St Peter News July 14, 2026 - St. Peter Orthodox Church

Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Fourth Ecumenical Council

Venerable Macrina, sister of Basil the Great; Venerable Dios of Antioch

Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council

Held in Chalcedon, near Constantinople, 451. Under Emperor Marcian. 630 Bishops were present.

Monophysite Controversy

The Council was concerned, once again, with the nature of Jesus Christ. The teaching arose that Christ’s human nature (less perfect) dissolved itself in His divine nature (more perfect): like a cube of sugar in a post of water. Thus, in reality, Christ had only one nature, the Divine. Hence, the term: Monophysites (“mono”, one and “physis”, “nature”.) Monophysitism overemphasized the divine nature of Christ, at the expense of the human.

Proclamation

The Council condemned Monophysitism and proclaimed that Christ has two complete natures: the divine and the human, as defined by previous Councils. These two natures function without confusion, are not divided nor separate (against Nestorius), and at no time did they undergo any change (against Eutyches: Monophysites).

History of the Ecumenical Councils

The First Council, of the 318 Fathers who assembled in Nicaea in 325 to condemn Arius, who denied that the Son of God is consubstantial with the Father; the Fathers of the First Council also ordained that the whole Church should celebrate Pascha according to the same reckoning;
The Second Council, of the 150 Fathers who assembled in Constantinople in 381 to condemn Macedonius, Patriarch of Constantinople, who denied the Divinity of the Holy Spirit;
The Third Council, of the 200 Fathers who assembled in Ephesus in 431, to condemn Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, who called Christ a mere man and not God incarnate;
The Fourth Council, of the 630 who assembled in Chalcedon in 451, to condemn Eutyches, who taught that there was only one nature, the divine, in Christ after the Incarnation, and Dioscorus, Patriarch of Alexandria, who illegally received Eutyches back into communion and deposed Saint Flavian, Patriarch of Constantinople, who had excommunicated Eutyches;
The Fifth Council in 553, of the 165 who assembled in Constantinople for the second time to condemn Origen and Theodore of Mopsuestia, the teacher of Nestorius;
The Sixth Council in 680, of the 170 who assembled in Constantinople for the third time, to condemn the Monothelite heresy, which taught that there is in Christ but one will, the divine;
The Seventh Council in 787, of the 350 who assembled in Nicaea for the second time to condemn Iconoclasm.

Read the entire history on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website.

Services and Events This Week

SUN Jul 12 — SUNDAY ORTHROS 8:30am DIVINE LITURGY 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Wed Jul 15 — Early Morning Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
Fri Jul 17 — St Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
Sat Jul 18 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

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.

St. Peter Greeters

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

SUNDAY COFFEE HOURS

Please note: A fruit bowl, veggie or hummus tray may be added to a week’s menu.

July 2026 – Team #1 Barb Dionysopoulos Group

Sunday, July 5 – Coffee and coffee cakes
Sunday, July 12 – Coffee and muffins
Sunday, July 19 – Coffee and Cakes NO POT LUCK
Sunday, July 26 – Coffee and donuts

August 2026 – Team #2 Vicki Ullemeyer Group

Sunday, August 2 – Coffee and coffee cakes
Sunday, August 9 – Coffee and muffins
Sunday, August 16 – POT LUCK
Sunday, August 23 – Coffee and bagel
Sunday, August 30 – Coffee and donuts

September 2026 – Team #3

Sunday, Sept 6 – Coffee and bagels
Sunday, Sept 13 – Coffee and donuts
Sunday, Sept 20 – POT LUCK
Sunday, Sept 27 – Coffee and muffins

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!

JULY

SUN Jul 12 — SUNDAY ORTHROS 8:30am DIVINE LITURGY 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Wed Jul 15 — Early Morning Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
Fri Jul 17 — St Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
Sat Jul 18 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

SUN Jul 19 — SUNDAY ORTHROS 8:30am DIVINE LITURGY 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Mon Jul 21 – Fri JUL 24 Fr. Hans Out of Town at Antiochian Clergy Symposium
Wed Jul 22 — CANCELLED ~~Early Morning Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM~~
Fri Jul 24 — St Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
Sat Jul 25 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

SUN Jul 26 — SUNDAY ORTHROS 8:30am DIVINE LITURGY 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Mon Jul 27 — St. Panteleimon Divine Liturgy 9:00am LIVE STREAM
Wed Jul 29 — Early Morning Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
Fri Jul 31 — St Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
Sat Aug 01 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

Wisdom From The Elders

Anyone who is sick should seek the prayer of others, that they may be restored to health; that through the intercession of others the enfeebled form of the body and the wavering footsteps of our deeds may be restored to health….Learn, you who are sick, to gain health through prayer. Seek the prayer of others, call upon the Church to pray for you, and God, in His regard for the Church, will give what He might refuse to you. St. Ambrose of Milan

Through fasting man can become a lamb. If he becomes a beast, it means the ascetic struggle he is undertaking is either beyond his capabilities, or is done with egoism, and therefore does not have divine assistance. St. Paisios of Mount Athos

Perfection… is clearly not achieved simply by being naked, by the lack of wealth or by the rejection of honors, unless there is also that love whose ingredients the apostle described (cf. I Cor. 13) and which is to be found solely in purity of heart. Not to be jealous, not to be puffed up, not to act heedlessly, not to seek what does not belong to one, not to rejoice over some injustice, not to plan evil – what is this and its like if not the continuous offering to God of the heart that is perfect and truly pure, a heart kept free of all disturbance? St. John Cassian

Let this always be the aim of your conduct: to be courteous and respectful to all. St. Isaac the Syrian

Some people say, “I believe God will help me,” and at the same time they try to make lots of money so that they won’t be deprived of anything. These people mock God, because they do not entrust themselves to God but to money. Elder Paisios of Mount Athos

Current Prayer List

Anthony
RJ Schwegler (Breitenbach)

Sonya (Duskas)
Georgia (Katsigianopoulos)
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)
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)
Pangiota (Poulos)
Catherine (Forderhase)

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 Holy Fathers

Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O ye righteous.
Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven!

The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to St. Titus. (3:8-15)

Titus, my son, faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire you to affirm confidently, that those who have believed in God may be thoughtful of how to preside in honorable occupations. These things are good and profitable to men. But avoid foolish disputes, and genealogies, and contentions, and controversies about the Law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

A man who is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject, knowing that such a one is subverted, and sins, being self-condemned. When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicós, give diligence to come to me to Nicopolis; for I have determined to winter there. Set forward Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that they may be lacking in nothing.

And let our people also learn how to preside in honorable occupations, so as to help in cases of urgent need, that they should not be unfruitful. All who are with me salute you. Salute those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

GOSPEL