Council of Orthodox Christian Churches
begins 2008 Lenten Vespers series
at Basilica of St. Mary, Livonia March 16

Five churches in metro Detroit to host
services on five Sundays of Great Lent

Clergy Brotherhood of St. John Chrysostom
to serve, Inter-Orthodox Choir to sing at services

LIVONIA, Mich. - The Council of Orthodox Christian Churches
of Metropolitan Detroit (COCC) will conduct the first in
its 2008 series of Lenten Vespers services at 6 p.m. on
March 16, the Sunday of Orthodoxy, at the Basilica of St.
Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church, Livonia.

The Very Rev. Roman Star of St. Innocent of Irkutsk
Orthodox Church, Redford, spiritual advisor to the COCC and
president of the Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood of St. John
Chrysostom of Metropolitan Detroit, will preside at the
service, assisted by other members of the Clergy
Brotherhood.

The Rev. John Behr, dean of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox
Theological Seminary, Crestwood, N.Y., will deliver the
homily.
 
The Inter-Orthodox Choir of the COCC will sing during the
service.  The choir is composed of members of Orthodox
parish choirs in the metro area and directed by Matushka*
Victoria Kopistiansky, choir director at Holy Trinity
Orthodox Church, Detroit.

Basilica of St. Mary

The Basilica of St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church is
located at 18100 Merriman Road, Livonia, 48152.  The
general public as well as Orthodox Christians is invited to
attend the service.  Refreshments will be served afterward.

All proceeds from the service will be used for COCC
charities and projects.  Worshippers are also asked to
bring nonperishable packaged food for donation to Orthodox
parish food pantries that serve the needy in the metro
area.

For further information, contact the president of the COCC,
Richard Shebib, at (734) 422-0278 or
paschabooks@sbcglobal.net.

Five Sundays of Great Lent

The COCC conducts its series of Vespers services annually
during the five Sundays of Orthodox Great Lent**.  The
remaining four services this year will be:

§ March 23, Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas, at St.
Clement Ohridski Macedonian-Bulgarian Orthodox Church,
Dearborn

§ March 30, Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross, at
Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Livonia

§ April 6, Sunday of St. John Climacus, at Holy Trinity
Orthodox Church, Detroit

§ April 13, Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt, at St. Petka
Serbian Orthodox Church, Troy

The COCC is a 51-year-old clergy and lay association that
represents various canonical Orthodox churches in
metropolitan Detroit.  Its mission is to promote Orthodox
Christianity throughout the area through worship,
fellowship, and charitable, educational and outreach
programs.