Fourth Sunday of Luke
The Holy Fathers of Seventh Ecumenical Council
Who Were the Holy Fathers of Seventh Ecumenical Council?
The Holy Fathers of Seventh Ecumenical Council
On Sunday the Church remembers the 350 holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council under the holy Patriarch Tarasius.
The Synod of 787, the second to meet at Nicea, refuted the Iconoclast heresy during the reign of Empress Irene and her son Constantine VI.
The Council decreed that the veneration of icons was not idolatry (Exodus 20:4-5), because the honor shown to them is not directed to the wood or paint, but passes to the prototype (the person depicted). It also upheld the possibility of depicting Christ, Who became man and took flesh at His Incarnation. The Father, on the other hand, cannot be represented in His eternal nature, because “no man has seen God at any time” (John 1:18).
Source: The Orthodox Church in America website.
Living the Orthodox Faith Class starts Wednesday, October 11 at 7:00pm
“Living the Orthodox Faith” will look at why our Church does things the way it does, and how to do it properly. We will learn about the sign up the cross, how to enter the Church properly (candles and veneration), how to make a home altar, and more. This is a very practical class, not theological as much as how to live the Orthodox life as Orthodox.
Any question is welcome. If you can mention your questions to Fr. Hans ahead of time (use the contact form on the website), he will make sure to include it in the class.
The class will run on Wednesday evening for four weeks, October 11, 18 and November 1 and 15 (October 25 is the Liturgy of St. Demetrios, November 8 is the Liturgy of St. Nektarios).
Join Patriarch John X in Washington DC on Behalf of Christians in the Middle East
Dear Friends,
Metropolitan Joseph
I write to you as a member of the Religious Advisory Board for In Defense of Christians, a non-profit organization advocating for the human rights of Middle Eastern Christians and for the preservation of Christianity in the Middle East.
As many of you know, Antiochian Orthodox Christians are eagerly awaiting the visit of our Father and Patriarch, His Beatitude John X, from Damascus, Syria, to the U.S. We are blessed that His Beatitude will be joining us and other Christian leaders from the Middle East this October 24-26, for the 2017 IDC Conference: American Leadership and Securing the Future of Christians in the Middle East.
Many people from across the world will come to this conference to learn how to take action on behalf of Christians in the Middle East. While the Archdiocese does not generally take a position on political issues, we do advocate for the peace and safety of our people, and we appreciate and applaud the efforts of those who are working with U.S. legislators to secure that peace and safety. The agenda for the IDC conference is to meet with decision-makers to ask for:
- Security and Stability in Lebanon
- Emergency Relief for Victims of Genocide in Iraq and Syria
- Accountability for the Actions of American Allies in the Middle East
- Recognition of the Armenian Genocide
- The Creation of a Taskforce to Identify Supporters of ISIS in their Genocide Against Religious Minorities
We are appreciative that IDC has extended a special invitation to Antiochian Orthodox Christians to attend this important gathering – I hope you will be able to join us in advocating for our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Middle East.
Thank you and God bless you,
Metropolitan Joseph
Learn more about In Defense of Christians on the Antiochian Archdiocese website or visit the In Defense of Christians website.
Order Your Thanksgiving and Christmas Bakery Items at St. Peter’s Bake Sale!
It’s easy! Click on the image below or here (it will bring you to the St. Peter’s website), print out the order form, and fill in what you want to order for Thanksgiving and Christmas! We offer spanikopita (spinach pie), tiropita (cheese pie), baklava, galatoboureko (milk and egg custard), and koularikia (butter cookies).
Pick up your order on Sunday November 12 or November 19 following the Divine Liturgy.
Memorial Prayers for Mary Spiropoulos this Sunday, October 15
Mary Spiropoulos, mother of Joan Simon, was born in Philadelphia, PA and grew up in Jackson Heights, NY. She married her childhood sweetheart, John who pre-deceased her in Nov 2004. She resided in Succasunna, NJ for 47 yrs before moving to Mt. Arlington, NJ and retiring to Ft. Myers, FL. She was a 1943 graduate of Washington Irving High School in NYC.
She worked with Albert Einstein at the Dept of Education at Princeton University. She was a legal secretary in Morristown, NJ for many years before retiring in 1995.
Memorial prayers are offered by John and Joan Simon who will host a light luncheon in the Social Hall following Divine Liturgy in honor of Mary
Through the Bible in One Year Schedule Posted
On September 1, the start of the new Church Year, St. Peter’s started a program to read the bible in one year. Information is posted on the website.
Calendar At A Glance
- Wednesday, October 11, 2017 6:30pm Choir Practice
- Wednesday, October 11, 2017 7:00pm “Living the Orthodox Faith” Class
- Sunday, October 15, 2017 Mary Spiropoulos Memorial by John and Joan Simon
- Wednesday, October 18, 2017 6:30pm Choir Practice
- Wednesday, October 18 2017 7:00pm “Living the Orthodox Faith” Class
- Wednesday, October 25, 2017 6:30pm Liturgy Eve of St. Demetrios
- Wednesday, November 1, 2017 6:30pm Choir Practice
- Wednesday, November 1, 2017 7:00pm “Living the Orthodox Faith” Class
- Saturday, November 4, 2017 8:45am (NOTE TIME) Liturgy St. Raphael of Brooklyn
- Saturday, November 4, 2017 10:00am Church Clean Up Day
- Sunday, November 5, 2017 John Spiropoulos Memorial by John and Joan Simon
- Wednesday, November 7, 2017 6:30pm Liturgy Eve of Archangels Michael and Gabriel
- Wednesday, November 8, 2017 6:30pm Liturgy Eve of St. Nektarios
- Wednesda, November 15, 2017 Nativity Fast begins
- Wednesday, November 15, 2017 Charity Drive for NAMI and Toys for Tots begins
- Wednesday, November 15, 2017 6:30pm Choir Practice
- Wednesday, November 22, 2017 6:30pm Choir Practice
- Wednesday, November 19, 2017 6:30pm Choir Practice
- Saturday, December 2, 2017 3:30pm Social Hall Decoration, Vespers, Potluck Day
Wisdom From The Elders
Christians, remember what God is, and that He looks not only on your works, but also on your very thoughts and intentions, and that you are not able to hide anywhere or anything from Him.
St. Theophan the Recluse
Nevertheless, besides the action of God’s Grace for salvation, the personal efforts of man himself are also necessary. Man’s personal efforts alone are insufficient for his salvation -but they are necessary, for without them, God’s Grace will not begin to work out the matter of his salvation.
Metropolitan Philaret
The first among all evils is ignorance; next comes lack of faith.
Saint Kosmas Aitolos
– Geronda, do you mean to say that the pilgrimages made, for example, to the Holy Land do not help? – Look, let me explain. Today, if you set out to receive some benefit, you have to endure a lot of harm in the trains, the aeroplanes, the hotels. Everything has been secularized. What would you profit if you went into a spiritual environment and experienced a massive worldly disarray? One must be very strong to be able to utilize everything for the best.
Elder Paisios of Mount Athos
Love satisfies the longing of the human soul for perfection.
Priest Daniel Sysoev
If someone asks alms from a poor person, and this poor person, even though deprived, offers something – regardless of whether the other person goes out and drinks ouzo with the money given, then the poor man who gave will have spiritual joy, and God will guide someone else to provide him with material help.
Elder Paisios of Mount Athos
Remember in Your Prayers
Robert
Jane
Theodora
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 Holy Fathers
Blessed are Thou, O Lord, the God of our Fathers.
For Thou art just in all that Thou hast done.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to St. Titus. (3:8-15)
Titus, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissension, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.
When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful. All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
Gospel
For the Fourth Sunday of Luke
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (8:5-15)
The Lord spoke this parable: “A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold.”
And when His Disciples asked Him what this parable meant, Jesus said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil
comes and takes away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.”
As Jesus said this, He called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”