St. Innocent Orthodox Church Z 50th Anniversary:1967-2017 Z Moscow Patriarchal Parishes Z 23300 W. Chicago _ Redford, MI 48239 _ 313-538-1142 _ Fax: 313-538-8126 Church Website: www.stinnocentchurch.com _ E-Mail: [email protected] St. Innocent Monastic Community: 9452 Hazelton, Redford, MI 48239 _ 313-535-9080 PASTOR: Rt. Rev. Mitered Archpriest ROMAN STAR _ Cell: 313-319-0590 Dean, Central States Deanery, Patriarchal Parishes AUGUST 27, 2017 ASSISTANT PRIESTS: Rev. DANEIL SHIRAK _ 313-295-3073 Rev. Dr. JOSHUA GENIG _ 630-936-6386 EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (#158) DEACON: Dn. Comerford, Attached GOSPEL: Matthew 19:16-26 (#79) ATTACHED: Sister Ioanna TONE: 3 CHOIR DIRECTOR: Elizabeth Star Hatfield READERS: George Hanoian; William Davis

Z 12th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Z

_ 9:15am — HOURS & AKATHIST &/OR CANON; CONFESSIONS _ _ 10am — DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. _

COMMEMORATED TODAY: Ven. Pœmen the Great (ca. 450). Hieromartyr Kuksha and Ven. Pimen (Pœmen), of the Kiev Caves (Near Caves—12th c.). St. Hosius the Confessor, of Cordova (359). St. Liberius, Pope of Rome (366). Ven. Pœmen of Palestine (ca. 602). Martyr Anthusa. Ven. Sabbas of Benephali. St. Cæsarius, Bishop of Arles (543).

FOR THE REPOSE OF: Estelle & Star; Anna & John Witkowski; Michael Sr. & Margaret Rusko; Mary, Andrew, , Michael & Lottie Yakuber; Ross & Margaret Falsetti; Helen, John & Carole Andrayko; Peter & Theresa Harvilla; Betty Martell; Frances, Todd & John Smoly; Peter Glover; Irene Adams; Ethel Elizabeth & Wayne Joshua deVyver, Horka; Michael Rusko; Anna Lichagina, Yelena & Zinaïda Korniyevskaya; Joseph Nossal; Michelle Tucker; Todd Comerford, John Manier, Jr. MEMORY Archpriest Leonte (Fr. Leo) Copacia (newly departed, August 16th), founding pastor of St. ’s Church ETERNAL! Wayne Joshua deVyver, whose anniversary of his repose is Tuesday, 29 August, by daughter, Sister Ioanna Mary Latsko, whose anniversary of her repose is Wednesday, 30 August, by son, Reader Robert Joseph Latsko Marsha Gelok, whose anniversary of her repose is Thursday, 31 August, by cousin, Mat. Rose Marie & Fr. Roman

FOR THE HEALTH OF: Archimandrite Seraphim; Priest Daneil, Mat. Debra & Corrina Shirak; Priest Joshua, Mat. Abigail, Emma, Clare, Rose & Anna Genig; Deacon Michael, Mat. Mary Ellen & Julius Comerford; Matushka Mary Donahue; Reader Robert Latsko, Reader George & Betty Hanoian, William Basil Davis, Rose Nossal, Mary Glover, Nancy Cupp, Vasiliki Stamoulis, Gerald Martell, Azbehat, Donald Yakuber, Carl deVyver, Jo Anne Nicholas, Joan Rusko, Daria, Joseph Nossal, Ed Manier, Pat Harbut; Kaitlyn Carmody; Iskias Naizghi ALSO FOR: William Basil Davis, who celebrates his Birthday Today, Sunday, 27 August John Andrayko, who celebrates his Birthday on Thursday, 31 August Fr. Joshua, who celebrates his Name’s Day on Friday, 1 September Reader Robert Joseph Latsko, who celebrates his Birthday on Saturday, 2 September Jennifer Lennon, who celebrates her Birthday on Saturday, 2 September

SCHEDULE FOR THE COMING WEEK (regular Wednesday & Friday fsting) Monday 8/28 6:30pm AKATHIST FOR ST. THE BLACK, followed by reception & fellowship Tuesday 8/29 10am DIVINE LITURGY for the BEHEADING OF PROPHET & FORERUNNER, ST. Saturday 9/2 4pm GREAT VESPERS & CONFESSIONS Sunday 9/3 13th Sunday After Pentecost 9:15am Hours & Akathist/Canon; Confessions 10am DIVINE LITURGY, followed by Coffee Hour

PROSPHORA FOR TODAY IS OFFERED BY: Sister Ioanna In Memory Eternal of: Parents: Wayne Joshua (anniv. 8/29) & Ethel Elizabeth (B-day, 9/2); David Horka (anniv. 9/27); Alex Ruggieri (anniv. 7/21); Mother Benedicta (anniv. 8/7); Popadia Vera Nicoloff (anniv. 8/24); Olive Brower (anniv. 7/10); Elise Laney (anniv. 9/4); Michelle Tucker (anniv. 8/28); Fr. Leo Copacia (newly departed, 8/16/17); Archim. Roman (Braga); Fr. Photius Donahue; & all other departed family & friends; and for the Health of: Brother, Carl; Rdr. Robert Joseph (B-day, 9/2); Fr. Roman & Mat. Rose Marie (50th wedding anniversary, 9/3); Frances & Kenneth (Chrismations, 8/6/17); Rose N; Jo Anne N; Rdr George (healing); Iskias (healing); all family & friends. Z CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! Z HE IS NOW & ALWAYS SHALL BE! Z CANDLES FOR LAST SUNDAY, 20 AUGUST YEARLY CHURCH VIGIL LAMPS: Royal Doors Lamp: In Memory of Husband, Joseph; Son, Kenneth; parents, Michael & Margaret Rusko, & John & Martha Nossal, by Rose Nossal Altar Candelabra: In Memory of Parents, Nicholas and Susan Yakuber, by son, Donald Yakuber Altar Candles (2): In Memory of Irene Adams, by Goddaughter, Rose Ann Everhardt Iconostasis Lamps: In Memory of departed family & friends; & Health of family & friends, by Fr. Protodeacon Daniel & Mat. Irene Sudol Candles on the Solea: In Memory of Peter & Theresa Harvilla, Norman & Monica Holst, & Ricky Ellis, by Jason & Debra Truskowski Table of Oblation Lamp: In Memory of Parents, Helen & John Andrayko, Sr. & sister, Carole Andrayko, by John Andrayko, Jr. Reliquary-Icon Lamps: Sts. Innocent, Tikhon & Herman: Health of Joseph/Sue; Robert/Diane; Pat/John; Joseph B., Jared, Jay; Rachelle/Aaron, ; Tricia, Lindsey; & In Memory of sisters, Anna, Margaret, Theresa & Irene; & brothers, John, Edwin & Michael by Rose Nossal Reliquary-Icon Lamps: Sts. Elizabeth & Raphael: Health of the Genig and the Just Families, by Fr. Joshua & Matushka Abigail Genig Reliquary-Icon Lamps: St. Seraphim & St. Alexis: In Memory of Ross & Margaret Falsetti, by daughters, Rose Ann Everhardt & Margie Martell Reliquary-Icon Lamps: St. Nestor & St. Gerontius: In Memory of Rusko Family: Grandparents, Anna, Alexandra, Mike, Margaret, John, Mary, George, Pauline, Pete, Irene, Andrew, Anna, Grandparents Nickolas & Anna Schulik, by Rose Nossal Reliquary-Icon Lamps: St. & Sts. Alexandra & Martha: In Memory of Parents, Ethel Elizabeth & Wayne Joshua; Robert David H; // IN MEMORY OF (MEMORY ETERNAL!) //& Health of brother, Carl, by Sister Ioanna Joseph & Estelle Star, by son Father Roman and family Paul & Alexandra Yupco, Basil & Ellen Starinshak, by grandson, Father Roman and family John & Anna Witkowski, by daughter, Matushka Rose Marie and family & Mary Kupec, by granddaughter, Matushka Rose Marie and family Parents, Helen & John Andrayko, and sister, Carole Andrayko, by John Andrayko + + + My husband, Michael Rusko, by Joan Rusko My husband, Joe; my sisters, Margaret & Ross Falsetti, Anna & Mike Elaschat, Theresa & Pete Harvilla, Irene, & brothers, Michael, John & Edwin Rusko; niece, Rose Mary & Dean Hough; Joe’s brothers, Raymond & Walter Nossal, & sisters, Theresa, Florence & Helen Nossal, by Rose Nossal ++ + Pete & Theresa Harvilla, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay Truskowski + + + Jaimie Truskowski, by daughter Kay T. Parents, Ethel Elizabeth & Wayne Joshua; David H; Nina I; Marion P; Fr. Photius; Archm. Roman; Mo. Benedicta; Sally & Edward, by Sr.Ioanna FOR THE HEALTH OF: (MANY YEARS!) Elizabeth & Lawrence, Caitlin & Zachary, by parents & grandparents, Father Roman & Matushka Rose Marie Gregory & Tamiko Star, by parents, Father Roman & Matushka Rose Marie Children, Grandchildren & Great-grandchildren; Fr. Sdn. Tikhon (Dade); by Rose Nossal Father Roman & Matushka & family; Sister Ioanna; John Andrayko; Nancy; Mary G; Jo Anne N; Grandson Joey (in the Navy Reserves) & all people in the Armed Forces; & all St. Innocent Church parishioners, by Rose Nossal + + + Family & Friends, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay Brother, Greg & Donna; nephew, Gregory & Liz; & nephew, Alex, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay + + + Ed Manier, by Mary Ann Harvilla&Kay Archimandrites Nafanail, Gregory & Seraphim; Fr. Roman & Mat. Rose Marie; Fr. Lawrence B & fam; Fr. Laurence L & fam; Fr. Daneil & fam; Fr. Joshua & fam; Fr. Dcn. Michael & fam; Mat. Mary D; Carl; Monk Fr. Tikhon; Sdn Andrew; Rdr Robert; Robert M; David Samuel/Sky & Avi; JoAnne/Nick; Athanasius; John A; Ed/Tiffany & fam; Kim/Mark & fam; Frances/Ken; Rdr. George; Vasiliki; Rose; Emil; Billy/Fonda; by Sr Ioanna + + + Rose Nossal, by John Andrayko + + + John Andrayko (May God watch over him), by Rose Nossal

Father Roman, by Matushka Rose Marie & family ANNOUNCEMENTS (1) ANNUAL AKATHIST TO ST. MOSES THE BLACK, TOMORROW, MONDAY, AUGUST 28th, 6:30pm. Refreshments and fellowship follows. Sponsored by the Detroit Chapter of the Brotherhood of St. Moses the Black, which was founded 10 years ago here at St. Innocent. (2) THANK YOU TO DONORS OF NEW SACRED VESSELS & CLOTHS. We express our deep and sincere thanks to those who recently purchased and donated the lovely new hanging vigil lamps in front of the iconostasis and royal doors; a beautiful new chalice and diskos set; and attractive new chalice covers (veils) in white, gold, red, purple and blue. Their love of the beauty of the Lord’s House is much appreciated. (3) UP-COMING WEEKDAY DIVINE LITURGIES (& Vespers the evening before): during SEPTEMBER: Fri, 9/8 (Nativity of ); Thurs, 9/14 (Elevation of Holy Cross). Please view & print out our monthly calendars at: http://stinnocentchurch.com/calendar.html (4) OTHER UP-COMING SPECIAL DAYS: NEXT Sunday, September 3rd: 50th Wedding Anniversary of Fr. Roman & Matushka Rose Marie. Saturday, October 28th, celebration of parish’s 50th Anniversary (Please make being here this day your highest priority.) (5) REDFORD’S 2017 ANNUAL ‘COGNIZANCE’ BENEFIT DINNER, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15th: Sponsored by the Redford Clergy Alliance & the Redford Interfaith Relief (RIR) this annual community dinner & silent auction is an important benefit that helps support the RIR. Fr. Roman is on the Board of Directors of the RIR, that provides food, clothing & many other items & services for our local Redford needy. Held at St. Robert Bellarmine gym on W. Chicago & Inkster. St. Innocent WILL have a table of 8. Tickets are $25. See Fr. Roman. (6) LAST CALL: PLEASE DONATE AN AD FOR OUR 50th ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE BOOK. See/print PDF form with info on our website, on our Home Page (http://stinnocentchurch.com/) or on the 50th Anniversary page (http://stinnocentchurch.com/ 50th_anniversary.html). Deadline extended to Sept. 1st: if you want to take out an ad & missed the August 1st deadline, speak with Elizabeth. (7) INSTRUCTION CLASS continues for newly Chrismated Frances Dimitria & Kenneth Paul Roy, Tuesdays, at 7pm; with Sister Ioanna. (8) ST. INNOCENT STUDY GROUP, Wednesdays, at 6:30 – 7:30 pm; with Fr. Joshua. (9) THE REDFORD INTER-FAITH RELIEF NEEDS SUMMER/FALL CLOTHING, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN, plus school supplies; personal hygiene toiletries; and household paper & cleaning supplies. (10) LISTEN EACH SUNDAY TO THE COCC’S DETROIT’S OWN ORTHODOX RADIO HOUR [DOOR] ON WNZK 690-AM, 4-5pm THE RICH YOUNG MAN By Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh 12th Sunday After Pentecost — Matthew 19:16-26 A Sermon delivered on August 18, 1991 In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Lord warns us today of how difficult it is for a man who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God. Does it mean that the Kingdom of God is open only to the destitute, to those who are materially poor, who lack everything on earth? No. The Kingdom of God is open to all who are not enslaved by possessions. When we read the first Beatitude, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven’, we are given a key to this saying: the poor in spirit are those who have understood that they possess nothing which is their own. We have been created as an act of God, loved into existence; we are offered by God communion with Him to which we have no rights. All we are, all we possess is not our own in the sense that we have not made ourselves, we did not create what is seemingly ours — everything which we are and which we have is love, the love of God and the love of people, and we cannot possess anything because everything is a gift that escapes us the moment we want to have possession of it and say, "It is mine." On the other hand, the Kingdom of God is really the kingdom of those who are aware that they are infinitely rich because we can expect everything from love divine and from human love. We are rich because we possess nothing, we are rich because we are given all things; and so, it is difficult for one who imagines that he is rich in his own right to belong to that kingdom in which everything is a sign of love, and nothing can be possessed, as it were — taken away from others; because the moment we say that we possess something which is not given us either by God or by human care, we subtract it from the mystery of love. On the other hand, the moment we cling to anything we become slaves of it. I remember when I was young, a man telling me: Don't you understand that the moment you have taken a copper coin in your hand and are not prepared to open your hand to let it go, you have lost the use of a hand, the use of an arm, the use of your body, because all your attention will be concentrated on not losing this copper coin — the rest will be forgotten. Whether we keep in our hand a copper coin, or whether we feel rich in so many other ways — intellectually, emotionally, materially is irrelevant — we are prisoners, we have lost the use of a limb, the use of our mind, the use of our heart; we can no longer be free, and the Kingdom of God is a kingdom of freedom.

On the other hand also, how difficult it is for one who has never lacked anything, who has always possessed more than he needs, to be aware of the poverty or the need of another: poverty — material, emotional or intellectual, or any other lack. It requires a great deal of understanding and sympathy, it requires from us that we should learn to be attentive to the movements of other people's hearts and to their material needs in order to respond to them. One says in Russian 'A satisfied person no longer understands a hungry one'; which of us can say that we are hungry in any respect? And this is why we do not understand the needs of people — of one another here, or of people beyond the confines of our congregation.

So, let us reflect on that; poverty does not mean destitution; it means freedom from enslavement to an illusion that we are self-sufficient, self-contained, the creator of what we are and what we possess. And also free from enslavement to what is given us to make husbandmen of God.

Let us reflect on this; because if we learn this, if we learn what Paul said that whether he is rich, whether he is destitute, he is equally rich because his richness is in God and in the human love. Then we will be able, whether we possess material things or not, to be free of them, and to belong to God's Kingdom which is a Kingdom of mutual love, or mutual solidarity, of compassion for one another, of giving to one another what we were given freely. Amen. BEHEADING OF THE HOLY GLORIOUS FORERUNNER, AND BAPTIST JOHN Commemorated August 29th

The Beheading of the Prophet, Forerunner of the Lord, John the Baptist: The Evangelists Matthew (Mt.14:1-12) and Mark (Mark 6:14-29) provide accounts about the martyric end of John the Baptist in the year 32 after the Birth of Christ. Following the Baptism of the Lord, St John the Baptist was locked up in prison by Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch (ruler of one fourth of the Holy Land) and governor of Galilee. (After the death of king Herod the Great, the Romans divided the territory of Palestine into four parts, and put a governor in charge of each part. Herod Antipas received Galilee from the emperor Augustus). The prophet of God John openly denounced Herod for having left his lawful wife, the daughter of the Arabian king Aretas, and then instead cohabitating with Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip (Luke 3:19-20). On his birthday, Herod made a feast for dignitaries, the elders and a thousand chief citizens. Salome, the daughter of Herod, danced before the guests and charmed Herod. In gratitude to the girl, he swore to give her whatever she would ask, up to half his kingdom. The vile girl on the advice of her wicked mother Herodias asked that she be given the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Herod became apprehensive, for he feared the wrath of God for the murder of a prophet, whom earlier he had heeded. He also feared the people, who loved the holy Forerunner. But because of the guests and his careless oath, he gave orders to cut off the head of St John and to give it to Salome. According to Tradition, the mouth of the dead preacher of repentance once more opened and proclaimed: “Herod, you should not have the wife of your brother Philip.” Salome took the platter with the head of St John and gave it to her mother. The frenzied Herodias repeatedly stabbed the tongue of the prophet with a needle and buried his holy head in a unclean place. But the pious Joanna, wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, buried the head of John the Baptist in an earthen vessel on the Mount of Olives, where Herod had a parcel of land. (The Uncovering of the Venerable Head is celebrated (February 24). The holy body of John the Baptist was taken that night by his disciples and buried at Sebastia, there where the wicked deed had been done. After the murder of St John the Baptist, Herod continued to govern for a certain time. Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea, later sent Jesus Christ to him, Whom he mocked (Luke 23:7-12). The judgment of God came upon Herod, Herodias and Salome, even during their earthly life. Salome, crossing the River Sikoris in winter, fell through the ice. The ice gave way in such a way that her body was in the water, but her head was trapped above the ice. It was similar to how she once had danced with her feet upon the ground, but now she flailed helplessly in the icy water. Thus she was trapped until that time when the sharp ice cut through her neck. Her corpse was not found, but they brought the head to Herod and Herodias, as once they had brought them the head of St John the Baptist. The Arab king Aretas, in revenge for the disrespect shown his daughter, made war against Herod. The defeated Herod suffered the wrath of the Roman emperor Caius Caligua (37-41) and was exiled with Herodias first to Gaul, and then to Spain. The Beheading of St John the Baptist, a Feast day established by the Church, is also a strict fast day because of the grief of at the violent death of the saint. In some Orthodox cultures pious people will not eat food from a flat plate, use a knife, or eat food that is round in shape on this day. Today the Church makes remembrance of Orthodox soldiers killed on the field of battle, as established in 1769 at the time of Russia’s war with the Turks and the Poles. Source: www.oca.org ST. MOSES THE BLACK (ca. 325 – ca. 400) Feast Day: August 28th

St. Moses is a perfect example, like St. Mary of , that sometimes the greatest sinners can become the greatest , by means of deep and sincere repentance. Moses had been a murderer, a thief, and a very violent person. Therefore, St. Moses is a marvelous model for us of the power of repentance and of God’s forgiveness, especially for those who might feel that they are too sinful to be reconciled to God and His Holy Church, because they have strayed and fallen into sin. The “righteous” can be further from God than the sinner, because the “righteous,” like the pharisee and the elder son of Jesus’ parables, do not see their sins, and therefore are filled with pride instead of humility. In contrast, like Jesus’ prodigal son and tax-collector, the great sinner who repents can grow ever closer to God by means of his continued sincere repentance and consequent humility and self-abasement. St. Moses is just such a person. St. Moses lived in Egypt during the fourth century. He was a very dark-skinned Icon of St. Moses the Black, at St. Innocent Ethiopian, and thus is also called St. Moses the Black. In his youth he was a slave of a high- Orthodox Church, Redford, MI ranking man, but after Moses committed a murder, his master banished him. Filled with much anger and bitterness, Moses joined a band of thieves who attacked, robbed and murdered travelers in the Egyptian desert. His band of brigands chose Moses as their leader because of his enormous physical strength and readiness to sin. People were afraid at the mere mention of his name. After a number of years of this sinful life, by the grace of God, Moses repented, abandoned his band of robbers and went to one of the desert . He had to weep and beg for a long time before the brethren believed he was sincere, and finally they accepted him. He wept bitter tears of repentance for his sinful life, and became very obedient to the abbot, his spiritual father and confessor, Abba (Father) Isidore, a wise and experienced spiritual guide. After a while, Moses withdrew to a solitary cell, where he prayed, fasted, and continued to struggle against the passions and the violent attacks of demons, with the guidance of Abba Isidore, who taught him how to pray all night and to struggle against the demons. His long struggle with the passions and demons was necessary in order to become completely cleansed of his former sins. In his battle between the legions of demons and angels, Abba Isidore assured Moses that the angels would prevail. One time four robbers of his former band attacked him in his solitary cell, not realizing who he was. Having lost none of his great physical strength, Moses tied them up, threw them over his shoulder, and brought them to the , where the elders said to release them. Upon learning that this was Moses, their former ringleader, and that he had dealt with them kindly, they followed his example, repented and also became . When the rest of the band of thieves learned what happened, they too abandoned their life of sin and became fervent monks. Another time, when the Righteous Elder Moses was summoned to judge a young monk who had sinned, St. Moses appeared carrying a large basket of sand on his back, that left a trail of sand behind him as he walked. When asked to explain his strange behavior, Elder Moses explained that the sand is like his sins, and how can he judge another when he can’t even see the trail of his own sins. Thus the young, wayward monk was forgiven and reinstated. Intensifying his spiritual efforts, St. Moses started carrying water every night from the well to each of the brothers, especially for the Elders, who lived far from the well, and for whom it was difficult to carry water. Once, while leaning over the well, the demons took revenge for Moses’ victory over them, and delivered such a severe blow to Moses’ back, that he fell unconscious, and for an entire year he lay crippled in his cell. After this, he was healed and was freed from his passions, and received from the Lord power over demons. Panel Icon, also at St. Innocent Church As the years went on, and word about St. Moses spread, people started coming to see him, and Moses left his cell to hide from visitors. Along the way he met the servants of the local governor who were sent to find the saintly desert dweller. Moses told them, “go no further to see this false and unworthy monk.” When the servants returned to the governor at the monastery, they learned that they had encountered St. Moses himself. After many years of monastic struggles, St. Moses was ordained deacon. In his humility, he believed himself unworthy of this office. Once, wishing to test him, the bishop told the clergy to insult and ridicule him as an unworthy Ethiopian, and to drive him out of the altar. The humble monk accepted the abuse. After this test, the bishop then ordained St. Moses as a priest. He was sixty years old at this time. For another fifteen years he continued his monastic labors, and about 75 disciples gathered around the saintly Elder, who had been granted by the Lord the gifts of wisdom, foresight, and power over demons. When he was 75, he warned his monks that soon brigands would attack their small monastery (skete) and murder everyone. He begged his monks to leave, but he himself refused to leave, because he believed the time had come for the Lord’s words to be fulfilled: “All who take up the sword shall perish by the sword” (Mt. 26:52). Seven brethren stayed with their Abba, one of whom hid when attacked, and lived to tell how the robbers killed St. Moses and the other six monks. It was about the year 400. By: Sister Ioanna, St. Innocent Monastic Community, Redford, MI

10th ANNIVERSARY AKATHIST Prayer Service to ST. MOSES THE BLACK

followed by refreshments and fellowship All are welcome!

MONDAY, AUGUST 28th, 2017 6:30 pm St. Innocent Orthodox Church 23300 W. Chicago, Redford, MI 48239 (1¼ mile south of I-96 & ¼ mile east of Telegraph)

Sponsored by: BROTHERHOOD OF ST. MOSES THE BLACK METROPOLITAN DETROIT CHAPTER (2007-2017)

You are cordially invited to gather for an evening of prayer, refreshments and fellowship with others who wish to venerate St. Moses the Black on his annual feast day, and celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Detroit Chapter of the Brotherhood of St. Moses the Black. (An Akathist is an extended prayer-hymn that alternates chanting by a priest with singing by the people, that both praises the life of a saint, holy event or Person of the Holy Trinity, while also instructing us.)

St. Moses the Black was an Ethiopian who lived in 4th-century Egypt in northeastern Africa, when flourished in northern Africa. He is a revered Desert Father, whose spiritual journey is an inspiring story of Christian struggle and repentance. A former slave and notorious gang-leader, by God’s grace and forgiveness, St. Moses was able to repent of his sinful life, and live in an Egyptian desert monastery. St. Moses became known for his humility, wisdom and power over demons. Later in life he was ordained a priest, and eventually became the abbot (head) of a monastery with about 75 disciples. St. Moses is recognized as the patron-saint of African-Americans. His life and victory in Christ is remembered and celebrated on August 28th each year.

Please do come for this 10th Anniversary prayerful Akathist Service and join in the congregational singing of the lovely hymn, while learning about the saint’s life, and then enjoy the refreshments and fellowship that follow in the church hall. Church tours available upon request. All are welcome! — Orthodox and non-Orthodox inquirers.