{"id":7233,"date":"2018-10-23T05:00:49","date_gmt":"2018-10-23T09:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=7233"},"modified":"2018-10-23T05:00:49","modified_gmt":"2018-10-23T09:00:49","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-october-23-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-october-23-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter October 23, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Seventh Sunday of Luke<\/h2>\n

Martyrs Terence and Neonilla and their Children
\nVenerable Bishop Stephen of Mar Sabbas Monastery in Palestine
\nAthanasios I, Patriarch of Constantinople
\nVenerable Job of Pochaev<\/h4>\n
\"St.
St. Neonilla<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Who were the Martyrs Terence and Neonilla and their Children?<\/h4>\n

Saint Neonilla was the wife of Saint Terence. They suffered martyrdom with their children Sarbelus, Photius, Theodulus, Hierax, Nita, Vele and Eunice during a persecution of Christianity under the emperor Decius (249-250). <\/p>\n

They zealously confessed Christ and denounced idolatry. For this the pagans subjected the entire Christian family to terrible tortures and torments, but failed to get them to renounce the true Faith. So, the holy martyrs were beheaded, and received crowns of martyrdom.<\/p>\n

Source: The Antiochian Orthodox Church<\/a> website.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

St. Demetrios Divine Liturgy October Thursday, October 25, 2018 at 6:30pm<\/h2>\n
\"St.
St. Demetrios<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We will commemorate St. Demetrios on the eve of his feast day on Thursday, October 25, 2018.<\/p>\n

Who Was St. Demetrios?<\/h4>\n

The holy, glorious and right-victorious Great-martyr Demetrios of Thessaloniki the Myrrh-streamer (also Demetrios) is one of the most popular saints in the Orthodox world. He was martyred around the year 306 in Thessalonica, and his cult rapidly grew during the Middle Ages, when he was regarded as the first recognized patron and protector of the city, militarily as well as spiritually. His feast day is celebrated on October 26. The Serbian Orthodox Church commemorates the Saint as a Mitar having a feast of Mitrovan on November 8.<\/p>\n

Demetrios came from a noble family of the Roman province of Macedonia. Through this noble ancestry and through his own ability and virtue he rose to a high military position under Galerius Maximian, Caesar of the Eastern part of the Roman Empire (with Diocletian as the Augustus, or senior emperor). Despite this position in the still-pagan empire, he remained fervent in faith and works for Christ, encouraging many Christians to endure persecution and even bringing many pagans to the faith.<\/p>\n

When Maximian returned from one of his campaigns to Thessaloniki, which he had made his capital, he had pagan games and sacrifices celebrated for his triumph. Demetrios was denounced by pagans who were envious of his success, and he was thrown into prison. While in prison he was visited by a young Christian named Nestor, who asked him for a blessing to engage in single combat with the giant Lyaios (or Lyaeus), who was posing as the champion of paganism. Demetrios gave his blessing and Nestor, against all odds, slew his opponent in the arena, as David had once defeated Goliath.<\/p>\n

The enraged emperor, learning that this had occurred with Demetrios’s aid, first had Nestor beheaded outside the city and then had Demetrios impaled in prison. Later Demetrios’s servant Lupus was beheaded after using his master’s blood-stained tunic and signet ring to work many miracles. The Christians buried Demetrios and Nestor next together in the bath where Demetrios had been imprisoned. During the seventh century a miraculous flow of fragrant myrrh was found emanating from his tomb, giving rise to the appellation Mirovlitis, the Myrrh Gusher to his name. His tomb containing his relics is now in the crypt of the Church of St. Demetrios in Thessaloniki.<\/p>\n

St. Demetrios is revered as the patron saint of Thessaloniki and is believed by the people as having intervened to save the city over the years from invading foreigners, from the Slavic nations, Bulgarians, Arabs, Saracens, and others. While well remembered in the Hellenic world, the memory of the Great Martyr Demetrios of Thessaloniki found an attachment in the Slavic, particularly the Russian, world from the times of the Russian Primary Chronicle.<\/p>\n

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

Remember This?<\/h2>\n

First published on September 17, 2017 after hurricane Irma last year.<\/em><\/p>\n

St. Demetrios Visits St. Peter’s<\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I shared the following on Facebook earlier this week:<\/p>\n

\n

After checking church today I entered my office (dark, no power) and as I opened the door a very strong aroma of myrrh had filled the office, and by strong I mean it was palpable.<\/p>\n

I located the source and it came from this icon that had some myrrh from the relics of St Demetrios of Thessaloniki. It exuded through the plastic.<\/p>\n

The Orthodox will understand the meaning of this. It is a sign of the protection of St. Demetrios towards our parish. I moved the icon to our still barren altar area.<\/p>\n

God is glorified through His Saints.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

 <\/div>\n

Fr. Hans Out of Town October 31 to November 3, 2018<\/h2>\n

Fr. Hans will be out of town from Wednesday October 31 until Saturday November 3. <\/p>\n

For pastoral emergencies please contact Fr. Paul Girgus of St. Paul Orthodox Church at 509-845-4540.<\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Community Luncheon on Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 12:00pm<\/h2>\n

\"Community<\/p>\n

You are invited to join your St. Peter’s friends for lunch and fellowship at 12 noon on Thursday, September at 12:00pm. <\/p>\n

Barbara Dionysopoulos and friends are preparing a delicious meal for all our members. Come and join us to enjoy some good food and the company of your friends. Make some new friends too and get to know other parishioners.<\/p>\n

Reservations are required!<\/em> Please call Barbara at 239-826-1655 or sign up in the Social Hall after Divine Liturgy.<\/p>\n

The cost is underwritten by an anonymous sponsor (Thank you sponsor!) but donations to the building fund are welcome.<\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Toys for Tots Drive Until December 2, 2018<\/h2>\n

\"Give<\/p>\n

Let’s make our Second Annual Toys for Tots Drive<\/strong> the best one yet!<\/p>\n

Please bring new, unwrapped toys to Church to make Christmas brighter for kids who otherwise would have none. <\/p>\n

A Toys for Tots contribution box will be in the Social Hall until December 2, 2018.<\/p>\n

Every child deserves a Christmas!<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Interfaith Charities Needs Food, Clothing, Towels, and Bedding<\/h2>\n
\n\"Support\n<\/div>\n

Interfaith Charities<\/a>, the local assembly of churches that helps the poor in our area, needs:<\/p>\n