The Sunday of Theophany
The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil
Please Note: With the permission of Met. Saba, we are transferring the Monday Theophany Divine Liturgy to Sunday.
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.
The Blessing of the Water will be held immediately following the Divine Liturgy.
Services and Events This Week
- SUN Dec 29 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jan 01 — ST BASIL / CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST Divine Liturgy 9:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jan 03 — Theophany Royal Hours 9:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jan 03 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jan 04 — GREAT VESPERS 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
Important Dates in January
- SUN Jan 05 — THEOPHANY SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- SUN Jan 05 — Blessing of the Waters follows Divine Liturgy LIVE STREAM
- SUN Jan 12 — Cutting of the Vasilopita Following Divine Liturgy
- SUN Jan 19 — Parish Assembly Meeting Following Divine Liturgy
Cutting of the Vasilopita (St. Basil’s Bread) on Sunday, January 12, 2025
Following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, January 1 2023 we will cut the Vasilopita before going into the Social Hall.
The tradition of baking and cutting a special “pita” (which can mean a loaf of bread, a cake, or even a pie) each year in January and is observed in honor of our holy father Basil the Great, archbishop of Caesarea in Cappodocia– hence its name “Vasilopita” meaning “St. Basil’s Bread.” This tradition is observed in both parish churches and in the homes of the faithful. What is the meaning of this tradition and how did it begin?
Read the entire article on the Antiochian Archdiocese website.
St. Peter Parish Assembly Meeting on Sunday, January 19, 2025
St. Peter’s will hold their yearly General Assembly on Sunday, January 19, 2025 after Divine Liturgy following a very brief Social Hall. The General Assembly will review past year events, goals and forecasts for 2025.
Catechumen Classes Resume in January
Reminder: These classes are required for all catechumens. If you cannot make please make sure to let Subdeacon Joseph know.
We will post the schedule for the completion of the classes shortly.
The class is taught by Subdeacon Joseph and we will use the book “Small Steps into the Kingdom”). The books are available for purchase in the bookstore.
The Tax Advantages of End of Year Contributions to St. Peter’s
Now is a great time to consider the 2024 and 2025 tax advantages of charitable contributions. A popular strategy for those who are age 70 1/2 or older and who have an IRA is a qualified charitable distribution ( QCD). The IRS allows those individuals to make a QCD donation directly from their IRA to a charity, such as St. Peter’s Church, with NO income tax due on that distribution. In 2024 there is an annual QCD limit of $105,000 ($210,000 if the spouse also qualifies). For those who also are age 73 or older, a QCD counts towards the individual’s required minimum distribution (RMD).
Keep in mind that since your QCD is a nontaxable event, there is no corresponding income tax deduction for it.
If you think you may qualify for a QCD, talk to your IRA carrier to begin the direct transfer paperwork. Remember that this opportunity will continue to be available in 2025 when the annual limit increases to $108,000 ($216,000 if the spouse also qualifies). A little planning today can make a big difference tomorrow for your tax situation. And by using a QCD, you will have the satisfaction of benefiting your church with a much appreciated special donation.
Pledge and Income Report — November 2024
Contributions received in October were $34,065
Amount of money needed to cover expenses: $31,105.
For the month we are ahead by $2,960.
Year to date we are behind by $21,506.
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Every year we need an extra push to keep our income current. Please keep up with your pledge so we can keep current with our bills.
St. Peter Orthodox Church
7470 Hickory Drive
Fort Myers FL 33967
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ST. PETER’S GREETERS
Please note: Volunteers to serve as greeters are needed for December. Please contact Joe Repya if you can serve.
JANUARY
- Sun January 05 – Will Schultz – George Tsikitas
- Sun January 12 – Paula Kamberos – Candice Rosen
- Sun January 19 – avlo Bilych – Will Schultz
- Sun January 26 – Tina Kucera – Doug Kucera
Can you volunteer? Please call Joe Repya 612-270-4443.
SOCIAL HALL ALL STARS
SUNDAY COFFEE HOURS – Winter Months 2024 – 2025
Please note: A fruit bowl, veggie or hummus tray may be added to a week’s menu.
- January 2025 – Sunday Coffee Hours – Team #1 – Barb Dionysopoulos Group
- Sunday, January 5 – Coffee and muffins
- Sunday, January 12 – Coffee and donuts
- Sunday, January 19 – Coffee and coffee cakes
- Sunday, January 26 – Coffee and bagels
- February 2025 – Sunday Coffee Hours – Team #2 – Margie Zimmerman Group
- Sunday, February 2 – Coffee and muffins
- Sunday, February 9 – Coffee and donuts
- Sunday, February 16 – Coffee and coffee cakes
- Sunday, February 23 – 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 / JANUARY
- SUN Dec 29 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jan 01 — ST BASIL / CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST Divine Liturgy 9:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jan 03 — Theophany Royal Hours 9:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jan 03 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jan 04 — GREAT VESPERS 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
JANUARY
- SUN Jan 05 — THEOPHANY SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- SUN Jan 05 — Blessing of the Waters follows Divine Liturgy LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jan 08 — Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jan 10 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jan 11 — Parish Council Meeting 10:00am
- Sat Jan 11 — GREAT VESPERS 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
- SUN Jan 12 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- SUN Jan 12 — Cutting of the Vasilopita Following Divine Liturgy
- Wed Jan 15 — Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jan 17 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jan 18 — GREAT VESPERS 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
- SUN Jan 19 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- SUN Jan 19 — Parish Assembly Meeting Following Divine Liturgy
- Wed Jan 22 — Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jan 24 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jan 25 — GREAT VESPERS 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
- SUN Jan 26 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Tue Jan 28 — Sat Feb 01 — Fr. Hans at DOMSE Clergy Mtg/ Retreat
- Wed Jan 29 — CANCELLED
Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM - Fri Jan 31 — CANCELLED
Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm - Sat Feb 01 — 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
Ariyon (Sovjani)
Diana (Veraj)
Arjan (Veraj)
Thoma (Sovjani)
Lucia
Ioannes
Freida (Hansen)
Stratton (Leopold)
Mary (Copeland)
Robert (Tewis)
Gene (Forderhase)
Ruth (Mudd)
Barbara (Duskas)
Doug S (Duskas)
Marc C. (Duskas)
Rachel (Voss)
Ken John (Eaton)
Diane (Najar)
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)
Anthony (Breitenbach 6/1)
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 (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)
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)
Peter (Tewis 8/22)
The People of Ukraine and People of Russia and all those who are suffering in the war
Permanent Prayer List
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)
s
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
Raymond
40 Days
Lori (Pateras Jan3)
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
Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endureth forever.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to Titus. (2:11-14; 3:4-7)
My son Titus, the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world; awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for Himself a people of His own who are zealous for good deeds. When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, which He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we might be justified by His grace and becomeheirs in hope of eternal life.
GOSPEL
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (3:13-17)
At that time, Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by Thee, and Thou dost come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on Him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased.”
