August 31, 2014

The Beginning of the Church Year or

The Beginning of the Indiction

(September 1)

TTTT he First Ecumenical Council (Nicaea, 325) decreed that the Church year should begin on September 1. The month of September was, for the Hebrews, the beginning of the civil year (Exodus 23:16), the

month of gathering the harvest and of the offering of thanks to God. It was on this feast that the Lord Jesus entered the synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4:16-21), opened the book of the Prophet Isaiah and read the words: The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.

(Isaiah 61:1-2)

The month of September is also important in the history of Christianity, because Emperor Constantine the Great was victorious over Maxentius, the enemy of the Christian Faith, in September. Following this victory, Constantine granted freedom of confession to the Christian Faith throughout the Roman Empire. For a long time, the civil year in the Christian world followed the Church year, with its beginning on September 1. The civil year was later changed and its beginning transferred to January 1. This occurred first in Western Europe, and later in Russia, under Peter the Great. Taken From: The Prologue of Ohrid

FATHER GEORGE H. SHALHOUB

248-374-0591 August 31, 2014 Issue 433

�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 Deacon Samer Hanna Salem Samaan - Parish Council Chairman Linda Lawson - Choir Director Stacey Badeen - Church Administrator Arwa Ansara -Church School Administrator Richard Shebib/Sami Azzouz - Ushers Dr. Tom Saba - Young Adults- St. John Divine Irene Saba - Ladies Society President Mark 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

My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit doth rejoice in God my Savior.

For He hath regarded the lowliness of His servant.

The Reading is from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews Chapter 9:1-7

BBBB rethren, even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. For a tent was prepared, the outer one, in which were the lamp stand and the table and the bread of the Presence; it is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain stood a tent called the Holy of Holies, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, which contained a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the outer tent, performing their ritual duties; but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people.

THE GOSPEL

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew Chapter 19:16-26

AAAA t that time, a young man came up to Jesus, kneeling and saying, “Good Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?” And He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which?” And Jesus said, “You shall not kill, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, honor your father and mother, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to Him, “All these I have observed; what do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

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)

Oct. 19th - 1 year memorial in loving memory of Evelyn Naser offered by her husband George Naser and family,

Thank You

“A Vigil Light is Burning” In Loving Devotion

FFFF or The Health and Well Being Of: Kazaleh family, Abboud

family,

IIII n Memory Of: Joseph Michael

Mouaikel, George Abodeely, Nawal

Fakhouri

HOLY BREAD OF OBLATION

HHHH oly Bread of Oblation

is offered by the families, for the

month of August, in loving memory

of:

Yousef and Hilaleh Abukhader

Salem and Mahabeh Abukhader

Samir and Nadia Ansara

John S. Ajlouny

Pam Khoury Ajlouny

Fred Essa

Jalil Ghannam

Abdallah Harb

Hala Sackllah

Martha Sackllah

Georgette Tams

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,

George Robert Kaoud, Dr. John

Dalack, Zaki Tams, Najla, Fr. John,

Rozalin Fakhoury, Pheibi Musallam,

Hanaineh Awad,

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

Rozalin Fakhoury,

$50-For the health and well being of

Mazen Farhat offered by Nahida

Farhat,

$50-In loving memory of Cheryl

Hanna offered by Jalileh Mansour,

$100-In loving memory of parents Raji

and Fahdeh Kakish and Salem and

Nabiha Ghareeb offered by George

and Nabeleh Ghareeb,

$100-In loving memory of Semaan and

Saleem Abukhader and Nawal and

Michael Abukhader offered by Jeries

and Malak Abukhader,

$100-In loving memory of Pam

Khoury Ajlouny offered by her parents

Peter and Wisam Khoury,

$150-In loving memory of Cheryl

Hanna offered by Matt, Teri, Danielle

and Dylan Fahoome,

$200-In loving memory of Cheryl

Hanna offered by Dr. Edward and

Mimi Khamis,

$250-In loving memory of Cheryl

Hanna offered by friends,

$300-In loving memory of niece

Cheryl Hanna offered by George and

Gloria Khamis,

$500-For the health and well being of

newly baptized George Elias offered

by parents Elias and Darine Rizk,

$500-In loving memory of Cheryl

Hanna offered by her mother Emily

Karalash,

$650-For the health and well being of

newly baptized Emma Rose Haag and

Sophia Rose Jaghab offered by parents

John and Rose Jaghab,

$1000-For the health and well being of

newly married Said and Jeaneen

(Ajluni) Farah,

From the Heart

It’s easy to say, “In God we trust,” when life is radiant

and fair, but the test of faith is only found

when there are burdens to bear.

When I am afraid,

I put my trust in Thee. In god, whose word I praise, in God I trust without a fear. What can flesh do to me?

Psalm 56:3-4

OUR NEW ARRIVALS

CCCC ongratulations and best

wishes to Labieb and Nancy

Ansara on the birth of their baby

girl, Milan Loraine. Proud grand-

parents are the late Alfred and

Adele Ansara and Elias and Haifa

Daoud.

CCCC ongratulations and best

wishes to Brian and Jehann Zaid

on the birth of their baby girl,

MacKenzie. Proud grandparents

are Rajaee and Edna Zaid and

Emad and Rana Zayed.

May God bless parents,

grandparents and children.

CHURCH SCHOOL BEGINS

SEPTEMBER 14TH!

Cemetery plot for sale at Glen Eden

Cemetery. For more information,

please call Chris at 313-618-4790.

Page 4 The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary

Please visit www.saintmarylivonia.com for details about events and activities happening

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

please contact Fr. Jim or Ms. Christina Stavros at (734) 422-0010.

DEPARTMENT OF

YOUTH AND OUTREACH

………………………………… “Do not let anyone look down on you because you

are young, but set an example for the believers in

speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.”

- 1 Timothy 4:12

Byzantine Youth Choir ::: COMING SOON :::

Kids & Teenagers, ages 8—18, are invited to audition to participate in a choir that will teach the Byzantine

Hymnology and the Liturgical, Musical Tradition of the Orthodox Church in English, Arabic, and Greek. If

interested, contact Ms. Christina Stavros at the Church

…………………………………………………

What IS Teen SOYO ??? I mean, who is an Orthodox Chris'an ??? On Wednesday, the Teens met with Fr. Jim and Ms. Christina Stavros. They were told “you aren’t the

future of the Church, you ARE the Church, now!” and read the passage from St. Paul’s First Letter to

Timothy included on this page above (1 Timothy 4:12). Ms. Stavros then challenged them to

consider that the seal and platform of TEEN SOYO is really a description of what it means to be an

Orthodox Christian and to BE the CHURCH. This was followed by a brainstorming session and

discussion about what we want to accomplish in Teen SOYO this year as well as an invitation to

become an officer for 2014-2015. It’s gonna be a great year and we can’t wait to grow in Christ and

His Church together! Glory to Jesus Christ! +++

WORSHIP (LEITOURGIA)... Corporate worship is the sacramental expression of and participation in Holy Tradition

+ WITNESS (MARTYRIA) … Christ calls us to be His witness in the world (Matthew 28:19-20).

+ SERVICE (DIAKONIA) … Christ came not to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:43-45).

+ FELLOWSHIP (KOINONIA) … By showing love for one another in Christ, we emulate the life of the Holy Trinity.

= ULTIMATE GOAL (THEOSIS): To grow in our love for Christ and His Church and to pursue a righteous way of life so

that we are continuously and forever united with Him and each other in Him (this is salvation).

The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary Page 5

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The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary