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: Mitered Archpriest Fr. ROMAN STAR _ Cell: 313-319-0590 Dean, Central States Deanery, Patriarchal Parishes NOVEMBER 12, 2017 ASSISTANT PRIESTS: Fr. DANEIL SHIRAK _ 313-295-3073 Fr. JOSHUA GENIG _ 630-936-6386 EPISTLE: Ephesians 2:4-10 (#220) DEACON: Dn. Michael Comerford, Attached GOSPEL: St. Luke 10:25-37 (#53) ATTACHED: Sister Ioanna TONE: 6 CHOIR DIRECTOR: Elizabeth Star Hatfield READERS: Robert Joseph Latsko, George Hanoian; William Davis St. John Chrysostom, Feast–11/13

Z 23rd SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Z

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

COMMEMORATED TODAY: St. John the Merciful, of (612-20). Ven. Nilus the Faster, of Sinai (5th c.). Bl. John “the Hairy”, Fool-for-Christ, in Rostov (1580). Prophet Ahijah (960 BC). Ven. Nilus the Myrrhgusher, of Mt. Athos (1651).

FOR THE REPOSE OF: Estelle & Joseph Star; Anna & John Witkowski; Michael Sr. & Margaret Rusko; Mary, Andrew, Daniel, 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, David Horka; Michael Rusko; Anna Lichagina, Yelena & Zinaïda Korniyevskaya; Joseph Nossal; Michelle Tucker; Todd Comerford, John Manier, Jr. MEMORY Bessie Hourmouzis, newly departed, who reposed on October 19th (mother-in-law of Dcn. Michael Comerford) ETERNAL! Catherine Alexiev, newly departed, who reposed on November 3rd (Assumption ROCOR Cathedral, Ferndale) Nina Isagholian, whose anniversary of her repose is Tomorrow, Monday, 13 November

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; Iskias Naizghi, ALSO FOR: Fr. Vasily Kuzmych, who is recuperating from major ear surgery in Moscow on 3 October Donald Yakuber, who celebrates his Birthday on Saturday, 18 November The St. Innocent Monastic Community, for its 14th Anniversary, on Wednesday, 15 November Š MAY GOD GRANT THEM MANY YEARS! Š

SCHEDULE FOR THE COMING WEEK (Nativity Fast begins this Wed. 11/15: No meat, fish, dairy, alcohol till 12/25) Saturday 11/18 4pm GREAT VESPERS & CONFESSIONS Sunday 11/19 24th Sunday After Pentecost 9:15am Hours & Akathist/Canon; Confessions 10am DIVINE LITURGY, followed by Coffee Hour Feast Days this week: Mon. 11/13—St. Michael & All Archangels. Thurs. 11/16—Evangelist Matthew & Prince Fulvianus-Matthew of Ethiopia

PROSPHORA FOR TODAY IS OFFERED BY: Sister Ioanna In Memory Eternal of: Parents: Ethel Elizabeth & Wayne Joshua deVyver; Robert David Horka; Fr. Photius (11/1); Nina I. (11/13); all departed family & friends; and For the Health of: Fr. Roman & Mat. Rose Marie; all parishioners for the parish’s 50th Patronal Feast, Sunday, 11/26; all those in need of the Lord’s help; & all family & friends. And in Thanksgiving for: the 16th Anniversary of being made a monastic (11/11/01); for the 14th Anniversary of the St. Innocent Monastic Community (11/15/03) & for the 9th anniversary of the St. Seraphim House (11/14/08); & all the Lord’s countless blessings, especially on Thanksgiving.

Z CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! Z HE IS NOW & ALWAYS SHALL BE! Z CANDLES FOR LAST SUNDAY, 5 NOVEMBER 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, Gabriel; 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. Hilarion & 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 Samuel & 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 (Anniv. 11/13); Marion P; Fr. Photius; Archm. Roman; Mo. Benedicta, Molly, Olive, by Sr. Ioanna + + + John G. Petz, by Frances Roy + + + Child Lana, Shirley, Betty, Marsha, Paul, by Becky Jurczyszyn 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; Monk 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 &unborn-child; & nephew, Alex, by Mary Ann & Kay + + + Ed Manier, by Mary Ann H. & 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; Kim/Mark & fam; Frances/Ken; Deborah H; Rose; Vasiliki; Billy/Fonda, by Sr. Ioanna Rose Nossal, by John Andrayko + + + John Andrayko (May God watch over him), by Rose Nossal Alice & Autumn & unborn-child, by grandmother, Frances Roy + + + Anastasia (Ana) & John (Jasiu) (for peace), by mother, Frances Roy Jason, Marianna, Amilia, Liliana, Andrew, by Wess family + + + Galina, Oleg & Sophia Chernuhin, by Wess family Leia, Mike, Reece & Wyatt Wilson; Bob/Joan Jurczyszyn; Toni /Richard Bussen; Pete, Krista, Jacob, Clair, Matt & Paul Stelmaszek; Damon

Trestain, Levi Troyer, Briana Saylor, by Becky Jurczyszyn

ANNOUNCEMENTS (1) AGAIN, MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO WORKED THROUGHOUT THE PAST YEAR TO CREATE THE MAGNIFICENT 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. See the 2-page article with photos in this bulletin. It will also be posted on our church website. (2) EXTENSIVE PHOTO SLIDE-SHOW OF OUR 50th GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY should be posted on our church website by 11/11 or 11/12. It contains about 250-260 photos, with many photos of all those who were present, in church and at the banquet. (3) ANNUAL FALL BLANKET CAMPAIGN. St. Innocent (the “blanket people,”) is known for donating many blankets every year to help the poor here in our own Redford community; in recent years we have been giving them to the Redford Interfaith Relief, where both Fr. Roman and Fr. Joshua are on the Board of Directors. The blankets are given out to the needy almost as fast as we can get them there. We purchased 200 blankets from Wal-Mart, who allowed us to buy them at $5, instead of the current price of $6. Please be as generous as possible to help us pay for them. Give your donations to Mary Ann Harvilla. People outside the parish who read this bulletin are also welcome to give/send in donations. (4) PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR FR. VASILY, who continues to recuperate from major ear surgery in Moscow on Tuesday, 10/3. (5) PLEASE REMEMBER TO KEEP BRINGING IN YOUR EMPTY, CLEAN, POP CANS & BOTTLES, to help St. Innocent Orthodox Boy’s Orphanage in Mexico. This is an always-active, on-going, never-ending project, even when it is not mentioned in the bulletin. (6) LISTEN EACH SUNDAY TO THE COCC’S DETROIT’S OWN ORTHODOX RADIO HOUR [DOOR] ON WNZK 690-AM, 4- 5pm. On your radio, or live on computer at http://www.doorradio.org. After the broadcast, all programs are archived on their website. (7) ON-GOING THANK YOU FOR LAWN & GARDEN CARE. Even though we didn’t frequently mention it in the bulletin, we all express our appreciation for the on-going care of the lawn, gardens and bushes, pick-up of leaves — weekly or as needed throughout the summer and autumn to: John Andrayko, Henry Hancock, Matushka Rose Marie, Thomas Witkowski & other anonymous persons. THE GOOD SAMARITAN By Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh 23rd Sunday After Pentecost — St. Luke 10:25-37 A Sermon delivered on November 29, 1987

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. I want to draw your attention to two or three of the features of today's parable. We are told that a man was on his way from to Jericho. In the Old Testament Jerusalem was the place where God lived; it was the place of worship, the place of prayer. And he was now on the way down to the plain, down from the mountain of vision to where human life takes place. And on the way he was attacked, stripped of his clothes, wounded and lay on the roadside. And three men came one after the other following the same road. The three had been where God lives, the three had been in the place of worship, adoration and prayer. And two of them passed him by. The text is so vivid when it says that the priest simply passed by; it does not even indicate that he cast a glance on him. He was a man vested with high authority, he had nothing to do with common human needs — at least that is what he thought; he had learned nothing from praying to the God Who is love itself. And then another man came, a Levite, a man versed in the knowledge of the Scriptures, but not in the knowledge of God. He came, he stood above this man wounded and dying — and continued his way. His mind was on higher things than a human life, than human suffering — as he thought. And then came a man, a man who in the eyes of the Jews was despicable simply by being what he was; not for his personal moral or other defects, but because he was a Samaritan — an outcast, what Indians would call a ‘pariah.’ And this man stopped over the wounded man because he knew what it was to be rejected, he knew what it was to be alone, to be passed by, by others in contempt and at times in hatred. And he bent over this man, he did what he could to heal his wounds, he took him to a place of rest; and all this he did at his own cost. Not only did he pay the hostelry for the hospitality which they were bestowing on the wounded man; but he gave his time, he gave his mind, he gave his heart. He paid the cost in all ways in which we can pay the cost of being attentive to people around us. We have spent a whole morning in God's own presence, in the place where He lives; we have heard His voice speaking to us about love; we have proclaimed that we believe that the God Who is Love itself, the God Who gave His Only-Begotten Son that each of us, and not all of us collectively, but each of us personally, might be saved. And we are going to leave this church; we will meet more than one person in the course of the coming week or until at a later date when we come again to church. Are we going to be like the priest or the Levite? Pondering on what we have learned here, keeping in our hearts the wonder and the joy, but passing by everyone because to care for things lesser might disturb our peace, take our mind and heart away from this sense of the marvel of having seen God, of having been in His presence? If we do this, then we have understood little, if anything, of the Gospel, of Christ, of God. And if we ask like the young man, or the lawyer, “But who is my neighbour? Who is he for whose sake I must be prepared to let go of the deepest feelings of my heart, of the most lofty concern of my mind, of the best I feel within me?” — the answer of Christ is direct and simple: anyone! Anyone who is in need of you on any possible level; on the simplest level of food or shelter, of gentleness and kindness, of thoughtfulness and friendliness. And if one day — and it may never come, but may come at any moment — more is asked, then we must be prepared to love our neighbour as Christ has taught us: with the readiness to lay down our lives for him. It is not a matter of giving one's life in the sense of being killed; it's a question of giving day in and day out our concern to all those who are in need of concern; those who sorrow need consolation; those who are lost need strength and support; those who are hungry need food; those who are destitute may need clothes; and those who are in spiritual disarray may need a word that streams from that very faith which we receive here and which is our life. Let us therefore go from this place remembering this parable not just as one of the most beautiful things which Christ has said, but as a direct itinerary, a direct way in which He calls us to be and to treat one another and to look round with attentive eyes, remembering that at times the smallest kindness, one warm word, one attentive gesture may make all the difference to the life of a person who is alone to face his or her own life. May God help us to be like the Good Samaritan on all levels and to all people. Amen. ST. FULVIANUS-MATTHEW, PRINCE & BISHOP OF ETHIOPIA Feastday: November 16th

The account of the life of St. Fulvianus (Fulvian)-Matthew is included with that of the life of the Apostle and Evangelist St. Matthew, who is also commemorated on November 16th, and whose name the converted pagan Prince of Ethiopia received at his Baptism. After the Holy Apostle Matthew brought the Gospel of Christ to Syria, Media, Persia and Parthia, he went to Africa. Here he finished his evangelization for the Lord in Ethiopia, where he was martyred. Initially, St. Matthew converted some of the pagan idol-worshipers to faith in Christ and founded Christ’s Holy Church in Ethiopia, building a temple in the city of Mirmena, and establishing there as bishop his assistant, Platon. After this, when the Holy Apostle was fervently entreating God for the conversion of the Ethiopians, the Lord Himself appeared to him in the form of a youth. He gave him a staff, and commanded him to plant it at the doors of the church. The Lord said that a tree would grow from this staff and it would bear fruit, and from its roots would flow a stream of water. When the St. Fulvianus/Matthew, on narthex wall, Ethiopians would wash themselves in the water and eat the fruit, they would St. Innocent Church, Redford, MI lose their wild ways and become gentle and good. When the Holy Apostle carried the staff towards the church, he was met by the wife and son of the ruler of the land, Prince Fulvian (or Fulvianus), who were afflicted by unclean spirits. In the Name of Christ the Holy Apostle healed them. This miracle converted a number of the pagans to the Lord. But the Prince of Ethiopia did not want his subjects to become and cease worshipping the pagan gods. He accused the apostle of sorcery and gave orders to execute him. They hung St. Matthew head down, piled up brushwood and ignited it. When the fire flared up, everyone saw that the fire did not harm St. Matthew. Then Fulvian gave orders to add more wood to the fire, and frenzied with boldness, he commanded that twelve idols be set up around the fire. But the flames melted the idols and flared up toward Fulvian. The frightened Ethiopian Prince turned to the with an entreaty for mercy, and by the prayer of the martyr the flame went out. The body of the Holy Apostle remained unharmed, and he departed to the Lord. The ruler, Prince Fulvian, deeply repented of his deed, but still he had doubts. By his command, they put the body of St. Matthew into an iron coffin and threw it into the sea. In doing this Fulvian said that if the God of Matthew would preserve the body of the Apostle in the water, as He preserved him in the fire, then this would be sufficient reason to worship Matthew’s God as the One True God, and become a Christian. That night the Apostle Matthew appeared to Bishop Platon in a dream, and commanded him to go with clergy to the shore of the sea and to find his body there. The righteous Fulvian and his retinue went with the bishop to the shore of the sea, where they found St. Matthew’s iron coffin that had been carried there by the waves. They brought the coffin with the Apostle’s relics to the church built by the Apostle. Then Fulvian begged forgiveness of the Holy Apostle Matthew, after which Bishop Platon baptized him, giving him the name of the Apostle Matthew, in obedience to a command of God. The new Christian Prince Matthew dedicated his life to converting his people to the True Faith. Soon St. Fulvian- Matthew abdicated his rule and was ordained a priest. Upon the death of Bishop Platon, the Apostle Matthew appeared to him and instructed him to be consecrated as Bishop and to be the head the Ethiopian Church. Having become a bishop, St. Fulvian-Matthew labored at preaching the Word of God to his African people for the rest of his life, continuing the work of his heavenly patron. By Sister Ioanna, St. Innocent of Alaska Monastic Community, Redford, Michigan ST. INNOCENT CHURCH, REDFORD CELEBRATES ITS 50th ANNIVERSARY On Saturday, October 28th, 2017, St. Innocent of Irkutsk Orthodox Church in Redford, Michigan, officially celebrated its 50th Golden Jubilee Anniversary. It was a glorious and magnificent day, enjoyed by all, featuring a joyous celebration of the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy, followed by a marvelous festive banquet. On a chilly Fall day, the church was packed with people ranging in age from one-year-old to 94. Thirteen priests and four deacons concelebrated with His Grace John of Naro-Fominsk, Vicar Bishop of the Moscow Patriarchal Parishes in the USA. Joining the Mitered Archpriest Roman Star, who has been St. Innocent’s Pastor for the past 33½ years, and the parish’s two Assistant Priests, Fr. Daneil Shirak and Fr. Joshua Genig, were: the founding priest and first pastor, Archpriest Igor Burdikoff (OCA), who traveled here from near Albany, NY; the President of the Metro-Detroit Clergy Brotherhood, Protopresbyter Laurence Lazar (Romanian Episcopate, OCA) of St. George Cathedral, Southfield, and Fr. Roman’s seminary classmate and friend for 50 years; Archpriest Andrew Yavornitzky (OCA) of St. Mark Church, Rochester Hills, (who sang in the choir); Fr. Mark Rashkov of St. Nicholas Cathedral, NYC, who accompanied Bp. John; plus seven other Patriarchal Parishes priests: Archpriest Paul Waters (retired) of Rives Junction, MI; Mitered Archpriest Timothy Barna of St. Michael the Archangel Church, Redford, MI; Archpriest Lawrence Bacik of St. Elias Church, Battle Creek, MI; Fr. Christopher Rozdilski and his assistant, Fr. Basil Gross, both of St. Andrew’s Church, East Lansing, MI; Fr. James Anthony of St. John Chrysostom Church, Grand Rapids; and Fr. Michael Lillie, of Nativity of Christ Church, Youngstown, Ohio. Four deacons also served. Joining St. Innocent’s Fr. Deacon Michael Comerford were two other Patriarchal Parishes’ deacons: Fr. Dn. Daniel Woytowich of St. Michael’s, Redford, MI; and Fr. Dn. Michael Cook of St. John Chrysostom, Grand Rapids, MI; assisted by Archdeacon Ioann Feloniuk (ROCOR) of Assumption Cathedral, Ferndale, MI. Three experienced altar servers from St. Elias and St. Andrew’s assisted our St. Innocent’s servers . The choir director, Elizabeth Star Hatfield, enlisted the aid of 6 additional singers for our glorious Golden Jubilee: Fr. Andrew Yavornitzky, his Matushka Ruth, son Adam and daughter Alisha; Dana Rimelspach; Subdeacon John Lazar and Subdeacon Alex Matsko. The choir sounded wonderful and was a marvelous enhancement of the historic 50th celebration. The day’s celebration began with the greeting of His Grace, Bishop John, by Reader George Hanoian with the traditional bread and salt, and by the young children Clare, Emma and Rose Genig who presented His Grace with flowers. The church was packed, with many people standing at the back. Joining St. Innocent’s own parishioners, were former parishioners and numerous friends of St. Innocent’s, with people driving in from Youngstown, Ohio, and all across Michigan — from Grand Rapids, East Lansing, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Rives Junction, Ann Arbor as well as from all around the entire Metro-Detroit area. At the Little Entrance, Fr. James Anthony, Pastor of St. John Chrysostom, Grand Rapids, was awarded the right to wear a gold cross. After the prayerful and inspiring Hierarchal Divine Liturgy, during which many people received Holy Communion, Bishop John congratulated the parish on its Golden Jubilee, and awarded thirteen Archpastoral Gramotas (beautiful large award certificates) to: Elizabeth Star, Sister Ioanna, First Elder John Andrayko, Reader George and Betty Hanoian, Deborah Hartz, Nick and Jo Anne Nicholas and Matushka Rose Marie (see photos), and also (without photos) to Mary Glover, Rose Nossal, Ed and Tiffany Manier, Mary Ann Harvilla, Jason Truskowski and Becky Jurczyszyn. After the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy, everyone convened to St. Michael the Archangel Church’s banquet hall (1¼ mile away), for a delicious catered dinner attended by 150 people, seated at 19 round tables. Available were the beautiful 8½ x11, full- color, 50th Anniversary booklets, and round magnets and 4x6 icon cards depicting the parish’s , St. Innocent of Irkutsk. The tables had beautiful centerpieces, which one person at the table won to take home. During the course of the lovely, relaxed, family-style multi- course dinner, the program included short messages from the Pastor during the past 33 ½ years, Fr. Roman, and from our bishop, Vladyka John. Fr. Joshua was the MC and spoke briefly about the parish’s history, especially recognizing the presence of the founding priest, Fr. Igor Burdikoff, who had come from the Albany, NY area for our Golden Jubilee. Also recognized was Matushka Mary Donahue of East Lansing, who is almost 95 years old, who is the wife of the late Mitered Archpriest Photius Donahue, whose 34th anniversary of his repose was on November 1st. Fr. Photius and Matushka Mary were the founders of St. Andrew’s Church in East Lansing in 1952, which was the first all- English Orthodox parish in Michigan, and also helped found the Orthodox parishes in Jackson in 1956 and in Battle Creek in 1966. Thus they were strong supporters of the founding of our all-English St. Innocent parish in 1967, which is in the same Central States Deanery, of which Fr. Photius was the Dean at the time.

Also on the program, the parish’s First-Elder, John Andrayko, spoke on behalf of the parish, thanking Fr. Roman for his 33½ years of dedicated service as Pastor, and presented Fr. Roman with a magnificent jeweled cross. Then Elizabeth expressed the parish’s appreciation to Assistant Priests Fr. Daneil and Fr. Joshua, to Deacon Michael and to Sister Ioanna, for their various liturgical and educational ministries and service to St. Innocent Church, and presented each of them with beautiful icons. The programing ended with the raffle drawing for 10 large baskets of various mixed items, facilitated by the Hancock family — Kim and Mark, and their children Henry, Claire and Eva, who also took care of welcoming people at the ticket- reservation table, and showing people to their assigned table and seat. After the raffle, informal fellowship continued for a while. Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves at this exceptionally well-organized, historic occasion, and the St. Innocent clergy and parishioners truly appreciate the support of so many people from outside the parish. The 50th Anniversary Committee (Elisabeth Star Hatfield, Chair; Fr. Joshua and Matushka Abigail Genig; John Andrayko; Mary Ann Harvilla; Jason and Debra Truskowski; Becky Jurczyszyn), and all the many other people who assisted in one way or another in planning for this glorious day throughout the entire past year are to be congratulated and commended for the stupendous success of this grand, historic event. The collective work of so many people is much appreciated by all. Deep gratitude is expressed to everyone who attended.

Prepared by Sister Ioanna, St. Innocent Monastic Community, Redford, MI This article is also available on the church website, where photos can be enlarged by clicking on them. View the full photo slide-show of about 250-260 photos on the church website at:https://stinnocentchurch.com/ parishs50thanniversarycelebration.html