COCC Good Works (Apr-Jun 2014)
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GOOD WORKS Quarterly Publication of The Council of Orthodox Christian Churches of Metropolitan Detroit Come, take the Light and glorify Christ risen from the dead! APRIL-JUNE 2014 A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT the president for 2014, I wish Our annual dinner dance will be to thank our immediate past held on Sunday, May 18th. This As president John Lazar for his lead- once a year fund raising event al- ership and accomplishments. With lows us to continue to support our OUR MISSION the much needed energy and spirit retired clergy and widows of the of the young generation, he helped deceased clergy. They have “Go forth and teach all nations, set the COCC on a path for growth served and supported us all their baptizing them in the name of the Father, and outreach programs in keeping working lives and this is one way with our mission. His outstanding for us to say thank you, so please and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, work as designer / editor of our show your support! Bring the whole teaching them to observe all things that quarterly "Good Works," (with liai- family, have a fun time and meet son Mary Ann Dadich), expanded new people. If you are unable to I have commanded you; and Lo, I AM the publication’s outreach and attend you can sponsor our ad growing popularity. Working with book with your business’ advertise- with you always, even unto the end of our affiliates and his involvement ment or a good will greeting. If you time.” (Matthew 28:19-20) with the Pan Orthodox choir has are creative, donate a gift basket set an example for us to follow. that we can auction at this event. The Council of Orthodox Christian We know he will continue to serve Churches of Metropolitan Detroit is a There are a number of ways to and help us move forward. cooperative organization of clergy and support our mission. I pray you will laity established in 1957. Our mission is to It is an honor and privilege to serve find one you can offer. promote the Faith through worship, fel- the as your new president. We Looking forward, I ask for your sup- lowship, charity, education, and outreach. have a rich history of serving our port and prayers, as our COCC community for over 50 years. continues its rebirth. Let us cele- The devotion of all who serve and Though recent past years been brate our Faith and our various support us allows our witness of faith in somewhat trying, we are now on a Cultures and Heritages, from the Detroit to continue into the future. path of growth and our agenda is youngest to the oldest! We need set to continue growing. With an you, parish, clergy and volunteers increase in parish members and to join us so that our work will be of additional representatives with new greater benefit to all. THE COCC EXECUTIVE BOARD ideas, we will fulfill our mission. No organization succeeds without "Behold, how good and how pleas- RICHARD SHEBIB, President positive change and fresh ideas. Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St Mary ant it is for brethren to dwell to- phone 248 345 9346 | [email protected] We are near the end of Lent on our gether in unity!" - Psalm 133 journey to Pascha. Our annual OLGA LISKIWSKYI, Vice President Vespers Series has again been St Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral phone 248 252-8184 | [email protected] enriching for all who took part, Richard J Shebib enjoying prayer and fellowship in COCC President SALLY RUFFIN, Secretary parishes around our city. Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St Mary phone 248 624 3393 | [email protected] JOHN VASILCO, Treasurer St Michael the Archangel Russian Orthodox Church phone 734 716 1434 | [email protected] CHRIST JOHN E LAZAR, Immediate Past President St George Romanian Orthodox Cathedral phone 734 646 6420 | [email protected] MARY ANN DADICH, Good Works Liaison IS RISEN Holy Trinity Orthodox Church phone 586 775 4799 | [email protected] RT REV FR ROMAN STAR, Spiritual Advisor St Innocent of Irkutsk Orthodox Church TRULY HE phone 313 538 1142 | [email protected] GOOD WORKS (John E Lazar, graphic designer / editor) is the official periodical publication of The Council of Orthodox Christian IS RISEN Churches of Metropolitan Detroit (COCC). All artwork and original content is not to be reproduced without prior written permission of the COCC Board. All rights reserved. © 2014. 2 COCC Launches New Web-site! We are pleased to announce that our internet presence has taken a step forward with the recent launch of our new web-site. The attractive, easy to navigate site has articles, resources, directories, photos, and more, designed and managed by a team of talented volunteers. We are sure you will enjoy this important facet of the COCC, and welcome your submissions, critiques, and input (just as we do here at Good Works!) Check back often as new information is added on a weekly basis. www.coccdetroit.com Join COCC Detroit on Facebook ®! Be sure GET CONNECTED! to like us then share with family and friends. News, updates and more for the Orthodox community around our city! + from our SPIRITUAL ADVISOR Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As we stand before the Cross on Great and Holy Thursday, and listen to the Passion Gospel lessons, and on Great and Holy We have already begun the journey towards the Feast of Feasts, Friday, as we look upon, kiss and venerate the image of our the Great and Holy Pascha. We look forward to the Paschal joy, Savior on the Epitaphion / Plashchenitsa [shroud], there is a and while on our journey, we are called to gaze upon the Life- feeling of deep faith, reverence and sincere repentance. And in Creating Cross. The symbol of our salvation – the Cross – is order to follow the path of our Lord, we need to find and feel the Holy, Glorious and Beautiful Tree, because it gives us life our spiritual link with Him — that is, to take up our cross and and leads us to the Kingdom of Heaven. Then we come to the follow Him. What is this – "to take up one’s cross"? This Great and Holy Friday. We see our means to fulfill our obligations conscientiously, to God, to the Savior upon the cross. We can visual- Church and to our country. To take up one’s cross also means ize the agony and pain that He felt, to accept the sorrow, disappointments, and ailments, linked that unbearable pain that makes with work, and sent by God to test and make us wise. Christ cries out, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" And When we approach the Shroud of Christ, we kiss it with love, we, from time to time, as we carry conscious of our sins, praying that the Lord will visit us and our cross and strive for genuine re- grant us help in our repentance, delivering us from our sins and pentance and purification, we too call vices. The Holy Fathers and Teachers of the Church have con- out, "My God, my God, why hast tinuously, throughout the ages, taught that the only way to Thou forsaken me?" reach the soul of regenerated man is that which is granted to the Christian by the Risen Lord and Savior. We have entered into Standing before Christ’s Cross, we examine our consciences. In the fulfillment of our journey — the Great and Holy Pascha — a Manual of Confession, the Righteous Nikodemos the the Resurrection of our Lord. All our faith is founded on the Hagiorite, writes: “In order to destroy sin, His Heavenly Fa- miracle of Christ’s Resurrection, and our participation in the ther was not pleased that His Son should suffer a light torment, resurrection of Christ is expressed in the resurrection of our but extreme torments. Do you wish to understand this, sinner? souls through the rejection of sin and a resolution to do good. Turn and see how Jesus suffers because of your sin. He is be- St. Gregory of Nazianzus wrote: “Having risen with Christ, you trayed, slandered, mocked and dragged to the courts like a too have become a new creature, made for good deeds; may all criminal. See how His eyes are wounded from the buffets and your life be renewed, and may all the paths of your activity be the blows! How His cheeks are bruised from the slaps! How renewed; thus is man regenerated and thus is the day of regen- His throat is dried up from thirst! See how His lips are embit- eration venerated.” tered from gall! How His head is pierced from the rigid thorns! How His arms and wrists are bound with strong rope! How His At this time of Paschal joy, may we strengthen and renew our shoulders are weighed down from the weight of the cross! How will and constantly dedicate ourselves to doing good. And as His hands and his feet are nailed with sharp nails! Look, sin- we continue in our earthly life, may we be comforted with the ner, and see how all His veins are emptied of blood! How His words of our Lord, "I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." side is pierced with a spear! How all His joints are distended from the extreme tension on the Cross! And how He gave up With faith in the Risen Lord, may we rejoice and be glad and the Spirit hanging upon the rigid nails! See how all His body shout aloud: CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN! became a great wound, without form, without human beauty! "We saw Him but He had no form nor beauty" (Is.