Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
The Fourth Sunday of Matthew
Recovery of the relics of Cyrus and John the Unmercenaries; Martyr Papios; Paul the Physician of Corinth
The Feast of St. Peter and Paul
On June 28, in the Holy Orthodox Church, we also transfer from June 29, the commemoration of the holy, glorious, all-laudable and foremost of the Apostles, Peter and Paul. Together, they are the patrons and protectors of the Patriarchate of Antioch. Peter was the son of Jonah and the brother of Andrew, the First-called. He was of the Tribe of Simeon from the town of Bethsaida. He was a fisherman and, at first, was called Simon but the Lord was pleased to call him Cephas or Peter: “And when Jesus beheld him, He said, ‘Thou art Simon the son of Jonah; thou shalt be called Cephas,’ which is by interpretation, a rock” (John 1:42). He was the first of the disciples to clearly express faith in the Lord Jesus saying: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).
His love for the Lord was great and his faith in the Lord gradually strengthened. When the Lord was brought to trial, Peter denied Him three times but after only one glance into the face of the Lord, Peter’s soul was filled with shame and repentance. After the descent of the Holy Spirit, Peter became a fearless and powerful preacher of the Gospel. Peter worked many powerful miracles; he healed the sick, resurrected the dead; the sick were healed even from his shadow. By order of the evil Emperor Nero, Peter was condemned to death in 64 A.D. Installing Linus as Bishop of Rome, counseling and comforting the flock of Christ, Peter proceeded joyfully to his death. Seeing the cross before him, he begged his executioners to crucify him upside down for he considered himself unworthy to die as did his Lord. Thus the great servant of the Great Lord reposed and received the wreath of eternal glory.
Paul was born in Tarsus of the tribe of Benjamin. At first, he was called Saul, studied under Gamaliel, was a Pharisee and a persecutor of Christianity. He was miraculously converted to the Christian Faith by the Lord Himself Who appeared to him on the road to Damascus. “Suddenly, a light from heaven flashed about him. And Saul fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” And he said, “Who art Thou, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:3-5). Saul was blinded, but regained his sight when he was baptized by the Apostle Ananias. Then he was called Paul and numbered in the service of the great apostles.
With a fiery zeal, Paul preached the Gospel everywhere from the borders of Arabia to Spain, among the Jews and among the Gentiles. As horrible as his sufferings were, so much more was his superhuman patience. Throughout all the years of his preaching Paul, from day to day, hung as one on a weak thread between life and death. Since he fulfilled all days and nights with labor and suffering for Christ, since he organized the Church in many places and since he attained such a degree of perfection he was able to say: “It is now no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Paul was beheaded in Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero at the same time as the Apostle Peter. By the intercessions of Thy Saints, O Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen
Celebrating Vespers of the Feast With St. Paul’s in Naples on Saturday, June 27, at 5:00pm
Celebrate the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul with us! Saturday: Great Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia, followed by refreshments with visiting clergy and faithful.
St. Paul Orthodox Church, 2425 Rivers Rd, Naples, FL 34120 (see map).
Services and Events This Week
- SUN Jun 21 — SUNDAY ORTHROS 8:30am DIVINE LITURGY 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jun 24 — Early Morning Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jun 26 — St Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
- Sat Jun 27 — Great Vespers at St. Paul’s in Naples 5:00pm
Need A Dining Room Set?
FREE— DINING TABLE AND 4 HIGH BACK CHAIRS
42″ x 75″ or 42″ x 65″ if center leaf is removed.
Must be picked up by Wednesday, June 24.
Call Tina 239.980.1520
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.
Register on the DOMSE website.
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.
June 2026 (updated again) – Team #3
- Sunday, June 7- Coffee and bagels
- Sunday, June 14 – Coffee and donuts
- Sunday, June 21 – Father’s Day – Coffee and coffee cakes
- Sunday, June 28 – Coffee and muffins
July 2026 – Team #1 Barb Dionysopoulos Group
- Sunday, July 5 – Coffee and coffee cakes
- Sunday, July 12 – Coffee and muffins
- Sunday, July 19 – 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 bagels
- 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!
JUNE
- SUN Jun 21 — SUNDAY ORTHROS 8:30am DIVINE LITURGY 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jun 24 — Early Morning Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jun 26 — St Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
- Sat Jun 27 — Great Vespers at St. Paul’s in Naples 5:00pm
JUNE-JULY
- SUN Jun 28 — SUNDAY ORTHROS 8:30am DIVINE LITURGY 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jun 30 — Early Morning Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Thu Jul 01 — St. John Maximovitch Divine Liturgy 9:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jul 03 — St Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
- Sat Jul 04 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
- SUN Jul 04 — SUNDAY ORTHROS 8:30am DIVINE LITURGY 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Jul 08 — Early Morning Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Jul 10 — St Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
- Sat Jul 11 — Parish Council Meeting 10:00am
- Sat Jul 11 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
- 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
We should say the words of the prayers knowing that the Lord sees us and that He is listening to us. When something “moves” in the heart while we are at prayer, we should hold on to it and try to preserve that feeling. Elder Thaddeus(Strabulovich) of Vitovnica
Never form a close friendship with someone who enjoys noisy and drunken feasts, or who likes telling dirty stories, even though he may have been a monk for many years. Do not let his filth defile you; do not fall under the influence of people who are unclean and uncircumcised in heart. St. John of Karpathos
And as much as one progresses spiritually, just as much will he see the love of God on a greater scale and he will melt away because of that love. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos
We see the water of a river flowing uninterruptedly and passing away, and all that floats on its surface, rubbish or beams of trees, all pass by. Christian! So does our life. . .I was an infant, and that time has gone. I was an adolescent, and that too has passed. I was a young man, and that too is far behind me. The strong and mature man that I was is no more. My hair turns white, I succumb to age, but that too passes; I approach the end and will go the way of all flesh. I was born in order to die. I die that I may live. Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom! St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
Current Prayer List
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 Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Sing praises to our God, sing praises. Clap your hands all ye peoples.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans. (6:18-23)
Brethren, having been set free from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness. I am
speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification. When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
GOSPEL
For the Fourth Sunday of Matthew
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (8:5-13)
At that time, as Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching Him and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion answered Him, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard him, He marveled, and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.” And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; be it done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.
