{"id":6173,"date":"2017-09-20T09:57:16","date_gmt":"2017-09-20T13:57:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=6173"},"modified":"2017-09-20T09:57:16","modified_gmt":"2017-09-20T13:57:16","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-september-20-2017-first-sunday-of-luke-akathist-for-the-hurricane-st-thekla-and-st-silouan-fr-hans-out-of-town-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-september-20-2017-first-sunday-of-luke-akathist-for-the-hurricane-st-thekla-and-st-silouan-fr-hans-out-of-town-more\/","title":{"rendered":"St Peter Newsletter September 20, 2017 — First Sunday of Luke, Akathist for the Hurricane, St. Thekla and St. Silouan, Fr. Hans out of Town…more"},"content":{"rendered":"

First Sunday of Luke
\nProto-martyr Thekla, Equal to the Apostles
\nVenerable Silouan of Athos<\/h2>\n

Who was St. Thekla?<\/h4>\n
\"St.
St. Thekla<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

St. Thekla, was a disciple and companion of the Apostle Paul in the first century. She is given the title “Equal-to-the-Apostles” because she accompanied St. Paul in founding churches because her witness converted so many others to Christ, and she was the first woman martyr for the Christian Faith.<\/p>\n

According to ancient Syrian and Greek manuscripts, Saint Thekla was born into a prosperous pagan family in the Lycaonian city of Iconium (present-day Konya in south-central Turkey) in A.D. 16. When she was 18 years old and betrothed to a young man named Thamyris, Saint Paul the Apostle and Saint Barnabas arrived in Iconium from Antioch (Acts 14).<\/p>\n

Thekla’s mother Theokleia prohibited her from joining the crowds which gathered to hear Paul preach. But Thekla found that if she sat near her bedroom window she could hear his every word. Thekla sat there for three days and three nights listening to Paul preach the word of God. She was parti\u00adcularly touched by his call to chastity. As it became apparent that Thekla was becoming interested in the new Faith, Theokleia and Thamyris went to the governor of the city and complained about Paul and his preaching. To pacify them and the other outraged citizens of Iconium, the governor had Paul imprisoned to await trial.<\/p>\n

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

 <\/div>\n

Who was Venerable Silouan of Athos?<\/h4>\n
\"Venerable
Venerable Silouan of Athos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Venerable Silouan the Athonite (also known as St. Silouan of Mount Athos) was a monk of the early twentieth century at the Monastery of St. Panteleimon known for his wise counsel.<\/p>\n

Saint Silouan was born Simeon Ivanovich Antonov in 1866 to Russian Orthodox parents who came from the village of Sovsk in Russia’s Tambov region. At the age of twenty-seven he left his native Russia and came to Mount Athos, where he became a monk at the Monastery of St. Panteleimon and was given the name Silouan, the Russian version of the Biblical name Silvanus.<\/p>\n

An ardent ascetic, he received the grace of unceasing prayer and saw Christ in a vision. After long years of spiritual trial, he acquired great humility and inner stillness. He prayed and wept for the whole world as for himself, and he put the highest value on love for enemies. St Silouan died on September 24, 1938. He was glorified by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1987.<\/p>\n

Though barely literate, he was sought out by pilgrims for his wise counsel. His writings were edited by his disciple and pupil, Archimandrite Sophrony. Father Sophrony has written the life of the saint along with a record of St. Silouan’s teachings in the book Saint Silouan the Athonite.<\/p>\n

Source: Orthodoxwiki<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Thanksgiving Akathist to the Theotokos on Thursday Evening<\/h2>\n
\n\"The<\/p>\n

The Theotokos, St. Panteleimon, St. Paisios<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

On Thursday, September 21, 2017 evening will offer thanksgiving to our Lord by honoring the Theotokos who, along with Sts. Panteleimon and Paisios, protected us during the hurricane.<\/p>\n

The Akathist to the Theotokos will begin at 6:30. Following the service we will have a light pot-luck so please bring some simple to share.<\/p>\n

Thanksgiving and celebration is a good way to mark the ending of this time of difficulty we all experienced.<\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Fr. Hans Out of Town Tuesday through Friday (September 26-29, 2017)<\/h2>\n

He will be at meetings in Washington, DC. He is available on his cell phone.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile…A Patriot Challenges Irma<\/h2>\n

This is worth another week!<\/em><\/p>\n

Max Koco stepped out of the home of his daughter during the hurricane and in no uncertain terms refused defeat and fought back. He won too. The condo escaped damage even though there was a tornado directly over the roof.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Interfaith Charities Needs Cereal and Spaghettios<\/h2>\n
\n\"Interfaith\n<\/div>\n

Interfaith Charities Needs Cereal and Spaghettios to help hungry children in our immediate area (south Lee County). Supplies are running low. Please buy some extra cereal or spaghettios the next time you are out shopping. We will make sure they get to the kids.<\/p>\n

Interfaith Charities is a coalition of churches and business that help the poor in the San Carlos and south Fort Myers area (view their website<\/a>).<\/p>\n

St. Peter’s is committed to helping the poor among us. If each family could bring some of these items to church this Sunday and the next, then we will get them to Interfaith Charities and the families who need them.<\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Through the Bible in One Year Schedule Posted<\/h2>\n
\n\"Read\n<\/div>\n

On September 1, the start of the new Church Year, St. Peter’s started a program to read the bible in one year. Information is posted on the website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Calendar At A Glance<\/h2>\n