We remind all our parishioners that on Badnji Dan, Thursday, January 6th, we will serve the Divine Liturgy at 10 in morning and in the evening on Nativity Eve, Badnje Veče, there will be an evening service of Great Compline at 6 p.m. with the traditional burning of the badnjak tree in the church yard. The Nativity Liturgy for Божић-Bozić, January 7 (n.s.) / December 25 (o.s), will begin at 10 in the morning. 

        On Saturday, December 4th  (November 21st by the Julian Calendar), we will celebrate the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple - Ваведење Пресвете Богородице. There will be Great Vespers on Friday at 5:30 p.m. with Divine Liturgy on Saturday at 10 a.m. Please view this short yet very beautiful presentation (with music) concerning the Entry of the Mother of God -Vavedenje- into the Temple when she was three years old.

        Did you know that Santa Claus is real!  “Santa Claus” is another way of saying the name Saint Nicholas, a holy man who indeed existed many centuries ago and is venerated as a saint in the Orthodox Church.  Bring your children to meet the Orthodox St. Nicholas in person this December 18th!  He will share details about his holy life and there the children will learn more about other Christmas customs and sing carols.  Refreshments will be provided.  This free children’s event, hosted by the Council of Orthodox Christian Churches of Metropolitan Detroit, will be held at St. Thomas Orthodox Church located on 29150 Ten Mile Rd., Farmington Hills, MI 48331 from 2 to 4:30.  Hope to see you there!  Flier to Print

        His Eminence, Metropolitan Christopher of Chicago, 82, reposed in the Lord on the eve of the feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord on August 18 (Aug. 5th, Julian calendar).  Our parish is deeply saddened by the loss of this great hierarch who was instrumental in the establishment of our parish in Troy.  It was Metropolitan Christopher himself who was there for the ground breaking of our church, officiating over the final consecration of our temple in 2005.  We are greatly indebted to him.  May God receive his soul into the heavens after tirelessly laboring for many years in the vineyard of our Lord.  His Eminence will be buried in Libertyville, Illinois on Tuesday, August 24th.  Please keep him in your prayers during this time. 

        This Thursday, August 19 (Aug. 6th, Julian calendar) is the feastday of the Transfiguration of our Lord - Преображење Господње.  There will be vigil on Wednesday at 6 p.m. with Divine Liturgy on Thursday at 10 a.m.  For those who are fasting, Thursday is the only day during the Mother of God's Fast (which lasts from Aug. 14th to the 27th) when one can have fish.  Grapes are traditionally blessed in church on this day. 

        Our dear parishioner †Živoin Vitanovich, 77, beloved husband of Milica, of selo Vratnica, reposed in the Lord on June 8th.  There will be a pomen service on Friday at 7 p.m. at Mandziuk Funeral Home located at 3801 18 Mile Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48314.  Date of the funeral service will be soon be announced.

Вечнаја Памјат! - Večnaja Pamjat!
Memory Eternal!

Our dear parishioner Darinka Matovski, 77, widow of †Uroš of Vratnica, reposed in the Lord.  There will be a pomen service on Saturday and Sunday at 7 p.m. at Mandziuk Funeral Home located at 3801 18 Mile Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48314.  Funeral Service will be held at St. Petka's on Monday morning, approximately 10 a.m.

Вечнаја Памјат! - Večnaja Pamjat!
Memory Eternal!

On Thursday, May 6 (April 23, 2010 Julian calendar) we will celebrate the feastday of the Holy Glorious Great-martyr, Victory-bearer and Wonderworker GEORGE, Đurđevdan.  Divine Liturgy is at 10 a.m. 

        The Council  of Orthodox Christian Churches of Metropolitan Detroit (C.O.C.C.), in conjunction with the Serbian Singing Society-"Ravanica," are co-sponsoring a concert for the Konevets Quartet of St. Petersburg, Russia.  The concert will be held on Tuesday, May 4th at 7 p.m. at St. Lazarus Serbian Orthodox Cathedral-"Ravanica".  It will be free to the public (donations would be gladly appreciated which will go toward supporting the quartet).  Their repertoire will consist of 10-20th century church music along with Russian folk and patriotic songs.  After the concert, there will be an afterglow reception hosted by the SSF-Ravanica in the American Serbian Memorial Hall adjacent to the cathedral. All are welcome! 

        Please read this article, written by our own Popadija Aleksandra, found in the latest issue of the Path of Orthodoxy (the official newspaper publication for the Serbian Orthodox Church of North and South America) concerning our dear Bishop Longin’s first visit to our church in Troy!

May the Resurrected Lord grant her Memory Eternal
Вјечнаја Памјат!

        On Saturday, April 17th, at 6:00 p.m. the Detroit Chapter of Serbian Unity Congress is organizing it's 3rd Annual Cultural-Humanitarian-Entertainment Evening Oj Krajno with all proceeds being donated to the elementary school in Martin Brod (Bosanska Krajina), as well as the Rmanj Monastery, also in Martin Brod.  The event will be held at the St. Lazarus Ravanica Hall.  Guests will be entertained by local folklore dance troupes and krajina singing groups "Sinovi Kamenjara" and "Isvori Plive" during the culture part and "Miki Band" from Cleveland during the entertainment portion.  Tickets and Dinner are $25 for adults with children ages 10 to 15 ($15) and those under 10 free.  For reservatons and more information, please call 810-599-1187 or 248-633-5237.

     Our dear parishioner Golub Nikolovski, 70, from selo Vratnica, reposed in the Lord today, Bright Saturday (April 10 n.s. / March 28 o.s., 2010), at 2 p.m.  Pomen services will be held Monday and Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Wujeck Calcaterra Funeral Home on 54880 Van Dyke Shelby Twp, MI 48316-1802.  Funeral service will be on Wednesday, 11 a.m. at St. Petka's.

May the Resurrected Lord grant him Memory Eternal
Вјечнаја Памјат!  

This April 5th (March 23, 2010 Julian calendar) is Bright Monday (the second day of Pascha-Vaskrs) and April 6th (March 26th Julian) is Bright Tuesday (the third day).  There will be Divine Liturgy on both days at 10 a.m.

        This Sunday, April 4th (March 22, 2010 Julian calendar) is PASCHA (BACKRC-VASKRS) celebrating the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Paschal Divine Liturgy will be at 10 a.m. followed by a luncheon at 1:00 p.m. at the Romanian Cultural Center located at 1850 E Square Lake Rd., Troy, Mi 48098.  Price for adults is $25 and for children (under 12) $10.  For reservations please call Svetlana Misajlovich at 734-323-2045 or Mira Petrusevski at 586-264-1693.
        That Sunday evening, at 4:00 p.m., there will also be a vespers service.

If you have received a piggy bank last Easter, you may bring your yearly offering on April 3rd-4th (Saturday night or Easter Sunday morning) & receive a new bank for the following year!

        This April 3rd (March 21, 2010 Julian calendar) is Great & Holy Saturday-Bелика Субота.  On this day our Lord's soul was in Hades, preparing the righteous of the Old Testament that were held captive there for their imminent release.  There will be Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m.  Concerning fasting on this day, this is only Saturday in the year where one does not have any oil (and especially no fish)—in remembrance of our Lord's death with His soul in Hades.
        At 12 A.M. (MIDNIGHT), there will be Resurrection Matins with a procession around the church.  

        This April 2nd (March 20, 2010 Julian calendar) is Great & Holy Friday, the day when our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, died and His body laid in a tomb.  At 9 a.m. there will be Royal Hours followed by the Preparing of Christ's Tomb.  PLEASE FEEL FREE TO BRING FLOWERS & OTHER APPROPRIATE FOLIAGE AT THIS TIME IN ORDER TO DECORATE OUR LORD'S TOMB!
      At 6 p.m. there will be vespers with the placement of Christ's burial sheet followed by a short break with refreshments and at 7:30 p.m. the Funeral Service of our Lord Jesus Christ.
      Concerning fasting on this day: For those who are strong enough, it is recommended that one does not eat or drink anything from the moment one gets up on Great Friday all the way until 3 p.m., which is hour our Lord died on the cross.  After 3 p.m. one is to keep a strict fast (having no oil and absolutely no fish).  Those who are not strong enough not to eat or drink anything from the moment one gets up all the way until 3 p.m., are recommended to fast the entire day refraining from oil (and definitely no fish). 

        This April 1st (March 19, 2010 Julian calendar) is Great & Holy Thursday, when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ celebrated His Mystical Supper with His twelve apostles.  In commemoration of this event, we too will celebrate His Mystical Supper with Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m.
        On this day, not only do we commemorate our Lord's establishment of the Mystery of Communion in His Church with His Mystical Supper, but we also remember His washing of the feet of the disciples, His agony in Gethsemane and Judas' finalization of his betrayal, handing our Lord to His captors.
       At 6 p.m. there will be the Reading of the 12 Passion Gospels. "In these readings Christ's last instructions to His disciples are presented, as well as the prophecy of the drama of the Cross, Christ's prayer, and His new commandment."*
        Concerning fasting on Holy Thursday, one can have oil (but no fish). 

        This March 31st (March 18, 2010 Julian calendar) is Great Wednesday - Великa Среда.  There will be Presanctified Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. at St. Petka's.  In remembrance of our Lord’s anointing which occurred on Great and Holy Wednesday, the orthodox faithful are also anointed on this day with holy oil during the service of Holy Unction.  Subsequently, the BLESSING OF OILS (HOLY UNCTION) -Велико Јелеосвећење with all the Serbian priests of Metro Detroit will be held at St. Lazarus' at 6 p.m. Please come to the service to be anointed and to receive holy oil.
        It is on this day that we commemorate our Lord Jesus Christ being anointed (in anticipation and preparation for His 3 day burial) on two occasions, both times in Bethany according to St. John Chrysostom.  
        The first anointing was by Mary, the sister of Lazarus, and occurred “six day before the Passover,” just preceding our Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  On this occasion Judas displayed, for the first time in the Gospel, his true colors and greed when witnessing the first anointing of our Lord.  He complained then, as the treasurer of the group, why the expensive myrrh Mary was using was not sold with its proceeds going into the coffer he was holding.  Judas did not go this time and betray our Lord for silver yet.  
        After the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, our Lord left the city for a time with His disciples and went back to Bethany. This time, on Great and Holy Wednesday, He was anointed by a "sinful" woman (Luke 7:37), "a harlot," that is, not Mary, the sister of Lazarus—because Mary was not a harlot but a friend of Christ.  Judas complained for the second time with the same excuse.  After he experienced the Lord’s second rebuke for his greed, Judas could not take it anymore.  He then went and acted upon his love of silver and betrayed our Lord for money—and that is why all Orthodox Christians fast on Wednesdays, the day Judas betrayed our Lord, throughout the year in commemoration of this sad event.

During GREAT FRIDAY services, all are welcome to BRING FLOWERS and other foliage TO DECORATE OUR LORD'S TOMB in our church.  The more, the better!   

        Taking into consideration the unique history of the practice of confession with our particular parish, it is mandatory that parishioners between the ages 7 and 32*  go to their parish priest of St. Petka's for confession first before communion. For those who come late on Sunday for Pascha-Vaskrs, they should know that there will be no confessions heard during (that is half-way through) the Liturgy, in order for your priest to concentrate on the service at hand and, as well, to be fair to all those who made an effort to come to confession earlier.
     Just so that there is no confusion, there will neither be confessions heard at the end of the Divine Liturgy on Pascha-Vaskrs nor will communion be given to those in church after the service.  Communion is only given after the service to those who are seriously sick and bedridden.   Therefore, understand this appeal most seriously and make every effort to come to the Holy Mystery of Confession on time.
     Confession, in general, can be heard this Passion Week before or after the many services scheduled prior to Pascha-Vaskrs.  If you cannot make it to any of these services and are planning on coming for confession the morning of Vaskrs, please be in church early in order to confess, no later than 9:30 a.m., so that we can preserve church order and start the service on time.

    *32 years of ages is not an arbitrary number.  It happens to be my age. -Fr. Kristijan

        After the Divine Liturgy this Sunday, March 28th, on the feast of Palm Sunday, the new church board and president for 2010 will be sworn in and officially take office. We ask that all parishioners stay behind in order to witness this solemn swearing in.

       During Great Lent each Sunday evening there will be a special service in different Orthodox churches in the area.  This upcoming Sunday, March 28th, at 6 p.m. St. Lazarus' will be hosting a lenten vespers service with all the Serbian priests of Metro Detroit.  After the service there will be a light lenten (postno) meal. 

        This Sunday, March 28th (March 15, 2010 Julian calendar) we will celebrate Palm Sunday-CVETI, marking the triumphal entry of our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.  Divine Liturgy will be at 10 a.m.  After the service, branches will be blessed and distributed to the faithful for them to take back to their homes. On this day, along with oil, one can eat fish (in the Serbian Church, this is the only day for this 2010 Great Lent when one can actually have fish). 

        At 5 p.m., Saturday, March 27th (March 14, 2010 Julian), we will celebrate VRBICA-ВРБИЦА with the blessing of the branches and distribution of willows.  After the distribution there will be a procession around the church lead by our children holding these blessed branches up in their hands, symbolic of the palm branches held in the children's hands who greeting our Lord Jesus Christ during His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  Please bring your children and grandchildren to this beautiful service!

        This Saturday, March 27th (March 14, 2010 Julian Calendar) we celebrate Lazarus Saturday - Лазарева субота.  There will be Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m.

       A tradition has started these past few years whereby some of the sisters from our parish, usually spearheaded by our own Olga Jakimovich, go to Holy Trinity Orthodox Church to prepare Pascha Bread-"kulich" (that is, sweet bread-cake which will be eaten on Vaskrs).  The sisterhood, brotherhood and members and friends of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, located at 20500 Anglin St, Detroit, MI 48234 (south side of 8 Mile Rd. between Ryan and Dequindre), cordially invite you in Christian fellowship to attend and assist them in  preparing Pascha Bread for your own parish at their church this Friday, March 26 at 9:30 a.m. and Saturday, March 27 at 9:30 a.m.  From our parish contact Olga Jakimovich at 586-247-0157 or MaryAnn Dadich of Holy Trinity at 586-498-9096 for more information. 

        This Wednesday, March 24th, there will be Presanctified Liturgy at 6 p.m.  One may take communion on Wednesday evening if one is 1) already fasting the entire week (from Monday to Sunday morning) and 2) does not eat or drink anything on Wednesday from noon until communion.  Please follow the guidelines concerning the rule of confession that apply to St. Petka parishioners as well.  

        This Wednesday, March 17th, there will be Presanctified Liturgy at 6 p.m.  One may take communion on Wednesday evening if one is 1) already fasting the entire week (from Monday to Sunday morning) and 2) does not eat or drink anything on Wednesday from noon until communion.  Please follow the guidelines concerning the rule of confession that apply to St. Petka parishioners as well.  

        This March 2010, you will be receiving in your mail the 2010 Census questionnaire. You need to fill it out and mail it back to the Census Bureau by April 1, 2010. Please click on the flier to the right for easy instructions on how to fill out this questionnaire to reflect your Serbian heritage.  You can also watch this instructional VIDEO. The official number of people claiming Serbian heritage for the 2000 Census (counted 10 years ago) was less than 200,000.  Are we not more than that!  Let us then reflect the true number and fill out this questionnaire correctly.

        During Great Lent each Sunday evening there will be a special service in different Orthodox churches in the area.  This upcoming Sunday, March 14th, at 6 p.m. St. Petka in Troy will be hosting a lenten vespers service with all the Serbian priests of Metro Detroit.  Fr. Živko Kajević will give the sermon and after the service there will be a light lenten (postno) meal.  All the Orthodox faithful are welcome!  

        On Saturday, February 20th (February 7th o.s.), the Orthodox Church commemorates the most glorious miracle performed by the holy and glorious Great-martyr Theodore the Tyro, through boiled wheat, žito. Divine Liturgy will be at 10 a.m.  

        This Friday, February 19th, there will be Presanctified Liturgy at 5 p.m. at St. Petka's.  

        This Wednesday, February 17th, there will be Presanctified Liturgy at 6 p.m. at St. Petka's.  

        On Saturday, February 6th, Fr. Kristijan will be blessing the graves of your departed at the cemetery at Van Dyke (Detroit) from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. & will arrive at White Chapel (Troy) a little after 11 a.m.   Please take into consideration this schedule when coming to the cemetery.

        It should be known that the 'spiritual acts of mercy' that we Orthodox Christians are called to perform are to 1) Counsel the doubtful, 2) Instruct the ignorant, 3) Admonish the sinner, 4) Comfort the afflicted, 5) Forgive all offenses, 6) Bear wrongs patiently and 7) Pray for the living and the dead. We specifically pray for the dead on four marked days in the year. These days are called "Zadušnice" or Memorial Saturdays (because they always fall on a Saturday). On this day the faithful come to the cemeteries with boiled wheat (for wheat has to 'die' first before it can be buried and come back to life, symbolic of the General Resurrection of the dead) and wine. Also, various food and drink are distributed by the family to the faithful in the name(s) of the departed. In earlier times, our ancestors gave this food solely to the poor (who could not pay us back) as a 'good work' in the name of the departed, so that the departed soul will go higher up to God (for when we die, we can no longer do any good works to go higher to God; but, our families can do good works in our name so that we may continue to ascend to higher places in Paradise).  So please, come on this Saturday to the cemeteries so that your priest may pray over your departed loved ones and through our collective prayers allow their souls to ascend even higher into the heavens.