{"id":4543,"date":"2016-04-12T10:14:47","date_gmt":"2016-04-12T14:14:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=4543"},"modified":"2016-04-12T10:14:47","modified_gmt":"2016-04-12T14:14:47","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-april-12-2016-fifth-sunday-of-lent-st-mary-of-egypt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-april-12-2016-fifth-sunday-of-lent-st-mary-of-egypt\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter April 12, 2016 — Fifth Sunday of Lent \/ St. Mary of Egypt"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"St.<\/p>\n

St. Mary of Egypt<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

She began her life as a young woman who followed the passions of the body, running away from her parents at age twelve for Alexandria. There she lived as a harlot for seventeen years, refusing money from the men that she copulated with, instead living by begging and spinning flax.<\/p>\n

One day, however, she met a group of young men heading toward the sea to sail to Jerusalem for the veneration of the Holy Cross. Mary went along for the ride, seducing the men as they traveled for the fun of it. But when the group reached Jerusalem and actually went towards the church, Mary was prohibited from entering by an unseen force. After three such attempts, she remained outside on the church patio, where she looked up and saw an icon of the Theotokos. She began to weep and prayed with all her might that the Theotokos might allow her to see the True Cross; afterwards, she promised, she would renounce her worldly desires and go wherever the Theotokos may lead her.<\/p>\n

After this heart-felt conversion at the doors of the church, she fled into the desert to live as an ascetic. She survived for years on only three loaves of bread and thereafter on scarce herbs of the land. For another seventeen years, Mary was tormented by “wild beasts—mad desires and passions.” After these years of temptation, however, she overcame the passions and was led by the Theotokos in all things.<\/p>\n

Following 47 years in solitude, she met the priest St. Zosima in the desert, who pleaded with her to tell him of her life. She recounted her story with great humility while also demonstrating her gift of clairvoyance; she knew who Zosima was and his life story despite never having met him before. Finally, she asked Zosima to meet her again the following year at sunset on Holy Thursday by the banks of the Jordan.<\/p>\n

Zosima did exactly this, though he began to doubt his experience as the sun began to go that night. Then Mary appeared on the opposite side of the Jordan; crossing herself, she miraculously walked across the water and met Zosima. When he attempted to bow, she rebuked him, saying that as a priest he was far superior, and furthermore, he was holding the Holy Mysteries. Mary then received communion and walked back across the Jordan after giving Zosima instructions about his monastery and that he should return to where they first met exactly a year later. When he did so, he found Mary’s body with a message written on the sand asking him for burial and revealing that she had died immediately after receiving the Holy Mysteries the year before (and thus had been miraculously transported to the spot where she now lay).<\/p>\n

So Zosima, amazed, began to dig, but soon tired; then a lion approached and began to help him, that is, after Zosima had recovered from his fear of the creature. Thus St. Mary of Egypt was buried. Zosima returned to the monastery, told all he had seen, and improved the faults of the monks and abbot there. He died at almost a hundred years old in the same monastery.<\/p>\n

Later, the story of Mary’s life was written down by St. Sophronius<\/a>, Patriarch of Jerusalem.<\/p>\n

Read more on the Orthodoxwiki website<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Bp. Thomas Visits St. Peter’s This Wednesday (April 13)<\/h2>\n
\n\"Bp.\n<\/div>\n

Bp. Thomas will join us for the Presanctified Liturgy on Wednesday, April 13. His Grace serves the Diocese of Diocese of Charleston, Oakland and the Mid-Atlantic. Learn more about Bp. Thomas on the Antiochian Archdiocese website<\/a>. His joining us during a visit to his parents who live in North Fort Myers.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Letter Parents: Bring Your Children to Lazarus Saturday (April 23)<\/h2>\n
\"The<\/p>\n

Elevation of the Precious and Life Giving Cross<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Parents, take note of the letter on the website<\/a> (which will be mailed to all parents) outlining a morning of events for your child start off Holy Week. We will begin with the Liturgy (where Fr. Hans will explain the importance of the day to the children), a pancake breakfast, making palm crosses to be distributed the next day at Palm Sunday and confession for the kids.<\/p>\n

Get more information on the website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Also consider bringing your children to the Taking Christ Down from the Cross service on Holy Friday afternoon. This is a short and highly visual service and children love it. Start setting the traditions early and it will stay with them their entire lives.<\/p>\n

Palm Sunday Brunch (April 24)<\/h2>\n
\"Palm<\/div>\n

As is our custom, St. Peter’s will hold a Palm Sunday Brunch following the Liturgy on Palm Sunday, April 24. This is a great time of fellowship for all. We need a count so please sign up at Church this Sunday or submit your names on the website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A free will donation is requested.<\/p>\n

Lenten Service Schedule<\/h2>\n
\"Extreme<\/div>\n

Sunday, April 17 Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt<\/strong>
\nHours 9:00am Divine Liturgy 9:30am<\/p>\n

Monday, April 18<\/strong>
\nGreat Compline 6:30pm<\/p>\n

Wednesday, April 20<\/strong>
\nPresanctified Liturgy 6:30pm<\/p>\n

Friday, April 22 <\/strong>
\nGreat Compline 6:30pm<\/p>\n

Saturday, April 23 Lazarus Saturday<\/strong>

\nLiturgy 9:30am \/ Making of crosses \/ Pancake breakfast \/ Children confessions<\/p>\n

The St. Peter Lenten Service Schedule is available on the website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

St. Peter’s Raises $450 for Food for the Hungry<\/h2>\n
\"Food<\/div>\n

Our collection on Sunday raised $450 to help the Orthodox Christian refugees in the war torn regions of the Middle East. As you know, the assault by ISIS on the Christians in the region is relentless (they are trying to drive all Christians out). Also, the current administration has effectively blocked almost all Christian immigration to the United States.<\/p>\n

You can read more about Food for the Hungry on the Antiochian Archdiocese website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Letter to Invite Friends to Church<\/h2>\n

Would you like to invite a friend to church but don’t know what to say? Try out the “Invitation to Worship” letter on the website. You can print and send the letter as is or take the language and make your own.<\/p>\n

We hope you find it helpful.<\/p>\n

See and print the letter on the St. Peter website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lenten Suppers Following Wednesday Presanctified Liturgies<\/h2>\n
\"Man<\/div>\n

On Wednesday evenings following Presanctified Liturgy we will share in a light Lenten supper of lentil soup, bread and fruit. This is a practice of many churches and provides rich fellowship and sharing.<\/p>\n

Additions to Calendar<\/h2>\n