{"id":5912,"date":"2017-05-09T02:29:36","date_gmt":"2017-05-09T06:29:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=5912"},"modified":"2017-05-09T02:29:36","modified_gmt":"2017-05-09T06:29:36","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-may-9-2017-the-samaritan-woman-mothers-day-christ-pantocrator-icon-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-may-9-2017-the-samaritan-woman-mothers-day-christ-pantocrator-icon-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter May 9, 2017 — The Samaritan Woman, Mother’s Day, Christ Pantocrator Icon and more."},"content":{"rendered":"

Christ is Risen!<\/h2>\n

The Fifth Sunday after Pascha<\/h2>\n

Sunday of the Samaritan Woman<\/h4>\n
\n\"The<\/p>\n

The Samaritan Woman<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Tne of the most ancient cities of the Promised Land was Shechem, also called Sikima, located at the foot of Mount Gerazim. There the Israelites had heard the blessings in the days of Moses and Jesus of Navi. Near to this town, Jacob, who had come from Mesopotamia in the nineteenth century before Christ, bought a piece of land where there was a well.<\/p>\n

This well, preserved even until the time of Christ, was known as Jacob’s Well. Later, before he died in Egypt, he left that piece of land as a special inheritance to his son Joseph (Gen. 49:22).<\/p>\n

This town, before it was taken into possession by Samaria, was also the leading city of the kingdom of the ten tribes. In the time of the Romans it was called Neapolis, and at present Nablus. It was the first city in Canaan visited by the Patriarch Abraham. Here also, Jesus of Navi (Joshua) addressed the tribes of Israel for the last time. Almost three hundred years later, all Israel assembled there to make Roboam (Rehoboam) king.<\/p>\n

When our Lord Jesus Christ, then, came at midday to this city, which is also called Sychar (John 4:5), He was wearied from the journey and the heat. He sat down at this well. After a little while the Samaritan woman mentioned in today’s Gospel passage came to draw water. As she conversed at some length with the Lord and heard from Him secret things concerning herself, she believed in Him; through her many other Samaritans also believed.<\/p>\n

Read more on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Mother’s Day This Sunday<\/h2>\n
\n\"Happy\n<\/div>\n

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers, God-mothers, aunts, and more! In honor of all moms (and in all the ways women are mom’s). To honor you we will distribute flowers after Liturgy this Sunday. <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Christ Pantocrator (Ruler of All)<\/h2>\n
\n\"Christ<\/p>\n

Christ Pantocrator \/ Christ of Sinai<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The word Pantocrator is of Greek origin meaning “ruler of all”. Christ Pantocrator is an icon of Christ represented full or half-length and full-faced. He holds the book of the Gospels in his left hand and blesses with his right hand. This is also why the eyes appear different, one is softer, the other more severe.<\/p>\n

The icon portrays Christ as the Righteous Judge and the Lover of Mankind, both at the same time. The Gospel is the book by which we are judged, and the blessing proclaims God’s loving kindness toward us, showing us that he is giving us his forgiveness.<\/p>\n

Although ruler of all, Christ is not pictured with a crown or scepter as other kings of this world. The large open eyes look directly into the soul of the viewer. The high curved forehead shows wisdom. The long slender nose is a look of nobility, the small closed mouth, the silence of contemplation.<\/p>\n

It is the tradition of the Church to depict “God is with us” by having the a large Pantocrator icon inside of the central dome, or ceiling of the church.<\/p>\n

The oldest known Pantocrator icon was written in the sixth century. It was preserved in the monastery of St. Catherine in the Sinai desert. This remote location enabled the image to survive the iconoclastic era in Byzantine history (726-815) when most icons were destroyed.<\/p>\n

Source: OrthodoxWiki<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Calendar At A Glance<\/h2>\n