{"id":5210,"date":"2016-07-19T00:19:11","date_gmt":"2016-07-19T04:19:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=5210"},"modified":"2016-07-19T00:19:11","modified_gmt":"2016-07-19T04:19:11","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-july-19-2016-st-christina-of-tyre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-july-19-2016-st-christina-of-tyre\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter – July 19, 2016 St. Christina of Tyre"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fifth Sunday of Matthew
\nSt. Christina of Tyre<\/h2>\n
\"St.<\/a>
St. Christina of Tyre<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Martyr Christina lived during the third century. She was born into a rich family, and her father was Governor of Tyre. By the age of 11 the girl was exceptionally beautiful, and many men asked for her hand in marriage. Christina’s father, however, wanted his daughter to become a pagan priestess. He placed her in a special room where he had set up many gold and silver idols, and he ordered his daughter to burn incense before them.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

Christina was visited by an angel, who instructed her in the true faith in Christ. The angel called her a bride of Christ and told her that she would suffer for her faith. Christina smashed all the idols in her room and threw them out the window. Shortly thereafter, Christina’s father visited her and asked where all the idols had gone. Christina would not speak, but summoning her servants, her father learned the truth from them.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

In a rage, Christina’s father began to slap her face. At first, she was quiet, but then she told her father about her faith in the One True God, and that she had destroyed the idols with her own hands. Her father gave orders to kill all the servants who had attended his daughter, and he fiercely beat Christina and threw her in prison. Having learned about what had happened, Christina’s mother came crying to her daughter’s cell and urged her to renounce Christ. However, Christina remained unyielding. The next day, her father brought Christina to trial and ordered that she worship the pagan gods and ask forgiveness for her sins. Instead, she gave a firm and steadfast confession of her faith in Christ.<\/p>\n

Her father ordered that Christina be tied to an iron wheel, beneath which was lit a fire. Her body, turning round on the wheel, was scorched on all sides. She was then thrown back into prison.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

In place of Dion, a new governor, Julian, arrived and resumed Christina’s torture. Julian ordered that she be locked in a red-hot furnace. After five days the furnace was opened and Christina was found alive and unharmed. Seeing this miracle, many came to believe in Christ the Savior.<\/p>\n

Finally, St. Christina was executed with a sword.<\/p>\n

Read the complete story on the Antiochian Archdiocese website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Dormition of the Theotokos Approaching<\/h2>\n
\"Dormition<\/a>
Dormition of the Theotokos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From August 1 through 15 we commemorate the Dormition of the Theotokos. “Dormition” means “falling-asleep,” the term St. Paul uses for those who have died in Christ. Death in Christ is like a falling asleep and then awakening with Christ. <\/p>\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

The season ends on August 15 with a special Divine Liturgy held in the evening. During the two weeks leading up to that day, we will hold a smaller service called “The Paraklesis to the Theotokos” on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 6:30pm.<\/p>\n

Can You Donate 30 Books? <\/h4>\n

The books for the Paraklesis cost $9.00 each. Each person can order their own but if someone were willing to donate them (total cost: about $290 with shipping) we would have them for years to come. Please contact Fr. Hans.<\/p>\n

If someone prefers to order their own, you can find the book here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Register Your Children for Sunday School<\/h2>\n
\"Let<\/p>\n

Let the Children Come unto Me<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Sunday School begins September 11, 2016 — the first Sunday after Labor Day and parents need to register their children!<\/p>\n

You can register you child in three ways:<\/p>\n