St. Irene Chrysovalantou Parish in Rochester Hills (Detroit area), Michigan, celebrated our second parish feast day on 28 July/10 August, 2016.
With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Demetrius, His Grace Christodoulos, Bishop of Theoupolis, a member of our Holy Synod, graciously visited St. Irene in honor of this joyous day of our holy patroness, presiding at Great Vespers and celebrating the Divine Liturgy for the Feast, assisted by Protopresbyter Christos Pittos and our rector, Presbyter Steven Allen. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, His Grace performed the traditional blessing of apples, which were distributed to the faithful.
Despite our small size and it's being a work day, 42 of the faithful were present for the Divine Liturgy. Fr. Steven, the parish council, and the parish brotherhood wish to thank His Grace Christodoulos for showing archpastoral love in gracing our feast with his apostolic blessing. We also want to express our delight in the visit of Fr. Christos and Presvytera Ekaterina, cherished members of our spiritual family, who came from Chicago to add to the joy of the feast.
We ask the prayers of all the brethren of our Church of the True Orthodox Christians in America, that our young community continue to grow both outwardly and inwardly, remaining steadfast in the pure confession of Faith and nurturing genuine spiritual life for all those who come to us seeking salvation in the Holy Church.
“Trust ye not in princes, in the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation.”
(Psalm 145:3)
We mustn’t have absolute trust in human beings for our salvation, no matter what dignity they have. Human beings are changeable. Today they are saints, tomorrow—deniers. Today—sinners, tomorrow—righteous. We must have absolute trust in God, and in Him we must base our hopes of salvation. “Blessed is he of whom the God of Jacob is his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God” (Psalm 145:5). Read more...
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2025 Youth Conference
Please join us for the 2025 youth conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada! To learn more, visit the conference website.
Q. Can you please explain the significance of the forty day memorial service? An Evangelical family asked one of our relatives that question. We said that it’s best to ask a clergy member. Thank you in advance for your response. (We will forward it to them as soon as possible).
-P. & M. G.
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