{"id":5943,"date":"2017-05-24T13:06:39","date_gmt":"2017-05-24T17:06:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=5943"},"modified":"2017-05-24T13:06:39","modified_gmt":"2017-05-24T17:06:39","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-may-24-2017-sunday-of-the-318-fathers-of-the-first-ecumenical-council","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-may-24-2017-sunday-of-the-318-fathers-of-the-first-ecumenical-council\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter May 24, 2017 &#8211; Sunday of the 318 Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Sunday of the After-feast of the Ascension<\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">The Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council<\/h2>\n<p><figure id=\"attachment_5944\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5944\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/first-ecumenical-council-nicea-500x672.png\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/first-ecumenical-council-nicea-500x672.png\" alt=\"The 318 Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council\" width=\"500\" height=\"672\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5944\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5944\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The 318 Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council<\/figcaption><\/figure>dquo;I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it&rdquo; (Mt. 16:18). Although the Church of Christ on earth will pass through difficult struggles with the Enemy of salvation, it will emerge victorious.<\/p>\n<p>Persecution of Christians ceased during the fourth century, but heresies arose within the Church itself. One of the most pernicious of these heresies was Arianism. Arius, a priest of Alexandria, was a man of immense pride and ambition. In denying the divine nature of Jesus Christ and His equality with God the Father, Arius falsely taught that the Savior is not consubstantial with the Father, but is only a created being.<\/p>\n<p>A local Council, convened with Patriarch Alexander of Alexandria presiding, condemned the false teachings of Arius. However, Arius would not submit to the authority of the Church. He wrote to many bishops, denouncing the decrees of the local Council. He spread his false teaching throughout the East, receiving support from certain Eastern bishops.<\/p>\n<p>Investigating these dissentions, the holy emperor Constantine (May 21) consulted Bishop Hosius of Cordova (Aug. 27), who assured him that the heresy of Arius was directed against the most fundamental dogma of Christ&rsquo;s Church, and so he decided to convene an Ecumenical Council. In 325, 318 bishops representing Christian Churches from various lands gathered together at Nicea.<\/p>\n<p><em>Read the complete story on the <a href=\"https:\/\/oca.org\/saints\/lives\/2017\/05\/28\/43-commemoration-of-the-holy-fathers-of-the-first-ecumenical-counci\">Orthodox Church in America website<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<h2>Ascension Divine Liturgy, May 24, 2017 at 6:30pm<\/h2>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/ascension-500x225.png\" alt=\"The Ascension of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">The Ascension of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>We will celebrate the Ascension of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Ascension Eve, Wednesday, May 24, 2007 at 6:30pm. This evening marks the final day of Pascha.<\/p>\n<h2>Calendar At A Glance<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Nothing upcoming<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>Wisdom From The Elders<\/h2>\n<p>In the end, what a Saint gives is not his fine words and good thoughts&mdash;these can be uttered by anyone. Rather, through his speaking or through his silence, through his work or through his inaction, through his life or through his death, he transmits the comfort and certainty that our Savior has visited us from on high (cf. Lk 1:78) and that death has been conquered.<\/p>\n<p>They weep and, overcome by joy, they pass on the pulse of this amazement and hope to those who are suffering, those stretched out upon crosses of anguish and adversity; and to all those who experience pain and bewilderment. Invisibly they gather the people of pan and sensitivity, those who search and struggle.<\/p>\n<p>The suffering of the world, ample and endless, is their own. We are all one human being. And the prayer of the humble person is one: &#8220;Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.&#8221; In other words, have mercy on the whole of your world. He prays and breathes for all people. He is the breath of the world. He lives with Him Who is the Alpha and the Omega<br \/><strong>Metropolitan Saba(Esber)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8216;The pure of heart will see God,&#8217; according to the Lord&#8217;s infallible word (Mt. 5:8), according to his capacity, receiving as much as his mind can sustain; yet the infinite and incomprehensible nature of the Godhead remains beyond all understanding.<br \/><strong>Archimandrite Vasileios (Gontikakis) of Iveron<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I see a fish expiring as soon as it is taken out of the water, and I say: &ldquo;That is me! If they take me out of Your embrace, I shall die in seconds&mdash;like a fish tossed onto the sand.&#8221;<br \/><strong>St. Nikolai Velimirovich<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Know and remember always, no matter where you are, that whatsoever hurts will be dulled as soon as you learn In all things, to look at Me. Everything has been sent to you by Me, for the perfection of your soul. All these things were from Me.<br \/><strong>St. Seraphim of Viritsa<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A certain monk lived in a monastery, and he was always angry. He decided, &#8220;I will leave this place and dwell by myself as a hermit, and then I will no relations with anyone, and the passion of anger will leave me.&#8221; Leaving the monastery, he settled in a cave. One day, having taken up a pitcher of water, the monk set it one the ground, and it tipped over. Again he drew the water, and the pitcher tipped a second time. The he drew it again, and it fell a third time. The brother got angry, picked it up and broke it.<\/p>\n<p>When he had come to himself, he understood that the devil had triumphed over him and said, &#8220;Behold, I have gone away into seclusion, and I am conquered! I will go back to the monastery, for patience and the help of God are necessary everywhere!&#8221; And he returned to his previous place.<br \/><strong>Ancient Patericon, 7.38<\/strong><\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<h2>Remember in Your Prayers<\/h2>\n<p>Anthony<br \/>\nMarcie<br \/>\nMichele<br \/>\nSonya<br \/>\nKenneth<br \/>\nCarol Ann<br \/>\nMatthew<br \/>\nGerhard<br \/>\nValerie<br \/>\nChrysostom<br \/>\nTim<br \/>\nRon<br \/>\nIvy-Jean<br \/>\nPat<br \/>\nChristina<br \/>\nBaby Samuel<br \/>\nJennie<br \/>\nMary<br \/>\nBaby Kyriake<br \/>\nMaximos<br \/>\nMarian<br \/>\nPhotini<br \/>\nNicholas<br \/>\nBrad William<br \/>\nRyan<br \/>\nSarah<br \/>\nRobert Jarvis<br \/>\nPetronia (Wife of Phil Pappas)<br \/>\nAnna Marie Smith Baker<br \/>\nIris Kuring (Bettina Zifiris&#39; mother)<br \/>\nConstantine Houpis<br \/>\nRon Chromulak<br \/>\nBeverly Chromulak<br \/>\nKaterina<br \/>\nDianne<br \/>\nLoucine Kassis<br \/>\nMary Kassis<br \/>\nBaby Maximus<br \/>\nAnnette Star<br \/>\nChristine<br \/>\nMaria<br \/>\nClaire Livaditis<br \/>\nEva Chandilles<br \/>\nBaby Dani<br \/>\nScott Nedoff<br \/>\nAnthony Mourgis<br \/>\nJohn Hansen<br \/>\nConstandina James<br \/>\nJames Hord<br \/>\nBob Smith<br \/>\nTom and Jean<\/p>\n<p>How should we pray for the sick? Remember them daily. Say their names (first names are sufficient) and ask God to bestow mercy and grace on them.<\/p>\n<p><em>Add or remove names and print this list for easy reference during your prayer time <a href=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/prayer-list\/\">on the St. Peter website<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h2>Sunday Readings<\/h2>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Search the Scriptures\" src=\"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/pantokrator-blessing.png\" \/><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<h4>Epistle<\/h4>\n<p>Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our Fathers.<br \/>For Thou art just in all Thou hast done.<\/p>\n<p>The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles. (20:16-18, 28-36)<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>In those days, Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.<\/p>\n<p>And when they came to him, he said to them: &ldquo;Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore, be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears.<\/p>\n<p>And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one&rsquo;s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, &lsquo;It is more blessed to give than to receive.&rsquo;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down and prayed with them all.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<h4>Gospel<\/h4>\n<p>The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (17:1-13)<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>At that time, Jesus lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, &ldquo;Father, the hour has come; glorify Thy Son that the Son may glorify Thee, since Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom Thou hast given Him. And this is eternal life, that they know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom Thou hast sent. I glorified Thee on earth, having accomplished the work which Thou gavest Me to do; and now, Father, glorify Thou Me in Thy own presence with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was made. <\/p>\n<p>I have manifested Thy Name to the men whom Thou gavest Me out of the world; Thine they were, and Thou gavest them to Me, and they have kept Thy word. Now they know that everything that Thou hast given Me is from Thee; for I have given them the words which Thou gavest Me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from Thee; and they have believed that Thou didst send Me.<\/p>\n<p>I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom Thou hast given Me, for they are Thine; all Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to Thee. Holy Father, keep them in Thy Name, which Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, even as We are one. While I was with them, I kept them in Thy Name, which Thou have given Me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Persecution of Christians ceased during the fourth century, but heresies arose within the Church itself. One of the most pernicious of these heresies was Arianism. Arius, a priest of Alexandria, was a man of immense pride and ambition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5944,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5943","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5943","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5943"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5943\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5944"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5943"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5943"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5943"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}