www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization 50th Anniversary, St. Basil's Sterling Heights MI

John,

If you know this church first hand could you share some details. We will be in the area in May and would like to visit. I understand that the parish is rather small with an administrator. Do you know why? Is their accommodation for those who wish to stand? Do they have a nice Iconostasis? Are there several proper icons? Do they sing the liturgy? How about a proper Pantocrator in the ceiling? It's nice to see that at least they have an onion dome.

CDL

During my brief few years working in metro Detroit (2003 - 2006), my family and I were parishioners of this blessed parish. We deeply regret we will be unable to make the journey out to MI for the 50th anniversary celebration, as it is the same weekend as our youngest son's First Penance.

While the parish is not large, it not small either (especially compared to some other parishes I know and attended in my youth). There is an active congregation and a fair number of young people. FYI - the Ruthenian community in metro Detroit is close-knit, and the parishes of the mother church (St. Nicholas), St. Basil and Sacred Heart in nearby Livonia, MI frequently interact and are mutually supportive, the cantors in particular. They also engage regularly with our Slovak Catholic cousins across the river in Windsor, Ontario.

The church is simple, but the iconography and the iconostasis are exquisite. The frame of the iconostasis is hand-carved dark wood, with a vineyard theme. Quite beautiful, and as we were told, a labor of love some years back. The iconography on the interior walls of the nave was completed while we were there. And yes, all the iconography is complete and utterly appropriate (Pantocrator on the ceiling, Theotokos behind the altar in the sanctuary, etc.).

I remain friends with the cantor and many of the talented chanters of the parish. The weekly Divine Liturgy and all other services are always properly rendered, with love and due care. I was there for an episcopal visit from Bishop John, and both the Akathist to St. John the Baptist and the Divine Liturgy were very well done, with the kind acknowledgment of His Grace.

Our youngest son was born while we lived in the area, and he was initiated at this church. My older two children had their First Penance there. We continue to remain in contact with many dear friends made while we were there among them, and we will always feel as if we are part of this parish family.

The parish is served by Fr. Mychail Rozmarynowycz and Deacon Paul Latcha. Father is a married priest who transferred from the UGCC to serve at St. Basil while we were there. He is married with no children, and he and Pani Donna are very dear, welcoming people.

The parish has a simple website: St. Basil the Great - Sterling Heights, MI [stbasilbyz.com]. There are two small photos on the main page: one of the exterior front of the church and another of the iconostasis, which must be seen up close to be full appreciated. A Marian shrine was also erected in the rear of the church a few years ago.

Please do visit if you can!

Our best wishes to our former parish family, and may God grant the parishioners of St. Basil many happy, healthy and blessed years!

Carson, my brother,

While many of the things about which you ask are those which we all hope and pray to see in our temples, please tell me that you aren't suggesting that you'd predicate your decision to attend and worship there on whether or not those 'standards' were met?

As Joe says, the parish does indeed have a website - pretty much a cut and paste of the Wiki article on Eastern Christianity, with a fledgling, but informative, events calendar. It is, as Joe described, very basic - but it's a start. Not certain when it was put up, but I'd estimate last Fall by the event listings. I know that it didn't exist 2 years back when I created the directory webpage entry for the parish.

May the parish be blessed on the occasion of this anniversary and may its faithful worship there for many more years.

Many years,

Neil

Joe,

Thanks for the detailed description. I have looked at the website several times but needed the kind of information not contained on the website. Is there room to stand?

Neil,

Your initial question is odd to me. I don't know why you asked it. Could you fill me in?

Carson D. Lauffer

Indeed there is! The pews are actually fairly well separated, there are decently-sized aisles along the sides of the nave and larger areas in the rear of the church that were specifically designed to be wheelchair friendly.

It sounds stand up friendly as well. Good to know.

Ok Neil, I'll guess at your meaning. Those things may or may not affect my decision to visit there but since we will eventually be moving I'm looking for a Church that is at least open to traditional standards.

Carson,

I saw you saying that you'd be in the area (a visit, a vacation, whatever - no idea that you were contemplating a move) and was a bit shocked to consider that whether or not you'd worship there of a Sunday might be predicated on such as 'a proper Pantocrator'.

Your finishing comment that they 'at least they have an onion dome' says to me that the externals may be more the 'Church' to you than the people of God are.

Sorry if I offended but, much as I love the externals (witness my efforts to feature the beauty of them in the photos used in the parish directory entries), I've seen beautiful worship in a storefront with icons resting against the backs of two metal foldiing chairs spaced apart to represent the lacking Royal Doors.

Many years,

Neil

Of course. I wouldn't mind worshiping in a place as you describe. Are there any in SE Michigan. They would have a future that by God's grace I could be a part. It's always best not to assume another persons motives.

After 50 years one expects one of two things. Either a Church is growing or it is dying. For that matter after one year one can see one or the other. We do plan to go to Sterling Heights and may report back or maybe not.