First Sunday of Great Lent
The Sunday of Orthodoxy
The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil
The Holy and Great Forty Martyrs of Sebastia
The Sunday of Orthodoxy
The Sunday of Orthodoxy is the first Sunday of Great Lent. The dominant theme of this Sunday since 843 has been that of the victory of the icons. In that year the iconoclastic controversy, which had raged on and off since 726, was finally laid to rest, and icons and their veneration were restored on the first Sunday in Lent. Ever since, this Sunday has been commemorated as the “Triumph of Orthodoxy.”
The Seventh Ecumenical Council dealt predominantly with the controversy regarding icons and their place in Orthodox worship. It was convened in Nicaea in 787 by Empress Irene at the request of Tarasios, Patriarch of Constantinople. The Council was attended by 367 bishops.
Almost a century before this, the iconoclastic controversy had once more shaken the foundations of both Church and State in the Byzantine empire. Excessive religious respect and the ascribed miracles to icons by some members of society, approached the point of worship (due only to God) and idolatry. This instigated excesses at the other extreme by which icons were completely taken out of the liturgical life of the Church by the Iconoclasts. The Iconophiles, on the other-hand, believed that icons served to preserve the doctrinal teachings of the Church; they considered icons to be man’s dynamic way of expressing the divine through art and beauty.
An Endemousa (Regional) Synod was called in Constantinople in 843. Under Empress Theodora. The veneration of icons was solemnly proclaimed at the Hagia Sophia Cathedral. The Empress, her son Michael III, Patriarch Methodios, and monks and clergy came in procession and restored the icons in their rightful place. The day was called “Triumph of Orthodoxy.” Since that time, this event is commemorated yearly with a special service on the first Sunday of Lent, the “Sunday of Orthodoxy”.
Read more on the Greek Orthodox website.
Procession With Icons Following the Divine Liturgy
We will hold the procession of icons following the Divine Liturgy and read the Decree of the Seventh Ecumenical Council that restored the proper veneration of icons. Children should bring their icons from home to partake in the procession.
Services and Events This Week
- SUN Mar 02 — FORGIVENESS SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY / CHEESEFARE SUNDAY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sun Mar 02 — FORGIVENESS SUNDAY VESPERS (Following Social Hall)
- Mon Mar 03 — LENT BEGINS
- Mon Mar 03 — Great Compline with Canon of St. Andrew 6:30pm
- Tue Mar 04 — Great Compline with Canon of St. Andrew 6:30pm
- Wed Mar 05 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Thu Mar 06 — Great Compline with Canon of St. Andrew 6:30pm
- Fri Mar 07 — First Stanza Salutations to the Theotokos (Akathis Service) 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Sat Mar 08 — Parish Council Meeting 10:00am
- Sat Mar 08 — GREAT VESPERS 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
Sunday of Orthodoxy Pan-Orthodox Vespers
Join us for the Sunday of Orthodoxy Pan-Orthodox Vespers on the first Sunday of Great Lent March 9, 2025 at St. Paul Orthodox Church in Naples, Clergy and faithful neighboring parishes will attend. The Vespers begin at 5:00pm.
Journey to Pascha
Preparation begins with a resolution in the heart to do better this year than we did last year. Lent requires more of us but the requirement is never a demand but an invitation because God is not coercive. He freely gives so that we may freely receive.
But God is what the scripture calls a “jealous God.” This does not mean that God is jealous, but that the requirements for salvation, the things that are necessary to experience His salvation do not change. For us Americans it might be easier to understand it this way: God’s directives are not subject to negotiation or compromise.
More is expected from us. The Sunday services will be longer because we perform the Liturgy of St. Basil instead of St. John Chrysostom. The prayers are longer and we will pray them all because we don’t negotiate or compromise with what the Fathers have handed down to us.
We are expected to fast from certain foods during Lent. Why? Because bodily discipline is necessary for the healing of the soul.
We are expected to attend more services? Why? Because prayer and worship are necessary to draw us closer to God. When we draw closer to God, He draws closer to us St. Paul teaches.
We are expected to aid the poor more. Why? Because he who cares for the poor finds honor from his maker.
We Americans don’t like being told what to do. We naturally resist any statement that begins with “We are expected…” We reflexively equate obedience with servitude and we don’t like servitude.
Remember though that God gives freely and we are to receive freely. God does not force obedience. If He did obedience would be coercion and not freely given.
At the same time, we don’t change the Church and its practices to fit our idea of how things should be. Through the Church we learn how to conform ourselves to Christ. We don’t conform the Church into our own image.
Volunteers for Wednesday Lenten Suppers
Every Wednesday after Presanctified Liturgy on the Wednesdays during Lent, we gather for fellowship over a simple Lenten supper.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered!
March
- 5 – Barbara and Kosta Dionysopoulos
- 12 – Kyriaki and Ioannis Ormandiou
- 19 – Glo Franklin and Barbara Sasson
- 26 – Barbara Sassen and Eleni Souganakis
April
- 2 – Katina Protopapadakis
- 9 – No one yet
Women’s Book Club Meets Friday 11am in the Social Hall
We will begin, “Thinking Orthodox”, by, Dr Eugenia (Jeannie) Constantinou. The book can be purchased on-line at Ancient Faith Store.
All women are welcome and encouraged to attend. Coffee will be served. We can’t wait to gather together!
We Need Donations for the Good Samaritan Fund
These are very difficult times for some of our parishioners. We need to replenish the Good Samaritan Fund to be able to help them. Can you donate? Please write a check and note “Good Samaritan Fund” in the memo box. If you would like to donate cash please put it in envelope marked “Good Samaritan Fund.”
When you bless a neighbor in need, you bless God.
Pledge and Income Report — January 2025
Contributions received in January $43,498.
Amount of money needed to cover expenses: $33,785.
For the month we are ahead by $9,713.
If you have not already done so, please complete a 2025 pledge form. Your pledge willplay a vital role in helping us meet our 2025 budget goals and will support ourpreparations for refinancing our mortgage in March 2026.
St. Peter Orthodox Church
7470 Hickory Drive
Fort Myers FL 33967
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ST. PETER’S GREETERS
Please note: Volunteers to serve as greeters are needed for December. Please contact Joe Repya if you can serve.
MARCH
- March 2 — Will Schwarz – Loana Dumitru
- March 9 — Barb – Costa Dionysopoulas
- March 16 — Will Schwarz – (Still looking to fill this slot)
- March 23 — Tina – Doug Kureca
- March 30 — Will Schwarz – Joe Repya
Can you volunteer? Please call Joe Repya 612-270-4443.
SOCIAL HALL ALL STARS
SUNDAY COFFEE HOURS – 2025
Please note: A fruit bowl, veggie or hummus tray may be added to a week’s menu.
- March 2025 – Sunday Coffee Hours – Team #3
- Sunday, March 2 – Coffee and bagels
- Sunday, March 9 – Coffee and donuts
- Sunday, March 16 – Coffee and muffins
- Sunday, March 23 – Coffee and coffee cakes
- Sunday, March 30 – Coffee and donuts
- April 2025 – Sunday Coffee Hours – Team #1 – Barb Dionysopoulos Group
- Sunday, April 6 – Coffee and bagels
- Sunday, April 13 – Palm Sunday – Coffee and muffins
- Sunday, April 20 – Pascha – Coffee and coffee cakes
- Sunday, April 27 – Coffee and donuts
- May 2025 – Sunday Coffee Hours – Team #2 – Margie Zimmerman Group
- Sunday, May 4 – Coffee and bagels
- Sunday, May 11 – Coffee and muffins
- Sunday, May 18 – Coffee and coffee cakes
- Sunday, May 25 – Coffee and donuts
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!
MARCH
The complete Lenten Schedule can be found on the St. Peter website.
All Lenten services will be live streamed.
- SUN Mar 02 — FORGIVENESS SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY / CHEESEFARE SUNDAY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sun Mar 02 — FORGIVENESS SUNDAY VESPERS (Following Social Hall)
- Mon Mar 03 — LENT BEGINS
- Mon Mar 03 — Great Compline with Canon of St. Andrew 6:30pm
- Tue Mar 04 — Great Compline with Canon of St. Andrew 6:30pm
- Wed Mar 05 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Thu Mar 06 — Great Compline with Canon of St. Andrew 6:30pm
- Fri Mar 07 — First Stanza Salutations to the Theotokos (Akathis Hymn) 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Sat Mar 08 — Parish Council Meeting 10:00am
- Sat Mar 08 — GREAT VESPERS 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
- SUN Mar 09 — SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Mar 10 — Great Compline 6:30pm
- Wed Mar 12 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Fri Mar 14 — Second Stanza Salutations to the Theotokos (Akathist Hymn) LIVE STREAM
- Sat Mar 15 — GREAT VESPERS 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
- SUN Mar 16 — SUNDAY OF ST. GREGORY PALAMAS – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Mar 17 — Great Compline 6:30pm
- Wed Mar 19 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm
- Fri Mar 21 — Third Stanza Salutations 6:30pm
- Sat Mar 22 — Great Vespers 5:30pm
- SUN Mar 23 — SUNDAY OF THE VENERATION OF THE CROSS – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Mar 24 — Annunciation Great Vespers 6:30pm
- Tue Mar 25 — Annunciation Divine Liturgy 9:00am
- Wed Mar 26 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm
- Fri Mar 28 — Fourth Stanza Salutations 6:30pm
- Sat Mar 15 — Lenten Women’s Retreat 10:00am followed by Great Vespers
- SUN Mar 30 — SUNDAY OF ST. JOHN OF THE LADDER – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Mar 31 — Great Compline 6:30pm
- Wed Apr 02 — Full Canon of St. Andrew w/ Life of St. Mary of Egypt 6:00pm
- Thu Apr 03 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm
- Fri Apr 04 — Complete Salutations/Akathist Hymn 6:30pm
- Sat Apr 05 — Great Vespers 5:30pm
- SUN Apr 06 — SUNDAY OF ST. MARY OF EGYPT – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Apr 07 — Great Compline 6:30pm
- Wed Apr 09 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm
- Fri Apr 11 — Small Compline with Canon of St. Lazarus 6:30pm
- Sat Apr 12 — Lazarus Saturday Orthos 8:30 / Divine Liturgy 9:30am / Make crosses / Pancake breakfast / Children confessions – Full Schedule TBA
- Sat Apr 12 — Great Vespers 5:30pm
Wisdom From The Elders
Those who are attached to earthly things, especially to food and drink, to money, become “sensual, having not the Spirit.” And in everything they only see the flesh, not contemplating the spirit, and even rejecting the spiritual side of things. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
Without God’s will or God’s forbearance nothing takes place on earth. Metropolitan Gregory (Postnikov) of St. Petersburg
He who during his earthly life endures many griefs and misfortunes; he who strictly keeps the Lord’s commandments and does not swerve from them— he receives his reward and his comfort in the life beyond death. Theodora
Ones picture of reality, of the world, definitely influences ones view of God. Fr. Seraphim (Rose)
The name of Jesus Christ is terrible for demons, passions of the soul and diseases. Let us adorn and protect ourselves with it. St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)
As, soon as the tendency to be proud is dispelled and man regains his natural spiritual health, then God will deliver him directly from the passion which torments him, and will also reward him for his extra effort in the struggle. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos
Current Prayer List
Ariyon (Sovjani)
Diana (Veraj)
Arjan (Veraj)
Thoma (Sovjani)
Lucia
Ioannes
Freida (Hansen)
Stratton (Leopold)
Mary (Copeland)
Robert (Tewis)
Gene (Forderhase)
Ruth (Mudd)
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)
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)
Archpriest Dionysius (Valentine 9/12)
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
Raymond
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 Forty Martyrs of Sebastia
Thou, O Lord, will 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 Hebrews. (12:1-10)
Brethren, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside
every weight and sin which clings so closely; and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus: the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him Who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons? “My son: do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage when you are punished by Him; for the Lord disciplines him whom He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father?
GOSPEL
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (1:43-51)
At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found Him of Whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” Nathanael said to Jesus, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God! Thou art the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”
