January 10, 2016

SUNDAY AFTER THE THEOPHANY OF CHRISTSUNDAY AFTER THE THEOPHANY OF CHRISTSUNDAY AFTER THE THEOPHANY OF CHRISTSUNDAY AFTER THE THEOPHANY OF CHRIST

ST. JOHN THE BAPTISTST. JOHN THE BAPTISTST. JOHN THE BAPTISTST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

(January 7)

BBBB ecause John’s main role in his life was played out on the day of the Theophany, the Church has from earliest times dedicated the day following Theophany to his memory. An incident with the hand of the Forerunner is also linked to this feast. The Evangelist Luke desired to remove the body of John from Sebaste, where the great prophet was beheaded by Herod, to Antioch, his place of birth. He succeeded, though, in acquiring and translating only one hand, which was preserved in Antioch until the tenth century. After this, it was transferred to Constantinople, whence it disappeared during the time of the Turks. Feasts of St. John are celebrated several times throughout the year, but this day, January 7, has the most Svecara (that is, those Orthodox Serbs who honor St. John the Baptist as their Krsna Slava, or the Patron Saint of their family. The Krsna Slava is the day on which Orthodox Serbian families commemorate the baptism of their ancestors into Christianity). Among the Gospel personalities who surround the Savior, John the Baptist occupies a totally unique place by the manner of his entry into the world, and by the manner of his life in this world; by his role in baptizing people for repentance; by his baptizing the Messiah; and, finally, by his tragic departure from this life. He was of such moral purity that, in truth, he could be called an angel—as Holy Scripture calls him—rather than a mortal man. St. John especially differs from all other prophets in that he had that privilege of being able, with his hand, to show the world Him about Whom he prophesied. It is said that every year on the feast of the saint, the bishop brought the hand of St. John before the people. Sometimes the hand appeared open and other times the hand appeared clenched. In the first case, it signified a fruitful and bountiful year, and in the second case, it meant a year of unfruitfulness and famine. The Prologue Of Ohrid

January 10, 2016 Issue 503

�18100 Merriman Road � Livonia, Michigan 48152 � www.saintmarylivonia.com � Office: (734)-422-0010 �

Sunday Services

Confession: 8:30AM

Matins: 9:00AM

Divine Liturgy: 10:00AM

St. Mary’s Cultural

and Banquet Center

(734) 421-9220

Daily Confession by Appointment - Call the Church Office

“And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” Acts 11:26

The Antiochian Orthodox

Basilica of St. Mary

Fr. George Shalhoub - Pastor Fr. Jim King - Director of Youth & Pastoral Outreach Programs Archdeacon Issa Rizkallah

313-690-2030

Deacon Dr. Dennis Bojrab Nidal Fakhoury - Parish Council Chairman

Linda Lawson - Choir Director Stacey Badeen - Church Administrator Christina Stavros - Parish Ministries

Coordinator Haitham Fakhouri - Communications Richard Shebib/Sami Azzouz - Ushers Dr. Tom Saba - Young Adults- St. John Divine

Nancy Ghannam- Ladies Society President Gloria Sultani - Teen Soyo President Lina Nunu - Arabic School Keith Rowe - Cultural Center General Manager 734-421-9220

The Light of Christ

AL-NOUR

PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY:

THE ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX BASILICA OF ST. MARY

Page 2 The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary

THE EPISTLE

Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

The Reading is from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians

Chapter 4:7-13

BBBB rethren, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, “When He ascended on high He led a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that He had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is He who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And His gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

THE GOSPEL

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew

Chapter 4:12-17

AAAA t that time, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulon and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary Page 3

PRAYER CORNER memorials

IIII am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me shall never die.” (John 11:25) Jan. 10th - 9 day memorial in loving memory of Bassam George Rabadi offered by the family, Jan. 10th - 40 day memorial in loving memory of aunt Rose Heidmous offered by Fr. Elias and Lorraine Ziton and family,

Jan. 24th - 1 year memorial in loving memory of Najla Ghannam offered by the family,

Thank You

“A Vigil Light is Burning” In Loving Devotion

FFFF or The Health and Well Being Of:

IIII n Memory Of: Joseph Michael Mouaikel, George Abodeely, Nawal Fakhouri, Rose Heidmous,

HOLY BREAD OF OBLATION

HHHH oly Bread of Oblation is offered by the families, for the month of January, in loving memory of:

Edward Ayoub

Naimeh Ayoub

Joe Caterineau

Fr. Anis & Khouriyeh Mariam Elias

Fuad Ghannam

Najlah Ghannam

Rose Heidmous

Ibrahim Kakish

Raji and Fahdah Kakish

Butros Sackleh

Hanna Sackleh

Hilwah Sackleh

Bishara Sab

Kamel Sab

Margaret Sab

Saba Sab

HHHH oly Bread of Oblation is offered by the families, for the month of January, for the health and well being of:

George and Lorice Khoury, their children and grandchildren

LLLL ord, You are the physician of our souls and body. We pray You grant the following parishioners good health and blessings: Metropolitan PAUL Yazigi, Archbishop Youhanna Ibrahim, Rimon Warra, Andre, Johnny Isam Qassis, Louis, Hiba, Samar, Wadih David, Rosie, Saseen Ghajer,

TTTT he following parishioners and friends of the Basilica of St.

Mary have given special donations to the Church in the past few weeks: $50-For the health and well being of George and Lorice Khoury, their children and grandchildren, $100-In loving memory of Fuad Ghannam offered by his wife Suham Ghannam, $150-In loving memory of aunt Rose Heidmous and for the health and well being of the entire Heidmous family offered by Fr. Elias and Lorraine Ziton, $200-For the health and well being of Tabatha, Christina and Dena offered by parents David and Mary Khoury, $200-Anonymous donation towards Food for the Hungry, $200-For the health and well being of Louis, Leila, Nadim and Reem Hallal, $500-For the health and well being of Neil, Nancy, Lauren, and Zachary Hanoosh, $500-In loving memory of Afaf Rizkallah and Najla Hanoosh offered by Neil and Nancy Hanoosh and family,

TTTT he clergy and parishioners at the Basilica of St. Mary extend their deepest sympathy to Mary Joseph, Cathy Ebejer and the entire Joseph family on the passing of their beloved husband/father, George Joseph.

May his memory be eternal.

Condolences

Thought for the Day

“We cannot call ourselves ‘moral’ or ethical’ unless we remain focused

on salvation. Our primary work is to make manifest

the Kingdom of God in our families, in our parishes, and in all that we do. Through constant

remembrance of God’s love and care for us, even through difficult worldly circumstances, we can endure any kind of trial.

His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH

Thank You

We wish to thank all those who responded to our Christmas Wish List. We raised $28,800 for the new Sound System, $9600 for the new carpet which is being installed this week, and $6315 for the Syrian Relief Fund. Blessed New Year to all.

Page 4 The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary

Please visit www.saintmarylivonia.com for details about events and ac�vi�es happening

at the Basilica of Saint Mary. If you have any ques�ons regarding Youth and Outreach Events,

please contact Fr. Jim or Ms. Chris�na Stavros at (734) 422-0010.

@ the Basilica of Saint Mary

THANK YOU!!

“No Child Without a Christmas”

Livonia Goodfellows

Father Jim,

A note of thanks for all that St. Mary's people did for the Goodfellows again this

year. We are so thankful for the con�nuing support given the Goodfellows with

both toys and canned/boxed food. I barely was able to get all the items into my

truck, but we did make it to the school OK.

We will likely finish this Christmas with 292 families with 657 children. That's

about 20% fewer than 2013. Improvement in the economy is helping, but there

is s�ll need. We thank St. Mary's for all that is being done to help those less

fortunate.

I hope you and your family and the en�re Church community have a blessed

Christmas and all have a good year in 2016.

Sincerely,

Bill Heaton

The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary Page 5

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The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary Parish Council News

Anyone interested in running for the Parish Council for 2016 should inform the Nominating Committee (Fr. George Shalhoub, Andrew Ansara, Don Hayes, Nidal Fakhoury, or Maha Khalil) immediately. Those nominated must meet the following qualifications as stated in Article VI, Sec., 2 of our Constitution: “A candidate must be twenty-one (21) years of age or over and must have been a voting member of the Parish for a period of two (2) years and has fulfilled the Canonical requirements of the Faith.”

HE/SHE MUST BE A PLEDGED MEMBER AND HAVE FULFILLED THEIR PLEDGE FOR TWO (2) YEARS.

Please make sure all nominations are in prior to, or at the General Parish meeting on January 31, 2016 in the Cultural Center immediately following Liturgy. Due to term limitations, Michel Khoury and Walid Matta will be stepping down. Bashar Ashkar, Andria Bojrab, and Mark Khoury are eligible to run for a second term.

The General Parish meeting will be held on Sunday, January 31st immediately following the Liturgy in the Cultural Center.