Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ, Gal 6:2
Please Help Us Purchase a Beautiful Church for St. Irene!
An Appeal from St. Irene of Chrysovalantou Church (G.O.C.) to the Fathers and Brethren of the Holy Metropolis, and to All the Pious Christians Who Venerate Our Wonderworking Saint
Through the prayers of St. Irene of Chrysovalantou, the Lord has opened a door for us to obtain an attractive property in an excellent location in Mt Vernon, Washington Township.
This building has a church and everything else we need to continue Saint Irene's mission in the years to come, for God's glory. The church is a Methodist church, and we would need to retrofit it to a Traditional Orthodox church after the purchase.
With the blessing of Metropolitan Demetrius, we come to you, our brothers and sisters in Christ, to ask your help in reaching a short-term goal of raising $100,000 within the next few weeks, in order to make this possible.
An anonymous donor has offered to match all donations, dollar for dollar, up to $100,000. If we can reach this goal of $200,000, that would enable us not only to obtain this desirable property at a very good price, but also to begin retrofitting construction. Possibly within one to two months, if all goes well, St. Irene could have a fitting and beautiful church for the Orthodox divine services, not only for our parish's benefit, but for the spiritual benefit of all throughout our metropolis, and throughout the Orthodox world, who seek the mighty intercession of our wonderworking Saint.
As we know from long experience, her prayers are great, and she takes tender care of those dedicated to her veneration. St. Irene deserves to have a fitting shrine within the Genuine Orthodox Church for all who wish to make pilgrimage here in North America, or who want to request her help from afar.
Our parishioners have made substantial sacrifices over the past six years, since our founding by Metropolitan Demetrius in the fall of 2014, in order to bring the parish's resources to the point at which this is now possible. The merciful Lord has blessed us greatly, unworthy as we are, but now we must come to you, asking for your brotherly agape at this critical moment, to put us "over the top" and enable this God-pleasing work to go on.
You can make a donation online or send a check to the address below. Donors will receive a receipt for tax purposes:
St. Irene of Chrysovalantou GOC, 745 Barclay Circle, Suite 350, Rochester Hills, Michigan 48307
It is very important for our planning ahead on this new property purchase to let us know within April if you are able to pledge your support and how much.
May the All-Generous God, Provider of Every Good Thing, bless all who help this work so pleasing to Him, through the prayers of St. Irene!
On behalf of the parish brotherhood,
Steven Allen, Presbyter, Rector of St. Irene Church
