Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Thirteenth Sunday of Matthew
Who was St. Anthimos Bishop of Nicomedia
St. Anthimos was Bishop of Nicomedia
Saint Anthimos was Bishop of Nicomedia in Bithynia (Asia Minor) during the reign of Emperor Maximian (286-305), and in 304 at his command 20,000 Christians in Nicomedia perished in a fire while in church on Christmas day. Bishop Anthimos escaped their fate and hid himself in the village of Omana not far from Nicomedia at the request of his flock. From there he sent letters to the Christians, urging them to keep firmly the holy Faith and not to fear tortures.
One of his letters, that was sent with Deacon Theophilos, was intercepted and turned over to Emperor Maximian. Deacon Theophilos was cruelly questioned and died under torture, without revealing the whereabouts of Bishop Anthimos to his torturers. Maximian soon managed to learn the whereabouts of Bishop Anthimos. A detachment of soldiers was sent after him. Anthimos met them along the way, but the soldiers did not recognize him. The bishop invited them to join him for a meal that he provided. After the meal, Anthimos revealed that he was the one they sought. The surprised soldiers did not know what to do. They were ready to leave him and lie to the emperor that they had not found him. However, Anthimos was not one to tolerate a lie. So, he would not consent to their plan.
The soldiers came to believe in Christ and received holy Baptism. The bishop ordered them to carry out the emperor’s instructions. After Anthimos was brought before the emperor, Maximian ordered that the instruments of execution be brought out and placed before him. “Do you think, emperor, to frighten me with these tools of execution?” asked Anthimos. “No indeed, you cannot frighten one who wishes to die for Christ! Execution is frightening only for the cowardly, for whom the present life is most precious.” The emperor then directed that Anthimos be fiercely tortured by being beaten with rods, made to walk in red-hot bronze sandals and finally fixed to a wheel that broke his limbs, while the executioners burnt his body with flaming torches.
Through all this the Saint remained steadfast, and like gold refined in fire he shone more brightly in the midst of torments. After Anthimos prophesied to the emperor that his pagan empire would soon come to an end and Christianity would triumph, the emperor rent in two his purple cloak and ordered Anthimos beheaded. Bishop Anthimos joyfully glorified God with his last breath and received the crown of martyrdom.
Read more on the Mystagogy website.
Eve of Beginning of the Ecclesiastical Year Liturgy on Thursday, August 31 at 6:30pm
The First Ecumenical Council (Nicaea, 325) decreed that the Church year should begin on September 1. The month of September was, for the Hebrews, the beginning of the civil year (Exodus 23:16), the month of gathering the harvest and of the offering of thanks to God. It was on this feast that the Lord Jesus entered the synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4:16-21), opened the book of the Prophet Isaiah and read the words: The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn (Isaiah 61:1-2).
The month of September is also important in the history of Christianity, because Emperor Constantine the Great was victorious over Maxentius, the enemy of the Christian Faith, in September. Following this victory, Constantine granted freedom of confession to the Christian Faith throughout the Roman Empire. For a long time, the civil year in the Christian world followed the Church year, with its beginning on September 1. The civil year was later changed, and its beginning transferred to January 1. This occurred first in Western Europe, and later in Russia, under Peter the Great.
Interfaith Charities Needs Cereal and Spaghettios
Interfaith Charities Needs Cereal and Spaghettios to help hungry children in our immediate area (south Lee County). Supplies are running low. Please buy some extra cereal or spaghettios the next time you are out shopping. We will make sure they get to the kids.
Interfaith Charities is a coalition of churches and business that help the poor in the San Carlos and south Fort Myers area (view their website).
St. Peter’s is committed to helping the poor among us. If each family could bring some of these items to church this Sunday and the next, then we will get them to Interfaith Charities and the families who need them.
Sunday School Registration Begins (Sunday School starts September 10)
Parents: Sunday School registrations begins this Sunday. Please register your children! Forms are available in the Social Hall following Divine Liturgy.
Sunday School starts on Sunday, September 10.
Metropolitan Joseph Appoints Bishop Nicholas to Lead the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast
August 3, 2017
The Reverend Clergy of the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast:
Blessings and greetings to you and your families in the name of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ, as we embark on the blessed Dormition Fast.
I would like to start this letter by thanking my dear brother His Grace Bishop Antoun for all the years of hard work in the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast. He touched all of our hearts with his dedication and support as he earned his gray hair: “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.” (Proverbs 16:31)
As you all know, His Grace has decided to retire this year. I have spent months thinking about the right person to guide the clergy and laity of the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast. After much contemplation and prayer, I have decided that His Grace Bishop Nicholas will be your bishop
Read the Metropolitan’s entire encyclical on the Antiochian Archdiocese website.
Coming in September: Through the Bible in One Year
Would you like to read the entire bible? Would you like to take on this challenge with friends for encouragement and support?
On September 1, the start of the new Church Year, St. Peter’s will start a program to read the bible in one year. Information is posted on the website.
Start thinking about it now.
Calendar At A Glance
- Thursday, August 31, 2017 Eve of Beginning of the Ecclesiastical Year Liturgy at 6:30pm
Wisdom From The Elders
And he who wants more grace, must prepare himself better for temptations…
St. Seraphim of Sarov
A young person ought to keep company with other spiritually mature young people in order to be helped and move within a spiritual atmosphere. Let’s not make things more difficult than they are.
St. Paisios of Mount Athos
I constantly advise repentance and confession, so that the devil will lose his rights over us and the external demonic influences will be stopped.
Elder Paisios of Mount Athos
The greatness of a man consisteth of humility, for in proportion as a man descendeth to humility, he becometh exalted to greatness.
The Paradise of the Holy Fathers Vol.2
This present life is not for us to have a good time. On the contrary, it is meant for us to be tested and to pass over into the future, eternal life. Our goal here must be to prepare ourselves so we can depart with our conscience at ease when God calls us close to Him.
Elder Paisios of Mount Athos
Remember in Your Prayers
Baby Brynn L.
Micheal
Haralambos
Lillian
Presbytera Rosy
Valentina
John
Eva W.
Barbara
Angela
Sonya
Kenneth
Carol Ann
Matthew
Chrysostom
Tim
Ron
Ivy-Jean
Pat
Christina
Maria Louise
Maximos
Marian
Photini
Nicholas
Brad William
Sarah
Petronia (Wife of Phil Pappas)
Constantine Houpis
Anna Marie Smith Baker
Ron Chromulak
Beverly Chromulak
Katerina
Loucine Kassis
Mary Kassis
Baby Maximus
Christine
Maria
Annette Star
Claire Livaditis
Eva Chandilles
Baby Dani
Scott Nedoff
Anthony Mourgis
John Hansen
James Hord
Tom and Jean, parents of Patty and Jerry.
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 Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
O Lord, how marvelous are Thy works. In wisdom hast Thou made them all.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
The Reading from the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (16:13-24)
Brethren, be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, and be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Now, brethren, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints; I urge you to be subject to such men and to every fellow worker and laborer.
I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence; for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men. The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brethren send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Gospel
For the Thirteenth Sunday of Matthew
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (21:33-42)
The Lord spoke this parable: “There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them.
Afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?’”