St Peter News May 19, 2026

Sunday of the After-feast of the Ascension

Commemoration of the Holy Fathers
of the First Ecumenical Council

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

“I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:18). Although the Church of Christ on earth will pass through difficult struggles with the enemy of salvation, it will emerge victorious.

Persecution of Christians ceased during the fourth century, but heresies arose within the Church itself. One of the most pernicious of these heresies was Arianism. Arius, a priest of Alexandria, was a man of immense pride and ambition. In denying the divine nature of Jesus Christ and His equality with God the Father, Arius falsely taught that the Savior is not consubstantial with the Father, but is only a created being.

A local Council, convened with Patriarch Alexander of Alexandria presiding, condemned the false teachings of Arius. However, Arius would not submit to the authority of the Church. He wrote to many bishops, denouncing the decrees of the local Council. He spread his false teaching throughout the East, receiving support from certain Eastern bishops.

Investigating these dissensions, the holy emperor Constantine (May 21) consulted Bishop Hosius of Cordova (Aug. 27), who assured him that the heresy of Arius was directed against the most fundamental dogma of Christ’s Church, and so he decided to convene an Ecumenical Council. In 325, 318 bishops representing Christian Churches from various lands gathered together at Nicea.

Read the complete story on the Orthodox Church in America website.

Services and Events This Week

• SUN May 17 — SUNDAY ORTHROS 8:30am DIVINE LITURGY 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed May 20 — Early Morning Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Thu May 20 — Holy Ascension Divine Liturgy 9:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri May 22 — St Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
• Sat May 23 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

The Ascension Divine Liturgy on Thursday May 20 at 9:00am

The Ascension is when Jesus Christ ascended into heaven to resume his rightful place at the right hand of the Father. It is the completion of Christ's earthly ministry. Following about two weeks later the Holy Spirit descends, the Church begins, and the era of the New Covenant (God's new way of dealing with men) begins.

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 — April 2026

Total deposits in April were $28,958
We have 11,000 in stock donations.
The amount of money needed to cover expenses: $33,785.
For this month we are behind by $4,827.
Year-to-date we are ahead by $50,472.

If you have not already done so, please complete a 2026 pledge form. Your pledge will play a vital role in h elping 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

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Register on the DOMSE website.

St. Peter 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.

 

• 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!

MAY

• SUN May 17 — SUNDAY ORTHROS 8:30am DIVINE LITURGY 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed May 20 — Early Morning Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Thu May 20 — Holy Ascension Divine Liturgy 9:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri May 22 — St Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
• Sat May 23 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

• SUN May 24 — SUNDAY ORTHROS 8:30am DIVINE LITURGY 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed May 26 — Early Morning Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fro May 29 — Pentecost Saturday of the Souls Divine Liturgy 9:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri May 29 — St Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
• Sat May 30 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

MAY-JUNE

• SUN May 31 — PENTECOST SUNDAY ORTHROS 8:30am DIVINE LITURGY 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Jun 03 – Fri Jun 5 — Fr. Hans out of Town – Antiochian Village Conference
• Wed Jun 03 — CANCELLED Early Morning Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Jun 05 — St Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
• Sat Jun 06 — Great Vespers of Pentecost 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

JUNE

• SUN Jun 07 — ALL SAINTS SUNDAY ORTHROS 8:30am DIVINE LITURGY 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Jun 10 – Fri Jun 13 — Fr. Hans out of Town – Parish Life Conference
• Wed Jun 10 — CANCELLED Early Morning Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Jun 12 — St Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
• Sat Jun 13 — CANCELLED Great Vespers of Pentecost 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

• SUN Jun 14 — SUNDAY ORTHROS 8:30am DIVINE LITURGY 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Jun 17 — Early Morning Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Jun 19 — The Apostle Thaddeus Divine Liturgy 9:00am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Jun 19 — St Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
• Sat Jun 20 — Parish Council Meeting 10:00am
• Sat Jun 20 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

• 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 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

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 Jun 27 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

Wisdom From The Elders

The suffering of the world, ample and endless, is their own. We are all one human being. And the prayer of the humble person is one: "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me." In other words, have mercy on the whole of your world. He prays and breathes for all people. He is the breath of the world. He lives with Him Who is the Alpha and the Omega Metropolitan Saba(Esber)

'The pure of heart will see God,' according to the Lord's infallible word (Mt. 5:8), according to his capacity, receiving as much as his mind can sustain; yet the infinite and incomprehensible nature of the Godhead remains beyond all understanding. Archimandrite Vasileios (Gontikakis) of Iveron

I see a fish expiring as soon as it is taken out of the water, and I say: “That is me! If they take me out of Your embrace, I shall die in seconds—like a fish tossed onto the sand. St. Nikolai Velimirovich

Know and remember always, no matter where you are, that whatsoever hurts will be dulled as soon as you learn In all things, to look at Me. Everything has been sent to you by Me, for the perfection of your soul. All these things were from Me. St. Seraphim of Viritsa

A certain monk lived in a monastery, and he was always angry. He decided, "I will leave this place and dwell by myself as a hermit, and then I will no relations with anyone, and the passion of anger will leave me." Leaving the monastery, he settled in a cave. One day, having taken up a pitcher of water, the monk set it one the ground, and it tipped over. Again he drew the water, and the pitcher tipped a second time. The he drew it again, and it fell a third time. The brother got angry, picked it up and broke it.

When he had come to himself, he understood that the devil had triumphed over him and said, "Behold, I have gone away into seclusion, and I am conquered! I will go back to the monastery, for patience and the help of God are necessary everywhere!" And he returned to his previous place. Ancient Patericon, 7.38

Current Prayer List

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)
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 art Thou, O Lord, the God of our Fathers. For Thou art just in all Thou hast done.

The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles. (20:16-18, 28-36)

In those days, Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spendtime in Asia; for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. Andfrom Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. And when they cameto him, he said to them: “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hasmade you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his ownSon. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away thedisciples after them. Therefore, be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears.

And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

GOSPEL

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (17:1-13)

At that time, Jesus lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Thy Son that the Son may glorify Thee, since Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom Thou hast given Him. And this is eternal life, that they know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom Thou hast sent. I glorified Thee on earth, having accomplished the work which Thou gavest Me to do; and now, Father, glorify Thou Me in Thy own presence with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was made. I have manifested Thy Name to the men whom Thou gavest Me out of the world; Thine they were, and Thou gavest them to Me, and they have kept Thy word. Now they know that everything that Thou hast given Me is from Thee; for I have given them the words which Thou gavest Me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from Thee; and they have believed that Thou didst send Me.

I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom Thou hast given Me, for they are Thine; all Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine, and I am glorified in them. And now Iam no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to Thee. Holy Father, keep them in Thy Name, which Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, even as We are one. While I was with them, I kept them in Thy Name, which Thou have given Me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.”