{"id":10541,"date":"2021-12-07T05:00:13","date_gmt":"2021-12-07T10:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=10541"},"modified":"2021-12-07T05:00:13","modified_gmt":"2021-12-07T10:00:13","slug":"st-peter-news-tuesday-december-7-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-news-tuesday-december-7-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter News December 7, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sunday of the Forefathers (Ancestors) of Christ
\nSpyridon, bishop of Trimythous, the Wonderworker <\/h2>\n

VJohn, metropolitan of Zichnon; Hieromartyr Alexander, archbishop of Jerusalem<\/h4>\n
\n\"The<\/p>\n

The Forefathers (Ancestors) of Christ<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Sermon on the Sunday of the Forefathers<\/h2>\n

By Fr. Thaddeus Hardenbrook<\/p>\n

On the second Sunday before Nativity, the Gospel reading leaves off its progression based on Pentecost and aligns itself with the approaching Nativity. This is a sign for us; a message of urgency regarding what is about to happen. Worries, distractions, and cares must now be set aside for the sake of not missing out on the greatest of the Father’s gifts to us, which is His Son in human flesh. Every other mystical and sacred gift is secondary to the Incarnation.<\/p>\n

We have been preparing for the feast by fasting. And now that we have moved past the midpoint of the fast, the pace quickens in anticipation of Christ’s birth. We commemorate the Holy Forefathers who were part of mankind’s preparation for the Messiah. Without them, there would be no God-man, no Christ, for prophecy foretold His birth from their lineage. Therefore their flesh, their prophecies, and their piety prepared the way for the coming of Christ.<\/p>\n

Without the Incarnation, there is no salvation as we know it, there is no Cross, there is no Resurrection, there is no partaking in the divine energies of God and no deification. Even paradise and immortality submit to the mystical superiority of the Incarnation. For both paradise and immortality were given to man before the fall. Without the Incarnation, Paradise and eternal life only result in being perfectly and eternally joined to God as His servants.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

Read the rest of the sermon here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Sunday of St. Spyridon<\/h2>\n
 <\/div>\n
\n\"St.<\/p>\n

St. Spyridon<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Saint Spyridon of Tremithus was born towards the end of the third century on the island of Cyprus. He was a shepherd, and had a wife and children. He used all his substance for the needs of his neighbors and the homeless, for which the Lord rewarded him with a gift of wonderworking. He healed those who were incurably sick, and cast out demons.<\/p>\n

After the death of his wife, during the reign of Constantine the Great (306-337), he was made Bishop of Tremithus, Cyprus. As a bishop, the saint did not alter his manner of life, but combined pastoral service with deeds of charity.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

Another historical detail reported by Sozomen, was characteristic of the saint. It was his custom to distribute one part of the gathered harvest to the destitute, and another portion to those having need while in debt. He did not take a portion for himself, but simply showed them the entrance to his storeroom, where each could take as much as was needed, and could later pay it back in the same way, without records or accountings.<\/p>\n

Read the entire biography of St. Spyridon on the Orthodox Church in America website.<\/em><\/p>\n

Services This Week<\/h2>\n