Christ is Risen!
The Sixth Sunday After Pascha
The Sunday of the Blind Man
Venerable Stylites Simeon the Younger of the Mountain of Wonders and Nikitas of Pereyaslavl-Zalesski;
Martyr Meletios the General of Galatia; Venerable Vincent of Lerins
Jesus Heals the Blind Man
Introduction
The sixth Sunday of Holy Pascha is observed by the Orthodox Church as the Sunday of the Blind Man. The day commemorates the miracle of Christ healing the man who was blind since birth. The biblical story of this event is found in the Gospel of Saint John 9:1-41.
Background
The Lord Jesus was coming from the Temple on the Sabbath, when, while walking in the way, He saw the blind man mentioned in today’s Gospel. This man had been born thus from his mother’s womb, that is, he had been born without eyes (see Saint John Chrysostom, Homily LVI on John; Saint Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book V:15; and the Second Exorcism of Saint Basil the Great). When the disciples saw this, they asked their Teacher, “Who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” They asked this because when the Lord had healed the paralytic at the Sheep’s Pool, He had told him, “Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee” (John 5:14); so they wondered, if sickness was caused by sin, what sin could have been the cause of his being born without eyes. But the Lord answered that this was for the glory of God. Then the God-man spat on the ground and made clay with the spittle. He anointed the eyes of the blind man and said to him, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam.” Siloam (which means “sent”) was a well-known spring in Jerusalem used by the inhabitants for its waters, which flowed to the eastern side of the city and collected in a large pool called “the Pool of Siloam.”
When our Lord Jesus Christ, then, came at midday to this city, which is also called Sychar (John 4:5), He was wearied from the journey and the heat. He sat down at this well. After a little while the Samaritan woman mentioned in today’s Gospel passage came to draw water. As she conversed at some length with the Lord and heard from Him secret things concerning herself, she believed in Him; through her many other Samaritans also believed.
Therefore, the Savior sent the blind man to this pool that he might wash his eyes, which had been anointed with the clay-not that the pool’s water had such power, but that the faith and obedience of the one sent might be made manifest, and that the miracle might become more remarkable and known to all, and leave no room for doubt. Thus, the blind man believed in Jesus’ words, obeyed His command, went and washed himself, and returned, no longer blind, but having eyes and seeing. This was the greatest miracle that our Lord had yet worked; as the man healed of his blindness himself testified, “Since time began, never was it heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind,” although the Lord had already healed the blind eyes of many. Because he now had eyes, some even doubted that he was the same person (John 9:8-9); and it was still lively in their remembrance when Christ came to the tomb of Lazarus, for they said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have caused that even this man should not have died?” Saint John Chrysostom gives a thorough and brilliant exposition of our Lord’s meeting with the woman of Samaria, the healing of the paralytic, and the miracle of the blind man in his commentaries on the Gospel of Saint John.
Read more on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website.
Services This Week
- Sun May 30 — SUNDAY OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN Divine Liturgy – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Tue Jun 1 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Thu Jun 3 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Services Next Week
- Sun Jun 6 — SUNDAY OF THE BLIND MAN Divine Liturgy – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jun 9 — Apodesis (Leave Taking) of Great and Holy Pascha Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Thu Jun 10 — Ascension of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Thu Jun 10 — Cafe of Life Sandwich Making 1:00pm
- Fri-Sat Jun 11-12 — Fr. Hans Out of Town
Women’s Book Study Continues This Wednesday, June 2, 2021 in the Social Hall at 6:00pm
The Women’s Book Study will have its first meeting at 6:00pm this Wednesday in the Social Hall. The book we will study is Fr. Arseny: Priest, Prisoner, Spiritual Father. Fr. Arseny was a prisoner in a Soviet Gulag and ministered to many prisoners. His story is gripping, compelling, and shows how God worked even in the Gulag through a faithful priest.
A brief introduction to the book (the foreward and an introduction to the book) will be offered along with schedule and goal of the study. The primary focus will be books that teach and inspire us in our Orthodox faith.
From Amazon:
It is one of the great mysteries of life that in atmospheres of the harshest cruelty, a certain few not only survive but emerge as beacons of light and life. Father Arseny, former scholar of church art, became Prisoner No. 18736 in the brutal ‘special sector’ of the Soviet prison camp system. In the darkness of systematic degradation of body and soul, he shone with the light of Christ’s peace and compassion. His sights set on God and his life grounded in the Church, Father Arseny lived by injunction to ‘bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ’ (Galatians 6:2).
This narrative, compiled from accounts of Father Arseny’s spiritual children and others whom he brought to God, gives stirring glimpses of his life in prison camp and after his release. It also tells the stories of people whose lives, often during times of almost unimaginable crisis, were touched and transfigured through their connection with Father Arseny. Emerging from the context of the particular tragedies of Soviet Russia, this book carries a universal impact certain to be felt by readers in the West today.
Fr. Hans Out of Town Friday – Saturday, June 10-11, 2021
Fr. Hans will be out of town Friday and Saturday, June 10 and 11. He will be Phoenix, AZ giving at talk on growing missions at the Arizona Missions Conference. For pastoral emergencies please contact Fr. Paul Girgis at 509-845-4540.
Cafe of Life Ministry
ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE UP A MONTH OF COFFEE TO FEED A HUNGRY NEIGHBOR?
St. Peter’s is seeking monthly sponsors or ongoing donors to help sustain their commitment in making sandwiches for the hungry and homeless at the cafe of life. These are challenging times and your donation is especially needed to support our local community.
Please send your check (made out to St. Peter’s Orthodox Church) or cash to Father Hans. We will be meeting on Thursday, June 10th in the social hall at 1:00 pm to make those sandwiches.
"One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want" (Proverbs 11:24).
Thank you.
Christos Anesti and IC XC NI KA!
DOMSE Virtual Parish Life Conference – June 13-20, 2021
Since COVID the Annual Parish Life Conference (where parishes from the Diocese get together) have gone virtual. DOMSE stands for Diocese of Miami and the Southeast (our diocese). More information including the schedule and sign up are available on the DOMSE website.
Just added: Fr. Hans will lead a second session for men only on “Sexual Sobriety.”
Topics covered include:
- Teen SOYO Guest Speaker – Erin Ghata “Dead Men Live!”
- YAF Guest Speaker – Fr. Joseph Abouid “Prayer of the Hart – A Discussion on The Way of the Pilgrim”
- Antiochian Women Guest Speaker – Fr. David Winn “St. John the Theologian: Love and the World”
- Christian Education Workshop – Hosted by Anna-Sarah Farha “Recruiting, Training, and Supporting Church School Staff”
- AMEN (Antiochian Men) Guest Speaker – Fr. Kosta Petrogeorge “Sexual Sobriety according to the Orthodox Church”
- Using Technology for Ministry in the Orthodox Church – Hosted by AMEN for All DOMSE
- Ask Sayedna (Ask Bishop Nicholas any question you want to ask)
Make sure to sign up for the DOMSE Newsletter when you visit the DOMSE website.
Do You Receive THE WORD Magazine?
The Word Magazine is the official publication of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese and comes out monthly. It is filled with helpful articles, archdiocese news, and more. All members of St. Peter’s can (and should) receive it.
If you are not receiving your copy sign up on the Antiochian Archdiocese website.
Two Things to Remember About Our Church at Hickory Drive
- The Presbyterian Church will be using the Social Hall for their worship until they find a place to relocate. Do not enter the Social Hall before 10am on Sundays.
- 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.
Coming Soon: Antiochian Men!
The new parish means new responsibilities and the men can step up. A lot of men already have with the move contributing hours of work and sweat to bring the building into shape. We could also do other things too, say breakfast one Saturday a month. It would be a great time for fellowship.
Stay tuned! The Church needs you men.
Pledge & Income Report – April 2021
Donations received in April: $28,321.
Amount of money needed to cover expenses: $22,760.21.
We are ahead by $5,561.
These numbers reflect the operating costs of the the Hickory Drive property.
Please note:Please continue your generous support. If you cannot make it to church please mail in your donation to:
St. Peter Orthodox Church
7470 Hickory Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33967
You can also donate online:
Bishop NICHOLAS Offers a Weekly Live Stream
These are short thirty minute presentations where His Grace Bp. Nicholas speaks on one theme in Sunday readings for fifteen minutes followed by questions from the listeners. It’s worth tuning in. Get instructions on the St. Peter website on how to use the Band App on your phone or computer to participate.
Calendar At A Glance
Calendar also available on the St. Peter website.
JUNE
- Sun May 30 — SUNDAY OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN Divine Liturgy – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Tue Jun 1 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Thu Jun 3 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sun Jun 6 — SUNDAY OF THE BLIND MAN Divine Liturgy – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jun 9 — Apodesis (Leave Taking) of Great and Holy Pascha Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Thu Jun 10 — Ascension of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Thu Jun 10 — Cafe of Life Sandwich Making 1:00pm
- Fri-Sat Jun 11-12 — Fr. Hans Out of Town
- Sun Jun 13 — FATHERS OF THE FIRST ECUMENICAL COUNCIL Divine Liturgy – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sun-Sat Jun 13-19 — DIOCESE OF MIAMI VIRTUAL PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jun 16 — Women’s Book Study
- Sat Jun 19 — Saturday of the Souls (for Pentecost) Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sun Jun 20 — GREAT AND HOLY PENTECOST Divine Liturgy – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Tue Jun 22 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jun 23 — Women’s Book Study
- Thu Jun 24 — Nativity St. John the Baptist Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jun 25 — Parish Council Meeting 3:30pm
JUNE – JULY
- Sun Jun 27 — SUNDAY OF ALL SAINTS Divine Liturgy – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon-Tue Jun 28-29 — Sts. Peter and Paul – TIME AND DETAILS TBA
- Wed Jun 30 — Women’s Book Study
- Fri Jul 02 — St. Maximos the Confessor Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Wisdom From The Elders
How can there be peace, when people are not reconciled with God? Only when man is reconciled with God can inward and outward peace come. But for us to be reconciled with God, we must first attain awareness, we must repent, we must live in accordance with God’s commandments, and then the Grace and peace of God will enter into us, enabling us to also help create peace around us. Elder Paisios of Mount Athos
It is difficult for you, but think of how it was for the Savior on the Cross. The end is near; life passes quickly. We are guests on earth, migratory birds. Archbishop Seraphim (Sobolev) of Bogucharsk
An unfulfilled promise is just like a good tree without fruit. St. Ambrose of Optina
No wickedness, no heresy, not even the devil himself can deceive anyone unless he counterfeits virtue.
Dorotheos of Gaza
He who attains love cannot fall. Saint Macarius the Great
For you to learn repentance depends not only on me, but more on you yourself. Repentance in its essence is humility. And you must humble yourself. Then humility will teach you true repentance. Archbishop Seraphim (Sobolev) of Bogucharsk
Remember in Your Prayers
- Names will remain on the list for two 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 April 10 / Resets May 1
Current Prayer List
Anne (Breitenbach 9/21)
Patricia (Tsikita 9/21)
Robert (Tewis 9/21)
Lydia (Irena 9/21)
Lee (Irena 9/21)
Demetrios (Karras 8/21)
Leah (Brubaker 7/21)
Elena (Brubaker 7/21)
George III (Ghanem 7/21)
Kristin (Ghanem 7/21)
Nora (Ghanem 7/21)
George IV (Ghanem 7/21)
Lena (Ghanem 7/21)
Baree (Dusckas 7/21)
Barbara (Dusckas 7/21)
Georgia (Jacobse 6/21)
Maryann (Breitenbach 6/21)
Jean (Wolffe 6/21)
Robin (Wolffe 6/21)
Debbie (Breitenbach 6/21)
Permanent Prayer List
Maria and her unborn child Iakovos (Diveris)
Sophia (D. Constantine)
Herman (Kerr)
Innocent (Kerr)
Nicholas (Kerr)
Paola (Jacobse)
Gregory (Yankopolos)
Soterios (Ninos)
Pauline (Poulos)
Sergio (Kazakos)
Rae (Semeretis)
Fran (Hansen)
Nina (Krotov)
George the Priest (Chapekis)
Franklin (Pyrrson)
George (Chionis)
Stamatia (Jacobse)
Stamatia (Evelyn)
Demetrios (Kuchera)
Theodosios (Palis)
Theodora (Webb)
Helen (Rogers)
Robert (Smith)
Robert (Jarvis)
Presbytera Rosy (in Pakistan)
James (Hord)
Ann (Rellis)
Vassiliki (Kontinos)
Vassiliki (Morekeas)
Founders, Members, and Benefactors 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)
Gregory (Pappas)
Angela (Coran K)
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
Thou, O Lord, shalt keep us and preserve us.
Save me, O Lord, for the godly man hath disappeared.
The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles. (16:16-34)
In those days, as we Apostles were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slavegirl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by soothsaying. She followedPaul and us, crying, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the wayof salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul was annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I charge you in the Name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the rulers; and when they had brought them to the magistrates they said, “These men are Jews and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s fetters were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, “Men, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house.
And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family. Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them; and he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God.
GOSPEL
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (9:1-38)
At that time, when Jesus was passing, He saw a man blind from his birth. And His Disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. I must work the works of Him Who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” As He said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man’s eyes with the clay, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” [which means Sent]. So he went and washed and came back seeing.
The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, “Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he”; others said, “No, but he is like him.” He said, “I am the man.” They said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.” They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”
Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, “What do you say about Him, since He has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight,until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age,ask him.”
So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I don ot know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become His disciples?” And they reviled him, saying, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He comes from.” The man answered, “Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where He comes from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.”
They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him He said, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered, “And Who is He, Sir, that I may believe in Him?” Jesus said to him,“You have seen Him, and it is He who speaks to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe”; and he worshiped Him.
