{"id":6354,"date":"2017-12-05T04:08:56","date_gmt":"2017-12-05T09:08:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=6354"},"modified":"2017-12-05T04:08:56","modified_gmt":"2017-12-05T09:08:56","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-december-5-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-december-5-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter December 5, 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

Twenty-seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Tenth Sunday of Luke <\/h2>\n

The Martyrs Menas, Eugraphos and Hermogenes of Alexandria<\/h4>\n
\"Martyrs
Martyrs Menas, Eugraphos & Hermogenes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Holy Martyrs Hermogenes, Menas, and Eugraphus suffered for their faith in Christ under the emperor Maximian (305-313).<\/p>\n

Saint Menas was sent by the emperor from Athens to Alexandria to suppress the riots that had arisen between the Christians and the pagans. Distinguished for his gift of eloquence, Menas instead openly began to preach the Christian Faith and he converted many pagans to Christ. Learning of this, Maximian sent Hermogenes to Alexandria to place the saints on trial. Moreover, he gave orders to purge the city of Christians.<\/p>\n

Hermogenes, although he was a pagan, was distinguished by his reverent bearing. And struck by the endurance of Saint Menas under torture and by his miraculous healing after the cruel torments, he also came to believe in Christ. Maximian himself then arrived in Alexandria. Neither the astonishing stoic endurance of Saints Menas and Hermogenes under torture, nor even the miracles manifested by God in this city, mollified the emperor. Instead, they vexed him all the more. The emperor personally stabbed Saint Eugraphus, the secretary of Saint Menas, and then gave orders to behead the holy Martyrs Menas and Hermogenes.<\/p>\n

The relics of the holy martyrs, cast into the sea in an iron chest, were afterwards found (see February 17) and transferred to Constantinople in the ninth century. The emperor Justinian built a church in the name of the holy Martyr Menas of Alexandria. Saint Joseph the Hymnographer (April 4) composed a Canon in honor of these holy martyrs.<\/p>\n

Source: Orthodox Church in America<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Read the complete history on the Mystagogy<\/a> website.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Living the Orthodox Faith Class Continues Wednesday, December 6 at 7:00pm<\/h2>\n

“Living the Orthodox Faith” will look at why our Church does things the way it does, and how to do it properly. We will learn about the sign up the cross, how to enter the Church properly (candles and veneration), how to make a home altar, and more. This is a very practical class, not theological as much as how to live the Orthodox life as an Orthodox Christian.<\/p>\n

Can’t make the class? Join in on Facebook Live<\/a>! You can also view last week’s class too. <\/p>\n

Topic for this week: The Sacraments and Confession<\/p>\n

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St. Nicholas Celebration on Tuesday, December 5, 2017<\/h2>\n

Plan to attend the St. Nicholas Day Celebration Tuesday December 5, 2017. We will begin with Divine Liturgy at 6:00pm (note time!) followed by a presentation on the real Santa Clause (hint: it was really a bishop from Myra in the fourth century) for the children.<\/p>\n

All children should attend! The program will be for them including a surprise at the end.<\/p>\n

Parents and anyone attending, please some light refreshments for sharing at the end of the program.<\/p>\n

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Christmas Season Food Drive for NAMI Continues<\/h2>\n
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Every Christmas season St. Peter’s runs a food drive for NAMI (National Association for Mental Illness)serving local people in need. NAMI helps people with serious and persistent mental illnesses, as well as their parents, children, spouses, siblings and friends.<\/p>\n

St. Peter’s has contributed to NAMI emergency food bank care for six years. Donations go to the Sarah Ann Drop In Center in Naples, FL. Three categories of items are needed:<\/p>\n

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  1. Canned and dry goods<\/li>\n
  2. Toiletry articles (The small hotel type items work very well)<\/li>\n
  3. Diabetic foods<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Bring them to church and we will get them to NAMI. The drive will run through Christmas.<\/p>\n

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    Christmas Fast Continues<\/h2>\n

    The Nativity Fast is one of the four Canonical Fasting Seasons in the Church year. This is a joyous fast in anticipation of the Nativity of Christ. That is the reason it is less strict than other fasting periods. The fast is divided into two periods. The 1st period is November 15th through December 19th when the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, fish, wine, and oil) is observed. There is dispensation given for wine and oil on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Similarly, fish, wine, and oil are permitted on Saturdays and Sundays.<\/p>\n

    The 2nd period is December 20th through 24th when the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, fish, wine, and oil) is observed. There is dispensation given for wine and oil only on Saturday and Sunday during this period.<\/p>\n

    Fasting always works in conjuction with prayer and giving alms (helping the poor, giving to worthy charities, etc.). Fasting helps us reorder the interior life, but the reordering does not occur with greater prayer and greater concern for the poor.<\/p>\n

    The reordering is a clarification — we end up seeing things more clearly, we get stronger in the fight against sin and temptation. The fast always ends on a great Feast Day of our Lord.<\/p>\n

    For a complete list, visit the Antiochian website<\/a> or click on the image below:<\/p>\n

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    Calendar At A Glance<\/h2>\n

    December<\/strong><\/p>\n