{"id":7255,"date":"2018-11-06T05:00:39","date_gmt":"2018-11-06T10:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=7255"},"modified":"2018-11-06T05:00:39","modified_gmt":"2018-11-06T10:00:39","slug":"st-peter-orthodox-church-newsletter-november-6-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-orthodox-church-newsletter-november-6-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter November 6, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

St. Menas of Egypt the Wonderworker<\/h2>\n

Martyrs Victor and Stephanie in Damascus
\nMartyr Vincent of Spain, Venerable Theodore the Studite
\nBlessed Maximos the Fool-for-Christ
\nMartyr Stephen of Dechani, King of Serbia,Stephen
\nUrosh and Princess Milica
\nMartin the Merciful, Bishop of Tours
\n<\/h4>\n

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Who was Menas of Egypt the Wonderworker?<\/h4>\n

Saint Menas, who had Egypt as his fatherland, contested in Cotyaeion of Phrygia in 296 during the reign of Diocletian and Maximian. A soldier distinguished for his valour in war, he renounced his rank and withdrew to devote himself to ascetical struggles and prayer in the mountains. <\/p>\n

Filled with zeal and more than human courage, he presented himself in the midst of a pagan festival in Cotyaeion and declared himself to be a Christian. After terrible torments which he endured with astonishing courage, he was beheaded. <\/p>\n

His martyrium in Egypt became a place of universal pilgrimage; evidence of ancient journeys to his shrine have been found as far away as Ireland. The glory and refuge of the Christians of Egypt, he has been revealed to be a worker of great miracles and a swift defender for all who call on him with faith; besides all else, he is also invoked for help in finding lost objects.<\/p>\n

Source: The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese<\/a> website.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Divine Liturgy at St. Paul’s for the Synaxis of the Archangels and Bodiless Powers on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 — Orthros 6:00pm, Liturgy 7:00pm<\/h2>\n
\n\"Synaxis\n<\/div>\n

The Divine Liturgy for the Synaxis of the Archangels and Bodiless Powers will be held at St. Paul’s on Wednesday, November 7, 2018. Orthros 6:00pm, Liturgy 7:00pm<\/p>\n

The Synaxis of the Chief of the Heavenly Hosts, Archangel Michael and the Other Heavenly Bodiless Powers: Archangels Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Jehudiel, Barachiel, and Jeremiel was established at the beginning of the fourth century at the Council of Laodicea, which met several years before the First Ecumenical Council. The 35th Canon of the Council of Laodicea condemned and denounced as heretical the worship of angels as gods and rulers of the world, but affirmed their proper veneration.<\/p>\n

Source: Orthodox Church of America<\/a> website.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Divine Liturgy for St Nektarios on Thursday, November 8, 2017 at 6:30pm<\/h2>\n

\"St.<\/p>\n

The divine Nektarios of Aegina, is one of the most widely known of Greek Orthodox Saints. He was born on October 1st, 1846 in Silyvria, in Asia Minor (now occupied by Turkey).His great service to the Church, prolific writings and teachings, energy and zeal led Fr Nektarios to be ordained as the Metropolitan of Pentapolis in Egypt.<\/p>\n

In 1904, our Saint founded a monastery for women in Aegina, the Holy Trinity Convent. Under his guidance the Convent flourished. In 1908, the Blessed Nektarios, at the age of 62, retired from the Rizarios Ecclesiastical School and withdrew to Holy Trinity Convent in Aegina. There, for the rest of his life as a true monk and ascetic. He served as a confessor and spiritual guide to the nuns and even priests from as far as Athens and Piraeus. His Holy and pious life shone forth like a guiding light to all near him. Many would come to him for healing. Saint Nektarios was a great \u00ebWonder-worker\u00ed even while alive.<\/p>\n

On September 20, 1920 one of the nuns took him to the local hospital, in spite of his protest. He was convulsing in pain from a long-standing ailment. He was admitted, and placed into a ward reserved for the poor and unwanted. There he stayed for two months among the sick and dying. At 10:30 in the evening of November 8th, although in the midst of terrible pains, in peace and at prayer he gave up his spirit unto God at the age of 74.<\/p>\n

As soon as the Saint gave up his Spirit, a nurse came to prepare him for transfer to Aegina for burial. As the nurse removed the Saints sweater, she inadvertently placed it on the next bed, on which a paralytic lay. And O, strange wonder!, the paralytic immediately began to regain his strength and arose from his bed healthy, and glorifying God.<\/p>\n

Read the complete story on the Orthodox Christian Info<\/a> website.<\/em><\/p>\n

Christmas Fast Begins November 15, 2017<\/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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Entrance of the Theotokos Divine Liturgy on Tuesday, November 20, 2017 at 6:30pm<\/h2>\n
\"Entrance
Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple, also called The Presentation, is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, celebrated on November 21.<\/p>\n

According to Tradition, the Theotokos was taken – presented – by her parents Joachim and Anna into the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem as a young girl, where she lived and served as a Temple virgin until her betrothal to St. Joseph. One of the earliest sources of this tradition is the non-canonical Protoevangelion of James, also called the Infancy Gospel of James.<\/p>\n

Mary was solemnly received by the temple community which was headed by the priest Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist. She was led to the holy place to become herself the “holy of holies” of God, the living sanctuary and temple of the Divine child who was to be born in her. The Church also sees this feast as a feast which marks the end of the physical temple in Jerusalem as the dwelling place of God.<\/p>\n

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

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Mark You Calendar – St. Nicholas Children’s Celebration on Wednesday, December 5, 2018<\/h2>\n
\n\"St.\n<\/div>\n

The kids love it! Details and time to be announced.<\/p>\n

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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

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

\"Interfaith<\/p>\n

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