{"id":11042,"date":"2022-08-02T05:00:04","date_gmt":"2022-08-02T09:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=11042"},"modified":"2022-08-02T05:00:04","modified_gmt":"2022-08-02T09:00:04","slug":"st-peter-news-august-2-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-news-august-2-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter News August 2, 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Dormition (Falling Asleep) of the Theotokos<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Holy Scriptures tell us that when our Lord was dying on the Cross, He saw His mother and His disciple John and said to the Virgin Mary, “Woman, behold your son!” and to John, “Behold your mother!” (John 19:25-27). From that hour, the Apostle took care of the Theotokos in his own home.<\/p>\n
Along with the biblical reference in Acts 1:14 that confirms that the Virgin Mary was with the Holy Apostles on the day of Pentecost, the tradition of the Church holds that she remained in the home of the Apostle John in Jerusalem, continuing a ministry in word and deed.<\/p>\n
At the time of her death, the disciples of our Lord who were preaching throughout the world returned to Jerusalem to see the Theotokos. Except for the Apostle Thomas, all of them including the Apostle Paul were gathered together at her bedside. At the moment of her death, Jesus Christ himself descended and carried her soul into heaven.<\/p>\n
Following her repose, the body of the Theotokos was taken in procession and laid in a tomb near the Garden of Gethsemane. When the Apostle Thomas arrived three days after her repose and desired to see her body, the tomb was found to be empty. The bodily assumption of the Theotokos was confirmed by the message of an angel and by her appearance to the Apostles.<\/p>\n
Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese<\/a> website.<\/em><\/p>\n August 1 starts the Dormition period in our Orthodox Church. We fast (abstain from meat and dairy) from August 1 to August 15. At St. Peter’s the fast ends after the Dormition Liturgy on the evening of August 15.<\/p>\n Because Fr. Hans is out of town, we will start the Paraklesis services that lead up to the Dormition Liturgy on August 10-12 at 6:30pm. They will be held in the evening so more people can attend.<\/p>\n On the evening of Monday, August 15, 2022 we will celebrate the Dormition of the Theotokos with a Divine Liturgy at 6:30pm.<\/p>\n In case of pastoral emergency please contact Fr. Paul Girgis at 509-845-4540.<\/p>\n Dormition Fasting Period from August 1-15.<\/em><\/p>\n Fr. Hans will be taking a vacation week from August 1-8, 2022 to give the keynote address at the European Men’s Gathering in Denmark. The European Men’s Gathering is an organization of men who are trying to lift themselves out of the secularist, anti-Christian morass that afflicts Northern Europe in particular and has been devastating to many men. <\/p>\n Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis will be serving the Liturgy on August 7, 2022.<\/p>\n Fr. Hans has been asked to move some of the services to the evening to accomodate people who would like to attend worship but cannot because of work. Please note the times of services carefully. Some have been moved to the evening so that more people can attend.<\/p>\n We are planning to resume our efforts to complete the church directory, starting Sunday, August 7th. As in the past, we will have the camera setup in the social hall during coffee hour for the month of August.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Photo Schedule <\/b><\/p>\n You have heard Fr. Hans say that young men are entering the Orthodox Church. This is happening not only at St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s but all across the country. Recently Fr. Michael Butler was interviewed about this development on Ancient Faith Radio. Click the image to listen to the podcast.<\/p>\n We are building out a “seekers’ website for St. Peter. It will be a place where people learn ‘just the facts’ about Orthodox Christianity and St. Peter’s.<\/p>\n Do you have any pictures? If so, please send them too Anna Tsikitas at anna.tsikitas@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n Our parishioner Pauline Poulos is looking for apartment or home to share or room to rent starting Mid-August or September 1st. Non Smoker and no pets.<\/p>\n Please call Pauline at 239-994-4797 (cell).<\/p>\n The outside wall is being replaced and the floors will be leveled. Work will take about four weeks to complete. Greek Language classes will be moved to the Social Hall.<\/p>\n Starting soon St. Peter’s offers a study of the Orthodox Basics (less philosophical, more factual and practical) of such things as worship, history, theology and more. This is for anyone and everyone who wants to understand our Orthodox faith and practice more thoroughly.<\/p>\n Dates will be determined but Saturday morning from 9:00am to 10:00 class time followed by a half hour optional discussion seems to work best for many people. Please let Fr. Hans know what works for you. We will begin when the summer starts and everyone’s schedule is more flexible. <\/p>\n In the meantime check out the videos on the website Welcome to the Orthodox Church<\/a> by Frederica Mathews-Green to prepare. <\/p>\n Galyna Seabrooke who has spoken on several occasions on the situation in Ukraine on behalf of our Ukranian parishioners mentioned opportunities to help the victims of the war. <\/p>\n One way to offer humanitarian aid is through a Go Fund Me page<\/a>. Another is to donate essential items for Ukranian refugees. These items include:<\/p>\n No food items please.<\/em><\/p>\n A box will be set up in the church for donations.<\/p>\n We pray that war in Ukraine will end quickly.<\/p>\n The first semester of Greek language school has completed. Second semester starts this fall!<\/p>\n Click the image to get more information on how to participate from the St. Peter’s website<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Our goal at St. Peter’s is to have one person or family pray the Parakelsis to the Theotokos for at least one day of every month. For each day of the month, individuals or even an entire family can sign up to pray the Paraklesis in their homes on the day\/s which they select.<\/p>\n Get more information on how to participate from the St. Peter’s website<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n WANTED: Monthly sponsors or ongoing donors to help sustain St. Peter’s commitment in supporting the hungry and homeless at the Cafe of life. These are challenging times and your donation is especially needed to support our local community. As Orthodox Christians it is our duty to help them. <\/p>\n Your tax deductible donation in cash or check can be given to Father Hans. No amount is too little for this important mission. “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in your power to do it,” (Proverb 3:27).<\/p>\n Thank you and IC XC NI KA!<\/p>\n Contributions received in June: $15,607. Every year we need an extra push in the summer to keep our income current. Please keep up with you pledge so we can keep current with our bills.<\/em><\/p>\n St. Peter Orthodox Church You can also donate online:<\/p>\nDormtion Fast and Akathist Hymns Continue Through August 15<\/h2>\n
Services This Week<\/h2>\n
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Fr. Hans Out of Town Monday August 1 to August 8<\/h2>\n
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Some Services Moved to Evenings<\/h2>\n
St. Peter Church Directory Pictures Resume This Sunday<\/h2>\n
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\nIf you plan to have your photo added to the church directory, please see the schedule below.<\/p>\n\n
Something Huge is Happening in American Orthodoxy<\/h2>\n
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Room to Rent or Apartment to Share Needed<\/h2>\n
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We Are Remodeling the Sunday School Rooms<\/h2>\n
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Starting Soon – Orthodoxy 101<\/h2>\n
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Helping Victims of the War in Ukraine<\/h2>\n
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Greek Language School Semester Completed<\/h2>\n
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Let’s Pray the Paraklesis to the Theotokos Daily<\/h2>\n
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Cafe of Life: We Need Sponsors<\/h2>\n
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Pledge & Income Report – June 2022<\/h2>\n
\nAmount of money needed to cover expenses: $24,114.
\nWe are behind by $8,507.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n
\n7470 Hickory Drive
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Sign up the the Monthly DOMSE Newsletter on the DOMSE (Diocese of Miami and the Southeast) Website!<\/h2>\n
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