Sunday of All Saints of Antioch
Second Sunday of Matthew
Most precious in the eyes of the church is her choir of heavenly intercessors which stand before the throne of the Lord of hosts. The See of Antioch, whose apostolic establishment is recorded in the book of Acts, is especially blessed with an abundance of Saints in this glorified assembly. Being drastically reduced in both geographic area and numbers, having endured the ravages of time and wars, and bearing the loss of her finest church buildings and earthly goods, the see of Antioch knows full well the worth ofhaving laid up her treasures in heaven, her harvest of Saints.
Some of the most well-known of those who achieved this holiness of life within the See of Antioch and whom we revere among the Saints of God are:
St. Peter was from the town of Bethsaida and was a fisherman by trade. He followed his brother, Andrew (the First called) and became a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ. in that city.
St. Paul was born in Tarsus. Saul (as he was originally called) was a Pharisee who had studied under the great Jewish teacher Gamaliel. He was a fierce persecutor of Christians untill Christ appeared to him when he was on his way to Damascus, striking him blind and causing a complete conversion of his life.
St. Ananias, one of the Seventy sent out by Christ [Luke 10], was the Bishop of the fledgling church in Damascus when he was told in a vision of God’s plan for Paul, whom he baptized.
St. Luke was a physician of the city of Antioch and a member of the Christian community there. It was he who donated land on which was the cave that became the meeting place for that community.
St. Thecla was 18 years old when St. Paul came to her village in Iconium to preach the Gospel.
St. Ignatius, according to tradition, was the little child whom our Lord held in his lap when he taught the disciples about humility [Matthew 18:4]. Ignatius grew up to be a fervent follower of Christ.
St. Ephraim the Syrian lived during the reign of the Emperor Constantine the Great when Christianity became a legal religion.
St. John Chrysostom was born to pagan parents in Antioch in the year 347. He studied Greek philosophy, and eventually turned away from empty pagan beliefs, became a Christian and was baptized by Meletius, the Patriarch of Antioch.
St. Simeon the Stylite was born in 390, he son of a shepherd. He was attracted to the ascetic life like others of his time who, after the Edicts of Milan and Rome had made Christianity respectable and popular, wanted to express their faith in a life of sacrifice.
St. John of Damascus was a nobleman who first had a career at court as a minister of Caliph Abdul-Malek during the reign of the iconoclastic Emperor Leo the Isaurian. John vigorously defended the veneration of icons and was reported to the Emperor by the Caliph.
Read more on the St Gregory Orthodox Church website.
Services and Events This Week
- SUN Jun 15 — SUNDAY LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jun 18 — Early Morning Liturgy
- Wed Jun 18 — Parish Council ZOOM Meeting 7pm
- Fri Jun 20 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jun 21 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
Wednesday Early Morning Liturgies Resume This Week
Liturgy starts at 6:00am!
New Altar Server Robes Arrived
Looking good!
The Fasting Period of St. Peter and Paul
The fast of the Holy Apostles starts on the second Monday after Pentecost. The duration of this fast varies, depending on the date of PASCHA (Easter). The rule is that the Fast starts on the second Monday after Pentecost and ends on June 29, on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. According to the new calendar, the Apostles’ Fast could last as short as 8 days and as long as 30 days (42 days according to the old calendar). This year the Apostles’ Fast is June 16-29.
Fasting Rules of the Fast of the Holy Apostles
The Fast of the Holy Apostles is not as strict as the Fasts of PASCHA and the Nativity of Christ; rather it is more lenient in its duration and rules.
The rules are:
- Red meat, poultry, and dairy products are not allowed during the entire fasting period.
- Fish, wine, and oil are allowed on all days except on Wednesdays and Fridays.
The Apostles’ Fast has emerged since the very early days of Christianity. It is honored and preserved in the Church as a part of our Holy Tradition. Like all Fasts in the Orthodox Church, the Holy Apostles’ Fast aims to help us put on the “armor of light” against the attacks of the enemy that may befall during our spiritual journey to become united with God through His grace.
As always, it is encouraged to discuss with your spiritual father what manner of fasting will be best for you during this time.
Learn more about the St. Peter and Paul on the Antiochian Archdiocese website.
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.
JUNE
- June 1 — Barb Zeena – Vicki Matie
- June 8 — Pavlo – Yaryna Bilych
- June 15 — Joe – Deb Repya
- June 22 — Need volunteers
- June 29 — Need volunteers
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.
- June 2025 – Sunday Coffee Hours – Team #3
- Sunday, June 1 – Coffee and bagels
- Sunday, June 8 – Coffee and donuts
- Sunday, June 15 – Coffee and coffee cakes
- Sunday, June 22 – Coffee and muffins
- Sunday, June 29 – Coffee and bagels
- 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!
JUNE
- SUN Jun 15 — SUNDAY LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jun 18 — Early Morning Liturgy
- Wed Jun 18 — Parish Council ZOOM Meeting 7pm
- Fri Jun 20 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jun 21 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
- SUN Jun 22 — SUNDAY LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Tue Jun 24 — DIVINE LITURGY Nativity of St. John Baptist 9:00am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jun 25 — Early Morning Liturgy
- Fri Jun 27 — Men of St. Paisios 7:00pm
- Sat Jun 28 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
Wisdom From The Elders
Humility is as it were a treasure that cannot be stolen, which is formed in the mind that bears the conviction that only by the power of grace received from Christ are their any good qualities to be shown in oneself- that is truth, meekness and righteousness. Venerable Symeon the New Theologian
With your spiritual eyes, you clearly see how the Lord keeps you in obedience to Him through the laws of conscience. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
The heart is the eye of the human being. The purer it is, the quicker, farther, and clearer it can see. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
And when a gentle word of admonition for the correction of an evildoer does not bring him to his senses, then decisive and strict measures must be taken for the suppression of evil. It is for this purpose that there exist in society legitimate authorities and those whose duty it is to preserve order. Archbishop Averky (Taushev)
You would like not to experience any temptations, and yet the enemy daily harasses you by them; provokes and annoys you by every means. Do not become irritated and angered, but say: “Thy will be done.” Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
Current Prayer List
Bp. Nicholas
Mary Teresa (Dusckas)
Tara (Breitenbach)
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)
Vassilike (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
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 Sunday of All Saints of Antioch
Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.
The Reading from the Acts of the Holy Apostles. (11:19-30)
In those days, when the apostles were scattered because of the tribulation that arose over Stephen, they traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one, except to Jews only. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who upon coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord.
The report concerning them reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas, to go as far out as Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should cleave to the Lord; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great multitude was added unto the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year, they were gathered together in the church, and they taught a great multitude of people, and the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabos stood up and signified by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over the whole world; and this took place in the days of Claudius Caesar. And the disciples, every one according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren who dwelt in Judaea; and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
GOSPEL
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (4:18-23)
At that time, as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. And going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. And He went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.
