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St. Peter News September 16, 2025

Sunday after the Elevation of the Holy Cross

Apostle Quadratos of the Seventy; Prophet Jonah

 

The Prophet Jonah

The Prophet Jonah

The Prophet Jonah

The Prophet Jonah, the son of Amathi, of the town of Geth-hopher (IV Kings 14:25), was of the tribe of Zabulon; he prophesied during the years 838-810 before Christ. God commanded him to go to Nineveh, the great city of the Assyrians, and to proclaim that its destruction was nigh at hand because of the sins of its people. But he, as a Prophet who knew the great compassion of God, feared that at his preaching the Ninevites would repent; that God, accepting their repentance in His love for man, would not fulfill Jonah’ threats; and that he would be branded a false prophet. So he disobeyed the divine command, and boarded a ship and departed elsewhere.

Yet, the sudden and fearful sea-storm and the revelation of Jonah’ disbedience caused the sailors to cast him into the sea. A great sea-monster appeared straightway by divine providence, and swallowed him up. For three days and nights he was found in its belly and he prayed, saying the words, “I cried aloud in my affliction unto the Lord my God…” (Jonah 2:3, the Sixth ode of the Holy Psalter).

The sea-monster then vomited him up on dry land and he again heard God’s command. Wherefore, he went and preached, saying, “In three days, Nineveh shall be destroyed.” The people became terrified and all repented. The great, the small, babes at the breast, and even the irrational beasts themselves fasted, and thus, having found mercy from God, they were spared His wrath. Jonah’ book of prophecy is divided into four chapters, and is placed fifth in order among the twelve minor Prophets. His three-day sojourn in the sea-monster’s belly is an image of our Saviour’s three-day burial and His life-bringing Resurrection (Matt. 12:39-40). His name means “dove.”

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website.

 

Services and Events This Week

  • SUN Sep 14 — SUNDAY LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
  • Wed Sep 17 — EARLY MORNING LITURGY 6:00am LIVE STREAM
  • Thu Sep 18 – Sat Sep 19 — Fr. Hans Out of Town
  • Fri Sep 19 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
  • Sat Sep 20 — CANCELLED Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
 

Fr. Hans Out of Town Thursday September 18 through Saturday September 20

He will be back by next Sunday. Vespers on Saturday evening September 20 are cancelled. St. Paisios Brotherhood on Friday, September 19 will be held and led by Joseph Mudd.

Fr. Hans will be attending the DOMSE Winter Retreat in Nashvilled Tennessee.

 

Monthly Social Hall Potluck on Sunday, September 21, 2025

Bring a favorite dish to share! Deserts too! Drop off your dish in the Social Hall before Divine Liturgy.

 

Remember to Keep Up With Your Pledge

The bills are the same in the summer as they are in the winter so please do not fall behind on you pledge.

Support always dips in support but our obligations remain the same. Your consistent support is necessary keep our parish on firm and responsible financial footing.

 

When You Give to the Good Samaritan Mercy Fund, You Fulfill the Law of Christ

Bear one another's burdens

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galations 6:2)

St. Paul teaches us that God’s law, to love God and neighbor, is fulfilled when we bear one another’s burdens. The Good Samaritan Mercy fund helps us do that by helping parishioners who because of catastrophic circumstances face problems that we can help them with. This year is proving greater than past years so any donation you can make to our fund enables us to carry those burdens of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

All support is local, within our parish. Donations are approved by Fr. Hans and Ron Franklin our Parish Council President. Donations remain confidential.

St. John Chrysostom says those who can give receive their abundance from God in order to give. When we give from our abundance a double blessing occurs — one to the recipient in need, and another to him who gives.

 
St. Peter Orthodox Church Fort Myers FL
 

2025 DOMSE Fall Retreat

 

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

Please note: Volunteers to serve as greeters are needed for December. Please contact Joe Repya if you can serve.

TBA

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

 
Social Hall All Stars
 

SOCIAL HALL ALL STARS

SUNDAY COFFEE HOURS – SUMMER MONTHS 2025

Please note: A fruit bowl, veggie or hummus tray may be added to a week’s menu.

  • SSeptember 2025 – Sunday Coffee Hours – Team #3
  • Sunday, September 7 – Coffee and coffee cakes
  • Sunday, September 14 – Coffee and muffins
  • Sunday, September 21 – Pot Luck
  • Sunday, September 28 – 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!

 
St. Peter Orthodox Church Fort Myers FL
 

SEPTEMBER

  • SUN Sep 14 — SUNDAY LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
  • Wed Sep 17 — EARLY MORNING LITURGY 6:00am LIVE STREAM
  • Thu Sep 18 – Sat Sep 19 — Fr. Hans Out of Town
  • Fri Sep 19 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
  • Sat Sep 20 — CANCELLED Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
  • SUN Sep 21 — SUNDAY LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
  • Tue Sep 23 — CONCEPTION OF ST JOHN BAPTIST DIVINE LITURGY 9:00AM LIVE STREAM
  • Wed Sep 24 — EARLY MORNING LITURGY 6:00am LIVE STREAM
  • Thu Sep 25 – Sat Sep 27 — Fr. Hans Out of Town
  • Fri Sep 26 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
  • Sat Sep 27 — CANCELLED Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

OCTOBER

  • SUN Sep 28 — SUNDAY LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
  • Wed Oct 01 — EARLY MORNING LITURGY 6:00am LIVE STREAM
  • Fri Sep 03 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
  • Sat Sep 04 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
 
St. Peter Orthodox Church Fort Myers FL
 

Wisdom From The Elders

In disobedience is hidden pride. In humility is hidden love. In pride there is no love. All your unhappiness comes from your pride. Archbishop Seraphim (Sobolev) of Bogucharsk

The cross is the means of liberation from the self and its crucifixion. Metropolitan Saba(Esber)

Every man condemns those sins of his neighbor by which he himself is censured. Elder Joseph of Optina

Do not be discouraged when you see no improvement. One thing is needful: try to live according to the Gospel commandments. Fight and defend yourself against every sin through deeds, words or thoughts, and do not voluntarily succumb to bad influences. If you do succumb, repent before the Lord, ask forgiveness, and rise to fight again. And so until death. Abbot Nikon Vorobiev

The holy Church teaches us that every Christian receives from God at his baptism a holy guardian angel, who, invisibly guarding the Christian, inspires him with every kind of good deed during his life, and reminds him of God’s commandments. The prince of darkness, who desires to draw the entire human race into destruction allotted to himself, also appoints one of the wicked spirits to attend man, and this spirit follows his man everywhere and tries to draw him into every kind of sin. St. Ignatius Brianchaninov

The gift is given to those who humble and abase themselves before the greatness of the gift. The gift is given to those who renounce their own will and surrender themselves to the will of God. The gift is given to those who subdue and mortify their flesh and blood, who subdue and mortify the mind of the flesh by the commandments of the Gospel. Life dawns and rises according to the degree of our mortification. It comes unexpectedly, entirely at its own good pleasure, and then it completes and perfects the mortification begun voluntarily. St. Ignatius Brianchaninov

Current Prayer List

Maureen (Breitenbach)
Doug (Kucera)
Katrina (Marianthi)
Katherina (Sovjani)
Arsen (Sovjani)
Arion (Sovjani)
David (Sovjani)
Joe (Repya)
Bp. Nicholas
Mary Teresa (Dusckas)
Adam (Krotov)
Ariyon (Sovjani)
Diana (Veraj)
Arjan (Veraj)
Thoma (Sovjani)
Lucia
Ioannes
Stratton (Leopold)
Mary (Copeland)
Robert (Tewis)
Gene (Forderhase)
Ruth (Mudd)
Barbara (Duskas)
Maria (Duskas)
Rachel (Voss)
Ken John (Eaton)
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)
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

Kh. Denise (Breitenbach)
Fr. Patrick (Breitenbach)
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)
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)

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 (Zeena)
Vassilike (Hord)
Helen (Mitchell)

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

 
Search the Scriptures
 

EPISTLE

For Sunday after the Elevation of the Holy Cross

O Lord, how manifold are Thy works. In wisdom hast Thou made them all.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians. (2:16-20)

Brethren, you know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the Law died to the Law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.

GOSPEL

For Sunday after the Elevation of the Holy Cross

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (8:34-9:1)

The Lord said, “If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his
cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” And He said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Kingdom of God come with power.”

St. Peter Orthodox Church