Nativity of The Virgin Mary Church
Publish Date: 2025-06-29
Bulletin Contents

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Nativity of The Virgin Mary Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (734) 420-0131
  • Street Address:

  • 39851 Five Mile Road

  • Plymouth Township, MI 48170


Contact Information








Services Schedule

Sundays
8:45am - Orthros 
10:00 am - Divine Liturgy

 

Abundant Online Giving 

PARISH SUPPORT STAFF OFFICE HOURS

  • Bill’s weekday office hours are Tuesday-Friday
  • Kathy's weekday office hours are Monday-Thursday

 


Past Bulletins


Come and Worship!

Join us in person for Liturgy or watch online on our Facebook page or Youtube  

Upcoming Calendar Events 

Sunday, June 29 - Peter and Paul, the Holy Apostles
Apostles' Fast Ends
Click here to view the printed liturgy
8:45am Orthros
10am Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, July 1
6:30pm Greek Dance Practice: Biddies
7pm Greek Dance Practice: Juniors
7:30pm Greek Dance Practice: Intermediates
8:30pm Greek Dance Practice: Revma

Thursday, July 3
Church office closed (telephones will be monitored)

Friday, July 4
Church office closed in observance of Independence Day

Sunday, July 6 - Fourth Sunday of Matthew
Click here to view the printed liturgy
8:45am Orthros
10am Divine Liturgy

Parish News and Updates

OUR PASTORAL ASSISTANT, BILL SMITH will be out of the office until July 8.  We wish him a restful and enjoyable time with his family. 

Pastoral care during Fr Nick’s vacation - contact the church office if you are in need of pastoral care during Fr. Nick’s vacation.  We welcome Fr. Pliakas on July 6 and Fr. Artemis on July 13 and 20 as our visiting priests.   

BIBLE STUDIES ON BREAK OVER SUMMER - Both morning and evening Bible studies will be on break in July and August and will resume in September after Labor Day.  

FRIENDS OF THE METROPOLIS - join forces with the faithful throughout the Metropolis of Detroit in support of the ministries which are part of the Office of the Metropolitan.  Click here to visit the Friends of Metropolis page and make a donation to support the program.  See the bulletin insert below for more information.

SEEKING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY FOR OUR COMMEMORATIVE BOOK! 
We would love to include your Family History as a parishioner of our Nativity of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in our commemorative book! Share any details about your family, faith, and experiences as a parishioner at Nativity and you can include pictures! For example, you may want to share about baptisms/chrismations, weddings, memories as a volunteer, honoring our Greek Orthodox faith and heritage.

All histories are welcome, regardless of how long you have been a member of our parish! Samples are available at the church hall. We are kindly asking for a $100 contribution for one-page to help offset the associated costs. Please send your Family History by email to [email protected] or see Golfo Wernette or Charlene Galbraith before August 20, 2025.  

ANNIVERSARY TEAM SEEKING PHOTOS, ALBUMS & MEMORABILIA from the past 50 years of the people, events, etc. of our church.  We will use these items for display at the dinner/dance and/or commemorative book. Leave them in the container in the hallway—be sure to include your contact information so we can return the items to you.

ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN WOMEN RETREAT  Annual OCW Retreat - July 19, 2025 at Dormition Monastery in Rives Junction - Weathering the Hurricanes of Life.  See the bulletin insert attached for more information or email [email protected].

Stewardship Update

KEEP UP WITH YOUR STEWARDSHIP COMMITMENT THIS SUMMER USING ONLINE GIVING.  Abundant is Nativity's online giving service! You can donate by App (available for Apple or Android devices) by web (link below) by ACH/EFT (Kathy will set it up for you). Abundant Online Giving

GIVING STATEMENTS FOR THE FIRST  HALF OF 2025 WILL BE EMAILED TO THOSE WHO HAVE AN EMAIL ON FILE.  If you desire a paper copy, please contact  Kathy in the church office and she can mail a copy to you.

2025 STEWARD LIST IS ATTACHED AS A BULLETIN INSERT AND ON THE BULLETIN BOARD - If your name is missing from the list, please contact Kathy in the church office for a stewardship commitment form.  Click here to submit your stewardship commitment online.

Those in Our Prayers 

Nicholas the Bishop, John the Priest, John the Priest, Cassani the Presvytera, Kalliope the Presvytera, Panayiotis Christodoulos, Mary Christopoulos, Constantin Dumitrescu, Kosta Efthimiou, Tracey Ford, Gregory Georvassilis, George Hrisoulis, Charles Hunsinger, Michelle Hunsinger, Roy Hunsinger, Kathy Jenaras, Maria Kalas, Abraham Kalasse, Kanella Katsikas, Ephraim Kosta, Diane Kotsonas, Elias Koumariotis, Panayiota Koutoupa, Gus Kyriakou, Jim Lee, Nick Malamis, George Margaritis, Frank Maroudis, Freda Mollasis, Gregory Morakeas, Evelyn Morris, Alexander Nichoff, Niko Nikolakis, Marchela Papageorgakis, Stella Papasavva, James Pappas, Nikolia Pappas, Nicholas Pappas & Family, George Peters, Katerina Peters, Costas Photsios, Penny Poulos, Hayden Schils, Rick Stanley & Family, Evan Kotsonas Stoecklein, Mike and Julia  Tate, Jim Tsakos, Helen Tsaprazis, Nicholas Valice, Steve Valice, Chris Vardouniotis, John Vardouniotis, Jim Vlahakis, Irene Vouharas, Nicodemus Williams, Sandy Zembylas, Selina Zembylas-Hernandez, Little Jack. 

THE CHURCH IS HERE FOR YOU In times of need or times of celebration, there are a number of pastoral situations that warrant contacting Father Nick.  

  • Any Hospital Stay: Illness, Surgery, etc.
  • Death - Call when a person is dying and at the actual time of death, regardless of the hour!
  • Substance abuse involving you or a loved one.
  • Domestic problems of any sort, Marital or children.
  • When you desire spiritual direction.
  • Birth of a child, (naming, and 40 day blessing).
  • When you become engaged and are planning a wedding.    
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Youth and Young Adult Ministry

SAVE THE DATE - TUESDAY, JULY 29 FOR TIGERS V. DIAMONDBACKS - All GOYA and Altar boys are invited to attend.  More details coming soon!

ATTENTION NATIVITY DANCERS! Dance practice for the 2025 Greek Festival continues on Tuesday evenings. Rehearsal times - BIDDIES (Grades K-2) 6:30-7:00 pm, JUNIORS (Grades 3-5) 7:00-7:30 pm, INTERMEDIATES (Grades 6-8) 7:30-8:30 pm, REVMA (High School/College/Post College) 8:30-9:30 pm or later.

Your child’s grade is the grade that he/she will be entering in the Fall.

We would like everyone to register and pay before/when dance practice begins. To register and pay for your dancers, please click on the link below. The cost is $50 a dancer (if you have any financial difficulties, please see Ms. Peggy; the Men’s Club will cover your cost.) Click here to register.

Finally, we are asking dance parents to please sign up for a date to bring and serve a healthy nut-free snack for your child's dance group. Click here to sign up for snacks.

See the bulletin insert attached below for more information and watch your email for details about registration, payments and snacks.      

 

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Mode

When You descended unto Death, O Lord, You who are immortal Life put Hades to death, by the lightning of Your divinity. And when You raised the dead from the netherworld, all the hosts of heaven sang aloud to You, “O Christ God, Giver of life, glory 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 Apostles Peter and Paul in the Fourth Mode

Preeminent Apostles and teachers of the universe, intercede with the Master of all, to grant peace to the whole world, and great mercy to our souls.
Οι τών Αποστόλων πρωτόθρονοι, καί τής Οικουμένης διδάσκαλοι, τώ Δεσπότη τών όλων πρεσβεύσατε, ειρήνην τή οικουμένη δωρήσασθαι, καί ταίς ψυχαίς ημών τό μέγα έλεος.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

O Protection of Christians that never falls, intercession with the Creator that never fails, we sinners beg you, do not ignore the voices of our prayers. O good Lady, we implore you, quickly come unto our aid, when we cry out to you with faith. Hurry to intercession, and hasten to supplication, O Theotokos who protect now and ever those who honor you.
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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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Mode. Psalm 18.4,1.
Their voice has gone out into all the earth.
Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 11:21-33; 12:1-9.

Brethren, whatever anyone dares to boast of -- I am speaking as a fool -- I also dare to boast of that. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one -- I am talking like a madman -- with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brethren; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for ever, knows that I do not lie. At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me, but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped his hands.

I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows -- and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Προκείμενον. Plagal Fourth Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 18.4,1.
Εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ἐξῆλθεν ὁ φθόγγος αὐτῶν.
Στίχ. Οἱ οὐρανοὶ διηγοῦνται δόξαν Θεοῦ.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κορινθίους β' 11:21-33, 12:1-9.

Ἀδελφοί, ἐν ᾧ δʼ ἄν τις τολμᾷ - ἐν ἀφροσύνῃ λέγω - τολμῶ κἀγώ. Ἑβραῖοί εἰσιν; κἀγώ· Ἰσραηλῖταί εἰσιν; κἀγώ· σπέρμα Ἀβραάμ εἰσιν; κἀγώ· διάκονοι Χριστοῦ εἰσιν; - παραφρονῶν λαλῶ - ὑπὲρ ἐγώ· ἐν κόποις περισσοτέρως, ἐν πληγαῖς ὑπερβαλλόντως, ἐν φυλακαῖς περισσοτέρως, ἐν θανάτοις πολλάκις, ὑπὸ Ἰουδαίων πεντάκις τεσσαράκοντα παρὰ μίαν ἔλαβον. Τρὶς ἐραβδίσθην, ἅπαξ ἐλιθάσθην, τρὶς ἐναυάγησα, νυχθήμερον ἐν τῷ βυθῷ πεποίηκα· ὁδοιπορίαις πολλάκις, κινδύνοις ποταμῶν, κινδύνοις λῃστῶν, κινδύνοις ἐκ γένους, κινδύνοις ἐξ ἐθνῶν, κινδύνοις ἐν πόλει, κινδύνοις ἐν ἐρημίᾳ, κινδύνοις ἐν θαλάσσῃ, κινδύνοις ἐν ψευδαδέλφοις· ἐν κόπῳ καὶ μόχθῳ, ἐν ἀγρυπνίαις πολλάκις, ἐν λιμῷ καὶ δίψει, ἐν νηστείαις πολλάκις, ἐν ψύχει καὶ γυμνότητι. Χωρὶς τῶν παρεκτός, ἡ ἐπισύστασίς μου ἡ καθʼ ἡμέραν, ἡ μέριμνα πασῶν τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν. Τίς ἀσθενεῖ, καὶ οὐκ ἀσθενῶ; Τίς σκανδαλίζεται, καὶ οὐκ ἐγὼ πυροῦμαι; Εἰ καυχᾶσθαι δεῖ, τὰ τῆς ἀσθενείας μου καυχήσομαι. Ὁ θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ οἶδεν, ὁ ὢν εὐλογητὸς εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, ὅτι οὐ ψεύδομαι. Ἐν Δαμασκῷ ὁ ἐθνάρχης Ἀρέτα τοῦ βασιλέως ἐφρούρει τὴν Δαμασκηνῶν πόλιν, πιάσαι με θέλων· καὶ διὰ θυρίδος ἐν σαργάνῃ ἐχαλάσθην διὰ τοῦ τείχους καὶ ἐξέφυγον τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ. Καυχᾶσθαι δὴ οὐ συμφέρει μοι· ἐλεύσομαι γὰρ εἰς ὀπτασίας καὶ ἀποκαλύψεις κυρίου. Οἶδα ἄνθρωπον ἐν Χριστῷ πρὸ ἐτῶν δεκατεσσάρων - εἴτε ἐν σώματι οὐκ οἶδα· εἴτε ἐκτὸς τοῦ σώματος οὐκ οἶδα· ὁ θεὸς οἶδεν - ἁρπαγέντα τὸν τοιοῦτον ἕως τρίτου οὐρανοῦ. Καὶ οἶδα τὸν τοιοῦτον ἄνθρωπον - εἴτε ἐν σώματι, εἴτε ἐκτὸς τοῦ σώματος, οὐκ οἶδα· ὁ θεὸς οἶδεν - ὅτι ἡρπάγη εἰς τὸν παράδεισον, καὶ ἤκουσεν ἄρρητα ῥήματα, ἃ οὐκ ἐξὸν ἀνθρώπῳ λαλῆσαι. Ὑπὲρ τοῦ τοιούτου καυχήσομαι· ὑπὲρ δὲ ἐμαυτοῦ οὐ καυχήσομαι, εἰ μὴ ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενείαις μου· ἐὰν γὰρ θελήσω καυχήσασθαι, οὐκ ἔσομαι ἄφρων· ἀλήθειαν γὰρ ἐρῶ· φείδομαι δέ, μή τις εἰς ἐμὲ λογίσηται ὑπὲρ ὃ βλέπει με, ἢ ἀκούει τι ἐξ ἐμοῦ. Καὶ τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι, ἐδόθη μοι σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί, ἄγγελος Σατᾶν, ἵνα με κολαφίζῃ, ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι. Ὑπὲρ τούτου τρὶς τὸν κύριον παρεκάλεσα ἵνα ἀποστῇ ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ. Καὶ εἴρηκέν μοι, Ἀρκεῖ σοι ἡ χάρις μου· ἡ γὰρ δύναμίς μου ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ τελειοῦται. Ἥδιστα οὖν μᾶλλον καυχήσομαι ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενείαις μου, ἵνα ἐπισκηνώσῃ ἐπʼ ἐμὲ ἡ δύναμις τοῦ Χριστοῦ.


Gospel Reading

Peter and Paul, the Holy Apostles
The Reading is from Matthew 16:13-19

At that time, when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Peter and Paul, the Holy Apostles
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 16:13-19

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐλθὼν δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἰς τὰ μέρη Καισαρείας τῆς Φιλίππου ἠρώτα τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ λέγων· τίνα με λέγουσιν οἱ ἄνθρωποι εἶναι τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου; οἱ δὲ εἶπον· οἱ μὲν ᾿Ιωάννην τὸν βαπτιστήν, ἄλλοι δὲ ᾿Ηλίαν, ἕτεροι δὲ ῾Ιερεμίαν ἢ ἕνα τῶν προφητῶν. λέγει αὐτοῖς· ὑμεῖς δὲ τίνα με λέγετε εἶναι; ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ Σίμων Πέτρος εἶπε· σὺ εἶ ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ζῶντος. καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ· μακάριος εἶ, Σίμων Βαριωνᾶ, ὅτι σὰρξ καὶ αἷμα οὐκ ἀπεκάλυψέ σοι, ἀλλ᾿ ὁ πατήρ μου ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς. κἀγὼ δέ σοι λέγω ὅτι σὺ εἶ Πέτρος, καὶ ἐπὶ ταύτῃ τῇ πέτρᾳ οἰκοδομήσω μου τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, καὶ πύλαι ᾅδου οὐ κατισχύσουσιν αὐτῆς. καὶ δώσω σοι τὰς κλεῖς τῆς βασιλείας τῶν οὐρανῶν, καὶ ὃ ἐὰν δήσῃς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ἔσται δεδεμένον ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, καὶ ὃ ἐὰν λύσῃς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ἔσται λελυμένον ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς. τότε διεστείλατο τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ ἵνα μηδενὶ εἴπωσιν ὅτι αὐτός ἐστιν ᾿Ιησοῦς ὁ Χριστός.


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Saints and Feasts

June 29

Peter and Paul, the Holy Apostles

The divinely-blessed Peter was from Bethsaida of Galilee. He was the son of Jonas and the brother of Andrew the First-called. He was a fisherman by trade, unlearned and poor, and was called Simon; later he was renamed Peter by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who looked at him and said, "Thou art Simon the son of Jonas; thou shalt be called Cephas (which is by interpretation, Peter)" (John 1:42). On being raised by the Lord to the dignity of an Apostle and becoming inseparable from Him as His zealous disciple, he followed Him from the beginning of His preaching of salvation up until the very Passion, when, in the court of Caiaphas the high priest, he denied Him thrice because of his fear of the Jews and of the danger at hand. But again, after many bitter tears, he received complete forgiveness of his transgression. After the Resurrection of Christ and the descent of the Holy Spirit, he preached in Judea, Antioch, and certain parts of Asia, and finally came to Rome, where he was crucified upside down by Nero, and thus he ascended to the eternal habitations about the year 66 or 68, leaving two Catholic (General) Epistles to the Church of Christ.

Paul, the chosen vessel of Christ, the glory of the Church, the Apostle of the Nations and teacher of the whole world, was a Jew by race, of the tribe of Benjamin, having Tarsus as his homeland. He was a Roman citizen, fluent in the Greek language, an expert in knowledge of the Law, a Pharisee, born of a Pharisee, and a disciple of Gamaliel, a Pharisee and notable teacher of the Law in Jerusalem. For this cause, from the beginning, Paul was a most fervent zealot for the traditions of the Jews and a great persecutor of the Church of Christ; at that time, his name was Saul (Acts 22:3-4). In his great passion of rage and fury against the disciples of the Lord, he went to Damascus bearing letters of introduction from the high priest. His intention was to bring the disciples of Christ back to Jerusalem in bonds. As he was approaching Damascus, about midday there suddenly shone upon him a light from Heaven. Falling on the earth, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?" And he asked, "Who art Thou, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I am Jesus Whom thou persecutest; it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." And that heavenly voice and brilliance made him tremble, and he was blinded for a time. He was led by the hand into the city, and on account of a divine revelation to the Apostle Ananias (see Oct. 1), he was baptized by him, and both his bodily and spiritual eyes were opened to the knowledge of the Sun of Righteousness. And straightway- O wondrous transformation! - beyond all expectation, he spoke with boldness in the synagogues, proclaiming that "Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 9:1-21). As for his zeal in preaching the Gospel after these things had come to pass, as for his unabating labors and afflictions of diverse kinds, the wounds, the prisons, the bonds, the beatings, the stonings, the shipwrecks, the journeys, the perils on land, on sea, in cities, in wildernesses, the continual vigils, the daily fasting, the hunger, the thirst, the nakedness, and all those other things that he endured for the Name of Christ, and which he underwent before nations and kings and the Israelites, and above all, his care for all the churches, his fiery longing for the salvation of all, whereby he became all things to all men, that he might save them all if possible, and because of which, with his heart aflame, he continuously traveled throughout all parts, visiting them all, and like a bird of heaven flying from Asia and Europe, the West and East, neither staying nor abiding in any one place - all these things are related incident by incident in the Book of the Acts, and as he himself tells them in his Epistles. His Epistles, being fourteen in number, are explained in 250 homilies by the divine Chrysostom and make manifest the loftiness of his thoughts, the abundance of the revelations made to him, the wisdom given to him from God, wherewith he brings together in a wondrous manner the Old with the New Testaments, and expounds the mysteries thereof which had been concealed under types; he confirms the doctrines of the Faith, expounds the ethical teaching of the Gospel, and demonstrates with exactness the duties incumbent upon every rank, age, and order of man. In all these things his teaching proved to be a spiritual trumpet, and his speech was seen to be more radiant than the sun, and by these means he clearly sounded forth the word of truth and illumined the ends of the world. Having completed the work of his ministry, he likewise ended his life in martyrdom when he was beheaded in Rome during the reign of Nero, at the same time, some say, when Peter was crucified.


June 30

Synaxis of the Twelve Holy Apostles

The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew, the First-called; James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, who was also the Evangelist and Theologian; Philip, and Bartholomew (see also June 11); Thomas, and Matthew the publican, who was also called Levi and was an Evangelist; James the son of Alphaeus, and Jude (also called Lebbaeus, and surnamed Thaddaeus), the brother of James, the Brother of God; Simon the Cananite ("the Zealot"), and Matthias, who was elected to fill the place of Judas the traitor (see Aug. 9).


July 04

Andrew of Crete Author of the Great Canon

Saint Andrew was from Damascus; his parents' names were George and Gregoria. He became a cleric and secretary of Theodore and Patriarch of Jerusalem; from this, he is called "the Jerusalemite." He was present at the Sixth Ecumenical Council in Constantinople, which was convoked in 680 during the reign of Emperor Constantine IV (668-685). He became deacon of the Great church in Constantinople, that is, the Church of the Holy Wisdom of God, then Archbishop of Crete. He reposed in 720 or 723. Beside his other sacred writings, he also composed various hymns, among which is the famous Great Canon, which is chanted during Great Lent (see the Thursday of the Fifth Week of the Fast).


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Sacraments and Blessings

40 Day Blessing

Congratulations to Dimo and Kaliana Melistas
as they bring their son, Adoni for his 40 day blessing on Sunday, June 29

Adoni is the grandson of
Betsy and Nondo Basoukeas
Tina and Ray Phillips

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Wisdom of the Fathers

We must admire not only the inner meaning of all the things that are celebrated in the Church of the Orthodox Christians, but also the sacramental actions through which this meaning is expressed: how through divine baptism we become sons of God by grace, though we have done nothing before this, and do nothing after except keep the commandments; and how these awesome mysteries - I refer to holy baptism and holy communion - cannot take place without the priesthood, as Saint John Chrysostom says. Here, too, we see the significance of the power given to Saint Peter, chief of the apostles; for if the gates of the kingdom of heaven are not opened by priestly action, no one can enter (cf. Matt. 16:19). As the Lord says: 'Unless a man is born of water and Spirit...' (John 3:5); and again: 'Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you' (John 6:53).
St. Peter of Damaskos
Book 1: A Treasury of Divine Knowledge, Philokalia Vol. 3 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pgs. 208-209, 8th century

What then saith the mouth of the apostles, Peter, the ever fervent, the leader of the apostolic choir? When all are asked, he answers ... "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 54 on Matthew 16, 4th Century

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Nativity's Gmail Calendar

  • Nativity of the Virgin Mary Google Calendar

    June 29 to July 13, 2025

    Sunday, June 29

    Peter and Paul, the Holy Apostles

    Apostles' Fast Ends

    8:45AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:45AM 40 day Blessing - Melistas Family

    Monday, June 30

    Synaxis of the Twelve Holy Apostles

    Tuesday, July 1

    6:30PM Greek Dance Practice: Biddies

    7:00PM Greek Dance Practice: Juniors

    7:30PM Greek Dance Practice: Intermediates

    8:30PM Greek Dance Practice: Revma

    Friday, July 4

    Church office closed

    7:00PM AA Meeting in Social Hall

    Sunday, July 6

    4th Sunday of Matthew

    Memorials and Trisagions

    8:45AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    Tuesday, July 8

    6:30PM Greek Dance Practice: Biddies

    7:00PM Greek Dance Practice: Juniors

    7:30PM Greek Dance Practice: Intermediates

    8:30PM Greek Dance Practice: Revma

    Thursday, July 10

    4:00PM Wedding Rehearsal

    Friday, July 11

    Euphemia the Great Martyr

    3:00PM Private rental - for wedding

    7:00PM AA Meeting in Social Hall

    Sunday, July 13

    Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council

    8:45AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

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Bulletin Inserts

    Ushers and Coffee Hour - May & June

    Ushers and Coffee Hour - May & June

    list of ushers and coffee hour servers for the next two months.


    Attention Nativity Dancers

    Attention Nativity Dancers

    Dance practice for our 2025 festival begin in June!


    Friends of the Metropolis

    Friends of the Metropolis

    When you support the Friends of the Metropolis campaign, you are part of a greater outreach that proclaims with one universal voice that God is truly our hope and our rock of salvation.


    OCW Annual Retreat

    OCW Annual Retreat

    information on the upcoming women's retreat at Dormition Monastery


    Feast Day of St. Panteleimon - July 27

    Feast Day of St. Panteleimon - July 27

    Save the Date for the Feast Day and Festival at SAINT PANTELEIMON CHAPEL 7143 Cedar Road | Lexington, Michigan | 248.823.2400


    FAMILY HISTORIES FOR THE COMMORATIVE BOOK

    FAMILY HISTORIES FOR THE COMMORATIVE BOOK

    We would love to include your Family History as a parishioner of our Nativity of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in our commemorative book! All histories are welcome, regardless of how long you have been a member of our parish!


    June 2025 Steward List

    June 2025 Steward List

    If your name does not appear on this list, please contact Kathy in the church office.


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