Sunday before Theophany of Christ
Synaxis of the Seventy Holy Apostles
Venerable Theoktistos of Sicily
The Baptism of Christ
Theophany (or Epiphany) means shining forth or manifestation. The feast is often called, as it is in the Orthodox service books, Theophany, which means the shining forth and manifestation of God. The emphasis in the present day celebration is on the appearance of Jesus as the human Messiah of Israel and the divine Son of God, One of the Holy Trinity with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Thus, in the baptism by John in the Jordan, Jesus identifies himself with sinners as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29), the “Beloved” of the Father whose messianic task it is to redeem men from their sins (Lk 3:21, Mk 1:35). And he is revealed as well as One of the Divine Trinity, testified to by the voice of the Father, and by the Spirit in the form of a dove. This is the central epiphany glorified in the main hymns of the feast:
When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan the worship of the Trinity was made manifest! For the voice of the Father bare witness to Thee, calling Thee his Beloved Son. And the Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed the truthfulness of his Word. O Christ our God, who hast revealed Thyself and hast enlightened the world, glory to Thee (Troparion).
Read the entire article on the Orthodox Church of America website.
Services and Events This Week
- SUN Dec 28 — SUNDAY LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Dec 29 — DIVINE LITURGY THE HOLY INNOCENTS 9:00am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Dec 31 — EARLY MORNING LITURGY 7:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jan 01 — DIVINE LITURGY ST BASIL THE GREAT / CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST 9:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jan 01 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jan 02 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
PLEASE NOTE: Wednesday Early Morning Liturgy will be held at 7:00am this week (not 6:00am).
Cutting of the Vasilopita on Sunday January 4, 2026
The cutting of the Vasilopita (St. Basil’s bread) will take place on Sunday, January 4, 2026 following the Divine Liturgy.
PLEASE NOTE: General Assembly Meeting January 18, 2026
Our Annual General Assembly meeting will be held on Sunday January 18, 2026 following a shortened Social Hall.
Reports on the state of the parish will be presented. Approval of the 2026 budget is also needed. Copies of the 2026 budget are available in the office for anyone wanting a copy. Please see Georgia to obtain a copy.
2026 Church Calendars
The 2026 Church Calendars are now available. Please only take one per family.
Any questions, please see Georgia in the office.
Presentation of a New Reliquary
We are blessed at St. Peter’s with the acquisition of relics of various saints. We presented the reliquary (the ornate box that holds the relics for proper veneration) to the congregation during Christmas services. The Saints whose relics were presented include: St. Raphael of Brooklyn, St. Panteleimon, St. Maximus the Confessor, and the (unnamed) Martyrs of Cyprus and Crete.
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, 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.
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.
Save the Date!
St. Peter Greeters
JANUARY 2026 – CHURCH GREETERS
- Jan 4 Kathy Karlos Moffet – Joe Repya
- Jan 11 Joe Repya – Tim Morse
- Jan 18 Tim Morse – Joe Repya – John Tomilson
- Jan 25 Joe and Deb Repya – Tim Morse
Can you volunteer? Please call Joe Repya 612-270-4443.
SUNDAY COFFEE HOURS – Winter Months 2026
Please note: A fruit bowl, veggie or hummus tray may be added to a week’s menu.
- January 2026 – Sunday Coffee Hours – Team #1 Barb Dionysopoulos Group
- Sunday, January 4 – Coffee and coffee cakes
- Sunday, January 11 – Coffee and muffins
- Sunday, January 18 – Pot Luck
- Sunday, January 25 – Coffee and bagels
- February 2026 – Sunday Coffee Hours – Team #2 – Margie Zimmerman Group
- Sunday, February 1 – Coffee and donuts
- Sunday, February 8 – Coffee and coffee cakes
- Sunday, February 15 – Pot Luck
- Sunday, February 22 – Coffee and muffins
- 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!
DECEMBER
DECEMBER – JANUARY
- SUN Dec 28 — SUNDAY LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Dec 29 — DIVINE LITURGY THE HOLY INNOCENTS 9:00am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Dec 31 — EARLY MORNING LITURGY 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jan 01 — DIVINE LITURGY ST BASIL THE GREAT / CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST
- Fri Jan 01 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jan 02 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
JANUARY
- SUN Jan 04 — SUNDAY LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sun Jan 04 — Cutting of the Vassilopita 11:30AM LIVE STREAM
- Mon Jan 05 — THEOPHANY ROYAL HOURS 9:00am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Jan 05 — THEOPHANY VESPERAL LITURGY OF ST BASIL / BLESSING OF THE WATERS 6:00pm LIVE STREAM
- Tue Jan 06 — THEOPHANY DIVINE LITURGY 9:00am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jan 07 — EARLY MORNING LITURGY – SYNAXIS ST JOHN THE BAPTIST 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jan 09 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jan 10 — Parish Council Meeting 10:00am
- Sat Jan 10 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
- SUN Jan 11 — SUNDAY LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jan 14 — EARLY MORNING LITURGY 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jan 16 — DIVINE LITURGY ST ANTHONY THE GREAT 9:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jan 16 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jan 17 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
- SUN Jan 18 — SUNDAY LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jan 21 — EARLY MORNING LITURGY 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jan 23 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jan 24 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
- SUN Jan 25 — SUNDAY LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jan 21 – Sat Jan 31 — Fr. Hans at DOMSE Clergy Retreat
- Wed Jan 28 — CANCELLED
EARLY MORNING LITURGY 6:00am LIVE STREAM - Fri Jan 30 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jan 31 — CANCELLED
Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
Wisdom From The Elders
That which a man loves, to which he turns, that he will find. If he loves earthly things, he will find earthly things, and these earthly things will abide in his heart, will communicate their earthliness to him and will find him; if he loves heavenly things, he will find heavenly things, and they will abide in his heart and give him life. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
He Whose love is greater than yours will love you always. He loved you when you were still His enemy and a sinner; will He not love you indefinitely when you will have become His son and perfect in holiness? Bishop Alexander of Mojaisk
Thou hast said, O Lord: ask, and it shall be given to you; knock, and it shall be opened to you. Lo, I ask and I knock. Before my end comes, O Lord, cleanse me of all sin. Venerable Ephraim the Syrian
Therefore, he who has the Son of God has life; he who has not the Son of God has not life (1 John 5: 12)—he is completely in death. Life in the one true God and Lord Jesus Christ is really Take care, then, not to put your flesh before God, and disdain, for His sake, bodily repose. If you have made a rule to read so many prayers (whether they be long or short, fulfil the reading of all of them well), read the prayers with all conscientiousness, and do not do God’s work with your heart divided in two, so that only one half belongs to Him and the remaining half to your own flesh. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
To unite the mind and heart in prayer as the Saint instructs, a discipline of interior quietude is required— for normally our mind and our heart reside distantly from one another, unwittingly content in their disassociation. Bishop Irenei Steenberg
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)
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 Sunday before the Theophany of Christ
O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.
Unto Thee will I cry, O Lord my God.
The Reading from the Second Epistle of St. Paul to St. Timothy. (4:5-8)
Timothy, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.
GOSPEL
For the Sunday before the Theophany of Christ
The reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (1:1-8)
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes He Who is mightier than I, the strap of Whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
