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Holy Cross Church
Publish Date: 2025-03-30
Bulletin Contents
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Hymns of the Day
Saints and Feasts
Schedule
Flyers
Prayer Requests
Philoptochos
Memorial Donations

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Holy Cross Church

General Information

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

  • 25225 Middlebelt Rd.

  • Farmington Hills, MI 48336

Contact Information

Fr. Alex Radulescu
Parish Priest

[email protected] | (248) 306-9162

Michelle Thomas
Office Administrator

[email protected] | (248) 477-1677

Services Schedule

holycrossgo.org/calendar

DIVINE LITURGY

Sundays 10am

OFFICE HOURS

Monday-Friday, 10am - 3pm

Past Bulletins


Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Seventh Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:1-10

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him." Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying and the napkin, which had been on His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that He must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 7th Mode. Psalm 28.11,1.
The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 6:13-20.

BRETHREN, when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. John Climacus
The Reading is from Mark 9:17-31

At that time, a man came to Jesus kneeling and saying: "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again." And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise."

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Wisdom of the Fathers

Seest thou how He now proceeds to lay beforehand in them the foundation of His doctrine about fasting? ... See, at any rate, how many blessings spring from them both. For he that is praying as he ought, and fasting, hath not many wants, and he that hath not many wants, cannot be covetous; ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 57 on Matthew 17,4,5. B#54, pp.355,356., 4th Century

... he that is not covetous, will be also more disposed for almsgiving. He that fasts is light, and winged, and prays with wakefulness, and quenches his wicked lusts, and propitiates God, and humbles his soul when lifted up. Therefore even the apostles were almost always fasting.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 57 on Matthew 17,4,5. B#54, pp.355,356., 4th Century

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 7th Mode

By means of Your Cross, O Lord, You abolished death. * To the robber You opened Paradise. * The lamentation of the myrrhbearing women You transformed, * and You gave Your Apostles the order to proclaim to all * that You had risen, O Christ our God, * and granted the world Your great mercy.

Apolytikion for Sun. of St. John Climacus in the 8th Mode

With the rivers of your tears, you have made the barren desert fertile. Through sighs of sorrow from deep within you, your labors have borne fruit a hundred-fold. By your miracles you have become a light, shining upon the world. O John, our Holy Father, pray to Christ our God, to save our souls.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 8th 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!"
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Saints and Feasts

March 30

Sunday of St. John Climacus

The memory of this Saint is celebrated on March 30, where his biography may be found. He is celebrated today because his book, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, is a sure guide to the ascetic life, written by a great man of prayer experienced in all forms of the monastic polity; it teaches the seeker after salvation how to lay a sound foundation for his struggles, how to detect and war against each of the passions, how to avoid the snares laid by the demons, and how to rise from the rudimental virtues to the heights of Godlike love and humility. It is held in such high esteem that it is universally read in its entirety in monasteries during the Great Fast.

March 30

John Climacus the Righteous, author of The Divine Ladder of Ascent

This Saint gave himself over to the ascetical life from his early youth. Experienced both in the solitary life of the hermit and in the communal life of cenobitic monasticism, he was appointed Abbot of the Monastery at Mount Sinai and wrote a book containing thirty homilies on virtue. Each homily deals with one virtue, and progressing from those that deal with holy and righteous activity (praxis) unto those that deal with divine vision (theoria), they raise a man up as though by means of steps unto the height of Heaven. For this cause his work is called "The Ladder of Divine Ascent." The day he was made Abbot of Sinai, the Prophet Moses was seen giving commands to those who served at table. Saint John reposed in 603, at eighty years of age. See also the Fourth Sunday of the Fast.

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Schedule

Calendar updates: holycrossgo.org/calendar

Schedule

 

TODAY

Sunday, March 30

  • 10:00 am | Divine Liturgy
  • 11:15 am | Coffee Hour - The Radulescu Family

 

THIS WEEK

Monday, March 31

  • 07:00 pm | Great Compline
  • 08:00 pm | Lenten Bible Study

Wednesday, April 2

  • 06:30 pm | Presanctified Liturgy
  • 08:00 pm | YAL Catechism - Q&A

Friday, April 4

  • 07:00 pm | Akathist Hymn

 

UPCOMING

Sunday, April 6

  • 10:00 am | Divine Liturgy
  • 11:15 am | Church School & Catechesis
  • 11:15 am | Coffee Hour - Harriet Bills & Elaine Moundros
  • 03:00 pm | Detroit Greek Parade

 

Announcements & Reminders

 

RENEW YOUR STEWARDSHIP TODAY. To do so, please visit our website at: www.holycrossgo.org/renew-pledge. Thank you.

CALI FIRES

Give to the Archdiocese's Emergency Relief Fund for the Los Angeles Fires. Click here to donate.

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/live

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

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Flyers

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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
    • George
    • Marilyn Georgeson
    • Elise Gorman
    • Brian Heikkuri
    • Bill Hiotaky
    • Julie Hiotaky
    • Irene Katsias
    • Maureen Kelly
    • Zachary Alexander King
    • Niki Klimatianos
    • Eva Kocoves
    • Elaine Kourtakis
    • Audrey Kourtakis
    • Tom Lagos
    • Nayiri Misirliyan
    • Evelyn Morris
    • Baby Myles
    • Faye Prekeges
    • Dina Rand
    • Terrie Stefanakis
    • Paraskevi Theodorou
    • Pete Varvaresos
    • Nicholas Varveris
    • Rafael Vasu
    • Dennis Watkins
    • Gina Weiler
    • Rick Wilson
    • Bentley
    • Heather
    • Perris
    • Lexi
    • Kanella Katsikas
    • Ilie Roman
    • Erica Bittinger
    • Michael Diamond
    • Peter Stassinopoulos

 

Please email the office if you want to add your name or loved ones to the prayer list. Thank you!

 

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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 2025 Philoptochos Stewardship Form is attached.

 

NEXT MEETING 

  • 04/29  - Philoptochos Meeting @ 6:00 pm

 

COFFEE HOUR

  • 03/30 - The Radulescu Family
  • 04/06 - Bill & Kathy Williams
  • 04/13 - Palm Sunday Luncheon sponsored by Philoptochos
  • 04/20 - Great and Holy Pascha
  • 07/27 - TBD

  

NOTE ABOUT THE COFFEE HOUR:  Philoptochos would like to thank our parishioners who support us throughout the year by sponsoring our Sunday Coffee Hour and bringing delicious treats to share. Your sponsorship and sharing promote fellowship and we are so grateful.

Please consider hosting a Sunday Coffee Hour by signing up on the sheet in the church lobby or contacting Bonnie Sitaras at 248-259-0986.

When scheduling a memorial through the Church Office and you would like to host coffee hour that day, please let Michelle in the office know so we can plan accordingly. 

Thank you.

 

 

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Memorial Donations

~ In Loving Memory of ~     

  

ZOE JAMIEE

Family of Zoe Jamiee

Mr. & Mrs. Tom Casoglos

Dr. Pamela Georgeson & Dr. Mark Decco

Mr. & Mrs. Jim Heller

Ms. Elanie Ioanou

Mr. & Mrs. George Katsias

Mr. & Mrs. John Keros & Family

Mr. & Mrs. Van Kyriakopoulos

Holy Cross Philoptochos

Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Smallwood

Ms. Peggy Theodore

 

DINO THANOS

Mr. & Mrs. Peter Angelas

Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Barr

Mr. & Mrs. Michael Blough

Mr. & Mrs. Tom Casoglos

Mr. & Mrs. Dan Dallas

Dn. George & Dsa. Cleo Fekaris

Mr. & Mrs. John Furkioti

Mr. & Mrs. Doug Garber

Mr. & Mrs. John George

Mr. & Mrs. Dave Gordon

Holy Cross GOYA

Mr. & Mrs. Jim Heller

Mr. & Mrs. Van Kyriakopoulos

Ms. Denise Liberty

Mr. & Mrs. Paul Pesaros

Mr. & Mrs. Ed Power

Ms. Margarita Shukla

Ms. Bonnie Sitaras

Mr. & Mrs. Bill Williams

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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