St. Peter News August 8, 2023

The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Leave-Taking of the Transfiguration

Righteous Maximos the Confessor; Eudokia and Irene (Xenia) the Empresses; Venerable Dorotheos of Gaza and his disciple Dositheos

Who Is St. Maximos the Confessor?

Saint Maximus the Confessor was born in Constantinople around 580 and raised in a pious Christian family. He received an excellent education, studying philosophy, grammar, and rhetoric. He was well-read in the authors of antiquity and he also mastered philosophy and theology. When Saint Maximus entered into government service, he became first secretary (asekretis) and chief counselor to the emperor Heraclius (611-641), who was impressed by his knowledge and virtuous life.

Saint Maximus soon realized that the emperor and many others had been corrupted by the Monothelite heresy, which was spreading rapidly through the East. He resigned from his duties at court, and went to the Chrysopolis monastery (at Skutari on the opposite shore of the Bosphorus), where he received monastic tonsure. Because of his humility and wisdom, he soon won the love of the brethren and was chosen igumen of the monastery after a few years. Even in this position, he remained a simple monk.

Learn more on the Orthodox Church of America website.

Services and Events This Week

• Sun Aug 06 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Aug 07 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Aug 09 — Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Aug 09 — St. Peter Game Night 6:00pm-9pm
• Thu Aug 10 — Sat Aug 12 — Fr. Hans Out of Town
• Fri Aug 11 — CANCELLED St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm

Fr. Hans Out of Town

Fr. Hans will be out of town from Thursday August 10 until Saturday August 12, 2023. He will be presenting a talk at the Montanika Men’s Conference in Montana.

Fr. Joseph Shaheen Funeral Arrangements

The final details for Fr. Joseph’s funeral have been confirmed.

Thursday, August 10

• Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home
• 28300 S Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, FL 34134
• Viewing/Prayers 5:00PM

Friday, August 11

• St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church Naples
• Divine Liturgy 9:00AM
• Funeral Service 10:30AM
• Immediately followed by the burial at Palm Royale Cemetery

The Antiochian Archdiocese shared a beautiful article about Fr. Joseph and his legacy. Take a few minutes to read it here.

Pantocrator Installed in the Sanctuary

The new Pantocrator icon given to the Church by Soterios Ninos was installed in memory of him last week. This completes a very important addition to St. Peter’s.

We Need Volunteers in the Kitchen

Wanr be a Social Hall All-Star? You won’t have to cook, but you will have to like fun, food, and fellowship!

Basically the work is service during social hall — preparation after Divine Liturgy, serving the food, and clean up.

It’s a great way to serve the Church and you will make some good friends doing it.

Please see Tom Haley if you can volunteer.

Let's Pray the Paraklesis to the Theotokos Daily

Our goal at St. Peter’s is to have one person or family pray the Parakelsis to the Theotokos for at least one day of every month. For each day of the month, individuals or even an entire family can sign up to pray the Paraklesis in their homes on the day/s which they select.

Get more information on how to participate from the St. Peter's website.

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

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

NEW! St. Peter Game Night on Wednesdays 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Join us on Wednesday evening for a few hours of fellowship and fun. Bring the board games you like to play. It’s casual, fun, and an opportunity for great fellowship.

No sign-up required.

SOCIAL HALL ALL STARS

AUGUST

• MARGIE ZIMMERMAN
• Leon Dephkalion
• Glow Franklin
• Moriah Peterson
• Barbara Sasen
• Will Schwarz
• Rebecca Tomlinson

The Social Hall All Stars are the men and women that make St. Peter's Social Hall happen. Thank you All Stars!

AUGUST

• Sun Aug 06 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Aug 07 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Aug 09 — Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Aug 09 — St. Peter Game Night 6:00pm-9pm
• Thu Aug 10 — Sat Aug 12 — Fr. Hans Out of Town
• Fri Aug 11 — CANCELLED St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm

• Sun Aug 13 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Aug 14 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Tue Aug 15 — Dormition Theotokos Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Aug 16 — Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Aug 16 — St. Peter Game Night 6:00pm-9pm
• Fri Aug 18 — St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm

• Sun Aug 20 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Aug 23 — Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Aug 23 — St. Peter Game Night 6:00pm-9pm
• Fri Aug 25 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Aug 25 — St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm

AUGUST – SEPTEMBER

• Sun Aug 27 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Tue Aug 29 — Beheading of St. John the Baptist Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Aug 30 — Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Aug 23 — St. Peter Game Night 6:00pm-9pm
• Fri Sep 01 — Ecclesiastical New Year / St. Symeon Stylite Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Sep 01 — St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm

Thus, the Christian ideal, the perfection towards which we must strive, is sanctity, which is similar to the sanctity of God. It follows that the attainment of Divine sanctity is the aim of our life. God created us in order for us to be holy as He Himself is holy and so that we would delight in the communion of love with Him. From this we can see how far contemporary life is from what it should be according to God’s design. Archbishop Averky (Taushev)

So let us ask Him, for He does give. Let us announce to Him our wishes, for He will not refuse us. Let us entreat Him, for He wants to satisfy our needs in every way possible. Venerable Ephraim the Syrian

Avoid obstinacy, self-will, and opposing your neighbour; do not persist in having your own way, in order to satisfy your caprice, or in order to intentionally injure anyone. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

If you want to overcome inappropriate grief, never grieve for anything that is transient. If people injure you with words or upset you or dishonor you, do not grieve; but, on the contrary, rejoice. Venerable Ephraim the Syrian

The only feeling that is left in me now is joy—an ineffable joy has taken over my entire being.” I told him that he had been given the gift of Grace and that he would have it for as long as he could keep his thoughts away from the cares of this world. If he were to do that [i.e., return his thought to the cares of the world], I told him, he would stop hearing the words of the Jesus Prayer in his heart, and then the joy and peace would gradually disappear from his heart. Elder Thaddeus(Strabulovich) of Vitovnica

• Names will remain on the list for three 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

Kathy (Dusckas)
Doug (Dusckas)
Maxim (Koco)
George (Tsikistas 8/1)
George (Mourgis 8/1)
Barbara (Sason 8/1)
Stelios (Haley 7/1)
Madison (Tewis 6/1)
Anthony (Breitenbach 6/1)
Arielle (Ghanem 6/1)
Nicholas (Ghanem 6/1)
Christos
Father Demetris
Jamie
Pamela
David
Jessica
Christina (Hildreth)
Georgia and Richard and their unborn child (Chapekis)
Dionysios Chapekis)
Nancy (Forderhase)
Kayla (Palantine)
George (3/23 Chapekis)
Penelope (3/23 Chapekis)
Theodora (3/23)
Victor (3/23)
Barbara (Dusckas 3/23)
James (Dusckas 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)
Priest Anthony (Karbo 11/22)
Archpriest Dionysius (Valentine 9/12)
Anthony Presbyter (Kerr 10/22)
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

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)
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

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.

EPISTLE

For the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

The Reading from the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (4:9-16)

Brethren, God has exhibited us Apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill clad and buffeted and homeless; and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off scouring of all things. I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the Gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me.

GOSPEL

For the Tenth Sunday of Matthew

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (17:14-23)

At that time, a man came up to Jesus and kneeling before Him said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to Thy disciples, and they could not heal him.” And Jesus answered, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” Jesus said to them, “Because you have no faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. This kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting.” As they were traveling together through Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and He will rise on the third day.