2/10/26

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 2026.  The first one will be held on March 1, Sunday of Orthodoxy, at 6 p.m. at the Basilica of St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church, 18100 Merriman Rd. in Livonia, and will include the Procession with Icons.

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.

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

• March 8  - Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Bloomfield Township (43816 Woodward Ave.);
• March 15 - Sunday of the Holy Cross at St. Clement Ohridski Eastern Orthodox Church in Dearborn (19600 Ford Rd.);
• March 22 - Sunday of St. John of the Ladder at the Descent of the Holy Ghost Romanian Orthodox Church in Warren (31500 Warren Rd.);
• March 29 - Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt at St. Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church in Fenton (2439 S. Long Lake Rd.).

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!