3/10/24

Council of Orthodox Christian Churches to sponsor Sunday Lenten Vespers

DETROIT, MI [COCC] --  The Council of Orthodox Christian Churches of Metropolitan Detroit (COCC) will resume its annual series of Vespers services on the five Sundays of Orthodox Christian Great Lent in 2024.  The first one will be held on March 24, Sunday of Orthodoxy, at 6 p.m. at St. Lazarus "Ravanica" Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, 4575 E. Outer Drive, Detroit.

The services will be celebrated by Orthodox clergy from throughout the metro area.  The Detroit Inter-Orthodox Lenten Vespers Choir, directed by Victoria Kopistiansky, will sing the responses.

As has become a local tradition, children and college students from area parishes are encouraged to bring an icon and be part of the Procession of Icons that highlights the Sunday of Orthodoxy service.

The remaining four services in the series, each begining at 6 p.m., will be held on:

• March 31  - Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church in Livonia (36075 W. 7 Mile Road);
• April 7 - Sunday of the Holy Cross at St. George Romanian Orthodox Cathedral in Southfield (18405 W. 9 MIle Road);
• April 14 - Sunday of St. John of the Ladder at St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church in Berkley (3212 W. 12 MIle Road);
• April 21 - Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Troy (760 W. Wattles Road).

A free-will offering collection will be taken at each service, the proceeds of which will go to help fund the ministries of the COCC.  Refreshments and fellowship follow each service.

Members of the public are invited to attend the services.  For further information, visit the COCC website at www.coccdetroit.org.

All are welcome!