The Entrance of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into Jerusalem
Palm Sunday
Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Palm Sunday
On the Sunday before the Feast of Great and Holy Pascha and at the beginning of Holy Week, the Orthodox Church celebrates one of its most joyous feasts of the year. Palm Sunday is the commemoration of the Entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem following His glorious miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. Having anticipated His arrival and having heard of the miracle, the people went out to meet the Lord and welcomed Him with displays of honor and shouts of praise. On this day, we receive and worship Christ in this same manner, acknowledging Him as our King and Lord.at the Virgin would show her. A voice replied to her from on high: “If you cross the Jordan, you will find rest.”
The biblical story of Palm Sunday is recorded in all four of the Gospels (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-38; and John 12:12-18). Five days before the Passover, Jesus came from Bethany to Jerusalem. Having sent two of His disciples to bring Him a colt of a donkey, Jesus sat upon it and entered the city.
People had gathered in Jerusalem for the Passover and were looking for Jesus, both because of His great works and teaching and because they had heard of the miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus. When they heard that Christ was entering the city, they went out to meet Him with palm branches, laying their garments on the ground before Him, and shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he that comes in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel!”
Read more about Palm Sunday on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website.
Lazarus Saturday April 4, 2026
The Raising of Lazarus
On the Saturday before Holy Week, the Orthodox Church commemorates a major feast of the year, the miracle of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when he raised Lazarus from the dead after he had lain in the grave four days. Here, at the end of Great Lent and the forty days of fasting and penitence, the Church combines this celebration with that of Palm Sunday. In triumph and joy the Church bears witness to the power of Christ over death and exalts Him as King before entering the most solemn week of the year, one that leads the faithful in remembrance of His suffering and death and concludes with the great and glorious Feast of Pascha.
Read more on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website.
Parents – Bring Your Children to the Saturday of Lazarus!
We will begin with the Liturgy (where Fr. Hans will explain the importance of the day to the children), a pancake breakfast, making palm crosses to be distributed the next day at Palm Sunday and confession for the kids.
Palm Sunday Brunch Sunday April 5, 2026
St. Peter’s will hold a Palm Sunday Brunch following the Liturgy on Palm Sunday, April 5, 2025. This is a great time of fellowship for all.
Services and Events This Week
- SUN Mar 29 — SUNDAY OF ST. MARY OF EGYPT DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Mar 30 — Great Compline 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Wed Apr 01 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Fri Apr 03 — Small Compline with Canon of St. Lazarus 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Sat Apr 04 — Lazarus Saturday Orthos 8:30 / Divine Liturgy 9:30am / Make crosses / Pancake breakfast / Children confessions – Full Schedule TBA
- Sat Apr 04 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
Bp Nicholas to Preside Friday Evening and Lazarus Saturday Morning
His Grace Bp. Nicholas will be at St. Peter’s on Friday Evening April 3 Lazarus Saturday, April 4. He will preside at the Liturgy and attend our various events that day. This is a blessing for our parish. Everyone should make every effort to attend. We look forward to a good welcome for him.
From our Sunday School Director for Lazarus Saturday, April 4 2026
Dear Parents,
Pascha is quickly coming, and one of the most important days for children in the Lenten Period is Saturday of Lazarus.
It is a time for the children to together attend Divine Liturgy and receive Holy Communion, to make palm crosses and to share a pancake breakfast. We are also offering Confession.
This year, Bishop Nicholas will be joining us — a special event for the children to experience.
Please see Georgia with any questions. We are excited for this memory making event.
Holy Week and Pascha Flowers
Fellow Parishioners, flowers have been ordered for Good Friday when we decorate the Kouvouklion (Jesus’ tomb) and place flowers throughout the church in anticipation of The Resurrection.
If you wish to participate in this beautiful tradition, donations toward the cost of their purchase will be most appreciated. Cash or checks marked “Flowers” may be given to Georgia in the office.
Anyone who would like to help with the decoration of the Kouvouklion is welcome to join us on Friday, April 10th, at 10:00am.
Donations for the flowers are needed. Please give you contribuion to Angela Long or Georgia Katsigianopoulos.
Lent is Here. What Do We Do?
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website has good information on Lent. Click the image above.
Preparation begins with a resolution in the heart to do better this year than we did last year. Lent requires more of us but the requirement is never a demand but an invitation because God is not coercive. He freely gives so that we may freely receive.
But God is what the scripture calls a “jealous God.” This does not mean that God is jealous, but that the requirements for salvation, the things that are necessary to experience His salvation do not change. For us Americans it might be easier to understand it this way: God’s directives are not subject to negotiation or compromise.
More is expected from us. The Sunday services will be longer because we perform the Liturgy of St. Basil instead of St. John Chrysostom. The prayers are longer and we will pray them all because we don’t negotiate or compromise with what the Fathers have handed down to us.
We are expected to fast from certain foods during Lent. Why? Because bodily discipline is necessary for the healing of the soul.
We are expected to attend more services? Why? Because prayer and worship are necessary to draw us closer to God. When we draw closer to God, He draws closer to us St. Paul teaches.
We are expected to aid the poor more. Why? Because he who cares for the poor finds honor from his maker.
Please Fill in Your Pledge Forms
The forms are available on the counter in the Narthex.
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.
Pledge and Income Report — February 2026
Total deposits in February were $28,463
We have 11,000 in stock donations.
The amount of money needed to cover expenses: $33,785.
For this month we are behind by $5,322.
Year-to-date we are ahead by $60,014.
If you have not already done so, please complete a 2026 pledge form. Your pledge will play a vital role in helping us meet our 2026 budget goals and will support our preparations for refinancing our mortgage, a process that we have begun early.
St. Peter Orthodox Church
7470 Hickory Drive
Fort Myers FL 33967
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.
St. Peter Greeters
JANUARY 2026 – CHURCH GREETERS
Can you volunteer? Please call Joe Repya 612-270-4443.
SUNDAY COFFEE HOURS – Spring Months 2026
Please note: A fruit bowl, veggie or hummus tray may be added to a week’s menu.
- March 2026 – Sunday Coffee Hours – Team #3
- Sunday, March 1 – Coffee and bagels
- Sunday, March 8 – Coffee and donuts
- Sunday, March 15 – Coffee and coffee cake
- Sunday, March 22 – Coffee and muffins
- Sunday, March 29 – Coffee and bagels
SUNDAY COFFEE HOURS – Spring Months 2026
Please note: A fruit bowl, veggie or hummus tray may be added to a week’s menu.
- April 2026 – Sunday Coffee Hours – Team #1 Barb Dionysopoulos Group
- Sunday, April 5 – Coffee and coffee cakes
- Sunday, April 12 Pascha- Coffee an muffins
- Sunday, April 19 – Coffee and bagels
- Sunday, April 26 – Coffee and donuts
- May 2026 – Sunday Coffee Hours – Team #2 – Vicki Ullemeyer Group
- Sunday, May 3 – Coffee and coffee cakes
- Sunday, May 10 – Mother’s Day – Coffee and muffins
- Sunday, May 17 – Pot Luck
- Sunday, May 24 – Coffee and bagels
- Sunday, May 31 – Coffee and donuts
- June 2026 – Sunday Coffee Hours – Team #3
- Sunday, June 7- Coffee and bagels
- Sunday, June 14 – Coffee and donuts
- Sunday, June 21 – Father’s Day – Pot Luck
- Sunday, June 28 – 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!
MARCH – APRIL
- SUN Mar 29 — SUNDAY OF ST. MARY OF EGYPT DIVINE LITURGY – Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Mar 30 — Great Compline 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Wed Apr 01 — Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Fri Apr 03 — Small Compline with Canon of St. Lazarus 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Sat Apr 04 — Lazarus Saturday Orthos 8:30 / Divine Liturgy 9:30am / Make crosses / Pancake breakfast / Children confessions – Full Schedule TBA
- Sat Apr 04 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM
- HOLY WEEK Sunday April 5 — Palm Sunday- Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Brunch in Social Hall following Divine Liturgy
Bridegroom Service 6:30pm - Mon Apr 6 — HOLY MONDAY – Bridegroom Service 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Tue Apr 7 — HOLY TUESDAY – Bridegroom Service 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Wed Apr 8 — HOLY WEDNESDAY – Holy Unction 6:30pm LIVE STREAM
- Thu Apr 9 — HOLY THURSDAY – Liturgy of the Last Supper 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Reading of the Twelve Gospels 6:00pm (note earlier time) LIVE STREAM - Fri Apr 10 — HOLY FRIDAY – Royal Hours 9:00am LIVE STREAM
Decoration of Tomb of Christ 10:30am
Taking Christ Down from the Cross 3:00pm LIVE STREAM
Lamentations 6:30pm LIVE STREAM - Sat Apr 11 — HOLY SATURDAY – First Resurrection Service 9:30am / Baptisms LIVE STREAM
Great and Holy Pascha 10:00pm LIVE STREAM - Sun Apr 20 — Agape Vespers / Reading of Gospel in different languages 12:00pm LIVE STREAM
Wisdom From The Elders
The word of the man reveals what is in his mind and heart (reveals the mind—unseen, dominating, and creating) Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
If the Lord were not long-suffering, if He were not the Lover of men, would He have borne with our great offences? would He have been incarnate? would He have suffered and died for you? would He have given you His most pure Body and Blood, upon which even the angels look with fear and trembling? Would He have saved you from sin and spiritual death so many innumerable times? Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt
Every passion, every even seemingly insignificant sinful predilection results at times in unbearable inner torment, creating a true hell in one’s soul. The one given over to passions and vices begins to experience already here on earth the full force of the torments of hell that await the sinner in the afterlife.
Archbishop Averky (Taushev)
The intellect does many good and bad things without the body, whereas the body can do neither good nor evil without the intellect. This is because the law of freedom applies to what happens before we act. Saint Kosmas Aitolos
As medicines purge the body from the impurity of bad humours, so grievous afflictions purify the heart from evil passions. Venerable Isaac the Syrian, bishop of Nineveh
Current Prayer List
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)
Debbie (Breitenbach)
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)
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
Blessed is He Who cometh in the Name of the Lord.
O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endures forever.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians. (4:4-9)
Brethren, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice! Let your forbearance be known to all people. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things. The things which you both learned and received, and heard and saw in me, these things do; and the God of peace will be with you.
GOSPEL
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (12:1-18)
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus who had died was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at table with Him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.
But Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, one of His Disciples (he who was to betray Jesus), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not because he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the moneybox he used to take what was put into it. Jesus said, “Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of My burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have Me.”
When the great crowd of the Jews learned that He was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, “Hosanna! Blessed is He Who cometh in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel!”
And Jesus found a young ass and sat upon it; as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on an ass’s colt!” His Disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of Him and had been done to Him. The crowd that had been with Jesus when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet Jesus was that they heard He had done this sign.
