St. Peter News October 31, 2023

Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost
Fifth Sunday of Luke

Martyrs Galaktion and Episteme of Emmes; Apostles Hermas, Linus, Gaius, Patrobas and Philologos of the Seventy

Who Are the Martyrs Galaktion and Episteme of Emmes?

By St. Nikolai Velimirovich

Both Galaktion and Episteme were born in the city of Edessa, in Phoenicia. Galaktion’s mother was barren until she was baptized. After her baptism, she converted her husband, Cleitophon, to the true Faith, baptized her son Galaktion, and raised him in the Christian Faith [they had been catechized by a monk named Onouphrios]. When Galaktion was old enough to marry, his good mother, Leukippa, entered into rest, and his father betrothed him to a pagan-born maiden named Episteme. By no means did Galaktion want to enter into marriage, and convinced Episteme to be baptized, then to be tonsured a nun at the same time that he became a monk.

Both of them withdrew to Mount Publion (near Mount Sinai) – Galaktion to a monastery and Episteme to a convent. They proved to be shining lights in their monasteries. They were first in labor, first in prayer, first in humility and obedience, and first in love. They neither left their monasteries nor did they see one another until just before their death. A fierce persecution began and both of them were brought before the tribunal [in Alexandria under the governor Ursus]. When the pagans mercilessly whipped Galaktion, Episteme wept. Then they whipped her. After that, they cut off their hands, their feet and then their heads. Their friend Eutolmios took their bodies and honorably buried them. Eutolmios had been a slave of Episteme’s parents, and then a monk with Galaktion. He also wrote the life of these wonderful Martyrs of Christ who suffered and received their wreaths in heaven in the year 253. [Galaktion was 30 years old at his martyrdom, while Episteme was 16 years old].

Read the entire biography on the Mystagogy website.

Services and Events This Week

• Sun Oct 29 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Tue Oct 31 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am 8:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Nov 01 — Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Nov 03 — St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
• Sat Nov 04 — Divine Liturgy St. Raphael of Brooklyn 8:00am LIVE STREAM

Changes at St. Peter’s

Changes are happening at St. Peter’s. Some of the changes are bring us closer to the proper ordering of Orthodox practice while others are for better functioning of St. Peter’s.

CHANGE OF SERVICE TIMES

• Weekday services formerly held at 9:30am will begin at 8am. This is to better accommodate the worshipers who attend.
• Weekday liturgies with a start time of 6:00am remain the same.
• Sunday Orthos and Divine Liturgy start times (8:30am/9:30am) remain the same.

PRIEST AND ALTAR SERVERS DURING THE GREAT PROCESSION

• When St. Peter’s was smaller, lay worshiper participated in the Great Procession because there was a need. Starting immediately only the Priest and Altar Servers will participate in the procession. This is in keeping with proper Orthodox practice.
• If there is ever a need for lay participation, Fr. Hans will ask one or two men to help out.

BLESSING OF CATECHUMENS AND OTHER COMMUNICANTS

• The proper place to receive the andidoron (blessed bread) for anyone not receiving the Holy Eucharist is during the dismissal at the conclusion of the Liturgy. Only baptized Orthodox Christians in good moral and ecclesiastic standing should be in the line approaching Holy Communion. This change restores the proper Orthodox practice.

TOUCHING THE PRIEST’S VESTMENTS DURING DURING THE GREAT PROCESSION

• Some people touch the priests vestments during the Great Procession. While this is a pious custom and there is nothing intrinsically wrong with it and no real prohibition exists against it, please refrain from the practice going forward. The practice has become so widespread that it disturbs the solemnity of the worship.

THE DISMISSAL IS STILL PART OF THE SERVICE AND WE SHOULD EXIT QUIETLY AS THE PRAYERS FOLLOWING HOLY COMMUNION ARE BEING READ

• Please start the private conversations after exiting the Church so that the Thanksgiving prayers can be heard clearly.

CASUAL IS FINE BUT NOT TOO CASUAL

• We live in Florida where the dress code is more relaxed than Orthodox parishes in the north. However, we need to keep a level of formality that rises above something that is suitable for, say, Walmart or Publix, or a quick drive to Home Depot. No shorts, no tank tops, no flip-flops, that sort of thing. Modest and respectable is the key.

New Landscaping in the Works

It’s time to spruce up the grounds. The dying palms will be removed, irrigation with be added to the courtyard, the wooded area south of the parking lot will be cleared, new trees planted, and more. Stay tuned.

St. Peter Adult Education: The Problem with Orthodoxy in America — Please Note Correct Date

On Saturday, December 9, 2023 from 10:00am to 12:pm, Fr. Hans will overview of secularism in our lives and in the parish. Everyone is encouraged to attend.

Decades ago, Fr. Alexander Schmemann, formerly the President of St. Vladimir’s Seminary and a widely known theologian in America was able to locate one the most serious challenge facing Orthodoxy Christianity in America. That challenge was secularism, the idea that Orthodox Christianity was just another religion, instead of the road to God that offers transformation, healing, and hope.

Orthodoxy is not a religion. Orthodoxy is a way of life, a walking of the narrow road that reveals God to us and makes us fully human. If we have trouble seeing this, most likely it’s because we have adopted secular ideals and don’t even know it. This spills into our life, and if it spills into our life, it also spills into the Church. If that happens the Church ceases to become the true body of Christ. It just turns into another denomination.

Fr. Alexanders essay is posted on the website. Don’t be daunted by the length of it. Fr. Hans will draw bite-sized pieces from it and we sill discuss how being aware of the secularism will make both ourselves and our parish stronger.

The meeting will also be available on ZOOM at this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88061553942?pwd=5vjaGXtmhbEKGphW1twrW2A46JfBut.1

Parish Council Members: Please note that the Parish Council meeting will begin at 8:30am and conclude at 10:00am that morning. All members are required to attend.

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.

Get more information here.

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.

DOMSE MEN’S RETREAT IN MARCH 2024

Only 62 spaces left so register early.

More information at DOMSE website.

ST. PETER'S GREETERS

NOVEMBER 2023

NOV 5 Paula Kambaros — Candice Rosen
NOV 12 Joe and Deb Repya — George Tsikitas
NOV 19 George Karounos — Doug and Tina Kucera
NOV 26 Pavlo Bilych — Will Schwarz — George Tsikitas

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

SOCIAL HALL ALL STARS

NOVEMBER 2023

TEAM #2 – Margie Zimmerman Group for November
Nov 5 –- Coffee, Cake and Mixed Fruit
Nov 12 –- Coffee, Bagels and Mixed Fruit
Nov 19 –- Coffee, Donuts and Mixed Fruit
Nove 26 –- Coffee, Cookies and Mixed Fruit

For Special Events/Koliva please contact BARBARA SASEN and give her a completed Special Events Form which is found in the lobby of the church.

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

OCTOBER-NOVEMBER

• Sun Oct 29 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Tue Oct 31 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 8:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Nov 01 — Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Nov 03 — St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
• Sat Nov 04 — Divine Liturgy St. Raphael of Brooklyn 8:00am LIVE STREAM

NOVEMBER

• Sun Nov 05 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Tue Nov 07 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 8:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Nov 08 — Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Thu Nov 09 — St. Nektarios Divine Liturgy 8:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Nov 11 — St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
• Sat Nov 12 — Parish Council Meeting 10:00am

• Sun Nov 12 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Nov 13 — St. John Chrysostom Divine Liturgy 8:00am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Nov 13 Noon – Wed Nov 15 Fr. Hans out of town
• Wed Nov 16 — CANCELLED Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Nov 17 — St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm

• Sun Nov 19 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Tue Nov 21 — Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple Divine Liturgy 8:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Nov 22 — Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Thu Nov 23 — Thanksgiving Day
• Fri Nov 24 — St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
• Sat Nov 25 — St. Katherine the Great Martyr Divine Liturgy 8:00am

NOVEMBER—DECEMBER

• Sun Nov 26 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Nov 29 — Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Thu Nov 30 — St. Andrew the First Called Divine Liturgy 8:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Dec 01 — St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
• Sat Dec 02 — St. Porphyrios Divine Liturgy 8:00am LIVE STREAM

Wisdom From The Elders

For the traveler it is a source of joy to return to where he started. But for the watchful man to turn back is the death of his deiform soul and the sign of his apostasy from thoughts, words and actions that accord with God’s will. St. Hesychius the Theologian of Jerusalem, disciple of St. Gregory the Theologian

Yet he who hopes to achieve true, undefiled and complete virginity does not stop here. Following the Apostle’s teaching, he struggles to put to death every trace and stirring of passion itself. Even so, he is still not entirely satisfied but he longs intensely for angelic and undefiled virginity to establish itself in his body. He prays for the disappearance even of the mere thought of lust, occurring as a momentary disturbance of the intellect, without any movement and working of bodily passion. St Mark the Ascetic

If some Christians cannot comprehend our Orthodox faith, its Sacraments, it proves that the minds and hearts of such persons are too impure and passionate to bear its purity and brightness, just as sick eyes cannot bear the light of the sun. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

Rejoice at every opportunity of showing kindness to your neighbor as a true Christian who strives to store up as many good works as possible, especially the treasures of love. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

If you think you are becoming “disturbed” by people or by external circumstances, you have not understood your work aright: everything that at first glance appears disturbing is really given as an opportunity for practice in tolerance, patience and obedience. The humble man cannot be disturbed, he can only disturb. Tito Colliander

Blessed is he who always humbles himself willingly, for he will be crowned by the One Who willingly humbled Himself for us. Venerable Ephraim the Syrian

• 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 (Chionis 11-1)
Mark (Chionis 11-1)
Katheryn (Chionis 11-1)
Jacob (Chionis 11-1)
Ken (Chionis 11-1)
Maxim (Koco)
George (Tsikistas 8/1)
George (Mourgis 8/1)
Barbara (Sason 8/1)
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 newborn 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)
Maria (Sovjani)
Maria (Sovjani)
Maria (Sovjani)
Katerina (Sovjani)
Frederick (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)
s
John (Long)
Pantelis (Tsikita)
Marisa (Tsikita)
Barbara (Dionysopoulos)
Patricia (Evanoff)
Gabriel (Mankus)
Baby Dani (Repya)
Despina (Diversis)
Fredericos (Diveris)
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)
George (Ninos)
John (Katsigianopoulos)
George (Chionis)
Mary (Spiropoulos)
Gregory (Pappas)
Angela (Coran K
Eugene (Rust)
Robert (Jarvis)
George (Corey)
Patricia (Cotsones)
Seraphim (Zolio)
Apostolos

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 Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost

Thou, O Lord, shalt preserve us and keep us from this generation.
Save me, O Lord, for the godly man hath disappeared.

The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians. (6:11-18)

Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the Law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all, who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen

GOSPEL

For the Fifth Sunday of Luke)

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (16:19-31)

The Lord said, “There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.’

But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’

And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’

He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”