St. Peter News June 27, 2023

Theotokos’ Robe in Blachernae
Fourth Sunday of Matthew

Juvenaly, archbishop of Jerusalem; the New-martyrs of Samothrace; Archbishop John Maximovitch of Shanghai and San Francisco

Theotokos’ Robe in Blachernae

During the reign of Byzantine Emperor Leo the Great in the early fifth century, the brothers Galbius and Candidus traveled from Constantinople to Palestine to venerate the holy places. They stayed in the home of an old Jewish woman in a small settlement near Nazareth. They noticed a room in her house where many lamps were lit, incense burned, and sick people were gathered. When they asked her what the room contained, the pious woman did not answer for a long time. After persistent requests, she said that she had a very precious sacred item: the Robe of the Mother of God, which performed many miracles and healings. Before Her Dormition, the Most Holy Virgin bequeathed one of her garments to a pious Jewish maiden, an ancestor of the old woman, instructing her to leave it to another virgin after her death. Thus, the Robe of the Mother of God was preserved in this family from generation to generation.

The jeweled chest, containing the sacred Robe, was ultimately transferred to Constantinople. St. Gennadius, Patriarch of Constantinople, and Emperor Leo, having learned of the sacred treasure, were convinced of the incorrupt state of the holy Robe, and they certified its authenticity. At Blachernae, near the coast, a new church in honor of the Mother of God was constructed. On June 2, 458, St. Gennadius transferred the sacred Robe into the Blachernae church with appropriate solemnity, placing it in a new reliquary.

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Read the entire article on the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese website.

Archbishop John Maximovitch of Shanghai and San Francisco

Our Father among the Saints John (Maximovitch), Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco (1896-1966), was a diocesan bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) who served widely from China to France to the United States.

The future Saint John was born on June 4, 1896, in the village of Adamovka in Kharkiv province to pious aristocrats, Boris and Glafira Maximovitch. He was given the baptismal name of Michael, after the Holy Archangel Michael. In his youth, Michael was sickly and had a poor appetite, but he displayed an intense religious interest. He was educated at the Poltava Military School (1907-14); Kharkiv Imperial University, from which he received a law degree (in 1918); and the University of Belgrade (where he completed his theological education in 1925).

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Read the full biography of Vladyka John on the Orthodox Church in America website.

Services and Events This Week

• Sun Jun 25 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Tue Jun 27 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Jun 28 — CANCELLED Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Jun 28 — Sts Peter and Paul Divine Liturgy at St. Paul's Orthros 5:00pm, Liturgy 6:00pm
• Fri Jun 30 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm Social Hall
• Sat Jul 01 — Sts. Kosmas and Damien Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM

NOTE NEW TIME St. Peter and Paul Liturgy on Wednesday June 27, 2023 at 6:00pm at St. Paul's

The feast day of Sts. Peter and Paul are also the feast day of St. Peter and our sister parish St. Paul in Naples. We will celebrate this day together on the eve of the Feast on Wednesday, June 27 at St. Paul's in Naples. Orthros begins at 5:00pm, Divine Liturgy at 6:00pm.

Joseph (Chase) and Ruth (Emma) Wedding on Saturday, July 1 at 3:00pm at St. Paul’s Orthodox Church

Joseph and Emma will be married Saturday, July 1 at St. Paul Orthodox Church in Naples, FL. Fr. Hans will officiate at the wedding.

They extend an invitation to all the members of St. Peter’s to join them. The wedding begins at 3:00pm.

Early Morning Wednesday Liturgy Cancelled this Week

Wednesday Liturgy is cancelled this week because of the evening Liturgy celebrating our feast day at St. Paul’s in the evening.

We Are Behind on Our Pledges

Summer is always a bit lean on our contributions and pledges. As noted below we are behind by $12,339 in our contributions for May.

This is a gentle reminder to remain current on our giving so that we continue to the maintain the work of St. Peter's responsibly and with care.

Humanitarian Aid for the Suffering in Ukraine

Humanitarian aid for Ukraine — What is Needed:

1. Children‘s clothes and footwear;
2. Baby formula;
3. Food for infants and toddlers;
4. Nut, protein bars;
5. Cookies;
6. Diapers ( size 1-6), wet wipes;
7. Hygiene products for kids and adults( soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes);
8. Towels, bed sheets.

Look, please, at the expiration day of the food.

Please do not donate following:glass containers, liquids.

Humanitarian aid would be appreciated packed in boxes.Don’t seal the boxes.

Galyna plans to have folks drop items off between noon and 3:00 PM on Sundays (you can bring them to church in a box). She will coordinate with contributors on Wednesday June 28, 2023.

Let's Pray the Paraklesis to the Theotokos Daily

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.

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.

ST. PETER'S GREETERS

JUNE 2023

• Jun 04 Joe and Deb Repya Need Additional Volunteer
• Jun 11 Need Additional Volunteers
• Jun 18 Need Additional Volunteers
• Jun 25 Candice Rosen and Ray Locklear

JULY 2023

• Jul 02 Will Schwartz Need Additional Volunteers
• Jul 09 Will Schwartz Need Additional Volunteers
• Jul 16 Will Schwartz Need Additional Volunteers
• Jul 23 Will Schwartz Need Additional Volunteers
• Jul 30 Will Schwartz Need Additional Volunteers

Can you volunteer? Please call Joe Repya 612-270-4443.

SOCIAL HALL ALL STARS

JUNE

• TOM HALEY
• Marlene Haley
• Cheryl Morse
• Tim Morse
• Diana Najjar
• Deb Repya
• Elaine Semeretis
• Gregory Semeretis
• Dino Magas
• Jennifer Magas
• Mikala Magas
• Michael Magas

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

JUNE

Sts. Peter and Paul Fasting Period June 12-28, 2023

• Sun Jun 25 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Tue Jun 27 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Jun 28 — CANCELLED Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Jun 28 — Sts Peter and Paul Divine Liturgy at St. Paul's Orthros 5:00pm, Liturgy 6:00pm
• Fri Jun 30 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm Social Hall
• Sat Jul 01 — Sts. Kosmas and Damien Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM

JULY

• Sun Jul 02 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Tue Jul 04 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Jul 05 — Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Jul 07 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm Social Hall
• Sat Jul 08 — Parish Council Meeting

• Sun Jul 09 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Jul 10 — St. Joseph of Damascus Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Jul 12 — Early Divine Liturgy (St. Paisios of Athos) 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Jul 14 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm Social Hall
• Sat Jul 15 — St. Vladimir Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM

• Sun Jul 16 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Tue Jul 18 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Jul 19 — Early Divine Liturgy (St. Paisios of Athos) 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Thu Jul 20 — Elias the Prophet Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Jul 21 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm Social Hall

• Sun Jul 23 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Jul 24 – Sat Jul 29 — Fr. Hans out of town
• Wed Jul 26 — CANCELLED Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Thu Jul 27 — Elias the Prophet Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Jul 28 — CANCELLED Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm Social Hall

The Good God provides each of us with a cross to bear – analogous to the strength of each – not to punish us, but to enable us to climb from that cross to Heaven – because in essence, the cross is a ladder to Heaven. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos

You have crucified your body by nailing it fast with a simple and uniform manner of life under strict self-discipline. Your thought-life and imagination ought to be as strictly controlled. Nail them fast with the words of prayer and Holy Scripture, with the reading of Psalms and the works of the holy Fathers, where these things are commanded, Tito Colliander

Blessed are the poor in spirit, who ever acknowledge their own nothingness—and the omnipotence of God; blessed are those who are free from care in this life; blessed are the simple-hearted; blessed are those who commend themselves in all things into the hands of God. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

The beginnings of prayer reside in a simple phrase: “Lord, have mercy,” but the heights of prayer go beyond all words. The holy Apostle Paul reveals this when he affirms that the Holy Spirit “Himself makes intercession for us.” For, as the Saint says, the Spirit dwells in you; and so He manifests prayer in our innermost being, where our own words are incapable of expressing the true groanings of the heart. Bishop Irenei Steenberg

Obedience is the virtue of a life in which self-will is sacrificed at the altar of the Cross, and the human person is united fully to the will of God. Bishop Irenei Steenberg

• 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.

Current Prayer List

George (Tsikistas 8/1)
George (Mourgis 8/1)
Barbara (Sason 8/1)
Stelios (Haley 7/1)
Madison (Tewis 6/1)
Anthony (Breitenbach 6/1)
Arielle (Ghanem 6/1)
Nicholas (Ghanem 6/1)
Christos
Father Demetris
Jamie
Pamela
David
Jessica
Christina (Hildreth)
Georgia and Richard and their unborn child (Chapekis)
Dionysios Chapekis)
Nancy (Forderhase)
Kayla (Palantine)
George (3/23 Chapekis)
Penelope (3/23 Chapekis)
Theodora (3/23)
Victor (3/23)
Barbara (Dusckas 3/23)
James (Dusckas 3/23)
Les (3/23
Lynn (Hurely 1/23)
Irene and unborn baby (Tsikitas 1/23)
Linda (Pappas 1/23)
Ekaterina (Chapekis 1/23)
Lee (Hurley 1/23)
Emmanuel (Kalousdis 1/23)
Katherine (Dusckas 1/23)
Vassiliki (Diveris 1/23)
Zena Touma (Contorelli 1/23
Lamia Touma (Contorelli 1/23
Matthew (Contorelli 1/23
Emmanuel (Kaloudis 1/23)
Nicholas
Marlene (Tewis 12/22)
Tina (Johnson 12/22)
Nicholas (De Lorenzo 12/22)
Priest Anthony (Karbo 11/22)
Archpriest Dionysius (Valentine 9/12)
Anthony Presbyter (Kerr 10/22)
John Presbyter (Jacobse)
Elain Presbytera (Jacobse)
Constantine(Jacobse)
Chrysoula(Jacobse)
Angel (Ghanem 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)
The People of Ukraine and People of Russia and all those who are suffering in the war

Permanent Prayer List

Michael (Sovjani)
Arsen (Sovjani)
Irene (Diveris)
Katheryn (Tolkkinen)
Markisia (Long)
Angela (Long)
Marina (Long)
Eleni (Long)
Raphaella (Long)
Joanne (Haley)
Corwin (Dusckas)
Corgette (Troutman)
Irina (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)
Fredericos (Diveris)
Makrina and her unborn baby (Kerr)
Herman (Kerr)
Innocent (Kerr)
Nicholas (Kerr)
Paola (Jacobse)
Gregory (Yankopolos)
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)
Soterios (Ninos)
John (Katsigianopoulos)
George (Chionis)
Mary (Spiropoulos)
Gregory (Pappas)
Angela (Coran K
Eugene (Rust)
Robert (Jarvis)
George (Corey)
Patricia (Cotsones)
Seraphim (Zolio)

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 Theotokos’ Robe

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

The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (9:1-7)

Brethren, even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. For a tent was prepared, the outer one, in which were the lamp stand and the table and the bread of the Presence; it is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain stood a tent called the Holy of Holies, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, which contained a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the outer tent, performing their ritual duties; but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people.

GOSPEL

For the Fourth Sunday of Matthew

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (8:5-13)

At that time, as Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching Him and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion answered Him, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard him, He marveled, and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.” And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; be it done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.