St. Peter News August 9, 2022

Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos

The Dormition (Falling Asleep) of the Theotokos

PLEASE NOTE: Dormition of the Theotokos Feast Day Moved to Sunday

His Grace Bishop +NICHOLAS gave his blessing for us to celebrate the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos on Sunday morning Aug. 14 and NOT Monday evening Aug. 15.

This will better allow us all to celebrate the Feast of the Theotokos together with great joy and enthusiasm rather than Monday when so many are at work or school ultimately missing the Feast. The transfer of a Feast Day for such practical purposes is not uncommon. In fact, even the beloved monastery of Panagia Vlahernon in Ocala, FL transferred herPatronal Feast to the nearest Sunday for the same reason this year. This concession will hopefully strengthen our zeal to the point where in the future we are inspired enough to take the day off work or school for a Major Feast of the Church. God willing, we will break the fast together at Fellowship Hour following the Divine Services that Sunday (Aug. 14). May it be blessed!

The Dormition fast was established as preceding the great feasts of the Transfiguration of the Lord and of the Dormition of the Mother of God. It lasts two weeks—from August 1/14–August 14/27 (new calendar/old calendar).

The Dormition fast comes down to us from the early days of Christianity.

We find a clear reference to the Dormition fast in a conversation of Leo the Great from around the year 450 A.D. “The Church fasts are situated in the year in such a way that a special abstinence is prescribed for each time. Thus, for spring there is the spring fast ]—the Forty Days[Great Lent; for summer there is the summer fast… [the Apostles’ fast]; for autumn there is the autumn fast, in the seventh month [Dormition fast]; for winter there is the winter fast [Nativity fast].”

Source: OrthoChristian

What is the Dormition of the Theotokos?

The Holy Scriptures tell us that when our Lord was dying on the Cross, He saw His mother and His disciple John and said to the Virgin Mary, “Woman, behold your son!” and to John, “Behold your mother!” (John 19:25-27). From that hour, the Apostle took care of the Theotokos in his own home.

Along with the biblical reference in Acts 1:14 that confirms that the Virgin Mary was with the Holy Apostles on the day of Pentecost, the tradition of the Church holds that she remained in the home of the Apostle John in Jerusalem, continuing a ministry in word and deed.

At the time of her death, the disciples of our Lord who were preaching throughout the world returned to Jerusalem to see the Theotokos. Except for the Apostle Thomas, all of them including the Apostle Paul were gathered together at her bedside. At the moment of her death, Jesus Christ himself descended and carried her soul into heaven.

Following her repose, the body of the Theotokos was taken in procession and laid in a tomb near the Garden of Gethsemane. When the Apostle Thomas arrived three days after her repose and desired to see her body, the tomb was found to be empty. The bodily assumption of the Theotokos was confirmed by the message of an angel and by her appearance to the Apostles.

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website.

Dormtion Fast and Akathist Hymns Continue Through August 14

August 1 starts the Dormition period in our Orthodox Church. We fast (abstain from meat and dairy) from August 1 to August 14.

Because Fr. Hans is out of town, we will start the Paraklesis services that lead up to the Dormition Liturgy on August 10-12 at 6:30pm. They will be held in the evening so more people can attend.

On Sunday August 14, 2022 we will celebrate the Dormition of the Theotokos.

Services This Week

Dormition Fasting Period from August 1-15.

SUN AUG 07 — EIGHTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Wed Aug 10 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
Thu Aug 10 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
Fri Aug 12 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
Sat Aug 13 — St. Maximos the Confessor Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM

Some Services Moved to Evenings

Fr. Hans has been asked to move some of the services to the evening to accomodate people who would like to attend worship but cannot because of work. Please note the times of services carefully. Some have been moved to the evening so that more people can attend.

St. Peter Church Directory Pictures Resume This Sunday

We are planning to resume our efforts to complete the church directory, starting Sunday, August 7th.As in the past,we will have the camera setup in the socialhall during coffee hour for the month of August.

If you plan to have your photo added to the church directory, please see the schedule below.

Photo Schedule

Member whose last name begins with A – L, fist two Sundays of this month.
Members whose last name is begins with M-Z, last two Sundays of this month.

We Need Pictures for a New Website

We are building out a “seekers’ website for St. Peter. It will be a place where people learn ‘just the facts’ about Orthodox Christianity and St. Peter’s.

Do you have any pictures? If so, please send them too Anna Tsikitas at anna.tsikitas@gmail.com

Something Huge is Happening in American Orthodoxy

You have heard Fr. Hans say that young men are entering the Orthodox Church. This is happening not only at St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s but all across the country. Recently Fr. Michael Butler was interviewed about this development on Ancient Faith Radio. Click the image to listen to the podcast.

Click the image to listen to the podcast

Room to Rent or Apartment to Share Needed

Our parishioner Pauline Poulos is looking for apartment or home to share or room to rent starting Mid-August or September 1st. Non Smoker and no pets.

Please call Pauline at 239-994-4797 (cell).

We Are Remodeling the Sunday School Rooms

The outside wall is being replaced and the floors will be leveled. Work will take about four weeks to complete. Greek Language classes will be moved to the Social Hall.

Starting Soon – Orthodoxy 101

Starting soon St. Peter’s offers a study of the Orthodox Basics (less philosophical, more factual and practical) of such things as worship, history, theology and more. This is for anyone and everyone who wants to understand our Orthodox faith and practice more thoroughly.

Dates will be determined but Saturday morning from 9:00am to 10:00 class time followed by a half hour optional discussion seems to work best for many people. Please let Fr. Hans know what works for you. We will begin when the summer starts and everyone’s schedule is more flexible.

In the meantime check out the videos on the website Welcome to the Orthodox Church by Frederica Mathews-Green to prepare.

Helping Victims of the War in Ukraine

Galyna Seabrooke who has spoken on several occasions on the situation in Ukraine on behalf of our Ukranian parishioners mentioned opportunities to help the victims of the war.

One way to offer humanitarian aid is through a Go Fund Me page. Another is to donate essential items for Ukranian refugees. These items include:

No food items please.

A box will be set up in the church for donations.

We pray that war in Ukraine will end quickly.

Greek Language School Semester Completed

The first semester of Greek language school has completed. Second semester starts this fall!

Let’s Pray the Paraklesis to the Theotokos Daily

Click the image to get more information on how to participate from the St. Peter’s website

Our goal at St. Peter’s is to have one person or family pray the Parakelsis to the Theotokos for at least one day of every month. For each day of the month, individuals or even an entire family can sign up to pray the Paraklesis in their homes on the day/s which they select.

Get more information on how to participate from the St. Peter’s website.

Cafe of Life: We Need Sponsors

WANTED: Monthly sponsors or ongoing donors to help sustain St. Peter’s commitment in supporting the hungry and homeless at the Cafe of life. These are challenging times and your donation is especially needed to support our local community. As Orthodox Christians it is our duty to help them.

Your tax deductible donation in cash or check can be given to Father Hans. No amount is too little for this important mission. “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in your power to do it,” (Proverb 3:27).

Thank you and IC XC NI KA!

Pledge & Income Report – June 2022

Contributions received in June: $15,607.
Amount of money needed to cover expenses: $24,114.
We are behind by $8,507.

Every year we need an extra push in the summer to keep our income current. Please keep up with you pledge so we can keep current with our bills.

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!

August

MARGIE ZIMMERMAN
Filipe DaFonseca
Leon Dephkalion
Glow Franklin
Will Schwarz
Anna Tsikitas
Barbara Sasen

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.

Helping Our Seniors With Parking

With the church growing the parking lot is close to full every Sunday. Younger parishioners, could you park in the grass lot even if spaces are open in the paved area? That way our seniors can park closer to the entrance and avoid the grassy area where it is easier to stumble and fall.

Calendar also available on the St. Peter website.

AUGUST

Dormition Fasting Period from August 1-15.

SUN AUG 07 — EIGHTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Wed Aug 10 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
Thu Aug 10 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
Fri Aug 12 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
Sat Aug 13 — St. Maximos the Confessor Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM

SUN AUG 14 — DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Fri Aug 19 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM

SUN AUG 21 — TENTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Tue Aug 23 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Sat Aug 27 — Chase Mudd Baptism Time TBA LIVE STREAM

SUN AUG 28 — ELEVENTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Mon Aug 29 — Beheading of St. John the Baptist Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Wed Aug 31 — St. Symeon the Stylite / New Ecclesiastical Year Divine Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM

You see, every physical war first begins with thoughts. First people cannot stand each other; then they begin destroying one another. Elder Thaddeus(Strabulovich) of Vitovnica

The opposing virtues must be immediately planted in place of eradicated passions. The Holy Fathers enumerate these virtues in the following order: (1) abstinence is opposed to gluttony, (2) chastity is opposed to fornication, (3) nonacquisitiveness is opposed to avarice, (4) meekness is opposed to anger, (5) blessed tears about one’s sins are opposed to despair, (6) sobriety is opposed to sorrow, (7) humility is opposed to vanity, and (8) love is opposed to pride. Archbishop Averky (Taushev)

Don’t leave the reading every day; at least one hour a day and prayer. Wherever you are, close yourself in a room, under the pretext that you are supposedly going to rest. Elder Arsenios Galanopoulos, the cave dweller

One who is pursuing the spiritual way should therefore fight the passions when they approach like ants, hoping to deceive him by their trivial appearance. For if they are allowed to gain a lion’s strength, it is hard to resist them and to refuse them the food they demand. Venerable Nilus the Faster of Sinai

The Church always hearkens to the views of those who remain in unity with her, overcoming problems and sorrows in her midst, pained by her pains. Metropolitan Laurus

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

Names will remain on the list for three 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 June 4 / Resets August 1.

Current Prayer List

Anthony Presbyter (Kerr 10/22)
Angel (Ghanem 10/22)
Abott Tryphon (Jacobse 10/22)
Edgar (Chapekis 9/22)
Evthriki (Jacobse 9/22)
Christos (Johnson 8/22)
Jon Paul (Andrew 8/22)
William (Brubaker 8/22)
Peter (Tewis 8/22)
Alberta (Dusckas 8/22)
Connie (Dusckas 8/22)
Johanna (Dimartino 7/22)
Sarah (Tomlinson 7/22)
Natasha (Tomlinson 7/22)
Christine (Brubaker 7/22)
Elena (Brubaker 7/22)
Stella (Brubaker 7/22)
Steven (Breitenbach)
Gabrielle (Lowell 5/22)
George (Haynes 4/21)
Kayla (Palentine 4/21)
Basil (Jacobse 3/22)
Linda M. (Dusckas 3/22)
Barbara (Dusckas 3/22)
Fr John (Jacobse 3/22)
John (Duskas 3/22)
Nancy (Coin 3/22)
Nicholas (Ghanem 1/22)
Arielle (Ghanem 1/22)
Georgia (Sarros 1/22)
Kerri (Dusckas 1/21)
The People of Ukraine

Permanent Prayer List

Archpriest Dionysius (Valentine 9/12)
Katheryn (Tolkkinen)
Markisia (Long)
Angela (Long)
Marina (Long)
Eleni (Long)
Raphaella (Long)
Joanne (Haley)
Francine (Anton)
Corwin (Dusckas)
Corgette (Troutman)
Irina (Irina)
Seraphim (Irina)
Lidia (Irina)
Sarina (Ghanem)
Debbie (Breitenbach)
Kathy (Breitenbach)
Hope (Isadore)
John (Long)
Pantelis (Tsikita)
Marisa (Tsikita)
Barbara (Dionysopoulos)
Patricia (Evanoff)
Gabriel (Mankus)
Baby Dani (Repya)
Despina (Diversis)b
Fredericos (Diveris)
Herman (Kerr)
Innocent (Kerr)
Nicholas (Kerr)
Paola (Jacobse)
Gregory (Yankopolos)
Soterios (Ninos)
Pauline (Poulos)
Sergio (Kazakos)
Fran (Hansen)
Nina (Krotov)
Franklin (Pyrrson)
Demetrios (Kuchera)
Theodosios (Palis)
Theodora (Webb)
Robert (Smith)
Presbytera Rosy (in Pakistan)
James (Hord)
Vassiliki (Kontinos)
Vassiliki (Morekeas)
Vassilike (Hord)

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)
Robert (Jarvis)
George (Corey)
Matushka Marion (Valentine)
Mary (Ghanem 10/22)
Sophia (D. Constantine)

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.

EPISTLE

For the Dormition of the Theotokos

My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He hath regarded the humility of His servant.

The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians. (2:5-11)

Brethren, let this mind be in you, which is also in Christ Jesus; who, being in the form of
God, did not think it robbery to be equal with God, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming Himself in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross. For this cause also God highly exalted Him, and gave Him a Name which is above every name; that in the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and those who are on earth, and those who are under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

GOSPEL