The Entrance of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into Jerusalem
Palm Sunday
Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
![The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem](https://stpeterorthodoxchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/palm-sunday-facebook-500x303-1.png)
The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Palm Sunday
On the Sunday before the Feast of Great and Holy Pascha and at the beginning of Holy Week, the Orthodox Church celebrates one of its most joyous feasts of the year. Palm Sunday is the commemoration of the Entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem following His glorious miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. Having anticipated His arrival and having heard of the miracle, the people went out to meet the Lord and welcomed Him with displays of honor and shouts of praise. On this day, we receive and worship Christ in this same manner, acknowledging Him as our King and Lord.at the Virgin would show her. A voice replied to her from on high: “If you cross the Jordan, you will find rest.”
The biblical story of Palm Sunday is recorded in all four of the Gospels (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-38; and John 12:12-18). Five days before the Passover, Jesus came from Bethany to Jerusalem. Having sent two of His disciples to bring Him a colt of a donkey, Jesus sat upon it and entered the city.
People had gathered in Jerusalem for the Passover and were looking for Jesus, both because of His great works and teaching and because they had heard of the miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus. When they heard that Christ was entering the city, they went out to meet Him with palm branches, laying their garments on the ground before Him, and shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he that comes in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel!”
Read more about Palm Sunday on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website.
Lazarus Saturday Liturgy on Saturday, April 22, 2024
![The Raising of Lazarus](https://stpeterorthodoxchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/lazarus-482x192-2.png)
The Raising of Lazarus
On the Saturday before Holy Week, the Orthodox Church commemorates a major feast of the year, the miracle of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when he raised Lazarus from the dead after he had lain in the grave four days. Here, at the end of Great Lent and the forty days of fasting and penitence, the Church combines this celebration with that of Palm Sunday. In triumph and joy the Church bears witness to the power of Christ over death and exalts Him as King before entering the most solemn week of the year, one that leads the faithful in remembrance of His suffering and death and concludes with the great and glorious Feast of Pascha.
Parents – Bring Your Children to the Saturday of Lazarus!
We will begin with the Liturgy (where Fr. Hans will explain the importance of the day to the children), a pancake breakfast, making palm crosses to be distributed the next day on Palm Sunday.
Palm Sunday Brunch Sunday April 23, 2024
![Palm Sunday Brunch](http://stpeterorthodoxchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/palm-sunday-brunch-2015.png)
St. Peter’s will hold a Palm Sunday Brunch following the Liturgy on Palm Sunday, April 24, 2024. This is a great time of fellowship for all.
Make sure to sign up in the Social Hall!
Learn About Lent
Check out the rich resources about Lent and Holy Week on the Antiochian website.
Services and Events This Week
- SUN Apr 21 — SUNDAY OF ST. MARY OF EGYPT Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Apr 22 — Great Compline 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Wed Apr 24 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Fri Apr 26 — Small Compline with Canon of St. Lazarus 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Sat Apr 27 — Lazarus Saturday Liturgy 9:30am / Make crosses / Pancake breakfast / Children confessions — Full Schedule TBA LIVE STREAM
Presanctified Lenten Suppers
![Lenten Supper](https://stpeterorthodoxchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lenten-supper-500x141-1.jpg)
Every Wednesday after Presanctified Liturgy on the Wednesdays during Lent, we gather for fellowship over a simple Lenten supper.
Journey to Pascha
Decorating the Kovouklion (Tomb of Christ)
![Decorating the Kovouklon (Tomb of Christ](https://stpeterorthodoxchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/kovouklion-500x263-1.jpg)
Decoration of the Kovouklion is scheduled for May 3 at 10:00am. Please donate for the flowers. Donations can be given to Angela Long, Ron Franklin, or Fr. Hans.
Can You Help Support St. Peter Good Samaritan Fund?
![The Good Samaritan - Van Gogh](https://stpeterorthodoxchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/good-samaritan-500x396-1.jpg)
Occasionally members of St. Peter’s on fixed incomes are having a hard time making ends meet particularly when an emergency arises. We support our members through the Good Samaritan Fund, an earmark in our budget to aid parish families through the occasional hard times that come. With the weakening economy and particularly with the high inflation, the needs are increasing and the funds are running low.
We would like to raised $10,000 to $15,000 to replenish the fund. Your gift will remain anonymous (it will be recorded on your year end statement as a charitable donation) as well as those who receive it.
Please contribute a separate check with the notation “Good Samaritan Fund” in the memo line. Give it to Fr. Hans or Ron Franklin or drop it in the offering box.
Orthodoxy 101 Class Continues
![Small steps into the Kingdom](https://stpeterorthodoxchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/small-steps-book-cover-314x500-1.jpg)
Subdeacon Joseph will lead the classes. The classes will run every Sunday following Social Hour. Schedule and syllabus will be handed out at the next class this Sunday.
We will use Fr. Spyridon Bailey’s “Small Steps into the Kingdom” available from Amazon here.
All catechumens are required to attend but the class is open to everyone.
Web Site Fixed — But Please Be Patient Because…
…It still needs some fine tuning. Websites are fickle beasts but we are almost there. The good news is that the calendar is back. One or two weeks and it will be where we want it to be.
Bible Bowl Invitation!
All teens are invited to join our Catechism team and study the book of Romans. Actually adults are invited too as we can have an adult team as well.
St. Peter’s teens won 2nd place last year at the Parish Life Conference for the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast.
The competition this year will be held in Georgia, near Atlanta over the weekend of June 13-15. All questions for the competition will be from the book of Romans.
If you are interested in studying Romans, whether you want to travel to the conference in Georgia or just study with the team, please contact Diana Najjar at 317-213-5785 or msdiananajjar@gmail.com. Currently we are studying by zoom, but we plan to meet together when the opportunity arises. Diana is flexible to work with teens at a time that fits their schedule.
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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 Parish Life Retreat in Hiram Georgia
More information at DOMSE website.
![St. Peter Orthodox Church Fort Myers FL](https://stpeterorthodoxchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/divider-housekeeping.jpg)
ST. PETER’S GREETERS
APRIL 2024
- Apr 07 — George Tsikatis — Candice Rosen — Joe Repya
- Apr 14 — George Tsikatis — Pavlo Bilych — Moriah Peterson
- Apr 21 — George Tsikatis — Candice Rosen
- Apr 28 — George Tsikatis — Will Schwarz
Can you volunteer? Please call Joe Repya 612-270-4443.
![Social Hall All Stars](https://stpeterorthodoxchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/social-hall-all-stars-500x100-2.jpg)
SOCIAL HALL ALL STARS
APRIL 2024
TEAM #1 — Barbara Dionysopoulas Group for April 2024
April 07 — Coffee, Bagels and Mixed Fruit
April 14 — Coffee, Donuts and Mixed Fruit
April 21 — Coffee, Cookies and Mixed Fruit
April 28 — Coffee, Coffee Cake and Mixed Fruit*
MAY 2024
TEAM #2 Margie Zimmerman Group for May 2024
May 05 — Pascal Dinner at 1:00pm
May 12 — Coffee, Donuts and Mixed Fruit
May 19 — Coffee, Cookies and Mixed Fruit
May 26 — Coffee, Coffee Cake 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!
![St. Peter Orthodox Church Fort Myers FL](https://stpeterorthodoxchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/divider-calendar.jpg)
APRIL
- SUN Apr 21 — SUNDAY OF ST. MARY OF EGYPT Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Apr 22 — Great Compline 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Wed Apr 24 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Fri Apr 26 — Small Compline with Canon of St. Lazarus 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Sat Apr 27 — Lazarus Saturday Liturgy 9:30am / Make crosses / Pancake breakfast / Children confessions — Full Schedule TBA LIVE STREAM
HOLY WEEK
- Sun April 28 — PALM SUNDAY Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am
Brunch in Social Hall following Divine Liturgy
Bridegroom Service 6:30pm LIVE STREAM - Mon Apr 29 — HOLY MONDAY Bridegroom Service 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Tue Apr 30 — HOLY TUESDAY Bridegroom Service 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Wed May 01 — HOLY WEDNESDAY Holy Unction 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Thu May 02 — HOLY THURSDAY Liturgy of the Last Supper 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Reading of the Twelve Gospels 6:00pm (note earlier time) LIVE STREAM - Fri May 03 — HOLY FRIDAY Royal Hours 9:00am LIVE STREAM
Decoration of Tomb of Christ 10:30am LIVE STREAM
Taking Christ Down from the Cross 3:00pm LIVE STREAM
Lamentations 6:30pm LIVE STREAM - Sat May 04 — HOLY SATURDAY – First Resurrection Service 9:30am / Baptisms LIVE STREAM
Great and Holy Pascha 10:00pm LIVE STREAM - Sun May 05 — Agape Vespers / Reading of Gospel in different languages 11:00am LIVE STREAM
Paschal Dinner in Social Hall 1:00pm / Easter egg hunt for children
![St. Peter Orthodox Church Fort Myers FL](https://stpeterorthodoxchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/divider-elders.jpg)
The word of the man reveals what is in his mind and heart (reveals the mind—unseen, dominating, and creating) Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
If the Lord were not long-suffering, if He were not the Lover of men, would He have borne with our great offences? would He have been incarnate? would He have suffered and died for you? would He have given you His most pure Body and Blood, upon which even the angels look with fear and trembling? Would He have saved you from sin and spiritual death so many innumerable times? Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
Every passion, every even seemingly insignificant sinful predilection results at times in unbearable inner torment, creating a true hell in one’s soul. The one given over to passions and vices begins to experience already here on earth the full force of the torments of hell that await the sinner in the afterlife.
Archbishop Averky (Taushev)
The intellect does many good and bad things without the body, whereas the body can do neither good nor evil without the intellect. This is because the law of freedom applies to what happens before we act. Saint Kosmas Aitolos
As medicines purge the body from the impurity of bad humours, so grievous afflictions purify the heart from evil passions. Venerable Isaac the Syrian, bishop of Nineveh
![St. Peter Orthodox Church Fort Myers FL](https://stpeterorthodoxchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/divider-prayer.jpg)
- 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
Barbara (Duskas)
Doug S (Duskas)
Marc C. (Duskas)
Rachel (Voss)
Ken John (Eaton)
Diane (Najar)
William (Semeretis)
David (Orfanos)
Maria (Orfanos)
William (Long)
George (Chionis 11-1)
Haley
Lydia
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)
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
Bonnie Joseph
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.
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![Search the Scriptures](http://stpeterorthodoxchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/pantokrator-blessing.png)
EPISTLE
Make your vows to the Lord our God, and perform them.
God is known in Judah; His Name is great in Israel.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (9:11-14)
Brethren, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, thenthrough the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), Heentered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but His ownblood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the bloodof goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself withoutblemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
GOSPEL
Blessed is He Who cometh in the Name of the Lord.
O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endures forever.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians. (4:4-9)
Brethren, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice! Let your forbearance be known to all people. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things. The things which you both learned and received, and heard and saw in me, these things do; and the God of peace will be with you.
GOSPEL
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (12:1-18)
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus who had died was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at table with Him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.
But Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, one of His Disciples (he who was to betray Jesus), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not because he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the moneybox he used to take what was put into it. Jesus said, “Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of My burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have Me.”
When the great crowd of the Jews learned that He was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, “Hosanna! Blessed is He Who cometh in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel!”
And Jesus found a young ass and sat upon it; as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on an ass’s colt!” His Disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of Him and had been done to Him. The crowd that had been with Jesus when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet Jesus was that they heard He had done this sign.