January 05
Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-01-05
Bulletin Contents
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Saints and Feasts
PARISH EVENTS AND NEWS
Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church
General Information
- Phone:
- (734) 525-6789
- Fax:
- (734) 525-3989
- Email:
- [email protected]
- 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
- Publish Date:
- 2025-02-02
- Publish Date:
- 2025-01-26
- Publish Date:
- 2025-01-19
- Publish Date:
- 2025-01-12
- Publish Date:
- 2024-12-29
- Publish Date:
- 2024-12-22
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 Eve of Epiphany in the Fourth Mode
River Jordan was turned back by Elisseus' mantle once, when the fiery man of zeal Elias had been taken up; then were its waters divided hither and thither. The running streams became dry passage unto him, truly as a sign and type of Baptism, whereby we pass to the other side of the shifting stream of this fleeting life. Christ hath appeared in the Jordan River, to sanctify the waters.
Ἀπεστρέφετο ποτέ, ὁ Ἰορδάνης ποταμός, τὴ μηλωτὴ Ἐλισαιέ, ἀναληφθέντος Ἡλιοῦ, καὶ διηρεῖτο τὰ ὕδατα ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν, καὶ γέγονεν αὐτῷ, ξηρὰ ὁδὸς ἡ ὑγρά, εἰς τύπον ἀληθῶς τοῦ Βαπτίσματος, δι' οὗ ἡμεῖς τὴν ῥέουσαν, τοῦ βίου διαπερῶμεν διάβασιν, Χριστὸς ἐφάνη, ἐν Ἰορδάνῃ, ἁγιᾶσαι τὰ ὕδατα.
Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode
In the running waters of the Jordan River, on this day the Lord of all crieth to John: Be not afraid and hesitate not to baptize Me, for I am come to save Adam, the first-formed man.
Ἐν τοῖς ῥείθροις σήμερον τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, γεγονῶς ὁ Κύριος, τῶ Ἰωάννη ἐκβοᾷ. Μὴ δειλιάσης βαπτίσαι με, σῶσαι γὰρ ἥκω, Ἀδὰμ τὸν πρωτόπλαστον.
Gospel and Epistle Readings
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 Second Letter to Timothy 4:5-8.
TIMOTHY, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.
For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Προκείμενον. Plagal Second Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 27.9,1.
Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου.
Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Τιμόθεον β' 4:5-8.
Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, νῆφε ἐν πᾶσιν, κακοπάθησον, ἔργον ποίησον εὐαγγελιστοῦ, τὴν διακονίαν σου πληροφόρησον. Ἐγὼ γὰρ ἤδη σπένδομαι, καὶ ὁ καιρὸς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀναλύσεως ἐφέστηκεν. Τὸν ἀγῶνα τὸν καλὸν ἠγώνισμαι, τὸν δρόμον τετέλεκα, τὴν πίστιν τετήρηκα· λοιπόν, ἀπόκειταί μοι ὁ τῆς δικαιοσύνης στέφανος, ὃν ἀποδώσει μοι ὁ κύριος ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, ὁ δίκαιος κριτής· οὐ μόνον δὲ ἐμοί, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάσιν τοῖς ἠγαπηκόσιν τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν αὐτοῦ.
Gospel Reading
Sunday before Epiphany
The Reading is from Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' John was baptizing in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
Sunday before Epiphany
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 1:1-8
᾿Αρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ, υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ. ῾Ως γέγραπται ἐν τοῖς προφήταις, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου, ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου ἔμπροσθέν σου· φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν Κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ, ἐγένετο ᾿Ιωάννης βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καὶ κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν. Καὶ ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσα ἡ ᾿Ιουδαία χώρα καὶ οἱ ῾Ιεροσολυμῖται, καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο πάντες ἐν τῷ ᾿Ιορδάνῃ ποταμῷ ὑπ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν. Ἦν δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιωάννης ἐνδεδυμένος τρίχας καμήλου καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐσθίων ἀκρίδας καὶ μέλι ἄγριον. Καὶ ἐκήρυσσε λέγων· ἔρχεται ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου ὀπίσω μου, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς κύψας λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ· ἐγὼ μὲν ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ἐν ὕδατι, αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν Πνεύματι ῾Αγίῳ.
Wisdom of the Fathers
Repentance is the renewal of baptism and is a contract with God for a fresh start in life.
Ladder of Divine Ascent Step 5:On Penitence, Paulist Press pg. 121, 6th century
It was for that reason that Joshua, son of Nun, removed his sandals (Cf. Jos. 5:15), in order that he also could preserve the gift of so great a function for Him who was to come. It is for that reason that John says, 'A man is coming after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to loose,' ...
Seven Exegetical Works, 4.22, 4th Century
PARISH EVENTS AND NEWS
A HAPPY BLESSED NEW YEAR!
JANUARY 5, 2025 - Sunday Before Epiphany
SERVICES THIS WEEK:
Monday, January 6th – THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD/BLESSING OF THE WATERS Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am Saints Constantine and Helen, Westland
Monday, January 6th – GREAT VESPERS, ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, 6:30 pm, St. John Church, Sterling Heights
Tuesday, January 7th – FEAST DAY, ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am, 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 will 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: Tracey, Anna, Sue, Nicole, Nahad, Amalia, Nydia, Ann, John, Janek, Frank, George, Patrick, Joanne, Betty, Deana, Gloria, Jeannette, Michael, Theodoros, Niko, Maria, Georgia, Sevasti, Mariam, George, Gene, Pete, Lazaros, John, Christopher, George, David, Marcos, Evangelia, Lela, Doris, Dawn, Panagioti, Joanna, Suzanne, Nick, Fotini, Niki, George, Matthew, Stefanos, Georgia, Leonidas, Gus, Connie, Maria, Brenda, Panagiota, Nicholas, Vicki, Susan, Tom, Thomas, Jim, Gloria, Evans, Phyllis, Marti, Janet, John, Zacharias, Vanessa (Vasiliki), Jake, Maegan, Irene, Lisa, Pat, Jonathan, Tracy, Dianna, Betty, Catherine, Evelyn, Gregg, Peter, Angela, Bill, Carrie, Vito, Amalia, Stephanie, Lisa, Kylie, 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.
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES:
FAMILY WORSHIP: There will be no Sunday School classes today, Sunday January 5th. Sunday School will resume next Sunday January 12th, 2025. Start off the New Year with a resolution to bring your children to Sunday School each week!
PHILOPTOCHOS GENERAL MEETING: There will be a General Meeting of the St. Helen Philoptochos following the Divine Liturgy service today, Sunday January 5th. Please plan to attend, for discussion of GreekFest, Lent and Easter, and upcoming charitable efforts.
VASILOPITA CUTTING/STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY: Next Sunday, January 12, 2025, the day when we will have the traditional Vasilopita cutting for our parish, has been also designated as the Stewardship Sunday for our parish. On that day we will worship together as we do every Sunday. In addition, we will learn more about our parish, our leadership and our ministries.
We will also offer a complimentary lunch in the Hellenic Cultural Center following the service for everyone to enjoy together with our parish family. You can submit your Stewardship Commitment Card any other time, but we encourage you to bring the card on that day, indicating the time, talent and treasure that you will offer as a member of the Church, the Body of Christ on earth. If you did not receive a card in the mail, they are available at the Pangari, in the church office, and online at www.stcons.org
MEN’S GROUP MEETING: Our Men’s Group will meet on Sunday, January 19th following the Divine Liturgy service in the HCC hall.
GOYA MEETING: Next meetings for our GOYA will be held on January 19th after the Divine Liturgy service in the Board Room.
HOPE AND JOY FRIENDSHIP LUNCHEON: Our HOPE and JOY families (with children age 4 years through 6th grade) will meet for a complimentary lunch and activities after church on Sunday, January 26th. Please RSVP to no later than 1/17/25 to Lisa Madias ([email protected]) and/or Zoe Miller ([email protected])
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! GREEKFEST 2025! Our 2025 GreekFest has been expanded to three days! It will be held on February 21, 22, and 23. Plan to be there with friends and family to enjoy the fun! VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED EACH DAY THE WEEK BEFORE GREEKFEST, AND ALL THREE DAYS OF THE EVENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER, CONTACT PAM AVDOULOS AT: [email protected] We are also looking for people who can bake Greek Sweets for the festival. SIGN UP HERE IF YOU CAN HELP: https://tinyurl.com/mwusjd9e or contact Stella Boyer at: [email protected]
ADULT BIBLE STUDY: There will be no Adult Bible Study this week. The group will meet next Tuesday, January 14th for continued study and discussion on the book of Matthew.
ORATORICAL FESTIVAL: The St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival is coming up on March 9th at our parish. It is a national program where Orthodox youth, grades 7 – 12, present speeches discussing the Greek Orthodox faith and the Church. Youth get to explore and deepen their faith; and hone their public speaking, writing, and personal presentation skills. They can also earn cash awards at the parish level and scholarship awards if they make it to the Nationals. For more information, https://www.goarch.org/oratorical, or any 7th grade – 12th grade Sunday School teacher.
“ORTHODOX ON PURPOSE” RETREAT: The St. Nicholas Church of An Arbor invites adults and teenagers to spend a day, Saturday, February 8th, with nationally-recognized priest, podcaster, and author Father Barnabas Powell learning what it means to be Orthodox on Purpose. Preregistration by 1/22/25 is required. For more information about registration and payment for this retreat, go to https://www.stnickaa.org
NEWS AND NOTICES:
ANNUAL HOME BLESSINGS: After the Epiphany and through the beginning of Lent, Father Teodor will be available for home blessings. This is a beautiful and very important tradition of our church; every Orthodox Christian should have their home blessed annually. Please call the office to schedule your home blessing for the new year. If you wish to schedule a blessing for the new year, contact the church office to be added Fr. Teodor’s calendar. ([email protected] or 734.525.6789)
FINAL SUNDAY! HELP FILL OUR “WARMING TREE”: Today, Sunday January 5th, is the final day to bring new warm gloves, hats, and scarves to place on the “Warming Tree” outside of the church office. All items collected will be distributed to our low-income and homeless neighbors.
CHURCH CALENDARS AND STEWARDSHIP CARDS: The Church calendars were mailed out last week, so if you have not yet received yours, it should arrive shortly. Unfortunately, we do not have extra calendars to give out this year. Stewardship cards are available at the Pangari and the Church Office.
MEMORIAL SERVICES: Please 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. 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. Coffee Hour sponsorship is not required, however the church is grateful to those who wish to make a sponsorship donation of $150, and the HCC will set up a table with cloth and coffee, etc. for your family.
REMEMBER THE CHURCH IN YOUR WILL:You’ve supported the church your whole life, remembering us in your estate plan will help the church when you’re gone. Consult your estate planner or contact the Church office for information. We are grateful to our parishioners who have left bequests to the church in the last few years.Their loving legacy made a big difference! May their memory be eternal.
SERVICES AND SACRAMENTS:
Funeral: PAVLOS STERGIADIS
1/7/ 25 - Visitation 2:00 – 8:00, Trisagion 7:00 pm - Griffin Funeral Home, Livonia
1/8/25 Visitation 9:30 am, Funeral 10:30 am, Saints Constantine and Helen Church
May his memory be eternal!