (John 5:14); so they wondered, if sickness was caused by sin, what sin could have been the cause of his being born without eyes. But the Lord answered that this was for the glory of God. Then the God-man spat on the ground and made clay with the spittle. He anointed the eyes of the blind man and said to him, "Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam." Siloam (which means "sent") was a well-known spring in Jerusalem used by the inhabitants for its waters, which flowed to the eastern side of the city and collected in a large pool called "the Pool of Siloam."

Therefore, the Saviour sent the blind man to this pool that he might wash his eyes, which had been anointed with the clay-not that the pool's water had such power, but that the faith and obedience of the one sent might be made manifest, and that the miracle might become more remarkable and known to all, and leave no room for doubt. Thus, the blind man believed in Jesus' words, obeyed His command, went and washed himself, and returned, no longer blind, but having eyes and seeing. This was the greatest miracle that our Lord had yet worked; as the man healed of his blindness himself testified, "Since time began, never was it heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind," although the Lord had already healed the blind eyes of many. Because he now had eyes, some even doubted that he was the same person (John 9:8-9); and it was still lively in their remembrance when Christ came to the tomb of Lazarus, for they said, "Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have caused that even this man should not have died?" Saint John Chrysostom gives a thorough and brilliant exposition of our Lord's meeting with the woman of Samaria, the healing of the paralytic, and the miracle of the blind man in his commentaries on the Gospel of Saint John.


June 09

Righteous Father Cyril of Belozersk

Saint Cyril of Belozersk, a Muscovite born in 1337, was tonsured in the Simonov Monastery in Moscow where he was later made abbot. Renouncing this position, at a revelation from the Mother of God he set out for the wilderness of Belozersk (White Lake) to live the life of a hermit. Later, when others desiring to lead the monastic life had gathered under his direction, he founded the Monastery of Belozersk. Throughout his life he had a very great reverence for the wonderworker, and was adorned with all the virtues, above all humility. Once, through the working of the enemy, one of his monks conceived an unendurable hatred for him; after being tormented by it for a whole year, he finally decided to reveal it to Cyril. When the monk was overcome with grief and shame at his malice towards such a venerable man, Cyril comforted him, affectionately telling him, "All the others are in error concerning me; only you have perceived my unworthiness," and forgiving him, sent him away in peace. Saint Cyril reposed on this day in 1427 at the age of ninety.


BACK TO TOP

Schedule

Calendar updates: holycrossgo.org/calendar

Schedule

 

TODAY

Sunday, June 9

  • 10:00 am | Divine Liturgy
  • 11:10 am | Memorial: Esther Stassinopoulos (3-Year)
  • 11:15 am | Church School & Catechesis
  • 11:20 am | Coffee Hour - Ben & Cindy Zervos

 

THIS WEEK

Monday, June 10

  • 06:00 pm | Paraklesis
  • 07:00 pm | Bible Study (Job 1-8)

Tuesday, June 11

  • 06:00 pm | Philoptochos Dinner (Benstein Grille)

Thursday, June 13

  • 10:00 am | Holy Ascension Divine Liturgy
  • 07:00 pm | Parish Council Meeting
    • Choir Rehearsal

Friday, June 14

  • 05:00 pm | Wedding Rehearsal

Saturday, June 15

  • 03:30 pm | Wedding

 

UPCOMING

Sunday, June 16 (Father's Day)

  • 10:00 am | Divine Liturgy
  • 11:10 am | 40-Day Blessing: Gia Demi Peterson
    • GRADUATES SUNDAY
  • 11:30 am | Coffee Hour - GOYA

 

 Announcements & Reminders

 

UKRAINE RELIEF FUND

Click here to help.

FLOWERS

If you are interested in donating to purchase flowers to decorate an icon for a feast day, or to decorate the church for Pascha, please contact Debbie George or the Church Office or look for donation box on the pangari.

PROSPHORA

Interested in sponsoring prosphora? Please contact the Church Office.

ICONS IN THE ALTAR

If you brought icons to be blessed in the altar, please retrieve them after 40 days. 

WORSHIP

Please download the Daily Readings App Lite (free download) for the daily Gospel & Epistle readings.

LIVESTREAM SERVICES

www.holycrossgo.org/webcam

STEWARDSHIP PLEDGE

Please continue to support our Chuch via your Stewardship pledge and donations. Please mail your checks directly to the church or donate online by clicking on the "GIVE" button on our website. Visit the Stewardship webpage to fill out your annual pledge card and/or to pay your stewardship.

VIGIL CANDLES

If you would like us to light a vigil candle for you, please call the Church Office or email [email protected] with your name(s) and Fr. Alex will light a vigil candle for you and say a prayer.

SHOP AT ACE HARDWARE? 5% minus tax = (!)

Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church or #214538. 5% line discount off everyday pricing in the store Ace Rewards as well as 6% Tax Exempt will come off automatically. 2% Ace Rewards

SHOP AT KROGER?

Register your card in a few steps. Each May the registration needs to be renewed,
so if you were part of the program last year and haven't renewed, please do so. Go to:
www.krogercommunityrewards.com
Holy Cross' ID # 83567

BACK TO TOP

Flyers

BACK TO TOP

Prayer Requests

Please continue to pray for the health and healing of the following friends

    • Metropolitan Nicholas

    • Metropolitan Isaiah
    • Fr. John Koen

    • Fr. Demetri Tonias
    • Fr. John Stavropoulos
    • Psa. Gabriela Pantea
    • Ted Andris
    • Adam Angelas
    • Andy Athens
    • George Benardos
    • Polydora Bourdouvalis
    • Tom Casoglos
    • Antonia Comer
    • Helene Cuscutis
    • Dan Dallas
    • Grace Decco
    • Maria George
    • Baby George
    • Marilyn Georgeson
    • Elise Gorman
    • Brian Heikkuri
    • Bill Hiotaky
    • Julie Hiotaky
    • Elena Howard
    • Zoe Jaimee
    • Irene Katsias
    • Maureen Kelly
    • Niki Klimatianos
    • Eva Kocoves
    • Elaine Kourtakis
    • Audrey Kourtakis
    • Tom Lagos
    • Nayiri Misirliyan
    • Beth Tudehope Moore
    • Evelyn Morris
    • Baby Myles
    • Faye Prekeges
    • Dina Rand
    • Terrie Stefanakis
    • Paraskevi Theodorou
    • Michelle Thomas
    • Pete Varvaresos
    • Nicholas Varveris
    • Dennis Watkins
    • Gina Weiler
    • Rick Wilson
    • Bentley
    • Heather

If you would like to add your name or a loved one's to the prayer list, please email the office. Thank you!

 

BACK TO TOP

Philoptochos

INVITATION TO JOIN HOLY CROSS PHILOPTOCHOS

All women 18 years old and over are encouraged to join our Holy Cross Philoptochos. New and returning members are welcome! The 2024 Philoptochos Stewardship Form is attached.

 

COFFEE HOUR

  • 6/16 - GOYA (Father's Day)
  • 6/23 - Parish Council
  • 6/30 - Mary Lucas

 

NEXT MEETING 

  • Tuesday, June 11, 2024 @ 6:00 pm - (RSVP to Bonnie Sitaras)

 

 

BACK TO TOP

Altar Boys

NOTICE FOR ALTAR BOYS & PARENTS

Being an Altar Server is a GREAT RESPONSIBILITY AND COMMITMENT to the Lord. Please BE ON TIME (arrive at least 15 minutes prior to any Church Service).

SUMMER SCHEDULE IS OPEN.

 

+++

Registration was due September 1. Please register if you have not done so.

Teams

Team A

Team B

Mateo Pesaros (Cpt) Stavros Fekaris (Cpt)
James Drake Louis Foster
Cristo Stilianos Nikolas Greulich
Stelios Stilianos Stephen Mihos
Panagiotis Stilianos Nikolas Thanos

Schedule

Team A

Team B

2023

SEP 17 SEP 24
OCT 1, 15, 29 OCT 8, 22
NOV 12, 26 NOV 5, 19
DEC 10, 24* DEC 3, 17, 31*

2024

JAN 7, 21 JAN 14, 28
FEB 4, 18 FEB 11, 25 
MAR 3, 17, 31 MAR 10, 24
APR 14, 28 A​PR 7, 21
MAY 12, 26 MAY 5*, 19
JUN 9, 23 JUN 2, 16

* all teams can serve

 

 

BACK TO TOP

Memorial Donations

OUR THANKS

To those who in lieu of flowers gave monetary

contributions to Holy Cross Church in memory of : 

 

 

DANE ANGUS

M/M James Heller

 

MARION GINOPOLIS

James Heos

M/M George Liadis 

M/M Edward Power

Anastasia Spanos

M/M Evans Lucas 

M/M Peter Angelas 

Angela Cosma

M/M Heller

Elaine Ioanou

Steve Economy

       Drs. Pamela Georgeson and Mark Decco

 

DEMETRIUS KOURTAKIS

Elaine Kourtakis

Diane Morris

 

 GEORGE L. LIADIS

Susan Armstrong

M/M James Heller

M/M Edward Power

The Kukunas Family

The Makricostas Family

M/M George Liadis

M/M Andrew Bittinger 

M/M Gus Zervos

M/M Tom Casoglos

Elaine Ioanou

James Portman

M/M Doug Garber 

M/M Steve Fekaris

Anna Zervos

M/M George Katsias

Patty Spanos

George Matheos

M/M Todd Barnaby

Anastasia Spanos

Bonnie Sitaras

Maria Faskianos

M/M Van Kyriakopoulos

Dr./M Marcus Zervos

Margarita Shukla

M/M Anthony Barr 

M/M Benny Zervos

      Drs. Pamela Georgeson and Mark Decco

 

EVANGELINE LINDER

M/M George Katsias

Bonnie Sitaras

 

THOMAS & GEORGIA MORRIS

M/M Peter Morris

 

DR. PANAYOTIS PESAROS

M/M Andrew Bittinger 

M/M Albert Scaglione

M/M Tom Casoglos

M/M Steve Fekaris

M/M Gonzales

M/M James Heller

Julie Hiotaky

Elaine Ioanou

M/M George Katsias

Denise Liberty

M/M Evans Lucas

The Voutsinas Family

Dr./M Marcus Zervos

M/M Todd Barnaby

M/M Michael Blough 

Hountalas Family

M/M Edward Power

Anastasia Spanos

Aspacia Spanos

Bonnie Sitaras

M/M McDonald

The Theodore Family

M/M Dr. Angelo Zervos

M/M Peter Angelas

M/M Lou Chalogianis 

M/M Bill Williams 

M/M Doug Garber

The Holy Cross Philoptochos

Margarita Shukla

M/M Van Kyriakopoulos

Penny Gehan

M/M Anthony Barr  

Mary Zervos

Diana Voutsinas

M/M Benny Zervos

                                                                  Drs. Pamela Georgeson and Mark Decco 

 

VENA THANOS

M/M George Katsias

M/M Morris

Bonnie Sitaras

M/M George Katsias

M/M Evans Lucas

 

DAVID F. YEZBACK

M/M Anthony Barr

M/M James Bournias

M/M Casoglos

M/M George

M/M James Heller

M/M Edward Power

Aspacia Spanos

M/M Van Kyriakopoulos

Hountalas Family

M/M Evans Lucas

M/M Morris

Bonnie Sitaras

Basil Stavropoulos

 M/M George Katsias

 

 

+++ 

 * Donations received after January 1st *

 MAY THEIR MEMORY BE ETERNAL

BACK TO TOP

Give

 General Donations

www.holycrossgo.org/give

 

Iconography

www.holycrossgo.org/iconography

 

Philoptochos

Donate

 

BACK TO TOP