The Ninth Sunday of Pentecost
Relics Translation of Proto-martyr Stephen the Archdeacon
Venerable Photeini the wonderworker of Carpasia in Cyprus;
Blessed Basil the fool-for-Christ, wonderworker of Moscow
Dormition Period Begins August 1 through August 15
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 exception that fish is eaten on the Feast of the Transfiguration (August 6).
Paraklesis Services will be held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays of the Dormition period starting at 6:30pm. Check the website calendar for the dates.
Learn more about the Dormition Orthodoxwiki website.
The Transfiguration of Christ
The Transfiguration of Christ is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, celebrated on August 6. Christ’s appearance was changed while they watched into a glorious radiant figure. There appeared Elijah and Moses, speaking with Jesus. The disciples were amazed and terribly afraid.
This event shows forth the divinity of Christ, so that the disciples would understand after his Ascension that He was truly the radiant splendor of the Father, and that his Passion was voluntary (Mark 9:2-9). It also shows the possibility of our own theosis.
This event was the subject of some debates between Gregory Palamas and Barlaam of Calabria. Barlaam believed that the light shining from Jesus was created light, while Gregory maintained the disciples were given grace to perceive the uncreated light of God. This supported Gregory’s larger argument that although we cannot know God in His essence, we can know Him in his energies, as He reveals Himself.
Accounts of the Transfiguration are found in the Bible: Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-9, Luke 9:28-36, and II Peter 1:16-19.
The Liturgy of Transfiguration will be held on August 5, 2015 at 6:30pm.
Learn more about the Transfiguration on the Orthodoxwiki website.
St. Peter’s Received A New Antimension
The antimension is the cloth the priests unfolds on the altar before the Great Entrance (when we process in the Church with the Chalice and Paten). The Metropolitan signs the antimension which shows that the parish is a canonical parish under a canonical Bishop. In a manner of speaking it is the authorizing document, the means by which a parish is affirmed as authentically Orthodox.
Since we have a new Metropolitan overseeing the Church, new antimensia are being issues to all the parishes. St. Peter’s will receive theirs soon. When it comes Fr. Hans will show it to the parishioners before we use it.
You can learn more by reading the letter issued by the Archdiocese on our 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.
Old 41 Cafe Business Blessing
View it on the website.
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 the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Make vows to the Lord thy God and perform them.
In Judah God is known; His Name is great in Israel.
The Reading from the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (3:9-17)
Brethren, we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or straw, each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
Gospel
For the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (14:22-34)
At that time, Jesus made the Disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. And after He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, but the Disciples’ boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them.
And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. But when the Disciples saw Jesus walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately He spoke to them, saying, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” And Peter answered Him, “Lord, if it is Thee, bid me come to Thee on the water.” He said, “Come.”
So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out His hand and caught him, saying to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly, Thou art the Son of God.” And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.