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See pictures below on the services and building updates !
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Saint Macarius the Great of Egypt was born in the early fourth century in the village of Ptinapor in Egypt. At the wish of his parents he entered into marriage, but was soon widowed. After he buried his wife, Macarius told himself, “Take heed, Macarius, and have care for your soul. It is…
Saint Macarius of Alexandria was a contemporary and friend of Saint Macarius of Egypt (January 19). He was born in the year 295, and until the age of forty he was occupied in trade. Later, he was baptized and withdrew into the desert, where he spent more than sixty years. After several years of…
Saint Mark Eugenikos, Archbishop of Ephesus, was a stalwart defender of Orthodoxy at the Council of Florence. He would not agree to a union with Rome which was based on theological compromise and political expediency (the Byzantine Emperor was seeking military assistance from the West against the…
Saint Macarius the Faster of the Near Caves of Kiev was a deacon. He is commemorated on January 19 because of his namesake, Saint Macarius of Egypt. Saint Macarius of the Near Caves (twelfth century) is also commemorated on September 28. There is a general commemoration of all the wonderworkers of…
Saint Macarius the Deacon lived in the Far Caves of Kiev, and is commemorated on January 19 because of his namesake, Saint Macarius of Egypt. Saint Macarius lived during the thirteenth-fourteenth centuries, and was distinguished by his lack of covetousness. He possessed great fervor for the temple…
Blessed Theodore of Novgorod was the son of pious parents, wealthy citizens of Novgorod. Having been raised in strict Christian piety, and having reached the age of maturity, he took on himself the ascetic deed of foolishness for Christ’s sake. He gave all his possessions to the poor, and he…
Today we commemorate opening of the incorrupt relics of Saint Savva of Storozhev and Zvenigorod on January 19, 1652. Saint Savva is also also commemorated on December 3, as determined by the Moscow Council of 1547.
Saint Macarius the Roman was born at the end of the fifteenth century into a wealthy family of Rome. His parents raised him in piety and gave him an excellent education. He might have expected a successful career in public service, but he did not desire honors or earthly glory. Instead, he focused…
The Holy Virgin Martyr Euphrasia was born at Nicomedia into an illustrious family. She was a Christian, and was noted for her beauty. During the persecution of Christians by Maximian, the pagans tried to compel Euphrasia to offer sacrifice to idols. When she refused, she was beaten, and then given…
Saint Arsenius, Archbishop of Kerkyra (Corfu), was a native of Palestine and lived in the ninth century. He led a strict ascetic life, and was a highly educated man and renowned spiritual writer. He was glorified by wisdom, and constantly defended his flock from the wrath of the emperor Constantine…
Our holy father Anton of Martqopi arrived in Georgia in the 6th century with the rest of the Thirteen Syrian Fathers and settled in Kakheti to preach the Gospel of Christ. He always carried with him an icon of the Savior “Not-Made-By-Hands.” Anton made his home in the wilderness, and…
Today the Church remembers a great miracle in Nicaea, when Saint Basil the Great, by his prayers, opened the doors of the Cathedral Church. During a visit to Nicaea, Emperor Valens, at the request of some prominent Arians, took the Cathedral away from the Orthodox by force and allowed the Arians…
According to some researchers, the uncovering of the relics of Saint Gregory the Theologian (Jan. 25) occurred at Nazianzus during the reign of Emperor Arkadios (395-408), that of Theodosios II (408-450), and that of Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitos (911 - 959) when they were enshrined in the…
Church services - 10/13/2021
Pictures from celebrated church services (from 4/4/2021)...
(25 images)
Building updates - 03/15/2022
Pictures showing new building updates (from 12/30/2020)...
(17 images)
1927 |
The Church Association first met in the YMCA building on East Grand Blvd. |
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1929 |
On St. Thomas Sunday, the Albanian Society of Orthodox Christians founded the St. Thomas community in the home of Mr. & Mrs. Racke Kamenitsa. Activities were soon curtailed due to the Depression. |
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1937 |
A program of re-vitalization and re-organization was inaugurated by the St. Thomas Society in order to preserve the faith for the "New Generation". |
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1938 |
Early in the year, the Society was operating. Programs were planned and committees assigned. By February 27, activities were in full swing. |
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1943 |
Our first Church building at 5780 14th St. and Antionette was purchased and religious services were celebrated. |
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1945 |
The Church building on 14th St. is dedicated on September 2. Although working as a group for the benefit of St. Thomas since the 1930's and holding regular meetings and elections since 1941 as the Ladies Auxiliary, the women of the parish re-organized as the Daughters of St. Thomas. This group of dedicated women is supportive and active even to this very day. |
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1946 |
A choir and church school was organized. |
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1948 |
A certificate was presented to St. Thomas Church from the US Government. Four hundred and forty-four "E" bonds were bought and sold by members of St. Thomas, enough bonds to pay for a hospital train car. |
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1949 |
Archpastoral visit of Metropolitan Theofan for the benefit of the Theological Student Trust Fund. |
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1951 |
Under the direction of the parish president a new church building committee was formed. |
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1956 |
Ground breaking ceremonies took place for construction of our second church building. Our new church on Oakman Blvd. and Joy Road was dedicated by Metropolitan Theofan on November 4. A very active clergy association in the Detroit Metropolitan area met at St. Thomas to formally organize a clergy and lay council of Eastern Orthodox Churches under the inspired leadership of Fr. Christo Costa and Fr. Vladimir Lilikovich. Our pastors and laymen have been active participants in the Council of Churches since its founding. |
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1961 |
Early in this year, the first St. Thomas Newsletter, a monthly publication of news, religious articles, and human interest stories was sent to parishoners. In May, the St. Thomas Baseball team played its first game under the expert coaching of the now, Very Reverend Spero (Speed) Page. Our new church was built in 1956 at a cost of $130,000. The mortgage was completely paid in January 1961. On Sunday, November 25, 1961, our Church was consecrated by Metropolitan Theofan. |
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1969 |
Revitalization of the parish Newsletter called the "SPEAR" using St. Thomas's symbol in art as the title as well as an indication of the means of his martyrdom. |
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1978 |
Having been so successful in the past, parishoners from St. Thomas decided to again build another church in Farmington Hills for yet "another generation." During the time following the sale of our own building we found a home and shared facilities and sometimes priests with our sister parishes of St. Michael and St. Innocent, both in Redford, MI |
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1980 |
On May 3, ground-breaking ceremonies for our third building were celebrated by Bishop Mark, Diocesan and local clergy. On October 5, the eve of St. Thomas, actual construction began on our present structure. |
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1981 |
The St. Thomas Men's Club was formed with the objective of sponsoring projects and activities with spiritual, financial, and social stability as their underlying theme. |
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1982 |
With the assignment of a full-time pastor, regular services began again. Construction of the interior of our Church proceeded slowly but steadily and the reorganization of our community was underway. Our Church School and Choir were re-vitalized and our first youth basketball team was formed. |
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1984 |
Through the efforts of the Daughters of St. Thomas our kitchen was completed. And through the efforts of the Men's Club, our parking lot was completed. |
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1985 |
An American flag that flew over the Capitol Building in Washington, DC was awarded to St. Thomas Parish on December 31. |
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1986 |
Many items from our first Church building were brought with us, but time and floods virtually ruined them. Through the God-given talents of our present chairman, Douglas Baker, our Icons were restored and today adorn our Iconostas and Sanctuary. |
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| 1988 | Although there was no mortgage on our present structure, a land contract had been obtained from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit. We burned the land contract on our 59th Anniversary -- November 13, 1988. | |
1989 |
For the first time in history, we hosted the Archdiocesan Convention in conjunction with the Consecration of our third building |
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1999 |
70th Anniversary Celebration on St. Thomas Sunday (Apr 18, 1999). |
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2002 |
Fr. Nicholas Liolin, Rector of the parish, was elected as Bishop of Baltimore, Auxiliary to the Metropolitan for the Albanian Archdiocese and Diocese of New England at the Spring Session of the Holy Synod of Bishops. Upon his release from the parish, Fr. Nicholas was tonsured a monk with the name Nikon and consecrated a bishop on May 25, 2002 at St. Tikhon's Monastery, South Canaan, PA. |
