Proto-martyr Thekla, Equal-to-the-Apostles
The First Sunday of Luke
Venerable Silouan of Athos
Who is St. Thekla?
St. Thekla
St. Thekla, was a disciple and companion of the Apostle Paul in 1st century. She is given the title “Equal-to-the-Apostles” because she accompanied St. Paul in founding churches because her witness converted so many others to Christ, and she was the first woman martyr for the Christian Faith.
According to ancient Syrian and Greek manuscripts, Saint Thekla was born into a prosperous pagan family in the Lycaonian city of Iconium (present-day Konya in south-central Turkey) in A.D. 16. When she was 18 years old and betrothed to a young man named Thamyris, Saint Paul the Apostle and Saint Barnabas arrived in Iconium from Antioch (Acts 14).
Thekla’s mother Theokleia prohibited her from joining the crowds which gathered to hear Paul preach. But Thekla found that if she sat near her bedroom window she could hear his every word. Thekla sat there for three days and three nights listening to Paul preach the word of God. She was particularly touched by his call to chastity. As it became apparent that Thekla was becoming interested in the new Faith, Theokleia and Thamyris went to the governor of the city and complained about Paul and his preaching. To pacify them and the other outraged citizens of Iconium, the governor had Paul imprisoned to await trial.
Read the entire story on the Antiochian Archdiocese website.
Who is Venerable Silouan of Athos?
Venerable Silouan of Athos
The Venerable Silouan the Athonite (also known as St. Silouan of Mount Athos) was a monk of the early twentieth century at the Monastery of St. Panteleimon known for his wise counsel.
Saint Silouan was born Simeon Ivanovich Antonov in 1866 to Russian Orthodox parents who came from the village of Sovsk in Russia’s Tambov region. At the age of twenty-seven he left his native Russia and came to Mount Athos, where he became a monk at the Monastery of St. Panteleimon and was given the name Silouan, the Russian version of the Biblical name Silvanus.
An ardent ascetic, he received the grace of unceasing prayer and saw Christ in a vision. After long years of spiritual trial, he acquired great humility and inner stillness. He prayed and wept for the whole world as for himself, and he put the highest value on love for enemies. St Silouan died on September 24, 1938. He was glorified by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1987.
Though barely literate, he was sought out by pilgrims for his wise counsel. His writings were edited by his disciple and pupil, Archimandrite Sophrony. Father Sophrony has written the life of the saint along with a record of St. Silouan’s teachings in the book Saint Silouan the Athonite.
Source: Orthodoxwiki.
Services and Events This Week
- Sun Sep 17 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Sep 11-22 — Fr. Hans on Vacation
Fr. Hans Returns on Friday, September 22, 2023
Vatopedi Monastery
Fr. Hans will be on traveling from September 11-22. Fr. Hans is leading a trip to Vatopedi Monastery on Mt. Athos in Greece, the center of Orthodox monastic life in the world.
Our Fellowship Hour is Changing
Fr. Hans and the Parish Council have instituted some changes to our Fellowship Hour following the Sunday Divine Liturgy.
From Sunday, September 10 and onward, only coffee and light refreshments will be served.
We deeply appreciate all the hard work our kitchen crews and leadership have given to all of us over the years. We ask that the current kitchen crews remain as they are to help on Sundays, although with a very reduced work load. We still need your help to make the coffee and organize the refreshments.
The arrangement for the following Sundays will be:
- September 10 — Coffee and Donuts
- September 17 — Coffee and Cookies
- September 24 — Coffee and Cake
- October 01 — Coffee and Mixed Fruit
- October 08 — Coffee and Bagels
- October 15 — Coffee and Donuts
- October 22 — Coffee and Cookies
- October 29 — Coffee and Cake
Again, the help of our kitchen crews and leadership has been outstanding and a great blessing to the parish. The work, however, is proving increasingly taxing especially as the Church grows. For that reason we decided it was time to simplify our practice.
Fr. Hans and the Parish Council of St. Peter’s.
Let's Pray the Paraklesis to the Theotokos Daily
Click the image to get more information on how to participate from the St. Peter's website
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.
DOMSE Retreat September 22-23, 2023
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.
ST. PETER'S GREETERS
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
SEPTEMBER
- Cheryl and Tim Morse 612-210-1444
- Diana Najjar 317-213-5785
- Deb Repya 651-485-4817
- Diana Najjar 317-213-5785
- Elaine Tzouganaokis 239-603-2302
- Jordan Voss 239-785-9848
- Niki and Ray Locklear 859-240-1227
- Megas Family 239-839-3442
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 17 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Mon Sep 11-22 — Fr. Hans on Vacation
- Sun Sep 24 — SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Tue Sep 26 — Paraklesis to the Theotokos 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Sep 27 — Early Divine Liturgy 6:00am LIVE STREAM
- Wed Sep 27 — St. Peter Game Night 6:00pm-9pm
- Fri Sep 29 — St. Kyriakos Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Sep 29 — St. Paisios Brotherhood 7:00pm
If we listen to our neighbor with only half our attention, of course we will not be able to answer them or comfort them….We are distracted. They talk, but we do not participate in the conversation; we are immersed in our own thoughts. But if we give them our full attention, then we take up both our own burden and theirs. Elder Thaddeus(Strabulovich) of Vitovnica
Without an awareness of our original nature, we cannot know what it is we should be striving to get back to; we cannot know what we are made for. Fr. Seraphim Rose
St. Maximos points out that the passion of pride consists of two ignorances: the ignorance of the divine power and the ignorance of human weakness. And this double ignorance creates a “confused mind”. A Night In The Desert Of The Holy Mountain
No, be convinced that nothing good can come from yourself. And should, by chance, an unselfish thought arise in you, you may be sure that it does not come from you, but is scooped up from the wellspring of goodness and bestowed upon you: it is a gift from the Giver of life. Similarly the power to put the good thought into practice is not your own, but is given you by the Holy Trinity. Tito Colliander
A few moments of fervent repentance, and you will be I cleansed by the Holy Ghost from every impurity; you will be whiter than snow, and tears, purifying the heart will flow from your eyes. 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 St. Thekla
God is wondrous among His saints.
Bless ye God in the congregations.
The Reading from the Second Epistle of St. Paul to St. Timothy. (3:10-15)
Timothy, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet from them all, the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all, who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able toinstruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
GOSPEL
For the First Sunday of Luke
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (5:1-11)
At that time, Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. And He saw two boats by the
lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, Jesus asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at Thy word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the catch of fish, which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.
