First Sunday of Great Lent
The Sunday of Orthodoxy
The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil
Venerable-Confessor James the New, bishop of Catania; Thomas, Patriarch of Constantinople; New-martyr Michael
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.
Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers at St. Paul’s on Sunday, March 20 at 5:00pm
Join area churches at St. Paul’s on Sunday, March 20 for the Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers. We will process with the icons to mark this great day of the victory of the Orthodox over the iconoclasts — a celebration held every year in every Church since 843AD at the end of the Iconoclastic Controversy.
Refreshments will follow.
Services this Week
- Sun Mar 14 — Forgiveness Sunday / Cheesefare Sunday LIVE STREAM
- Sun Mar 14 — Forgiveness Vespers following Divine Liturgy LIVE STREAM
- Mon Mar 15 — CLEAN MONDAY / LENT BEGINS
- Mon Mar 15 — Great Compline With Canon of St. Andrew 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Tue Mar 16 — Great Compline With Canon of St. Andrew 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Wed Mar 17 — Presanctified Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Please note: Liturgy at 9:30am because of no parking at Bernwood in the evening. - Thu Mar 18 — Great Compline With Canon of St. Andrew 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Fri Mar 19 — AKathist Hymn First Stanza 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
It’s Done! Contracts Are Signed! We Own the New Church!
We closed on the Hickory Drive property on Monday. All the work has brought us to this new chapter of the life our parish.
Thank you to John Simon who led the project and spent countless hours working to make this happen. Thank you to everyone who contributed to make this happen, who offered their time and treasure.
This week is the final week at the Bernwood property. Next week the new work begins.
Cafe of Life Ministry
St. Peter’s Church is moving this week but our commitment to the mission of feeding the poor and hungry continues. So please be especially generous during this Great Lent and send in or giv eyour donations to Fr. Hans and remember what the Holy Spcripture says:
You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your woek and in all that you undertake (Deuteronomy 15:10).
Thank you Kali Sarakosti and IC XC NI KA
Women’s Book Club
Due to the move this week and Lent starting, the next meeting for the Women’s book club will be held on Wednesday May 5, 2021.
Capital Campaign Update — March 9, 2021
UPDATE: We are still accepting Capital Campaign Donations as we have not yet made our goal. Our goal is $750K and we now have $703,371. We have secured a mortgage and hope to close on March 15, 2021.
We are now only $47,000 short of our goal!
The Church has set up a Brokerage account so if anyone wishes to donate stocks or bonds, the Church can accept them.
Download a pledge form on the St. Peter website.
Many of you have seen our Capital Campaign video. Take a look at it again. It lays out our vision that has guided us to where we are and explains why a move is necessary now.
We are grateful to everyone who has supported our Capital Campaign. Thank you very much for your confidence and trust, and the hope you have in the flourishing of St. Peter’s parish.
Pledge & Income Report – February 2021
Donations received in February 16,374.00
Amount of money needed to cover expenses: $19,732.00
We are behind by $2,812
None of the monthly expenses are spent on the new building. There are operating costs for the Bernwood property.
Please note:Please continue your generous support. If you cannot make it to church please mail in your donation to:
St. Peter Orthodox Church
24850 Old 41 Road Suite 6
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
You can also donate online (scroll to bottom of page):
Here’s the Schedule!
The closing is done! We own the property on Hickory Drive.
There are two moving days: Saturday March 20 and Tuesday March 23 both starting at 8:30am. Here’s what we will do:
Saturday March 20, 2021
The small stuff.
- Move social hall tables and chairs
- Move all kitchen items
- Move church school tables and chairs
- Move all but two icons
- Move large chandeliers
We will have a truck, pickups, SUV’s and our cars to move these items. We need your help. Most everything will be ready to go.
Tuesday March 23, 2021
The big stuff.
Allied Van Lines will move the big items. This includes refrigerators, wardrobes, freezers, tables, file cabinets, boxed items and everything else that is heavy and requires a van.
Notable and Important
Unfortunately we will have to cancel Lenten services for the week, including the Annunciation. St. Paul’s will be having the services however and you can attend there. Check out the St. Paul website for the times of services.
Our last liturgy in our present location will be on Sunday, March 21, 2021. There will be no Social Hour that Sunday. Our first Liturgy in the new location will be Sunday, March 28, 2021. Everything is planned out but there are sure to be a few hiccups along the way so please be patient.
The Presbyterian Church won’t have a home for a while so they will be using the social hall for their worship from 8:30am-10:00am every Sunday until they get settled. Please do not disturb them by entering into the social hall (on the new property) until after 10:00am.
Questions? Please contact Joe Repya who is in charge of the move at (612) 270-4443.
Bishop NICHOLAS Offers a Weekly Live Stream
These are short thirty minute presentations where His Grace Bp. Nicholas speaks on one theme in Sunday readings for fifteen minutes followed by questions from the listeners. It’s worth tuning in. Get instructions on the St. Peter website on how to use the Band App on your phone or computer to participate.
Calendar At A Glance
Calendar also available on the St. Peter website.
MARCH
- Sun Mar 14 — Forgiveness Sunday / Cheesefare Sunday LIVE STREAM
- Sun Mar 14 — Forgiveness Vespers following Divine Liturgy LIVE STREAM
- Mon Mar 15 — CLEAN MONDAY / LENT BEGINS
- Mon Mar 15 — Great Compline With Canon of St. Andrew 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Tue Mar 16 — Great Compline With Canon of St. Andrew 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Wed Mar 17 — Presanctified Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Please note: Liturgy at 9:30am because of no parking at Bernwood in the evening. - Thu Mar 18 — Great Compline With Canon of St. Andrew 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Fri Mar 19 — AKathist Hymn First Stanza 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Sat Mar 20 — Moving Day 8:30am
- Sun Mar 21 — Sunday Of Orthodoxy LIVE STREAM
- Sun Mar 21 — Sunday Of Orthodoxy Vespers at St. Paul Naples 5:00pm
Please note: Beginning Monday services will held at St. Paul’s because of the move. - Mon Mar 22 — CANCELED Great Compline 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Wed Mar 24 — CANCELED Annunciation Vespers 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Thu Mar 25 — CANCELED Annunciation Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Mar 26 — CANCELED Second Stanza Salutations 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Sun March 28 — Sunday Of St. Gregory Palamas
Please note: Sunday March 28 services begin at the new Church on Hickory Lane. - Mon Mar 29 — Great Compline 6:30pm
- Wed Mar 31 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm
- Fri Apr 2 — Third Stanza Salutations 6:30pm
Wisdom From The Elders
Not he is chaste in whom shameful thoughts stop in time of struggle, work and endeavor, but he who by the trueness of his heart makes chaste the vision of his mind not letting it stretch out towards unseemly thoughts. St. Isaac the Syrian
According to my power I shall pray with you that God Who gives grace to all who ask with fervoir and toil may grant you that vigilance. When it comes it will guide you to the truth. St. Ignatius Brianchaninov
The rule of life for a perfect person is to be in the image and likeness of God St. Clement of Alexandria
Do not let difficulties, lack of understanding, and so on, overwhelm you, but live each day with trust in God, not worrying about the problems of tomorrow. Bishop Nektary Kontzevitch
The less a man or an angel participates in God, the less good they are. All this correlates directly to our proximity to or remoteness from God, but the root of goodness is in Him. Priest Daniel Sysoev
Most of us live outside our heart, and our mind is in a constant state of confusion. Some good thoughts may surface from time to time, but the majority will be harmful, and this destructive condition will prevail for as long as we continue to ignore our heart…The prayers of a fragmented mind have neither clarity nor depth, but a mind that is reunited with the heart overflows with humble prayer and has such strength that it reaches the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Archimandrite Zacharias of Essex
Remember in Your Prayers
The Prayer List has been revamped. To bring order to the list we will do the following:
- Names will remain on the list for two 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 (Updated March 5 / Resets April 1)
Debbie (Breitenbach 6/21)
Michael (Jacobse 4/21)
Kathy (Jacobse 4/21)
Raphaela (4/21)
Michael (Wolffe 4/21)
Fredericos (Diveris 4/21)
Vasiliki (Diveris 4/21)
Mark (Dusckas 4/21)
Tammy (Dusckas 4/21)
Panagiota (Jacobse 4/21)
Michelene (Repya 4/21)
Colleen ((Repya 4/21)
Fr. Demetrios (Copeland 4/21)
Kondylia (Chapekis 4/21)
Brian (Colis 3/21)
Maria(Colis 3/21)
John (Jacobse 3/21)
Mary (Jacobse 3/21)
Herman (Kerr 3/21)
Innocent (Kerr 3/21)
Nickolas (Kerr 3/21)
Kerr Family (Kerr 3/21)
Barbara (Dusckas 3/21)
Maryann (Breitenbach 3/21)
Irina (Jacobse 3/21)
Lee Joseph (Irina 3/21)
Paola (Jacobse 3/21>
Bryce (NA 3/21)
Permanent Prayer List
Heriklia (Chapekis)
Angela (Chapekis)
Sergio (Kazakos)
Rae (Semeretis)
Fran (Hansen)
Nina (Krotov)
George (Chapekis)
Franklin (Pyrrson)
George (Chionis)
Stamatia (Jacobse)
Stamatia (Evelyn)
Demetrios (Kuchera)
Theodosios (Palis)
Theodora (Webb)
Helen (Rogers)
Robert (Smith)
Robert (Jarvis)
Presbytera Rosy (in Pakistan)
James (Hord)
Ann (Rellis)
Vassiliki (Kontinos)
Vassiliki (Morekeas)
Founders, Members, and Benefactors 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)
John (Katsigianopoulos)
Gregory (Pappas)
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 Sunday of Forgiveness
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
For Thou art just in all that Thou hast done for us.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (11:24-26, 32-40)
Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets; who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, and put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection.
Some were tortured, refusing to accept release that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
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.”
