Sunday after the Theophany of Christ
Theodosios the Great, head of monasteries (Cenobiarch)
Who was St Theodosius the Great?
St Theodosius the Great
The Venerable Saint Theodosius the Great, also Theodosius the Cenobiarch lived during the fifth-sixth centuries (423 AD – 529 AD), and was the founder and organizer of the cenobitic way of monastic life.[note 1] The monastery that he founded in 476 AD became known as the “Monastery of St. Theodosius”, and includes his tomb.
Saint Theodosius was born in the province of Cappadocia in the village of Mogarissus. His parents Proheresius and Eulogia were very devout.
Endowed with a splendid voice, he zealously toiled at church reading and singing. St Theodosius prayed fervently that the Lord would guide him on the way to salvation. In his early years he visited the Holy Land and met with St Symeon the Stylite (September 1), who blessed him and predicted future pastoral service for him.
Yearning for the solitary life, Saint Theodosius settled in Palestine into a desolate cave, in which, according to Tradition, the three Magi had spent the night, having come to worship the Savior after His Nativity. He lived there for thirty years in great abstinence and unceasing prayer. People flocked to the ascetic, wishing to live under his guidance.
When the cave could no longer hold all the monks, St Theodosius prayed that the Lord Himself would indicate a place for the monks to live. Taking a censer with cold charcoal and incense, the monk started walking into the desert. At a certain spot the charcoal ignited by itself and the incense smoke began to rise. Here the monk established the first cenobitic monastery, or Lavra (meaning “broad” or “populous”).
It was around this time that Theodosius’ friend and countryman Sabbas the Sanctified was appointed Archimandrite of all the isolated monks in Palestine, by Patriarch Sallustius of Jerusalem (486-493). Therefore Theodosius was made the leader of all those monks who lived in community, and this was the origin of his being called “the Cenobiarch”, which translates as chief of those living a life in common.
Read the entire article on the Orthodox Wiki website.
Services and Events This Week
- 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 5:00pm 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
Meal Train for the Mudd Family!
Bless Emma, Chase, and and Newborn Baby Nino with a meal! Sing up on Meal Train website.
How does it work? Log on to the website and sponsor a meal. It will be delivered to their door!
A Thousand Thanks!
Thank you to the following individuals for the beautiful Christmas dinner:
- Marjorie Zimmerman
- Glow Franklin
- Vicki Ullemeyer
- Barbara Sasen
- Will Schwartz
- Leon Fkiaras
And thank you to those who brought appetizers, sides, salads and desserts.
Thank you also to David Siwarski and his crew for the beautiful job done in replacing the drop ceiling in the Social Hall:
- Nathan (Cyprian) Swenson
- Nickolai Hockin
- Jacob Calderon
- Christian (Paisios) Nunez
- Bautista Vazquez
- Even (Evangelos) Corra
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.
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.
St. Peter Orthodox Church
7470 Hickory Drive
Fort Myers FL 33967
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!
Save This Date Too!
Renowned author Frederica Matthews-Greene will be our guest speaker for the St. Peter – St. Paul Lenten Women’s Retreat in 2026.
Dates for the retreat are March 27-29, 2026.
This promises to be a very engaging and informative event.
Frederica Mathewes-Green is a wide-ranging author who has published ten books and 800 essays, in such diverse publications as the Washington Post, Christianity Today, Smithsonian, and The Wall Street Journal. She has been a regular commentator for National Public Radio (NPR), a columnist for the Religion News Service, Beliefnet.com, AND a podcaster for Ancient Faith Radio.
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!
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 5:00pm 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
Many people come to me and tell me that they have trouble preserving their inner peace. Well, we cannot preserve our inner peace as long as our conscience is telling us something. First we must appease our conscience. Elder Thaddeus(Strabulovich) of Vitovnica
I desire to live worthily of the Christian calling, but I find no power in myself to attain this; sin unceasingly tempts and wars against my soul. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
The perfection of the Christian life consists in extreme humility. Humility is a Divine attribute, too. Where humility reigns, whether it be within a family or in society as a whole, it always radiates Divine peace and joy. Elder Thaddeus(Strabulovich) of Vitovnica
There are times when trials and temptations multiply and cause a man, despite his diligence, to deviate from the true path; for all his wisdom and skill are swallowed up. This happens so as to prevent us from trusting in ourselves St. John of Karpathos
The acquisition of virtues, whether of the body or of the soul, should be gradual, climbing up little by little. Fr. Jack Sparks
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 St. Theodosios the Cenobiarch
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saint.
What shall we render to the Lord for all that He hath rendered unto us?
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (13:7-16)
Brethren, remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the Word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings; for it is well that the heart be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited their adherents. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through His own blood. Therefore, let us go forth to Him outside the camp and bear the abuse He endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city, which is to come. Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His Name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
GOSPEL
For the Sunday after Theophany of Christ
The reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (4:12-17)
At that time, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulon and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for see the Spirit descend and remain, this is He Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”