3/8/22

Council of Orthodox Christian Churches to sponsor Sunday Lenten Vespers

DETROIT, MI [COCC] --  The Council of Orthodox Christian Churches of Metropolitan Detroit (COCC) will resume its annual series of Vespers services on the five Sundays of Orthodox Christian Great Lent.  The first one will be held on March 13, Sunday of Orthodoxy, at 6 p.m. at St, Mary Antiochian Orthodox Basilica, 18100 Merriman Road, Livonia (between 6 & 7 Mile Roads).

The Very Rev. Fr. Laurence Lazar, president of the St. John Chrysostom Clergy Brotherhood of Metropolitan Detroit, and other Orthodox clergy from throughout the metro area will preside at the service.  The homilist will be the Very Rev. Fr. Paul Patistas.  The Inter-Orthodox Lenten Vespers Choir, directed by Victoria Kopistiansky, will sing the responses.

As has become a local tradition, children and college students from area parishes are encouraged to bring an icon and be part of the Procession of Icons that highlights the Sunday of Orthodoxy service.

The remaining four services in the series will be held on:

• March 20  - Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church in Livonia (36075 W. 7 Mile Rd., between Farmington & Newburgh) / V. Rev. Fr. Radomir Obsenica, Homilist;
• March 27 - Sunday of the Holy Cross at St. George Romanian Orthodox Cathedral in Southfield (18405 W. 9 Mile Rd., just West of M-10 & M-39) / V. Rev. Fr. Michael Varlamos, Homilist;
• April 3 - Sunday of St. John of the Ladder at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Farmington Hills (25225 Middlebelt Rd., between 10 & 11 Mile) / V. Rev. Fr. Michael Butler, Homilist;
• April 10 - Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Detroit (20500 Anglin St., at 8 Mile Rd., between Dequindre & Mound) / V. Rev. Fr. John Baker, Homilist.

A free-will offering collection will be taken at each service, the proceeds of which will go to help fund the ministries of the COCC.  Refreshments and fellowship follow each service.

Members of the public are invited to attend the services.  For further information, visit the COCC website at www.coccdetroit.org.

All are welcome!