St. Peter News July 26, 2022

The Seventh Sunday of Matthew

Holy and Just Eudokimos of Cappadocia, Righteous Joseph of Arimathea; Germanos, bishop of Auxerre

Holy and Just Eudokimos of Cappadocia

Saint Eudokimos was from Cappadocia, the son of pious and most illustrious parents, patricians in rank. He especially cultivated chastity and mercy.

When he was made military commander of Cappadocia, he continued in his righteous ways, showing mercy and uprightness in all his dealings. Having so lived in piety, quietly and without ostentation, he was called from this life at the age of thirty-three, about the year 840, during the reign of the Iconoclast Theophilus.

Not long after his burial, his grave became a fountain of unending miracles, as God revealed the virtue that Eudocimus had striven to hide; when his grave was later opened, his body was found incorrupt. His holy relics were translated to Constantinople.

Joseph of Arimathea

Righteous Joseph of Arimathea was a secret disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ. As a member of the Sanhedrin he did not participate in the “counsel and deed” of the Jews in passing a death sentence for Jesus Christ. After the Crucifixion and Death of the Saviour he made bold to go to Pilate and ask him for the Body of the Lord, to Which he gave burial with the help of Righteous Nicodemus, who was also a secret disciple of the Lord.

They took down the Body of the Saviour from the Cross, wrapped it in a winding-cloth, and placed it in a new tomb, in which no one had ever been buried, in the Garden of Gethsemane, in the presence of the Mother of God and the holy Myrrh-Bearing Women (St Joseph had prepared this tomb for himself). Having rolled a heavy stone before the entrance of the tomb, they departed (John 19:37-42; Matt 27:57-61; Mark 15:43-47; Luke 24:50-56). St Joseph travelled around the world, proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. He died peacefully in England.

Services This Week

• SUN JUL 24 — SIXTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Jul 29 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM

Please note that Liturgies scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday have been cancelled.

Fr. Hans Out of Town Monday August 1 to August 8

Fr. Hans will be taking a vacation week from August 1-8, 2022 to give the keynote address at the European Men’s Gathering in Denmark. The European Men’s Gathering is an organization of men who are trying to lift themselves out of the secularist, anti-Christian morass that afflicts Northern Europe in particular and has been devastating to many men.

Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis will be serving the Liturgy on August 7, 2022.

Room to Rent or Apartment to Share Needed

Our parishioner Pauline Poulos is looking for apartment or home to share or room to rent starting Mid-August or September 1st. Non Smoker and no pets.

Please call Pauline at 239-994-4797 (cell).

We Are Remodeling the Sunday School Rooms

The outside wall is being replaced and the floors will be leveled. Work will take about four weeks to complete. Greek Language classes will be moved to the Social Hall.

Starting Soon – Orthodoxy 101

Starting soon St. Peter’s offers a study of the Orthodox Basics (less philosophical, more factual and practical) of such things as worship, history, theology and more. This is for anyone and everyone who wants to understand our Orthodox faith and practice more thoroughly.

Dates will be determined but Saturday morning from 9:00am to 10:00 class time followed by a half hour optional discussion seems to work best for many people. Please let Fr. Hans know what works for you. We will begin when the summer starts and everyone’s schedule is more flexible.

In the meantime check out the videos on the website Welcome to the Orthodox Church by Frederica Mathews-Green to prepare.

Helping Victims of the War in Ukraine

Galyna Seabrooke who has spoken on several occasions on the situation in Ukraine on behalf of our Ukranian parishioners mentioned opportunities to help the victims of the war.

One way to offer humanitarian aid is through a Go Fund Me page. Another is to donate essential items for Ukranian refugees. These items include:

No food items please.

A box will be set up in the church for donations.

We pray that war in Ukraine will end quickly.

Greek Language School Semester Completed

The first semester of Greek language school has completed. Second semester starts this fall!

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.

Cafe of Life: Helping the Poor in the Lean Months

People are traditionally more generous with those in need during the holidays than they are the rest of the year. Yet the hunger crisis in this country isn’t seasonal, but year round. We are at the beginning of another pandemic and the likelihood of your own neighbors or people in your community struggling to put food on the table is extremely high.

If you are fortunate enough to be in a place to help out folks in need right now, your support can be part of the solution. Your tax deductible donation in cash or check can be given to Father Hans. No amount is too little for this community mission.

Thank you and IC XC NI KA!

Pledge & Income Report – June 2022

Contributions received in June: $15,607.
Amount of money needed to cover expenses: $24,114.
We are behind by $8,507.

Every year we need an extra push in the summer to keep our income current. Please keep up with you pledge so we can keep current with our bills.

St. Peter Orthodox Church
7470 Hickory Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33967

You can also donate online:

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.

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

July

• BARBARA DIONYSOPOULOS
• Al Joseph
• Bonnie Joseph
• Niki Locklear
• Ray Locklear
• Koula Ormandiou
• Marianthi Kazakos
• Sandy Krotov
• Eleni Moran

August

• MARGIE ZIMMERMAN
• Filipe DaFonseca
• Leon Dephkalion
• Glow Franklin
• Will Schwarz
• Anna Tsikitas
• Barbara Sasen

Procedures for Hospitality

Please note: If you would like to bring in your own prepared food, please contact Tom Haley at 239-887-0753 a week before the upcoming Sunday. That way we know not to prepare any food for Sunday.

1. On most Sundays we will serve lighter refreshments like coffee, sweets, hummus, olives, feta, pita and similar items. Please continue bringing these items. Even though we have a range (unlike our former facility), we appreciate items that are “ready to be served.”
2. Please do not donate coffee. We have a space age coffee brewer that we acquired at no cost if we buy our coffee from one supplier. If you bring in coffee, we can’t use it.
3. We cannot continue preparing meals for Memorials, Name Days, Anniversaries, and other celebrations. We don’t have the appliances or manpower to do it well. We do, however, have the name of two catering companies that can prepare and deliver the food if you would like to sponsor a celebration. Please call Tom Haley at 239-887-0753 for details and to make arrangements.
4. If you would like to bring in your own prepared food, please contact Tom Haley at 239-887-0753 a week before the upcoming Sunday. That way we know not to prepare any food for Sunday.

The Safest Way to Come to Church

US 41 is a busy highway and the intersection at Hickory Drive does not have a stop light. We recommend turning on Sanibel Boulevard and following Coconut Road instead.

Helping Our Seniors With Parking

With the church growing the parking lot is close to full every Sunday. Younger parishioners, could you park in the grass lot even if spaces are open in the paved area? That way our seniors can park closer to the entrance and avoid the grassy area where it is easier to stumble and fall.

Calendar also available on the St. Peter website.

JULY

• SUN JUL 24 — SIXTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Jul 29 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM

JULY – AUG

Dormition Fasting Period from August 1-15.

• SUN JUL 31 — SIXTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW Orthros 8:30am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Aug 01 – Aug 7 — Fr. Hans Out of Town

I had a desire to learn about the inner life of those who had lived a perfect life here on earth and who were glorified by God both here and in eternity. It was then that I realized, as the Holy Fathers themselves explained, that the perfection of the Christian life consists in extreme humility. Elder Thaddeus(Strabulovich) of Vitovnica

The more one suffers trials and tribulations through illness, the more he is purified and sanctified, as long as he is patient in his illness and accepts it with joy. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos

For anything that is quickly obtained is also easily lost, whereas everything found with toil is also kept with careful watching. Venerable Isaac the Syrian, bishop of Nineveh

All sorrows, sicknesses, torments, deprivations, are allowed by God in order to drive out the enticement of sin, and to implant true virtue in the heart, that we may learn by experience the falsehood, insolence, tyranny, and deadliness of sin, and may be inspired with a loathing for it; Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

And so it is with us—if we, realizing the full extent of our feebleness and spiritual poverty, turn to the Lord, our only Saviour, and from a con­trite heart say, “Lord, if You desire it, You can heal and cleanse me,” we will hear the same reply from the Lord, who suffered for us on the Cross: “I will, be thou clean.” Abbot Nikon Vorobiev

List has been updated. If you want some names restored, please mention it to Fr. Hans.

• 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.

Updated June 4 / Resets August 1.

Current Prayer List

Anthony Presbyter (Kerr 10/22)
Angel (Ghanem 10/22)
Abott Tryphon (Jacobse 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)
Alberta (Dusckas 8/22)
Connie (Dusckas 8/22)
Johanna (Dimartino 7/22)
Sarah (Tomlinson 7/22)
Natasha (Tomlinson 7/22)
Christine (Brubaker 7/22)
Elena (Brubaker 7/22)
Stella (Brubaker 7/22)
Steven (Breitenbach)
Gabrielle (Lowell 5/22)
Andrea, Yelena, newborn baby (Protpapadakis 4/22)
George (Haynes 4/21)
Kayla (Palentine 4/21)
Basil (Jacobse 3/22)
Linda M. (Dusckas 3/22)
Barbara (Dusckas 3/22)
Fr John (Jacobse 3/22)
John (Duskas 3/22)
Nancy (Coin 3/22)
Nicholas (Ghanem 1/22)
Arielle (Ghanem 1/22)
Georgia (Sarros 1/22)
Kerri (Dusckas 1/21)

Permanent Prayer List

Archpriest Dionysius (Valentine 9/12)
Katheryn (Tolkkinen)
Markisia (Long)
Angela (Long)
Marina (Long)
Eleni (Long)
Raphaella (Long)
Joanne (Haley)
Francine (Anton)
Corwin (Dusckas)
Corgette (Troutman)
Irina (Irina)
Seraphim (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)b
Fredericos (Diveris)
Herman (Kerr)
Innocent (Kerr)
Nicholas (Kerr)
Paola (Jacobse)
Gregory (Yankopolos)
Soterios (Ninos)
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)
The People of Ukraine

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)
John (Katsigianopoulos)
George (Chionis)
Mary (Spiropoulos)
Gregory (Pappas)
Angela (Coran K
Eugene (Rust)
Robert (Jarvis)
George (Corey)
Matushka Marion (Valentine)
Mary (Ghanem 10/22)
Sophia (D. Constantine)

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 Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.
Unto Thee, O Lord, will I cry, O my God!

The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans. (15:1-7)

Brethren, we who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good for his edification. For Christ also did not please Himself; but, as it is written: “The reproaches of those who reproached Thee fell on Me.” For whatever was written beforehand was written for our learning, that we might have hope, through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be of the same mind with one another, according to Christ Jesus, that with one accord and one mouth you may glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

GOSPEL

For the Seventh Sunday of Matthew

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (9:27-35)

At that time, as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud:“Have mercy on us, Son of David.” When He entered the house, the blind men came to Him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, “See that no one knows it.” But they went away and spread His fame through all that district. As they were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to Him. And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.” And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity.