St. Peter News October 4, 2023

The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
The Third Sunday of Luke

The Righteous Mother Pelagia the penitent of Antioch, Martyr Pelagia the Virgin of Antioch; Venerable Thaïs of Egypt

Who was Righteous Mother Pelagia the Penitent of Antioch?

The Lord loves sinners with an abiding love, we are told, and it is easy to imagine that He must have loved the Venerable Pelagia pelagia2 with a special fervor – because this egregious sinner not only sought repentance for her misdeeds, but then went on to become a pious and ascetic saint.

Born in Antioch to parents who were intensely observant pagans, this Third-Century saint frittered away her youth. Blessed with beautiful features and graceful limbs, she soon became a popular dancer and an accomplished actress. So wanton and reckless were her ways, however, that she fell at last into the abyss of outright prostitution, which brought her great wealth – even as it deadened and degraded her soul to any awareness of God or spiritual beauty.

Pelagia seemed doomed to a life of moral collapse . . . but the Almighty took mercy on her and inspired her to confront the iniquity into which her existence had descended. The miracle of her awakening took place one morning around 250 A.D. as she was passing the Church of the Holy Martyr Julian, where the famed Bishop St. Nonnus was delivering a powerful sermon that had his listeners entranced.

[…]

Read the entire story on the Patriarch of Antioch. website.

Services and Events This Week

• Sun Oct 01 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Tue Oct 03 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Oct 04 — Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Oct 04 — St. Peter Game Night 6:00pm-9pm
• Thu-Mon Oct 5-9 — Fr. Hans Out of Town
• Fri Oct 06 — CANCELLED St. Paisios Brotherhood

Fr. Hans Out of Town

Fr. Hans will be out of town from Thursday October 5 to Monday October 9. He will be addressing “The Beloved Sons” retreat in Detroit, Michigan. Fr. Michael Massouh will be filling in for Fr. Hans

Meet Fr. Michael Massouh

Fr. Michael grew up in a city, Canton, Ohio, in a cross-cultural neighborhood, where around the corner from his home the Antiochian Orthodox Church was located. The grandson of a much loved and well-known Orthodox priest, Fr. Michael became steeped in the Orthodox faith, but by his teenage years, he found more certainty in science and mathematics.

After years of struggling with secular and religious values, Massouh arrived at St. Peter’s understanding: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). So, in 2000 at the age of 60 he was ordained to the holy priesthood in the Orthodox Church.

Majoring in mathematics in college, he entered the graduate program in mathematics at the University of California, Berkeley where he experienced a major intellectual crisis: the queen of the sciences, mathematics, was not certain. Mathematical truths were only true within a specific mathematical entity, and there were several mathematical entities. Parallel lines, for example, never met in Euclidean geometry, but could meet in Non-Euclidean geometry. Which “truth” was correct: parallel lines meeting or not meeting? It depended upon the geometrical context in which one was speaking.

Where was truth to be found then, if not in science and mathematics? It took time, more reading and study, and marriage and the raising of children to uncover the maxim that living with ambiguity was the sign of maturity. It was only then that the mysteries of Christ made sense. Christ is the truth, but He and the Father, and the Holy Spirit are “ineffable, inconceivable, invisible, [and] incomprehensible.”

Fr. Massouh holds an A.B. in mathematics from Hiram College, a Master of Science and a Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University in the history of science and technology, and an M.A. in theology from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary. He also studied at the University of California, Berkeley, and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary.

March is Antiochian Seminarian Month

From Met. Saba:

See a larger copy of the letter on the St. Peter website.

We will be taking a collection for our Seminarians on Sunday, October 15, 2023

Let's Pray the Paraklesis to the Theotokos Daily

Our goal at St. Peter’s is to have one person or family pray the Parakelsis to the Theotokos for at least one day of every month. For each day of the month, individuals or even an entire family can sign up to pray the Paraklesis in their homes on the day/s which they select.

Get more information on how to participate from the St. Peter's website.

You can also donate online:

Get more information here.

Sign up the the Monthly DOMSE Newsletter on the DOMSE (Diocese of Miami and the Southeast) Website!

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.

DOMSE MEN’S RETREAT IN MARCH 2024

Only 75 spaces so register early.

More information at DOMSE website.

ST. PETER'S GREETERS

OCTOBER 2023

OCT 1 George Tsikitas – Joe and Deb Repya
OCT 8 Candice Rosen – George Tsikitas
OCT 15 Will Schwarz – George Tsikitas
OCT 22 George Tsikitas – Joe and Deb Repya
OCT 29 Will Schwarz – George Tsikitas

NOVEMBER 2023

NOV 5 Paula Kambaros – Candice Rosen

NOV 12 Joe and Deb Repya
NOV 19 George Karounos – Need an additional greeter
NOV 26 Pavlo Bilych – Need an additional greeter

Can you volunteer? Please call Joe Repya 612-270-4443.

NEW! St. Peter Game Night on Wednesdays 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Join us on Wednesday evening for a few hours of fellowship and fun. Bring the board games you like to play. It’s casual, fun, and an opportunity for great fellowship.

No sign-up required.

SOCIAL HALL ALL STARS

October 2023

Team Leader: Barbara Dionysopoulos 239-826-1655
Al Joseph 585-330-1859
Bonnie Joseph 585-760-9923
Marianthi Kazakos 239-275-5401
Sandy Krotov 239-940-0713
Niki Locklear 859-240-1227
Ray Locklear 513-520-9547
Eleni Moran 860-978-5136
Koula Ormanidou 630-747-5068

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!

OCTOBER

• Sun Oct 01 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Tue Oct 03 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Oct 04 — Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Oct 04 — St. Peter Game Night 6:00pm-9pm
• Thu-Mon Oct 5-9 — Fr. Hans Out of Town
• Fri Oct 06 — CANCELLED St. Paisios Brotherhood

• Sun Oct 08 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Sun-Mon Oct 8-9 — Fr. Hans Out of Town
• Tue Oct 10 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Oct 11 — Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Oct 11 — St. Peter Game Night 6:00pm-9pm
• Fri Oct 13 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Oct 13 — St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
• Sat Oct 14 — Parish Council Meeting 10:00am

• Sun Oct 15 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Oct 16 — Divine Liturgy Longinus the Centurion 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Oct 18 — Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Oct 18 — St. Peter Game Night 6:00pm-9pm
• Fri Oct 20 — Divine Liturgy Aretemus the Great Martyr 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Oct 20 — St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm

• Sun Oct 22 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Mon Oct 23 — Divine Liturgy St. James the Apostle and Brother of the Lord 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Oct 25 — Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Oct 25 — St. Peter Game Night 6:00pm-9pm
• Thu Oct 26 — Divine Liturgy St. Demetrios 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Fri Oct 27 — St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
• Sat Oct 28 — Divine Liturgy Protection of the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM

OCTOBER-NOVEMBER

• Sun Oct 29 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Tue Oct 31 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Nov 01 — Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
• Wed Nov 01 — St. Peter Game Night 6:00pm-9pm
• Fri Nov 03 — St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
• Sat Nov 04 — Divine Liturgy St. Raphael of Brooklyn 9:30am LIVE STREAM

Geronda, don’t one’s surroundings help in the spiritual struggle? -Yes, they do, but sometimes one can live among Saints and still make no progress. Was there ever a better opportunity than that given to Judas, who was always with Christ? Judas had neither humility nor a good disposition. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos

Endure sorrow in the Lord, that joy might embrace you. Labor, that you might receive abundant reward. Venerable Ephraim the Syrian

Fasting is a mechanical aid to cleansing the mind, to subjecting the will to the mind. Priest Daniel Sysoev

With the staff of justice dost Thou humble the heads of sinners who sin with shameless arrogance and cannot be converted without extraordinary inducement. May Thy punishment, O Lord, united with Thy loving-kindness, be our mentor. May Thy right hand help us to take advantage of Thy punishment. Venerable Ephraim the Syrian

It is only when we pray fervently, only then that we feel calm, warm, at ease, and bright in soul, because then we are with God and in God; but as soon as we cease thus praying, then temptations and various troubles begin. O, most blessed time of prayer! Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

• Names will remain on the list for three months.
• If you would like to keep them on longer please mention it to Fr. Hans. We will keep the names on the list for as long as the person needs prayers.
• Names will include the person who requested the prayers and the month the name will be removed.
• The permanent list includes friends and members of St. Peter's and others including shut-ins.

Were names dropped that should have remained? Please mention it to Fr. Hans. He will add them back.

Current Prayer List

George (Chionis 11-1)
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)
Georgia and Richard and their unborn child (Chapekis)
Dionysios Chapekis)
Nancy (Forderhase)
Kayla (Palantine)
George (3/23 Chapekis)
Penelope (3/23 Chapekis)
Theodora (3/23)
Victor (3/23)
Barbara (Dusckas 3/23)
James (Dusckas 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)
Priest Anthony (Karbo 11/22)
Archpriest Dionysius (Valentine 9/12)
Anthony Presbyter (Kerr 10/22)
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

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

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.

EPISTLE

For the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

The Reading from the Second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (9:6-11)

Brethren, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

For the Third Sunday of Luke

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (7:11-16)

At that time, Jesus went to a city called Nain, and many of His disciples and a great crowd went with Him. As He drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” And He came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And Jesus said, “Young man, I say to you: arise.” And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited His people!”