The Eighth Sunday of Matthew
The Holy Righteous Martyr Paraskeva of Rome
The holy and glorious Virgin-Martyr Saint Paraskevi (also Paraskeva) was arrested during the reign of the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius (r. A.D. 138-161) under the penalty of refusing to worship idols and adhering to the state pagan religion.
After enduring many tortures, she was eventually released by the emperor, continuing to profess Christ. She was eventually tortured and beheaded by the Roman governor Tarasius in the year 180. The Church commemorates her on July 26.
Read her complete story on the Orthodoxwiki website.
Old 41 Restaurant Blessing
Following Social Hour on Sunday Fr. Hans will bless the Old 41 Restaurant. Old 41 is run by Tony Bakos, an Orthodox Christian who supports St. Peter’s and wants to help us grow.
Everyone is invited. It will start between 12:30 and 1pm, depending when Social Hall winds down.
Fr. Hans Out of Town
Fr. Hans is in Boston attending the Antiochian Convention from Wednesday July 22 through Saturday July 25. He is available through cell phone.
Dormition Period Begins August 1 through August 15
From Orthodoxwiki:
The Dormition (Falling Asleep) of the Theotokos is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, celebrated on August 15.
This feast, which is also sometimes called the Assumption, commemorates the death, resurrection and glorification of Christ’s mother. It proclaims that Mary has been “assumed” by God into the heavenly kingdom of Christ in the fullness of her spiritual and bodily existence.
The feast is preceded by 14 days of strict fasting, with the exceptions that fish is eaten on the Feast of the Transfiguration (August 6).
On weekdays before the feast, either the Great Paraklesis (service of supplication) or the Small Paraklesis is celebrated. Fr. Hans will post the schedule of the Paraklesis services.
Learn more on the Orthodoxwiki website.
Choir Practice Continues on Tuesday at 6pm
Please consider joining the choir. “He who sings prays twice.”
Bible Study Continues on Tuesday at 7pm
Turn out has been good, even in summer! Come and bring a friend.
Wisdom from St. John Chrysostom
Happiness can only be achieved by looking inward and learning to enjoy whatever life has and this requires transforming greed into gratitude.
Remember in Your Prayers
Mary Spiropoulos, mother of Joan Simon.
Bob Smith. Bob has been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease.
John, the brother of Pauline Poulos who is suffering from cancer.
Tom and Jean, parents of Patty and Jerry.
How should we pray for the sick? Remember them daily. Say their names and ask God to bestow mercy and grace on them.
Sunday Readings
Epistle
For St. Paraskeva
God is wondrous in His saints.
Bless God in the congregations.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians. (3:23-4:5)
Brethren, before faith came, we were confined under the Law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. So that the Law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than a slave, though he is the owner of all the estate; but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father.
So with us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe. But when the time had fully come, God sent forth His Son, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Gospel
The Eighth Sunday of Matthew
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (14:14-22)
At that time, when Jesus went ashore he saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to Him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And He said, “Bring them here to Me.”
Then He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish He looked up to Heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Then Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.