{"id":6437,"date":"2018-01-16T12:09:11","date_gmt":"2018-01-16T17:09:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=6437"},"modified":"2018-01-16T12:09:11","modified_gmt":"2018-01-16T17:09:11","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-january-16-2018-new-icon-installed-orthodox-faith-class-general-assembly-meeting-house-blessings-helping-the-poor-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-january-16-2018-new-icon-installed-orthodox-faith-class-general-assembly-meeting-house-blessings-helping-the-poor-more\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter January 16, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thirty-second Sunday after Pentecost and Fifteenth Sunday of Luke<\/h2>\n

Martyr Neophytos of Nicaea; Venerable Zosimas, Bishop of Syracuse in Sicily;
\nVenerable Maximos the Greek of Russia<\/h4>\n

Who Was the Holy Martyr Neophytos of Nicaea?<\/h4>\n
\n\"The<\/p>\n

The Martyr Neophytos of Nicaea<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Holy Martyr Neophytos was born in Nicaea of Bithynia, to Christian parents who were named Theodore and Florentia, and lived during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). From early infancy he was full of the grace of God.<\/p>\n

One day when he was nine years old he was in the company of other children who were all thirsty, and while praying at the door of a church he struck a rock with a finger, which caused a spring of water and milk to pour forth and quenched their thirst as well as that of a large crowd that came to see the wonder. Instead of becoming vainglorious over such a display of the power of God through his prayers, Neophytos was humbled and strove to conceal his virtuous way of life.<\/p>\n

As much as the child sought to conceal his virtue, the Lord all the more sought to reveal His favor and make him known as a vessel of grace. Not long after this event, his mother Florentia was praying one night to know what God had in store for her son, and suddenly she saw a dove come down from heaven and perched on Neophytos’s empty bed. When she asked why the dove had rested upon the bed of her son, the dove replied miraculously in a human voice, “The Holy Spirit sent me to hover over the bed of Neophytos, so that I should cast out every assault of the enemy and preserve his bedding pure and blameless.” This was followed by an ineffable light that descended.<\/p>\n

Overwhelmed by the sights and sounds, the poor woman fell down dead. When Neophytos returned home and was informed by neighbors that his mother expired, he did not grieve as one without hope, but consoled his father who came running with tears from the field, then taking his dead mother by the hand, he said, “Rise up, O mother, forasmuch as the Lord has willed it, you have slept enough.” Thereupon her soul returned to her body, and after her recovery she told everyone present that she saw a dove over the bed of Neophytos, which they then all saw and heard say to Neophytos that he must depart from his home and live a life dedicated to God.<\/p>\n

Read the entire article on the Mystagogy<\/a> website.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Living the Orthodox Faith Class Continues Wednesday, January 17 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

 <\/div>\n

Sign up for House Blessings<\/h2>\n
\n\"House\n<\/div>\n

Fr. Hans will be blessing homes and businesses during the Theophany season. Please sign up after Liturgy or email Fr. Hans<\/a> with a few times that work for you. He will contact you to finalize date and time. <\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Icon of St. John the Baptist by Anna Gouriev Installed at St. Peter’s<\/h2>\n
\n\"Anna\n<\/div>\n

Anna Gouriev is a gifted iconographer who has had the rare advantage of growing up in the household of one of the world’s most prominent icon painters, Ksenia (or Xenia) Pokrovsky, her mother. Exposed to icon painting from earliest childhood days in Moscow, Anna was surrounded by the steady coming and going of artists, theologians and intellectuals. It was this close network of family and friends which was instrumental in recovering the ancient tradition of icon painting during a time when few understood it or dared practice it except in secret.<\/p>\n

In this stimulating environment, Anna learned icon painting in the gradual and natural way that daughters learn to cook by watching their mothers. It was also an education by discovery, involving the whole Pokrovsky family working together in various capacities to restore hundreds of icons brought to them from all over Russia. Much sought after as experts in icon restoration, they worked almost as archeologists and chemists to uncover, layer by layer, the lost technique and palette of generations of iconographers gone before.<\/p>\n

Read the full article on the Hexaemeron website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To see how an icon is made watch this video:<\/p>\n

\n\"Icon<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

Beauty is important. Dostoevsky said that beauty is the invisible world making itself visible. For this reason we strive for beauty inside of our Church.<\/p>\n

Our gratitude to the Edna Mitchell family who donated the icons to St. Peter’s.<\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

St. Peter’s General Assembly Meeting, Sunday, January 28<\/h2>\n
\n\"Be\n<\/div>\n

PLEASE NOTE NEW TIME.<\/strong><\/p>\n

St. Peter’s will hold it first annual General Assembly meeting on Sunday, January 28, 2018 following the Divine Liturgy. St. Peter’s is growing and we are establishing our systems and procedures for greater stability in the long term.<\/p>\n

We will discuss vision, budgets and other necessary items for long term planning. Of significant importance is what to do in the immediate future as space is our present facility is limited and our lease runs out at the end of 2018.<\/p>\n

Be sure to attend. Your contribution is important to help formulate where we are going and how to get there.<\/p>\n

Interfaith Charities Needs Our Help!<\/h2>\n
\n\"Interfaith\n<\/div>\n

Interfaith Charities has asked us to help supply:<\/p>\n