St Peter News October 8, 2026 - St. Peter Orthodox Church

Forefeast of and Sunday before Elevation of the Cross
Consecration of Resurrection Church in Jerusalem

Hieromartyr Cornelius the centurion; and Venerable Hierotheos the Younger of Iviron monastery on Athos

Elevation of the Precious and Life Giving Cross

On September 13 in the Holy Orthodox Church, we celebrate the Forefeast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross and commemorate the Consecration of the Church of the Holy Resurrection of Christ our God.

Holy Resurrection in Jerusalem is honored above all others. Constantine the Great constructed it at the place of Golgotha, where our Savior was crucified and buried, then arose. For a long time this place had been purposely buried beneath the earth by the Jews and heathen; furthermore, during the reign of Hadrian (117-138), a temple dedicated to Aphrodite was built over the site so that this sacred place might be even further desecrated and fall into utter oblivion. It was here that the Cross was hidden.

However, at the command of the pious Emperor Constantine, excavations were made and the tokens of the saving Passion were found. It was here, then, that the very great and magnificent temple named in honor of Christ God’s Resurrection was built under the supervision of the blessed Helen, while Macarius was Archbishop of Jerusalem. Macarius elevated the venerable Cross and consecrated this temple in the year 336.

On this day, we also commemorate the Hieromartyr Cornelius the centurion; and Venerable Hierotheos the Younger of Iviron monastery on Athos. By the intercessions of Thy Saints, O Christ God, have mercy on us. Amen.

Nativity of the Theotokos Divine Liturgy on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 9:00am

Nativity of the Theotokos

The Feast of the Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is celebrated on September 8 each year. The Feast commemorates the birth of the Mother of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

The birth and early life of the Virgin Mary is not recorded in the Gospels or other books of the New Testament, however this information can be found in a work dating from the second century known as the Book of James or Protevangelion.

According to the story found in this book, Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anna, were childless for many years. They remained faithful to God, but their prayers for a child were unanswered. One day, when Joachim came to the temple to make an offering, he was turned away by the High Priest who chastised him for his lack of children. To hide his shame, Joachim retreated to the hill country to live among the shepherds and their flocks.

As Joachim was praying, his wife Anna was praying at the same time at their house in Jerusalem. An angel appeared to both of them and announced that Anna would have a child whose name would be known throughout the world. Anna promised to offer her child as a gift to the Lord. Joachim returned home, and in due time Anna bore a daughter, Mary.

[…]

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America website.

Services and Events This Week

SUN Sep 06 — SUNDAY ORTHROS 8:30am DIVINE LITURGY 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Tue Sep 08 — Nativity of the Theotokos 9:00am LIVE STREAM
Wed Sep 09 — Early Morning Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
Fri Sep 11 — St Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
Sat Sep 12 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

Sunday School Update

Since we will be celebrating The Precious and Life Giving Cross this coming Sunday, Fr. Hans would like to have the children observe and participate in the service. At its conclusion, Father will call up all the children for a special blessing.

There will be no time for classes; however, we would appreciate it if parents and grandparents stop by the large Sunday School classroom to register children ages four and up who will be attending Sunday School.

Registration is required by the Archdiocese and for safety reasons.

Thank you. We look forward to seeing you.

Georgia Katsigianopoulos

Announcing the Formation of the Sisterhood of Righteous Naomi

Saint Peter‘s is excited to announce the first meeting of the Sisterhood of Righteous Naomi women’s group. Please join us on Saturday, October 3, in the Fellowship Hall at 3:30pm for social time, with meeting to starting promptly at 4pm.

Sisterhood of Righteous Naomi is modeled after Naomi‘s five characteristics of compassion, faith, resilience, loyalty, and humility.

This group is for all women, 16 and older, inquirers, catechumens, newly baptized, cradle Orthodox and everywhere in between.

This group will assist you in growing into your orthodox faith with deep discussions, cross-generational wisdom, and forming a sisterhood bond with fellow sisters who love and support one another.

Questions? please email Teri Peterson at tpeterson1334@gmail.com

Help Eldar Raise Funds for His Cancer Treatment

Eldar Sharashenidze, a member of St. Paul Orthodox Church and a friend of St. Peter’s needs funds to pay for cancer treatment.

Eldar writes on his GoFundMe page:

In 2023, I was diagnosed with lung cancer. I had surgery, and afterward they told me they got all of it. I believed that. I went back to work and did my best to put it behind me.

The cancer is back.

I am going to start everything from the beginning, all the treatments, scans, and appointments, so I do not know yet what treatment will be done this time.

I am not comfortable asking. I have always worked for what I have. But I would rather ask than lose ground while I am fighting this.

Anything helps. And if you cannot give, sharing this with one person who might is worth just as much.

Thank you for reading this and for anything you can do.

Eldar

You can contribute on Eldar’s GoFundMe page.

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.

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.

September 2026 – Team #3

Sunday, Sept 6 – “Labor Day Sunday” – Coffee and Hot dog lunch
Sunday, Sept 13 – Coffee and donuts
Sunday, Sept 20 – Coffee and bagel
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!

SEPTEMBER

SUN Sep 06 — SUNDAY ORTHROS 8:30am DIVINE LITURGY 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Tue Sep 08 — Nativity of the Theotokos 9:00am LIVE STREAM
Wed Sep 09 — Early Morning Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
Fri Sep 11 — St Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
Sat Sep 12 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

SUN Sep 13 — SUNDAY ORTHROS 8:30am DIVINE LITURGY 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Mon Sep 14 — Elevation of the Cross Divine Liturgy 9:00am LIVE STREAM
Wed Sep 16 — Early Morning Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
Fri Sep 18 — St Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
Sat Sep 19 — Parish Council Meeting 10:00am
Sat Sep 19 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

SUN Sep 20 — SUNDAY ORTHROS 8:30am DIVINE LITURGY 9:30am LIVE STREAM
Wed Sep 23 — Early Morning Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
Thu Sep 24 — St Silouan / Thekla Divine Liturgy 9:00am LIVE STREAM
Fri Sep 25 — St Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
Sat Sep 26 — Great Vespers 5:30pm LIVE STREAM

Sunday School Begins September 13, 2026

The 2026-27 Sunday School Year is beginning on September 13th when we will be celebrating The Elevation of the Cross. We would like to have all our children in church for Father Hans to bless them as they begin the school year.

“Kindergarten” will be comprised of 4 and 5 year olds, 6 to 9 will be the “Elementary” group, and those children 10 and up will be in the “Senior” group.

All children participating must be registered. We will get back to you with more information.

Blessings for all.

Georgia Katsigianopoulos

You should all wear a cross around your neck. It is a frightful weapon against the devil. Not an amulet. Do you hear? A cross. It doesn’t matter if it’s wooden or metallic. Elder Ieronimos

Our soul is single, because it cannot at the same time love both God and, for instance,money, food, drink; or both its neighbour and at the same time money, food, and drink. Righteous John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

Without sorrows and trials a man cannot come to humility. Vainglory, self-love and pride nest so deeply in the human heart that it requires strong means and a prolonged period of training, through sorrows and temptations, to uproot them and bring one to some kind of humility. Abbot Nikon Vorobiev

Yet such workings of the Spirit, much as they are desired by us, are brief. Our corrupt nature cannot contain God, and our manifold cares in this world, our contacts with the world, and the distractions connected with such contacts make it difficult for us to concentrate. They displace the gifts of grace from our souls. Aside from this, it must also be pointed out that only simple souls, which are in full command of the treasure of humility, can avail themselves of grace more often and for a longer period of time, while others can use even grace for harm rather than for good. Yakov Tyagunoff

But a person becomes truly meek and humble when he turns his heart of hearts into the Lord Jesus, humble and meek, He being the only truly “meek and lowly in heart” (Matth. 11:29). The soul of the people must be rendered meek by Christ’s meekness. Every person must learn to pray: Meek, gentle Lord, assuage my fierce soul! The Lord humbled himself with the greatest humility—he was incarnate and became man. Venerable Justin (Popovic) of Chelije in Serbia

Prayers for Those in Need

Current Prayer List

Daniel (Breitenbach)
Eva (Breitenbach)
Eve Helen
James (Franklin)
Anthea (Tuefel)
Anthony
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)
Diane (Radford)

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 Sunday before the Elevation of the Holy Cross

O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.
To Thee, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians. (6:11-18)

Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the Law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all, who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

GOSPEL