Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Ninth Sunday of Matthew
After-feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos
Martyr Agathonikos of Nicomedia and those with him
Who Were the Martyr Agathonicus of Nicomedia, and those with him who suffered under Maximian?
The Martyrs Agathonicus, Zoticus, Theoprepius, Acindynus, Severian, Zeno and others accepted death for Christ during the reign of the emperor Maximian (284-305).
The Martyr Agathonicus was descended from the illustrious lineage of the Hypasians, and he lived at Nicomedia. Well versed in Holy Scripture, he converted many pagans to Christ, including the most eminent member of the Senate (its “princeps” or leader). Comitus Eutolmius was sent to the Pontine (lower Black Sea) region, where he crucified the followers of the Christian Zoticus, who had refused to offer sacrifice to idols. He took Zoticus with him.
In Nicomedia, Eutolmius arrested the Martyr Agathonicus (together with the princeps), and also Theoprepius, Acindynus and Severian. After tortures, Eutolmius ordered that the martyrs be taken to Thrace for trial by the emperor.
But along the way, in the vicinity of Potama, the Martyrs Zoticus, Theoprepius and Acindynus were unable to proceed further behind the chariot of the governor because of wounds received during torture. Therefore, they were put to death. The Martyr Severian was put to death at Chalcedon, and the Martyr Agathonicus together with others was beheaded with the sword by order of the emperor, in Selymbria.
The relics of the Martyr Agathonicus were in a church named for him at Constantinople, and were seen in the year 1200 by the Russian pilgrim Anthony. And in the fourteenth century Philotheus, the archbishop of Selymbria, devoted an encomium to the Martyr Agathonicus.
Source: Orthodox Church in America website.
Services This Week
- Sun Aug 15 — DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS Divine Liturgy – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Aug 16 – Sep 1 — Fr. Hans on Vacation
Services Next Week
- Sun Aug 22 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Aug 16 – Sep 1 — Fr. Hans on Vacation
Please welcome Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis
Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis will be substituting for Fr. Hans while he is on vacation. Fr. Emmanuel has been a priest for over 30 years and is with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. He is the founder of Orthodox Witness.
Biography summary
Fr. Emmanuel and Presbytera Barbara
Fr. Emmanuel was born in Chania, Crete, Greece in 1941. At age 18, he left Greece to study in Italy. In the middle of his second year, he converted to Roman Catholicism, joined the Society of Saint Paul in Rome, and prepared to become a Roman Catholic priest-monk. However, he returned to the Orthodox Church, and years later became an Orthodox priest. Read the full story here.
Education
- Licenza – International Institute of St. Paul, Rome, Italy, 1965
- BA – Classics – Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH, 1972
- Graduate level studies in Classics – the University of Chicago, IL, 1973
- M.Div. – Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, MA, 1989
Ministry
Before being received by ROCOR, Fr. Emmanuel served in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, in parishes in Huntington, West Virginia, Rocky River, Ohio, Swansea, Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, Columbia, Missouri and Tarpon Springs, Florida.
He is the author of two books, The Heavenly Banquet: Understanding the Divine Liturgy and Jesus: Fallen? The Human Nature of Christ Examined From an Eastern Orthodox Perspective, both published by Orthodox Witness.
Fr. Emmanuel lives in Palm Harbor, Florida with his Presbytera (Barbara) and his son (Anthony), and has two daughters and three grandchilden.
For pastoral emergencies while Fr. Hans is away, please contact Fr. Paul Girgis at 509-845-4540.
Diocese of Miami (DOMSE) Fall Retreat
Interested in attending? See Fr. Hans.
Monthly Fellowship Luncheons Are Back!
Monthly Fellowship Luncheons with be held on the SECOND THURSDAY of every month at 12:00pm noon starting on Thursday, September 9, 2021.
MENU
- Pastichio
- salad
- bread and butter
- coffee and dessert
- You must sign up by Sunday, September 5th so that we know how many people to prepare for. The Luncheons are sponsored by Barbara and Costa Dionysopoulos. A small donation of $10 per person is requested to cover the cost of the meal. All additional proceeds will be donated to the building fund. Bon Appetito…Kalee Oraxie!
- The sign-up sheet will be in the Social Hall.
- Bon Appetito…Kalee Oraxie!
But Wait! There’s More! Announcing St. Peter’s “Kafenio” (Coffee Cafe)!
Join us for some Greek coffee and dessert beginning on Thursday, September 23, 2021 from 3:00pm-5:00pm. The Kafenio is open on the fourth Thursday of every month.
Barbara and Costa Dionysopoulos invite you to attend our first ever “Kafenio” for some Greek coffee, “Parea” (company) and sweets.
Once again, we ask that you to SIGN UP on or before Sunday, September 19th so that we knowhow many people to prepare for. A small donation is requested to cover the cost of coffee and desserts. All additional proceeds will be donated to the building fund.
If you would like to help make Greek Coffee or donate a dessert to the Kafenio as well, please call Barbara Dionysopoulos ahead of time at 239-826-1655 so that she can coordinate it with what will hopefully be a monthly event.
Cafe of Life Ministry Update
God has given us the greatest sacrifice — his only Son. In doing so, he left us with a true example of what it means to give. He asks us to sacrifice as an act of worship before Him. And, when we obey He will bless us. So please be especially generous and mail or give your tax deductible donations to Father Hans.
Thank you, God bless and IC XC NI KA!
Pledge & Income Report – July 2021
Donations received in July: $17,468.
Amount of money needed to cover expenses: $22,760.21.
We are behind by $5,292.
These numbers reflect the operating costs of the the Hickory Drive property.
Please note:Summer months are always lean and in July we fell behind by $5,292. Please remember to send in your pledge so we can make up the deficit and keep St. Peter’s on a secure financial footing.
St. Peter Orthodox Church
7470 Hickory Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33967
You can also donate online:
The Social Hall All Stars are the men and women that make social hall happen. Thank you All Stars!
August 1 to August 29
- Olga Bilych
- Pavlo Bilych
- Sandy Krotov
- Nader Sahawneh
Procedures for Hospitality
- On most Sundays we will serve lighter refreshments like coffee, sweets, hummus, olives, feta, pita and similar items. Please continue bringing these items. Even though we have a range (unlike our former facility), we appreciate items that are “ready to be served.”
- Please do not donate coffee. We have a space age coffee brewer that we aquired at no cost if we buy our coffee from one supplier. If you bring in coffee, we can’t use it.
- We cannot continue preparing meals for Memorials, Name Days, Anniversaries, and other celebrations. We don’t have the appliances or manpower to do it well. We do, however, have the name of two catering companies that can prepare and deliver the food if you would like to sponsor a celebration. Please call Tom Haley at 239-887-0753 for details and to make arrangements.
- If you would like to bring in your own prepared food, please contact Tom Haley at 239-887-0753 by the Friday before the upcoming Sunday. That way we know not to prepare any food for Sunday.
The Safest Way to Come to Church
US 41 is a busy highway and the intersection at Hickory Drive does not have a stop light. We recommend turning on Sanibel Boulevard and following Coconut Road instead.
Calendar At A Glance
Calendar also available on the St. Peter website.
AUGUST
- Sun Aug 15 — DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS Divine Liturgy – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Aug 16 – Sep 1 — Fr. Hans on Vacation
- Sun Aug 22 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Aug 16 – Sep 1 — Fr. Hans on Vacation
- Sun Aug 29 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Aug 16 – Sep 1 — Fr. Hans on Vacation
SEPTEMBER
- Sun Sep 05 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Sep 06 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Sep 08 — Divine Liturgy Nativity of the Theotokos LIVE STREAM
- Thu Sep 09 — St. Peter Community Fellowship Luncheon
- Fri Sep 10 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sun Sep 12 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Tue Sep 14 — Divine Liturgy Elevation of the Holy Cross LIVE STREAM
- Fri Sep 17 – Sun Sep 19 — DOMSE Fall Retreat at Franklin, TN
- Sun Sep 19 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Tue Sep 21 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Thu Sep 23 — Divine Liturgy Conception of St. John the Baptist 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Thu Sep 23 — St. Peter Kafenio (Coffee Cafe)
- Fri Sept 24 – Sat Sept 25 — Fr. Hans out of town
- Sun Sep 26 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Sep 29 — Divine Liturgy St. Kyriakos the Anchorite 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Oct 01 — Divine Liturgy Apostle Ananias Bishop of Damascus 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Wisdom From The Elders
That which is required of monks and nuns is also required of lay people. Even the Holy Fathers say that the only difference between monastics and lay people is that lay people are married. Elder Thaddeus(Strabulovich) of Vitovnica
Gather spiritual knowledge from books and through your own experience. May the Lord grant you wisdom to do good and guard you from all evil. Abbot Nikon Vorobiev
The more someone lives according to God, the more closely he can approach Him; and the more he distances himself from a godly life, the more he is isolated from Him. God does not send him away; it is he who distances himself from God’s presence. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos
And all those negotiations and conferences which strive to establish a system of world peace—those are empty dreams, yet it is surprising how people cannot understand this. What prevents them from understanding? That very same spirit of self-assertive human pride, the spirit of the Antichrist, which does not accept the spirit of Christ, the spirit of meekness and humility. Archbishop Averky (Taushev)
Martyrdom is the state in which a Christian brings forth fruit. This must be imparted to our people. Venerable Justin (Popovic) of Chelije in Serbia
He who opposes unpleasant events opposes the command of God unwittingly. But when someone accepts them with real knowledge, he ‘waits patiently for the Lord’ (Ps. 27:14). St Mark the Ascetic
Remember in Your Prayers
List has been updated. If you want some names restored, please mention it to Fr. Hans.
- 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.
Updated June 13 / Resets August
Current Prayer List
Eleni (Tsikitas 11/21)
Maggie (Jacobse 10/21)
Walt (Dusckas 10/21)
A. L (Duskas 10/21)
M. R. (Duskas 10/21)
Jeff (Duskas 10/21)
Georgia D. (Repya 10/21)
Colleen R. (Repya 10/21)
Debbie (Breitenbach 9/21)
Anne (Breitenbach 9/21)
Patricia (Tsikita 9/21)
Robert (Tewis 9/21)
Lydia (Irena 9/21)
Lee (Irena 9/21)
Demetrios (Karras 8/21)
Permanent Prayer List
Patricia (Evanoff)
Gabriel (Mankus)
Baby Dani (Repya)
Maria and her unborn child Iakovos (Diveris)
Sophia (D. Constantine)
Herman (Kerr)
Innocent (Kerr)
Nicholas (Kerr)
Paola (Jacobse)
Gregory (Yankopolos)
Soterios (Ninos)
Pauline (Poulos)
Sergio (Kazakos)
Rae (Semeretis)
Fran (Hansen)
Nina (Krotov)
Franklin (Pyrrson)
George (Chionis)
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)
George (Chionis)
Gregory (Pappas)
Angela (Coran K)
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 Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Make your vows and pay them to the Lord our God.
God is known in Judaea; His Name is great in Israel.
The Reading from the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (3:9-17)
Brethren, we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s husbandry, God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise architect I laid a foundation, and another builds upon it. Let each one take heed how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; everyone’s work will become manifest; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire itself will test each one’s work of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which was built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as by fire. Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? Ifanyone corrupts the temple of God, God will corrupt him. For the temple of God is holy, whose temple you are.
GOSPEL
For the Ninth Sunday of Matthew
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (14:22-34)
At that time, Jesus made the Disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. And after He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, but the Disciples’ boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. But when the Disciples saw Jesus walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately He spoke to them, saying, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” And Peter answered Him, “Lord, if it is Thee, bid me come to Thee on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out His hand and caught him, saying to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly, Thou art the Son of God.” And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.