2/22/25

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 in 2025.  The first one will be held on March 9, Sunday of Orthodoxy, at 6 p.m. at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 707 E. Lafayette Blvd. in Detroit, with His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Detroit as the invited Main Celebrant and Guest Speaker.

The services will be celebrated by Orthodox clergy from throughout the metro area.  The Detroit Inter-Orthodox Lenten Vespers Choir, directed by Victoria Kopistiansky, will sing the responses.

The remaining four services in the series, each begining at 6 p.m., will be held on:

• March 16  - Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas at St. Mark Orthodox Church in Rochester Hills (400 W. Hamlin Rd.);
• March 23 - Sunday of the Holy Cross at the Basilica of St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church in Livonia (18100 Merriman Rd.);
• March 30 - Sunday of St. John of the Ladder at the Nativity of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Plymouth (39851 W. Five Mile Rd.);
• April 6 - Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt at St. Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church in Fenton (2439 S. Long Lake Rd.).

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!