{"id":7767,"date":"2019-07-01T05:00:03","date_gmt":"2019-07-01T09:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=7767"},"modified":"2019-07-01T05:00:03","modified_gmt":"2019-07-01T09:00:03","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-july-2-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-july-2-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter July 2, 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Third Sunday of Matthew<\/h2>\n

The Great Martyr Kyriake of Nicomedia<\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Saint Kyriake was the only child of Dorotheus and Eusebia. Since she was born on a Sunday (Kyriake, in Greek), she was named Kyriake.<\/p>\n

One day a wealthy magistrate wished to betroth Kyriake to his son. Not only was she young and beautiful, but her parents were wealthy, and the magistrate wished to control that wealth. The magistrate went to her parents to request her hand, but Saint Kyriake told him that she wished to remain a virgin, for she had dedicated herself to Christ.<\/p>\n

The magistrate was angered by her words, so he went to the emperor Diocletian to denounce the saint and her parents as Christians who mocked the idols, and refused to offer sacrifice to them.<\/p>\n

Diocletian sent soldiers to arrest the family and have them brought before him. He asked them why they would not honor the gods which he himself honored. They told him that these were false gods, and that Christ was the one true God.<\/p>\n

Dorotheus was beaten until the soldiers grew tired and were unable to continue. Since neither flattery nor torment had any effect, Diocletian sent Dorotheus and Eusebia to Melitene on the eastern border between Cappadocia and Armenia. Then he sent Saint Kyriake to be interrogated by his son-in-law and co-ruler Maximian at Nicomedia.<\/p>\n

Maximian urged her not to throw her life away, promising her wealth and marriage to one of Diocletian\u2019s relatives if she would worship the pagan gods. Saint Kyriake replied that she would never renounce Christ, nor did she desire worldly riches. Enraged by her bold answer, Maximian had her flogged. The soldiers who administered this punishment became tired, and had to be replaced three times.<\/p>\n

Shamed by his failure to overcome a young woman, Maximian sent Saint Kyriake to Hilarion, the eparch of Bithynia, at Chalcedon. He told Hilarion to either convert Kyriake to paganism, or send her back to him.<\/p>\n

Making the same promises and threats that Diocletian and Maximian had made before, Hilarion was no more successful than they were. Saint Kyriake challenged him to do his worst, because Christ would help her to triumph. The saint was suspended by her hair for several hours, while soldiers burned her body with torches. Not only did she endure all this, she also seemed to become more courageous under torture. Finally, she was taken down and put into a prison cell.<\/p>\n

That night Christ appeared to her and healed her wounds. When Hilarion saw her the next day, he declared that she had been healed by the gods because they pitied her. Then Hilarion urged her to go to the temple to give thanks to the gods. She told him that she had been healed by Christ, but agreed to go to the temple. The eparch rejoiced, thinking that he had defeated her.<\/p>\n

In the temple, Saint Kyriake prayed that God would destroy the soulless idols. Suddenly, there was a great earthquake which toppled the idols, shattering them to pieces. Everyone fled the temple in fear, leaving Hilarion behind. Instead of recognizing the power of Christ, the eparch blasphemed the true God as the destroyer of his pagan gods. He was struck by a bolt of lightning and died on the spot.<\/p>\n

Saint Kyriake was tortured again by Apollonius, who succeeded Hilarion as eparch. When she was cast into a fire, the flames were extinguished. When she was thrown to wild beasts, they became tame and gentle. Therefore, Apollonius sentenced her to death by the sword. She was permitted time to pray, so she asked God to receive her soul, and to remember those who honored her martyrdom.<\/p>\n

Just as Saint Kyriake ended her prayer, angels took her soul before the soldiers could strike off her head. Pious Christians took her relics and buried them in a place of honor.<\/p>\n

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

<\/div>\n

Thank you to Mary Copeland all Who Helped at our Feast Day Celebration<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A special thank you to everyone who helped plan and execute our Feast Day celebration welcome supper. It was beautiful. It rained hard that evening and some could not make it because the of rain but the turnout was respectable nonetheless. <\/p>\n

A special thank you to Mary Copeland who chaired the event. <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Fr. Hans Our Town Wednesday to Saturday<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fr. Hans will be out of town from Wednesday July 3 to Saturday, July 6, 2019. He will be in Minneapolis visiting his mother who is sick. In case of pastoral emergency please call Fr. Paul Girgis at 509-845-4540.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Summers are Rough, St. Peter’s Needs Your Help<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Summers are always a difficult time to pay our bills. Parishioners are up north, others are on vacation, and the real financial needs bubble up.<\/p>\n

If we can’t make our monthly goals, the money has to come from somewhere else. Usually it’s a reserve like the building fund. We don’t want to do that but there is no other choice. The bills have to be paid.<\/p>\n

The Parish Council recently send a out a letter explaining our situation. Please read it and respond at your earliest convenience. <\/p>\n

The first five months have been good. Now we are falling behind. We respectfully ask everyone to remain current on their pledge, give more if you can, and help us keep St. Peter’s in the black.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

St. Peter’s Community Luncheon on Thursday, July 11, 2019 at 12:00pm<\/h2>\n

\"Community<\/p>\n

Menu<\/strong>
\nBaked Tomato Stuffed with Whole Wheat Orzo
\nPotato
\nGreek Salad with Feta Cheese and Kalamata Olives
\nBread, Dessert, Beverage<\/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

Donations are accepted. Proceeds benefit the building fund.<\/p>\n

Would you like to sponsor a lunch? Please see Barbara Dionysopoulos.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Liturgy for St. Paisios of Athos on July 12, 2019 at 9:30am<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

On Friday, July 12 at 9:30am we will celebrate the Liturgy commemorating St. Paisios of Athos<\/strong>. Why? Because St. Paisios has also worked miracles for some of the families in our parish. God is glorified through His Saints.<\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Pledge Report – June 2019<\/h2>\n

\"Pledge<\/p>\n

In order to meet our operating Budget goal for 2019 we need to take in $16,777.00 each month.<\/p>\n

We are $4,400.00 short of our goal for May.<\/p>\n

Please pledge in order to meet our goal. Pledge forms are available on the table in the narthex.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Icons Available in the Social Hall<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

St. Peter’s has a large selection of Icons available for sale and donation. They come in various sizes — mini, small, medium and large. <\/p>\n

The Icons are generously donated by Theo Palis and therefore all proceeds go directly to St. Peter’s.<\/p>\n

If there is a specific icon you are looking for and we don’t have it, Theo might be able to make it for you.<\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Bible Studies<\/h2>\n

\"Christ<\/p>\n

Bible Studies have been cancelled for the summer. We will resume in September.<\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Calendar At A Glance<\/h2>\n

JULY<\/strong><\/p>\n