Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Second Sunday of Luke
Hieromartyr Hierotheos, Bishop of Athens; Hieromartyr Peter of Capitolia in Syria; Martyrs Domnina and her daughters of Syria; Gurios, first Archbishop of Kazan; Barsanouphios,
Bishop of Tver; and Martyrs Stephen (Stiljanovich) and Elizabeth of Serbia
Who Was The Hieromartyr Hierotheos, Bishop of Athens?
The Hieromartyr Hierotheus, the first Bishop of Athens, was a member of the Athenian Areopagos and was converted to Christ by the Apostle Paul together with Saint Dionysius the Areopagite (October 3).
The saint was consecrated by the Apostle Paul to the rank of bishop. According to Tradition, Bishop Hierotheus was present with Saint Dionysius at the funeral of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Saint Hierotheus died a martyr’s death in the first century.
Source: The Orthodox Church of America website.
Upcoming Liturgies
St. Cyriacos (Kyriakos) Hermit of Palestine on Tuesday September 29, 2020 at 9:30am
Saint Cyriacus was born at Corinth to the priest John and his wife Eudokia. Bishop Peter of Corinth, who was a relative, seeing that Cyriacus was growing up as a quiet and sensible child, made him a reader in church. Constant reading of the Holy Scriptures awakened in him a love for the Lord and of a yearning for a pure and saintly life.
Once, when the youth was not yet eighteen years old, he was deeply moved during a church service by the words of the Gospel: “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mt.16:24). He believed these words applied to him, so he went right to the harbor without stopping at home, got onto a ship and went to Jerusalem.
After visiting the holy places, Cyriacus dwelt for several months at a monastery not far from Sion in obedience to the igumen Abba Eustorgius. With his blessing, he made his way to the wilderness Lavra of Saint Euthymius the Great (January 20). Saint Euthymius, discerning in the youth great gifts of God, tonsured him into the monastic schema and placed him under the guidance of Saint Gerasimus (March 4), pursuing asceticism at the Jordan in the monastery of Saint Theoctistus.
Read the entire biography of St. Cyriacos (Kyriakos) on the Orthodox Church of America website.
Apostle Ananias of the Seventy on Thursday, October 1, 2020 at 9:30am
The Holy Apostle Ananias of the Seventy (October 1), was the first Bishop of Damascus. The Lord ordered him to restore the sight of Saul, the former persecutor of Christians, then baptize him (Acts 9:10-19, 22:12). Saul became the great preacher and Apostle Paul. St Ananias boldly and openly confessed Christianity before the Jews and the pagans, despite the danger.
From Damascus he went to preach at Eleutheropolis, where he healed many of their infirmities. Lucian, the prefect of the city, tried to persuade the holy one to offer sacrifice to idols. Because of Ananias’ staunch and solid confession of Christ, Lucian ordered that he be tortured. Harsh torments did not sway the witness of Truth. Then the torturers led him out beyond the city, where they stoned him. The saint prayed for those who put him to death. His relics were later transferred to Constantinople.
Read the entire story on the Full of Grace and Truth website.
Riccioli Baptism, Sunday October 4, 12:30pm
You (everyone in the parish) are invited to attend the baptism of Angelina, daughter of Paul (Carmine) and Elizabeth (Lily) Riccioli following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, October 4 (plan on about 12:30pm).
Send a Card to George Chionis
As some of you may know, George Chionis, a friend to many at St. Peter’s, is still in Illinois. His return to Florida is delayed because his bladder cancer has returned. George loves and misses his St. Peter’s family. If you would like to send him a card you can mail it to:
George Chionis
C/O Jeanne Bern
12340 S Natchez Ave
Palos Heights, IL 60463
Please keep George and his family in you prayers. We have also included him on our prayer list.
Congratulation to Jason and Moriah Andrews on the Birth of their Baby Girl!
The birth went well. Mom, dad, and baby are doing fine. This is a joyous time and also the second baby born into St. Peter’s in the last few months — that’s good too.
This is Jason’s and Moriah’s first and they are adjusting. Congratulations to them both.
Starting a Lending Library of Orthodox Books
We are starting a lending library of Orthodox books at St. Peter’s. Nancy Forderhase has graciously consented to lead this project. If you have any Orthodox books on your shelves, consider donating them to the library!
How does it work? You borrow the book, read it, and bring it back. Simple!
We will start small and hopefully it will grow. If anyone would like to donate to help buy new books, well, we do that too!
We will be selective about the books in the library. They must be Orthodox related and trustworthy and reliable scholarship. The library won’t contain off-topic or unreliable material.
Watch for An Upcoming Video About St. Peter’s!
Jason and Moriah Andrews who recently joined St. Peter’s and will soon become catechumens are professional videographers are making a video about St. Peter’s. Expect to see it near the end of the month.
Here they are at work:
Taking Care of our Animals
The Lee County Domestic Animal Services pet food pantry will be in Bonita Springs.
They will be available from 9:00am to 11:00am on Tuesday, October 13 at:
26820 Old 41 Road
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
The pet food pantry will be no contact, drive up only.
Please note: This drive is both for those that wish to donate pet food and to pick up pet food.
Donations can be made at any time to Bonita Assistance or directly to the Lee County or Collier County animal shelters.
Introduction to Orthodoxy Classes Have Begun
Their is still time to join if you would like to take the class.
The class is required for seekers and catechumens and also open to any parishioner who would like to attend. The syllabus will be posted on the website at soon as it is completed and handed out the first day of class.
We will meet after social hall. Get some coffee, have some food and fellowship, and then we break for class. We will plan meet in the Sunday School room. If attendance is greater we will meet in the Church. Plan on classes lasting about an hour.
Why are we meeting on Sunday? To allow everyone an opportunity to attend.
Byzantine Chant Workshop – Weekly on Tuesday at 7:00pm at St. Paul’s
Led by Dn. Nicholas Reid, participants will learn the basics of the tone of the week — its characteristics, scale, and various forms — and will get a chance to participate in group practice.
No prior chanting experience is required.
This will also be an opportunity to deepen our Orthodox faith by better understanding the role each tone plays in liturgical worship so that we can apply them more fruitfully in our parish life as well as in the worship of the “little church” – our own homes.
Questions? Contact Dn. Nick (nick.reid.11@gmail.com)
Coming Soon: DOMSE Virtual Retreat — MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Schedule now available on the new DOMSE website!
DOMSE (Diocese of Miami and the Southeast) will hold a two day virtual retreat from Friday through Saturday, October 3-4, 2020.
Topics and schedule will be available soon.
Pledge & Income Report – August 2020
Donations received in August $22,648.00
Amount of money needed to cover expenses: $18,167.00
We are ahead by $4,481.00
Please note:Thank you for your response to our Appeal Letter. Please continue your generous support. If you cannot make it to church please mail in your donation to:
St. Peter Orthodox Church
24850 Old 41 Road Suite 6
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
You can also donate online (scroll to bottom of page):
Bishop NICHOLAS Offers a Weekly Live Stream
These are short thirty minute presentations where His Grace Bp. Nicholas speaks on one theme in Sunday readings for fifteen minutes followed by questions from the listeners. It’s worth tuning in. Get instructions on the St. Peter website on how to use the Band App on your phone or computer to participate.
Calendar At A Glance
SEPTEMBER
- Sun Sep 27 — Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sun Sep 27 — Introduction to Orthodoxy Classes Begin Following Divine Liturgy
- Tue Sep 29 — ST. CYPRIANOS THE HERMIT OF PALESTINE Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
OCTOBER
- Thu Oct 1 — ST. ANANIAS OF THE 70 Divine Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Fri Oct 2 — Sat Oct 3 — DOMSE Virtual Retreat
- Sun Oct 4 — Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sun Oct 4 — CANCELLED Introduction to Orthodoxy Classes Begin Following Divine Liturgy
- Sun Oct 4 — Riciolli Baptism 12:30pm
- Tue Oct 6 — APOSTLE THOMAS Divine Liturgy 9:30am
- Fri Oct 9 — APOSTLE JAMES Divine Liturgy 9:30am
- Sun Oct 11 — Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sun Oct 11 — Introduction to Orthodoxy Classes Begin Following Divine Liturgy
- Fri Oct 16 — LONGINUS THE CENTURION Divine Liturgy 9:30am
- Sun Oct 18 — Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sun Oct 18 — Introduction to Orthodoxy Classes Begin Following Divine Liturgy
- Tue Oct 20 — ARTEMIUS THE GREAT MARTYR OF ANTIOCH Divine Liturgy 9:30am
- Fri Oct 23 — APOSTLE JAMES Divine Liturgy 9:30am
- Sun Oct 25 — Orthros 8:30am / Liturgy 9:30am LIVE STREAM
- Sun Oct 25 — Introduction to Orthodoxy Classes Begin Following Divine Liturgy
- Mon Oct 26 — ST. DEMETRIOS Divine Liturgy 9:30am
- Wed Oct 28 — PROTECTION OF THE THEOTOKOS Divine Liturgy 9:30am
Wisdom From The Elders
Blessed is he who, with a hunger that is never satisfied, day and night throughout this present life makes prayer and the psalms his food and drink, and strengthens himself by reading of God’s glory in Scripture. Such communion will lead the soul to ever-increasing joy in the age to come. St. John of Karpathos
God does not require from novices prayer completely free from distractions. Do not despond when your thought is distracted, but remain calm, and unceasingly restore your mind to itself. St. John Climacus
It appears then, that to fall into sin may help a person gain humility, but only if he blames his failings entirely on himself, and not on others or on circumstances which is indeed the truth. Abbot Nikon Vorobiev
All people are called to holiness, all people are called to an unceasing battle with sin, and all people are called to unseen warfare. Archbishop Averky (Taushev)
You can see for yourself how one can create either harmony or disharmony within the family, depending on the kind of thoughts and wishes one has. If the head of the family is laden with worries and thoughts about some difficulty, then the peace in that family is disturbed. All the members of the family are depressed; they have no peace, no comfort. The head of a family must radiate goodness to all the members of his family. That is how our “thought machine” works. Elder Thaddeus(Strabulovich) of Vitovnica
There are people who cannot be lieve, for example, that some young people live pure and chaste lives. It’s impossible for a such a thing to happen today, they say. These poor souls are so immersed in sin that they see everything as sinful. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos
Remember in Your Prayers
The Prayer List has been revamped. To bring order to the list we will do the following:
- Names will remain on the list for two 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 (Updated September 1 / Resets October 1)
Baree (Dusckas 11/2020)
Christos (Eleni 11/20)
Lucy Marie (Eleni 11/20)
Pantelis (Tsikitas 11/20)
Patricia (Evanoff 11/20)
Barbara (Dusckas 11/20)
Brendan (Wolffe 11/20)
Douglas (Dusckas 10/22)
Sophia (Irina 10/22)
Nicholas (Zeena 10/22)
Ruthann (Zeena 10/22)
Charles Timothy (Wolfe 10/22)
Sergio (Mary Kazakos10/22)
Libby Ann (Riccioli 10/22)
Andrea (Sarros 10/22)
Basil (Sarros 10/22)
Margaret (Sarros 10/22)
Susan (Wolffe 9/20)
Grant [Van Berkom] (Zeena 9/20)
Barbara (Dusckas 9/20)
John (Troutman 9/20)
Dave (Dusckas 9/20)
Constandina (Stephania 9/20)
Steven (Breitenbach 9/20)
Patricia (Copeland 8/20)
Demetrios (Copeland 8/20)
Efstathios (Mourgis 8/20)
Permanent Prayer List
George (Chionis)
Stamatia (Jacobse)
Stamatia (Evelyn)
Demetrios (Kuchera)
Margaret (Palis)
Theodosios (Palis)
Theodora (Webb)
Helen (Rogers)
Robert (Smith)
Robert (Jarvis)
Mary (Jarvis)
Presbytera Rosy (in Pakistan)
James (Hord)
Ann (Rellis)
Vassiliki (Kontinos)
Vassiliki (Morekeas)
Founders, Members, and Benefactors 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)
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 Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
God is known in Judah; His Name is great in Israel.
The Reading from the Second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (6:16-7:1)
Brethren, we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore, come out from them, and be separate from them,” says the Lord, “and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.
GOSPEL
For the Second Sunday of Luke
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (6:31-36)
The Lord said:“As you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
