St. Peter News December 28, 2021

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

The Sunday Before Theophany

AftSylvester, pope of Rome; Cosmas the wonderworker, archbishop of Constantinople; Repose of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov

The Baptism of Christ

Theophany (or Epiphany) means shining forth or manifestation. The feast is often called, as it is in the Orthodox service books, Theophany, which means the shining forth and manifestation of God. The emphasis in the present day celebration is on the appearance of Jesus as the human Messiah of Israel and the divine Son of God, One of the Holy Trinity with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Thus, in the baptism by John in the Jordan, Jesus identifies himself with sinners as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29), the “Beloved” of the Father whose messianic task it is to redeem men from their sins (Lk 3:21, Mk 1:35). And he is revealed as well as One of the Divine Trinity, testified to by the voice of the Father, and by the Spirit in the form of a dove. This is the central epiphany glorified in the main hymns of the feast:

When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan the worship of the Trinity was made manifest! For the voice of the Father bare witness to Thee, calling Thee his Beloved Son. And the Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed the truthfulness of his Word. O Christ our God, who hast revealed Thyself and hast enlightened the world, glory to Thee (Troparion).

Read the entire article on the Orthodox Church of America website.

Who Was St. Seraphim of Sarov?

t. Seraphim of Sarov

Father Seraphim spent his time in ascetical struggles. His cell rule of prayer was based on the rule of Saint Pachomius for the ancient desert monasteries. He always carried the Holy Gospels with him, reading the entire New Testament in the course of a week. He also read the holy Fathers and the service books. The saint learned many of the Church hymns by heart, and sang them while working in the forest. Around his cell he cultivated a garden and set up a beehive. He kept a very strict fast, eating only once during the entire day, and on Wednesdays and Fridays he completely abstained from food. From the first Sunday of the Great Fast he did not partake of food at all until the following Saturday, when he received the Holy Mysteries.

The holy Elder was sometimes so absorbed by the unceasing prayer of the heart that he remained without stirring, neither hearing nor seeing anything around him. The schemamonk Mark the Silent and the hierodeacon Alexander, also wilderness-dwellers, would visit him every now and then. Finding the saint immersed in prayer, they would leave quietly, so they would not disturb his contemplation.

In the heat of summer the righteous one gathered moss from a swamp as fertilizer for his garden. Gnats and mosquitoes bit him relentlessly, but he endured this saying, “The passions are destroyed by suffering and by afflictions.”

His solitude was often disturbed by visits from monks and laymen, who sought his advice and blessing. With the blessing of the igumen, Father Seraphim prohibited women from visiting him, then receiving a sign that the Lord approved of his desire for complete silence, he banned all visitors. Through the prayers of the saint, the pathway to his wilderness cell was blocked by huge branches blown down from ancient pine trees. Now only the birds and the wild beasts visited him, and he dwelt with them as Adam did in Paradise. They came at midnight and waited for him to complete his Rule of prayer. Then he would feed bears, lynxes, foxes, rabbits, and even wolves with bread from his hand. Saint Seraphim also had a bear which would obey him and run errands for him.

Read St. Seraphim’s entire biography on the Orthodox Church in America website.

Services This Week

Sun Dec 26 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Mon Dec 27 — St. Stephen the Proto-Martyr 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Wed Dec 29 — The Holy Innocents Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Sat Jan 01 — Circumcision of Christ / St. Basil Divine Liturgy Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM

Services Next Week

Sun Jan 02 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Sun Jan 02 — Cutting of the Vasilopita 11:30am LIVE STREAM
Wed Jan 05 — Theophany Royal Hours 9:00am LIVE STREAM
Wed Jan 05 — Theophany Orthros 5:OOpm
Wed Jan 05 — Theophany Divine Liturgy and Great Blessing Of The Waters 6:00pm LIVE STREAM
Fri Jan 07 — Synaxis of St. John the Baptist Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM

St. Stephen the Proto-Martyr Divine Liturgy, Monday December 27, 2021 at 9:30am

The Holy Innocents Divine Liturgy, Thursday December 29, 2021 at 9:30am

St. Basil the Great / The Circumcision of Christ Divine Liturgy, Saturday January 1, 2021 at 9:30am

The Cutting of the Vasilopita (St. Basil’s Bread) on Sunday January 2, 2022

The history behind this celebration reaches back centuries:

The tradition of baking and cutting a special "pita" (which can mean a loaf of bread, a cake, or even a pie) each year on January 1st is observed in honor of our holy father Basil the Great, archbishop of Caesarea in Cappodocia— hence its name "Vasilopita" meaning "St. Basil's Bread." This tradition is observed in both parish churches and in the homes of the faithful.

What is the meaning of this tradition and how did it begin?

For centuries upon centuries, parents, grandparents and godparents have related the following to Orthodox children about St. Basil and the Vasilopita.

One year, during a time of terrible famine, the emperor levied a sinfully excessive tax upon the people of Caesarea.

The tax was such a heavy burden upon the already impoverished people that to avoid debtors' prison each family had to relinquish its few remaining coins and pieces of jewelry, including precious family heirlooms.

Learning of this injustice upon his flock, St. Basil the Great, the archbishop of Caesarea, took up his bishop's staff and the book of the holy Gospels and came to his people's defense by fearlessly calling the emperor to repentance.

By God's grace, the emperor did repent! He canceled the tax and instructed his tax collectors to turn over to St. Basil all of the chests containing the coins and jewelry which had been paid as taxes by the people of Caesarea.

But now St. Basil was faced with the daunting and impossible task of returning these thousands of coins and pieces of jewelry to their rightful owners. After praying for a long time before the icons of our Master Christ and His All-Holy Mother, St. Basil had all the treasures baked into one huge pita. He then called all the townspeople to prayer at the cathedral, and, after Divine Liturgy, he blessed and cut the pita, giving a piece to each person.

Miraculously, each owner received in his piece of Vasilopita his own valuables. They all joyfully returned home, giving thanks to God who had delivered them from abject poverty and to their good and holy bishop St. Basil the Great!

In remembrance of that miracle wrought by God as a result of St. Basil's love and defense of his people, Orthodox Christians have observed the tradition of the Vasilopita each year on January 1st— the date on which St. Basil reposed in the Lord in the year 379.

From the Antiochian Archdiocese website.

Do You Know of Anyone That Has a Room to Rent?

A nursing student who is transferring to Ave Maria Nursing School needs a room to rent while she finishes up her degree. All she needs is a bedroom and access to the kitchen until she graduates. She would prefer to be no more than 30 minutes away from Ave Maria (St. Paul Church is about 25 minutes away) but is flexible is something farther away if available.

The student is a friend of the Kerr family so if you have a room available or know of someone who does, please call Holly at 615-462-8122.

You Are Invited to the Baptism of Katrina M. Hijazin on Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Please pardon this late invitation but the baptism was scheduled quickly. God-parents Nader and Nezrin Sahhawneh invite you to attend the baptism of their God-daughter Katrina M. Hizarin on Tuesday, December 28, 2021 starting a 11:00am.

A light reception will follow the baptism in the Social Hall.

Calling All Teens!

Fr. Hans needs your name and email address (or your parent’s address) so you can receive SOYO (Society of Orthodox Youth Organization) materials. Maybe we can begin a SOYO group at St. Peter’s too.

Learn more about Teen SOYO on the DOMSE website.

Cafe of Life— What is the Real Meaning of Christmas?

This year has been a very difficult for many of us. Due to COVID many lost loved ones; others their livelihood and homes.

During this Christmas holiday we have to thank God for what we have and to continue praying and supporting those who suffer from hunger and are living in meager conditions.

So thank you all for your donations throughout 2021 and please keep in mind that St. Peter’s Orthodox Church will continue this mission in 2022.

Happy New Year and God bless you!

God bless and IC XC NI KA!

DOMSE Winter Retreat – January 28-29, 2022

Get more information on the DOMSE website.

Save the Date! DOMSE Parish Life Conference June 15-18, 2022

Learn more on the DOMSE website.

Could You Support a Special Project?

Some parishioners have requested a needs list they could contribute to. Below are the special projects we still need to get done. If you can help please mention it to Fr. Hans, Jack Long, or John Simon.

Replace Church computer
$1,500 Donated.
Replace Flat roof on Church
$30,000. Donated.
Replace windows in the Sunday School rooms
$8000.
Upgrade Church sound system
$1700.00 Donated.
Seal coat and restripe parking Lot
$6,300.
Upgrade Church Electrical System
$3600 Donated.

Pledge & Income Report – November 2021

Donations received in November: $24,004.
Amount of money needed to cover expenses: $22,760.
We are ahead by $1,244.

These numbers reflect the operating costs of the the Hickory Drive property.

St. Peter Orthodox Church
7470 Hickory Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33967

You can also donate online:

Sign up the the Monthly DOMSE Newsletter on the DOMSE (Diocese of Miami and the Southeast) Website!

Visit the DOMSE Website (scroll to the bottom, fill in the form on the left side) to sign up for “The Light” Newsletter and DOMSE emails.

The Social Hall All Stars are the men and women that make St. Peter’s Social Hall happen. Thank you All Stars!

December 5 – December 26

Marlene Haley
Tom Haley
Cheryl Morse
Elaine Semeretis
Gregory Semeretis
Tim Morse
Anna Tsikitas

January 2 – January 30

Barbara Dionysopoulos
Costa Dionysopoulos
Marianthi Kazakos
Niki Locklear
Ray Locklear
Koula Ormandiou
Calol Palatine
Margie Zimmerman

February 6 – February 27

Pavlo Bilych
Leon Dephkalion
Bonnie Joseph
Al Joseph

Procedures for Hospitality

Please note: If you would like to bring in your own prepared food, please contact Tom Haley at 239-887-0753 a week before the upcoming Sunday. That way we know not to prepare any food for Sunday.

On most Sundays we will serve lighter refreshments like coffee, sweets, hummus, olives, feta, pita and similar items. Please continue bringing these items. Even though we have a range (unlike our former facility), we appreciate items that are “ready to be served.”
Please do not donate coffee. We have a space age coffee brewer that we acquired at no cost if we buy our coffee from one supplier. If you bring in coffee, we can’t use it.
We cannot continue preparing meals for Memorials, Name Days, Anniversaries, and other celebrations. We don’t have the appliances or manpower to do it well. We do, however, have the name of two catering companies that can prepare and deliver the food if you would like to sponsor a celebration. Please call Tom Haley at 239-887-0753 for details and to make arrangements.
If you would like to bring in your own prepared food, please contact Tom Haley at 239-887-0753 a week before the upcoming Sunday. That way we know not to prepare any food for Sunday.

The Safest Way to Come to Church

US 41 is a busy highway and the intersection at Hickory Drive does not have a stop light. We recommend turning on Sanibel Boulevard and following Coconut Road instead.

Calendar At A Glance

Calendar also available on the St. Peter website.

NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 24

Nativity Fast Begins November 15 through December 24, 2022

DECEMBER – JANUARY 1

Sun Dec 26 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Mon Dec 27 — St. Stephen the Proto-Martyr 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Wed Dec 29 — The Holy Innocents Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Sat Jan 01 — Circumcision of Christ / St. Basil Divine Liturgy Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM

JANUARY

Sun Jan 02 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Sun Jan 02 — Cutting of the Vasilopita 11:30am LIVE STREAM
Wed Jan 05 — Theophany Royal Hours 9:00am LIVE STREAM
Wed Jan 05 — Theophany Orthros 5:OOpm
Wed Jan 05 — Theophany Divine Liturgy and Great Blessing Of The Waters 6:00pm LIVE STREAM
Fri Jan 07 — Synaxis of St. John the Baptist Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM

Sun Jan 09 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Wed Jan 12 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Fri Jan 14 – Sat Jan 15 — Fr. Hans Out of Town

Sun Jan 16 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Mon Jan 17 — St. Anthony the Great Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Tue Jan 18 — Sts. Athanasios and Cyril Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Fri Jan 21 — St. Maximos the Confessor Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Fri Jan 21 — Parish Council Meeting 3:30pm LIVE STREAM

Sun Jan 23 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Tue Jan 25 – Sat Jan 29 — DOMSE RETREAT Fr. Hans Out of Town

Wisdom From The Elders

That which a man loves, to which he turns, that he will find. If he loves earthly things, he will find earthly things, and these earthly things will abide in his heart, will communicate their earthliness to him and will find him; if he loves heavenly things, he will find heavenly things, and they will abide in his heart and give him life. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

He Whose love is greater than yours will love you always. He loved you when you were still His enemy and a sinner; will He not love you indefinitely when you will have become His son and perfect in holiness? Bishop Alexander of Mojaisk

Thou hast said, O Lord: ask, and it shall be given to you; knock, and it shall be opened to you. Lo, I ask and I knock. Before my end comes, O Lord, cleanse me of all sin. Venerable Ephraim the Syrian

Therefore, he who has the Son of God has life; he who has not the Son of God has not life (1 John 5: 12)—he is completely in death. Life in the one true God and Lord Jesus Christ is really Take care, then, not to put your flesh before God, and disdain, for His sake, bodily repose. If you have made a rule to read so many prayers (whether they be long or short, fulfil the reading of all of them well), read the prayers with all conscientiousness, and do not do God’s work with your heart divided in two, so that only one half belongs to Him and the remaining half to your own flesh. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

To unite the mind and heart in prayer as the Saint instructs, a discipline of interior quietude is required— for normally our mind and our heart reside distantly from one another, unwittingly content in their disassociation. Bishop Irenei Steenberg

Remember in Your Prayers

List has been updated. If you want some names restored, please mention it to Fr. Hans.

Names will remain on the list for two months.
If you would like to keep them on longer please mention it to Fr. Hans. We will keep the names on the list for as long as the person needs prayers.
Names will include the person who requested the prayers and the month the name will be removed.
The permanent list includes friends and members of St. Peter’s and others including shut-ins.

Were names dropped that should have remained? Please mention it to Fr. Hans. He will add them back.

Updated November 18 / Resets January 1.

Current Prayer List

Nancy (Coin 3/22)
Carmella (Jacobse 2/22)
Roma (Jacobse 2/22)
Nicholas (Ghanem 1/22)
Arielle (Ghanem 1/22)
Georgia (Sarros 1/22)
Kerri (Dusckas 1/21)
Aggie (Dusckas 12/21)
Fr. Thomas (Forderhase 12/21)
Emily (Forderhase 12/21)
Sean (Breitenbach 12/21)
David (Zafiris 12/21)
Robin (Zafiris 12/21)
Dana (Zafiris 12/21)
Mackenzie (Zafiris 12/21)
Harry (Zafiris 12/21)
Bettina (Zafiris 12/21)
Harry James (Zafiris 12/21)
Anastasia (Protopapadakis 12/21)
Barbara (Dusckas 11/21)
Dave (Dusckas 11/21)
Elizabeth (Wolfe 11/21)
Catherine (Breitenbach 11/21)

Permanent Prayer List

Corgette (Troutman)
Irina (Irina)
Lee Joseph (Irina)
Lidia (Irina)
Sarina (Ghanem)
Kasiani, Jordan and their unborn child (Chapekis)
Debbie (Breitenbach)
Kathy (Breitenbach)
Hope (Isadore)
John (Long)
Pantelis (Tsikita)
Marisa (Tsikita)
Barbara (Dionysopoulos)
Patricia (Evanoff)
Gabriel (Mankus)
Baby Dani (Repya)
Maria and her newborn baby (Diveris)
Despina (Diversis)b
Fredericos (Diveris)
Sophia (D. Constantine)
Herman (Kerr)
Innocent (Kerr)
Nicholas (Kerr)
Paola (Jacobse)
Gregory (Yankopolos)
Soterios (Ninos)
Pauline (Poulos)
Sergio (Kazakos)
Rae (Semeretis)
Fran (Hansen)
Nina (Krotov)
Franklin (Pyrrson)
George (Chionis)
Stamatia (Evelyn)
Demetrios (Kuchera)
Theodosios (Palis)
Theodora (Webb)
Helen (Rogers)
Robert (Smith)
Robert (Jarvis)
Presbytera Rosy (in Pakistan)
James (Hord)
Vassiliki (Kontinos)
Vassiliki (Morekeas)

Founders, Members, Benefactors and Friends Departed this Life

John (Hansen)
Anatoly (Kurdsjuk)
Thareni (Brooks)
Milan Evanoff
Jean (Sam)
Eleni (Pearson)
Richard (Pearson)
Fr. Stephanos (Shagoury)
Panagiota (Bea Chionis)
Anthony (Mourgis)
Anthony (Mankus)
Constantine (Houpis)
Constantine (Joseph)
Mary (Jarvis)
Panagiota Margarita (Palis)
Maria (Ninos)
John (Katsigianopoulos)
George (Chionis)
Mary (Spiropoulos)
Gregory (Pappas)
Angela (Coran K
Eugene (Rust)

How should we pray for the sick? Remember them daily. Say their names (first names are sufficient) and ask God to bestow mercy and grace on them.

Add or remove names and print this list for easy reference during your prayer time on the St. Peter website.

Sunday Readings

EPISTLE

For the Sunday before the Theophany of Christ

O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.
Unto Thee will I cry, O Lord my God.

The Reading from the Second Epistle of St. Paul to St. Timothy. (4:5-8)

Timothy, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.

GOSPEL