St. Peter News March 17, 2026

The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil

New Hieromartyr Zachariah, metropolitan of Corinth; Sophronios, bishop of Irkutsk

Our venerable and God-bearing Father John Climacus (ca. 579 – 649), also known as John of the Ladder, John Scholasticus, and John Sinaites, was a seventh century monk at St. Catherine’s monastery at the base of Mount Sinai.

He came to the monastery and became a novice when he was about 16 years old, and when he died in 649 he was the monastery’s abbot. He wrote a number of instructive books, the most famous of which is The Ladder of Divine Ascent. (It is because of this book that John is known as “Climacus,” which means “of the ladder”.)

It describes how to raise one’s soul to God, as if on a ladder. This book is one of the most widely read among Eastern Orthodox Christians, especially during the season of Great Lent which immediately precedes Pascha (Easter), and on the fourth Sunday of Great Lent he is especially commemorated.

Quotes from St. John

• Repentance is the renewal of baptism.
• Repentance is a contract with God for a second life.
• A penitent is a buyer of humility.
• Repentance is constant distrust of bodily comfort.
• Repentance is self-condemning reflection, and carefree self-care.
• Repentance is the daughter of hope and the renunciation of despair.
• A penitent is an undisgraced convict.
• Repentance is reconciliation with the Lord by the practice of good deeds contrary to the sins.
• Repentance is purification of conscience.
• Repentance is the voluntary endurance of all afflictions.
• A penitent is the inflicter of his own punishments.
• Repentance is a mighty persecution of the stomach, and a striking of the soul into vigorous awareness.

Read more on the Orthodoxwiki website.

Fr. Thomas Hopko on “St. John of the Ladder”

It is at this point in our Lenten journey that the Church contemplates the instruction of St. John Climacus and his Ladder of Divine Ascent.

Fr. Tom takes us step by step through this treasure and makes it practical for us non-monastics! Listen on Ancient Faith Radio.

Services and Events This Week

• SUN Mar 15 — SUNDAY OF THE VENERATION OF THE CROSS DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Mar 16 — Great Compline 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Wed Mar 18 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Fri Mar 20 — Fourth Stanza Salutations 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Sat Mar 21 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

Theo Pallis Birthday – 101 Years

This coming Friday, March 20th, our dear friend Theo Pallis will be turning 101!!!

To recognize this momentous event in his life and to show our love and respect for him, we are having a celebration in our church social hall from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

His family will be present, as well, and is offering light fare and birthday cake.

Please join us.

Bp Nicholas to Preside at Lazarus Saturday, on Saturday, April 4, 2026.

His Grace Bp. Nicholas will be at St. Peter’s on Lazarus Saturday, April 4. He will preside at the Liturgy and attend our various events that day. This is a blessing for our parish. Everyone should make every effort to attend. We look forward to a good welcome for him.

From our Sunday School Director for Lazarus Saturday, April 4 2026

From our Sunday School Director for Lazarus Saturday, April 4 2026

Dear Parents,

Pascha is quickly coming, and one of the most important days for children in the Lenten Period is Saturday of Lazarus.

It is a time for the children to together attend Divine Liturgy and receive Holy Communion, to make palm crosses and to share a pancake breakfast. We are also offering Confession.

This year, Bishop Nicholas will be joining us — a special event for the children to experience.

Please see Georgia with any questions. We are excited for this memory making event.

St. Peter’s Ladies Book Club and Prayer Group Continues on Fridays at 11:00am

We are making a pivot and will start the book “Where is the Wound” by Mother Silouana of Romania.

This book also comes highly recommended by Met. Saba of the Antiochian Archdiocese. Met. Saba wrote a review of the book that can be found on the Antiochian website. He writes:

(Mother Silouana) distinguishes between life as mere survival and life as a gift from God. The life for which God created us becomes possible only when we open ourselves to His grace through prayer and the keeping of His commandments. She gives great importance to discovering God as a living Person, active in every moment of the soul and life of Orthodox Christians. She writes, “God is enamored of us.”

She speaks of the effect of deep-seated trauma stored in the subconscious, noting that some philosophies suggest avoiding or ignoring it. She explains that the thoughts emerging from repressed wounds poison the soul. Therefore, “we must pay attention to them, to what lies beneath them, to what we feel through them—and we must offer them to the Lord for healing.” She calls this offering to God “the body of prayer.”

Please spread the word and invite a friend to attend!

Lent is Here. What Do We Do?

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.

Save the Date!

Renowned author Frederica Matthews-Greene will be our guest speaker for the St. Peter – St. Paul Lenten Women’s Retreat in 2026.

Dates for the retreat are March 27-29, 2026.

This promises to be a very engaging and informative event.

Frederica Mathewes-Green is a wide-ranging author who has published ten books and 800 essays, in such diverse publications as the Washington Post, Christianity Today, Smithsonian, and The Wall Street Journal. She has been a regular commentator for National Public Radio (NPR), a columnist for the Religion News Service, Beliefnet.com, AND a podcaster for Ancient Faith Radio.

She has appeared as a speaker over 600 times at Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Wellesley, Cornell, Calvin, Baylor, and Westmont, among others. She received an honorary Doctor of Letters from King University. She now lives with her husband, the Rev. Gregory Mathewes-Green, in Johnson City, TN. Their three children are grown and married, and they have fifteen grandchildren.

Please Fill in Your Pledge Forms

The forms are available on the counter in the Narthex.

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

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.

Pledge and Income Report — February 2026

Total deposits in February were $28,463
We have 11,000 in stock donations.
The amount of money needed to cover expenses: $33,785.
For this month we are behind by $5,322.
Year-to-date we are ahead by $60,014.

If you have not already done so, please complete a 2026 pledge form. Your pledge will play a vital role in helping us meet our 2026 budget goals and will support our preparations for refinancing our mortgage, a process that we have begun early.

St. Peter Orthodox Church
7470 Hickory Drive
Fort Myers FL 33967

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 Greeters

JANUARY 2026 – CHURCH GREETERS

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

SUNDAY COFFEE HOURS – Spring Months 2026

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

• March 2026 – Sunday Coffee Hours – Team #3
• Sunday, March 1 – Coffee and bagels
• Sunday, March 8 – Coffee and donuts
• Sunday, March 15 – Coffee and coffee cake
• Sunday, March 22 – Coffee and muffins
• Sunday, March 29 – Coffee and bagels

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!

FEBRUARY – GREAT LENT BEGINS

• SUN Mar 15 — SUNDAY OF THE VENERATION OF THE CROSS DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Mar 16 — Great Compline 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Wed Mar 18 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Fri Mar 20 — Fourth Stanza Salutations 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Sat Mar 21 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

• SUN Mar 22 — SUNDAY OF ST. JOHN OF THE LADDER DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Mar 23 — Great Compline 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Tue Mar 25 — Annunciation Divine Liturgy 9:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Mar 25 — Full Canon of St. Andrew w/ Life of St. Mary of Egypt 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Thu Mar 26 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Fri Mar 27 — Complete Salutations/Akathist Hymn 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Sat Mar 28 — Great Vespers 5:30pm 6:30pm LIVE STREAM

• SUN Mar 29 — SUNDAY OF ST. MARY OF EGYPT DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Mar 30 — Great Compline 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Wed Apr 01 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Fri Apr 03 — Small Compline with Canon of St. Lazarus 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
• Sat Apr 04 — Lazarus Saturday Orthos 8:30 / Divine Liturgy 9:30am / Make crosses / Pancake breakfast / Children confessions – Full Schedule TBA
• Sat Apr 04 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

Wisdom From The Elders

I believe that Thou wilt come to judge the living and the dead, and all will stand in order, old and young, lords and princes, priests and virgins. Where shall I find myself? Therefore, I cry: Lord, I really am worth nothing, only You can save me. Abbot Nikon Vorobiev

The Lord is always waiting for us to unite ourselves with Him in love; but instead, we drift further and further away from Him. We know that there can be no life without love. This means that there is no life without God, for God is Love. But His love is not according to the understanding of the world. The love that the world gives us consists of suffering and enslavement, because the spirits of evil interfere with it. Elder Thaddeus

Thus humility should be the first concern of those who are fighting the presumption of the devil, for as we advance it will be a sure guide to all the paths of virtue. St. Diadochus, bishop of Photike in Epirus

A man whose heart is clouded by a storm of thoughts and conquered by passions does not know shame before men, nor does he fear God. Venerable Ephraim the Syrian

We must pray with faith for every matter and we must have patience, and God will speak. Because when man prays with faith, God is in a sense obligated by virtue of our faith to fulfil our request. For this reason, when we ask for something from God, let us never be in doubt and we shall be heard. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos

Current Prayer List

Donna Eardley (Pateras)
Jack Eardley (Pateras)
Efstrathios Papadopoulos (Pateras)
Vera Pateras Stathes (Pateras)
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 (Hurley 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)
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)
Catherine (Forderhase)

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 Fourth Sunday of Great Lent

The Lord will give strength to His people.
Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of God, ascribe to the Lord glory and honor.

The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (6:13-20)

Brethren, when God made a promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.” And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For people indeed swear by what is greater, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. So when God, being minded to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of His counsel, He interposed it with an oath, that by two immutable things—in which it is impossible for God to lie—we might have a strong consolation, we, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope that is set before us; a hope, which we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and entering into “that which is within the veil,” where Jesus entered as a Forerunner on our behalf, having become a High Priest “forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

GOSPEL

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (9:17-31)

At that time, a man came to Jesus, kneeling down and saying unto him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked Thy Disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And Jesus answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to Me.” And they brought the boy to Him; and when the spirit saw Jesus, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has he had this?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if Thou canst do anything, have pity on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when Jesus had entered the house, His Disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And Jesus said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.” They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And Jesus would not have anyone know it; for He was teaching His Disciples, saying to them, “The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and after He is killed, He will rise on the third day.”