Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Fourth Ecumenical Council
Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel
Venerable Stephen of Mar Sabbas Monastery
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 06 — SUNDAY LITURGY FOURTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jul 09 — EARLY MORNING LITURGY 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Thu Jul 10 — CANCELLED
DIVINE LITURGY ST JOSEPH OF DAMASCUS 9:00am LIVE STREAM - Fri Jul 11 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jul 12 — DIVINE LITURGY ST PAISIOS OF ATHOS 9:00am LIVE STREAM
- Sat Jul 12 — Parish Council Meeting 11:00am NOTE TIME CHANGE
- Sat Jul 12 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
St Paisios of Athos Divine Liturgy Saturday July 12, 2025 at 9:00am
St. Paisios has been active in St. Peter’s. Read the story here:
Save us O Son of God, who art wondrous (who works miracles in the Greek) in His Saints…
Greek Series on the Life of St. Paisios (with subtitles) Available on the Internet
A series on the life of St. Paisios that received rave reviews in Greece is available on the internet on the St. Catherine the Great Martyr Mission website. Those who have watched it in America say its a very good series as well.
It is subtitled in English, Romanian, Serbian, Spanish, and Russian.
Falling Behind on Your Pledge? We Need You!
The bills are the same in the summer as they are in the winter so please do not fall behind on you pledge.
Things always get tight during the summer months. Although we have a reserve (an emergency fund for unseen events like a rise in rates for wind insurance that is required by our mortgage banker which happened this year), it has to get paid back. St. Peter’s has always run in the black thanks to our faithful parishioners, has always met all of its obligations, and has keep up with the increasing expenses that occur with a growing parish.
This success relies on you — the good parishioners of St. Peter’s. Please catch up on your pledge and if you have more to give, that would be welcome too!
Pledge and Income Report — May 2025
Contributions received in May were $24,097.
The amount of money needed to cover expenses: $33,785.
For this month we are behind by $9,688
Year-to-date, we are behind by $2,477.
If you have not already done so, please complete a 2025 pledge form. Your pledge will play a vital role in helping us meet our 2025 budget goals and will support ourpreparations for refinancing our mortgage in March 2026.
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.
JULY
TBA
Can you volunteer? Please call Joe Repya 612-270-4443.
SOCIAL HALL ALL STARS
SUNDAY COFFEE HOURS – SUMMER MONTHS 2025
Please note: A fruit bowl, veggie or hummus tray may be added to a week’s menu.
- July 2025 – Sunday Coffee Hours – Team #1 – Barb Dionysopoulos Group
- Sunday, July 6 – Coffee and donuts
- Sunday,July 13 – Coffee and coffee cakes
- Sunday, July 20 – Coffee and muffins
- Sunday, July 27 – Coffee and bagels
- August 2025 – Sunday Coffee Hours – Team #2 – Margie Zimmerman Group
- Sunday, August 3 – Coffee and donuts
- Sunday, August 10 – Coffee and coffee cakes
- Sunday, August 17 – Coffee and muffins
- Sunday, August 24 – Coffee and bagels
- Sunday, August 31 – Coffee and donuts
- September 2025 – Sunday Coffee Hours – Team #3
- Sunday, September 7 – Coffee and coffee cakes
- Sunday, September 14 – Coffee and muffins
- Sunday, September 21 – Coffee and bagels
- Sunday, September 28 – Coffee and donuts
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 06 — SUNDAY LITURGY FOURTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jul 09 — EARLY MORNING LITURGY 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Thu Jul 10 — CANCELLED
DIVINE LITURGY ST JOSEPH OF DAMASCUS 9:00am LIVE STREAM - Fri Jul 11 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jul 12 — DIVINE LITURGY ST PAISIOS OF ATHOS 9:00am LIVE STREAM
- Sat Jul 12 — Parish Council Meeting 11:00am NOTE TIME CHANGE
- Sat Jul 12 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
- SUN Jul 13 — SUNDAY LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Tue Jul 15 — DIVINE LITURGY ST VLADIMIR EQUAL TO THE APOSTLES 9:00am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jul 16 — EARLY MORNING LITURGY 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jul 18 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jul 19 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
- SUN Jul 20 — SUNDAY LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Jul 20 – Sat Jul 26 — Fr. Hans Out of Town 10
- Wed Jul 23 — CANCELLED
EARLY MORNING LITURGY 6:00am LIVE STREAM - Fri Jul 25 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jul 26 — CANCELLED
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
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
Freida (Hansen)
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)
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
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)
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)
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
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 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
For the Holy Fathers
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (5:14-19)
The Lord said to His Disciples: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father Who is in heaven. Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them, but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
