Fourth Sunday of Great Lent
St. John of the Ladder
The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil
New Hieromartyr Zachariah, metropolitan of Corinth; Sophronios, bishop of Irkutsk
St. John of the Ladder (Climacus)
Our venerable and God-bearing Father John Climacus (ca. 579 – 649), also known as John of the Ladder, John Scholasticus, and John Sinaites, was a seventh century monk at St. Catherine’s monastery at the base of Mount Sinai.
He came to the monastery and became a novice when he was about 16 years old, and when he died in 649 he was the monastery’s abbot. He wrote a number of instructive books, the most famous of which is The Ladder of Divine Ascent. (It is because of this book that John is known as “Climacus,” which means “of the ladder”.)
It describes how to raise one’s soul to God, as if on a ladder. This book is one of the most widely read among Eastern Orthodox Christians, especially during the season of Great Lent which immediately precedes Pascha (Easter), and on the fourth Sunday of Great Lent he is especially commemorated.
Quotes from St. John
- Repentance is the renewal of baptism.
- Repentance is a contract with God for a second life.
- A penitent is a buyer of humility.
- Repentance is constant distrust of bodily comfort.
- Repentance is self-condemning reflection, and carefree self-care.
- Repentance is the daughter of hope and the renunciation of despair.
- A penitent is an undisgraced convict.
- Repentance is reconciliation with the Lord by the practice of good deeds contrary to the sins.
- Repentance is purification of conscience.
- Repentance is the voluntary endurance of all afflictions.
- A penitent is the inflicter of his own punishments.
- Repentance is a mighty persecution of the stomach, and a striking of the soul into vigorous awareness.
Read more on the Orthodoxwiki website.
Fr. Thomas Hopko on “St. John of the Ladder”
Originally broadcast on March 11, 2008 Length: 13:24
It is at this point in our Lenten journey that the Church contemplates the instruction of St. John Climacus and his Ladder of Divine Ascent.
Fr. Tom takes us step by step through this treasure and makes it practical for us non-monastics!
Listen here:
Services and Events This Week
- SUN Mar 23 — SUNDAY OF THE VENERATION OF THE CROSS – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Mar 24 — Great Compline 6:30pm
- Tue Mar 25 — Annunciation Vesperal Divine Liturgy 6:30pm
- Wed Mar 26 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm
- Fri Mar 28 — Fourth Stanza Salutations 6:30pm
- Sat Mar 29 — Lenten Women’s Retreat 9:00am followed by Great Vespers
Schedule Change for Annunciation Divine Liturgy on March 25
This Divine Liturgy for Annunciation on March 25 is moved to 6:30pm. This is the schedule for Monday and Tuesday of the week of Annunciation:
- Mon Mar 24 — Great Compline 6:30pm
- Tue Mar 25 — Annunciation Vesperal Divine Liturgy 6:30pm
Mark Your Calendar – Annual Lenten Womens Retreat On Saturday, March 29, 2025: Walking on the Water With Christ
Join us on Saturday March 29 for our Annual Lenten Retreat presented by Pres. Susan Jacobse. Coffee and light breakfast items start at 9am. The session concludes around 3pm with Vespers following. Lunch will be served.
Please RSVP with a call or text to Pres. Sue at 239-220-3971.
Ladies, could you please bring a side dish for the luncheon? Thank you!
Wednesday Lenten Suppers Follow Presanctified Liturgy
Every Wednesday after Presanctified Liturgy on the Wednesdays during Lent, we gather for fellowship over a simple Lenten supper.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered!
March
- 5 – Barbara and Kosta Dionysopoulos
- 12 – Kyriaki and Ioannis Ormandiou
- 19 – Glo Franklin and Barbara Sasson
- 26 – Barbara Sassen and Eleni Souganakis
April
- 2 – Katina Protopapadakis
- 9 – Evie Malek and Barbara Sasson
Women’s Book Club Meets Friday 11am in the Social Hall
We will begin, “Thinking Orthodox”, by, Dr Eugenia (Jeannie) Constantinou. The book can be purchased on-line at Ancient Faith Store.
All women are welcome and encouraged to attend. Coffee will be served. We can’t wait to gather together!
Holy Week Events for Children — Look for MyroForos (The Myrrh Bearing Women)
Dear Parents:
Pascha is fast approaching, and we are getting ready, in particular, for Holy Friday–one of the most holy days of the year.
We begin with the Royal Hours at 9:00 a.m., followed by the Parish women gathering to decorate the Kouvouklion (Tomb of Christ) with flowers.
Christ is taken down from the cross at 3:00 p.m.. This is an especially meaningful service for all the children. It is approximately 45 to 60 minutes long.
As is traditional, the children pay their respects by crossing under the Kouvouklion to be blessed.
During the Lamentations at 6:30, Myroforis–who were the women who followed Christ, attended to him and prepared his body for burial–are needed to
participate in the service. We need young ladies ages 9 to 13.
We will provide a white choir-like robe, flower headdress and white basket with flower petals to be tossed unto the Kouvouklion as they walk in a circle.
The girls should wear a white or light colored dress and white shoes or sandals.
Persephone and Alexis Johnson are in charge of this beautiful assignment. Please feel free to ask them or me any questions you may have.
Georgia
Your Sunday School Administrator
We Need Donations for the Good Samaritan Fund
These are very difficult times for some of our parishioners. We need to replenish the Good Samaritan Fund to be able to help them. Can you donate? Please write a check and note “Good Samaritan Fund” in the memo box. If you would like to donate cash please put it in envelope marked “Good Samaritan Fund.”
When you bless a neighbor in need, you bless God.
Pledge and Income Report — February 2025
Contributions received in February were $22,441
The amount of money needed to cover expenses: $33,785.
For this month we are behind by $11,344
Year-to-date, we are behind by $1,631.
If you have not already done so, please complete a 2025 pledge form. Your pledge willplay 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.
MARCH
- March 2 — Will Schwarz – Loana Dumitru
- March 9 — Barb – Costa Dionysopoulas
- March 16 — Will Schwarz – (Still looking to fill this slot)
- March 23 — Tina – Doug Kureca
- March 30 — Will Schwarz – Joe Repya
APRIL
- April 6 — Al Joseph – Loana Dumitru
- April 13 — Barb Zeena – Vicki Matie
- April 20 — Gabrial Voss – Ray Locklear
- April 27 — Tina Kuchera – Doug Kuchera
Can you volunteer? Please call Joe Repya 612-270-4443.
SOCIAL HALL ALL STARS
SUNDAY COFFEE HOURS – 2025
Please note: A fruit bowl, veggie or hummus tray may be added to a week’s menu.
- March 2025 – Sunday Coffee Hours – Team #3
- Sunday, March 2 – Coffee and bagels
- Sunday, March 9 – Coffee and donuts
- Sunday, March 16 – Coffee and muffins
- Sunday, March 23 – Coffee and coffee cakes
- Sunday, March 30 – Coffee and donuts
- April 2025 – Sunday Coffee Hours – Team #1 – Barb Dionysopoulos Group
- Sunday, April 6 – Coffee and bagels
- Sunday, April 13 – Palm Sunday – Coffee and muffins
- Sunday, April 20 – Pascha – Coffee and coffee cakes
- Sunday, April 27 – Coffee and donuts
- May 2025 – Sunday Coffee Hours – Team #2 – Margie Zimmerman Group
- Sunday, May 4 – Coffee and bagels
- Sunday, May 11 – Coffee and muffins
- Sunday, May 18 – Coffee and coffee cakes
- Sunday, May 25 – 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!
MARCH
The complete Lenten Schedule can be found on the St. Peter website.
All Lenten services will be live streamed.
- SUN Mar 23 — SUNDAY OF THE VENERATION OF THE CROSS – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Mar 24 — Great Compline 6:30pm
- Tue Mar 25 — Annunciation Vesperal Divine Liturgy 6:30pm
- Wed Mar 26 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm
- Fri Mar 28 — Fourth Stanza Salutations 6:30pm
- Sat Mar 29 — Lenten Women’s Retreat 9:00am followed by Great Vespers
- SUN Mar 30 — SUNDAY OF ST. JOHN OF THE LADDER – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Mar 31 — Great Compline 6:30pm
- Wed Apr 02 — Full Canon of St. Andrew w/ Life of St. Mary of Egypt 6:00pm
- Thu Apr 03 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm
- Fri Apr 04 — Complete Salutations/Akathist Hymn 6:30pm
- Sat Apr 05 — Great Vespers 5:30pm
- SUN Apr 06 — SUNDAY OF ST. MARY OF EGYPT – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Apr 07 — Great Compline 6:30pm
- Wed Apr 09 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm
- Fri Apr 11 — Small Compline with Canon of St. Lazarus 6:30pm
- Sat Apr 12 — Lazarus Saturday Orthos 8:30 / Divine Liturgy 9:30am / Make crosses / Pancake breakfast / Children confessions – Full Schedule TBA
- Sat Apr 12 — Great Vespers 5:30pm
I believe that Thou wilt come to judge the living and the dead, and all will stand in order, old and young, lords and princes, priests and virgins. Where shall I find myself? Therefore, I cry: Lord, I really am worth nothing, only You can save me. Abbot Nikon Vorobiev
The Lord is always waiting for us to unite ourselves with Him in love; but instead, we drift further and further away from Him. We know that there can be no life without love. This means that there is no life without God, for God is Love. But His love is not according to the understanding of the world. The love that the world gives us consists of suffering and enslavement, because the spirits of evil interfere with it. Elder Thaddeus
Thus humility should be the first concern of those who are fighting the presumption of the devil, for as we advance it will be a sure guide to all the paths of virtue. St. Diadochus, bishop of Photike in Epirus
A man whose heart is clouded by a storm of thoughts and conquered by passions does not know shame before men, nor does he fear God. Venerable Ephraim the Syrian
We must pray with faith for every matter and we must have patience, and God will speak. Because when man prays with faith, God is in a sense obligated by virtue of our faith to fulfil our request. For this reason, when we ask for something from God, let us never be in doubt and we shall be heard. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos
Current Prayer List
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)
Doug S (Duskas)
Marc C. (Duskas)
Rachel (Voss)
Ken John (Eaton)
Diane (Najar)
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)
Vassiliki (Morekeas)
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 the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent
The Lord will give strength to His people.
Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of God, ascribe to the Lord glory and honor.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (6:13-20)
Brethren, when God made a promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.” And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For people indeed swear by what is greater, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. So when God, being minded to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of His counsel, He interposed it with an oath, that by two immutable things—in which it is impossible for God to lie—we might have a strong consolation, we, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope that is set before us; a hope, which we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and entering into “that which is within the veil,” where Jesus entered as a Forerunner on our behalf, having become a High Priest “forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
GOSPEL
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (9:17-31)
At that time, a man came to Jesus, kneeling down and saying unto him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked Thy Disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And Jesus answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to Me.” And they brought the boy to Him; and when the spirit saw Jesus, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has he had this?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if Thou canst do anything, have pity on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when Jesus had entered the house, His Disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And Jesus said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.” They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And Jesus would not have anyone know it; for He was teaching His Disciples, saying to them, “The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and after He is killed, He will rise on the third day.”
