{"id":7878,"date":"2019-08-28T11:31:34","date_gmt":"2019-08-28T15:31:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=7878"},"modified":"2019-08-28T11:31:34","modified_gmt":"2019-08-28T15:31:34","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-august-29-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-august-29-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter August 29, 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year<\/h2>\n

Righteous Simeon the Stylite; Synaxis of the Theotokos at Miasinae<\/h4>\n
\"St.
St. Simeon the Stylite<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Who was St. Simeon the Stylite?<\/h4>\n

Saint Simeon spent 80 years in arduous monastic feats, 47 years of which he stood upon the pillar. God granted him to accomplish in such unusual conditions an indeed apostolic service. Many pagans accepted Baptism, struck by the moral staunchness and bodily strength which the Lord bestowed upon His servant.<\/p>\n

The first one to learn of the death of the saint was his close disciple Anthony. Concerned that his teacher had not appeared to the people for three days, he went up on the pillar and found the dead body stooped over at prayer. Patriarch Martyrius of Antioch performed the funeral before a huge throng of clergy and people. They buried him near his pillar. At the place of his ascetic deeds, Anthony established a monastery, upon which rested the special blessing of Saint Simeon.<\/p>\n

Read the complete history on the Orthodox Chruch in America<\/a> website.<\/em><\/p>\n

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September 1 is the Church New Year, Also Called “Indiction”<\/h2>\n

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The first day of the Church New Year is also called the beginning of the Indiction. The term Indiction comes from a Latin word meaning, “to impose.” It was originally applied to the imposition of taxes in Egypt. The first worldwide Indiction was in 312 when the Emperor Constantine (May 21) saw a miraculous vision of the Cross in the sky. Before the introduction of the Julian calendar, Rome began the New Year on September 1.<\/p>\n

According to Holy Tradition, Christ entered the synagogue on September 1 to announce His mission to mankind (Luke 4:16-22). Quoting Isaiah 61:1-2), the Savior proclaimed, “The spirit of the Lord is upon me; because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to proclaim release to captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord…” This scene is depicted in a Vatican manuscript (Vatican, Biblioteca. Cod. Gr. 1613, p.1).<\/p>\n

Tradition says that the Hebrews entered the Promised Land in September.<\/p>\n

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

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Upcoming Liturgies<\/h2>\n

Beheading of John the Baptist Liturgy, Thursday, August 29, 2018 at 9:30am<\/h4>\n
\"The
The Beheading of St. John the Forerunner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We will celebrate the Liturgy of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist on Wednesday, August 29, 2018 starting at 9:30am. Why celebrate this important day? Because when we celebrate the liturgies of important Saints, their presence and power becomes more evident in our Church. <\/p>\n

This is particularly true of St. Peter’s with the recent installation of the icon of St. John the Baptist. St. John, like the Theotokos, work to bring people to Christ. They work in different ways. We welcome their intercessions and honoring them increases the grace of God they bring to us.<\/p>\n

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Elevation of the Holy Cross Divine Liturgy, Saturday, September 14, 2019 at 9:30am<\/h4>\n

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Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine the Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. <\/p>\n

The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole.<\/p>\n

Consequently, the precious Cross was lifted on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, “Lord have mercy.” <\/p>\n

It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerable Cross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in the magnificent church built by Saint Helen, until the year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross to their own country (see Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Late, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constantinople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place.<\/p>\n

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Fr. Hans Out of Town Thursday, September 5 to Saturday, September 7, 2019<\/h2>\n

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He will be attending the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast (our diocese) retreat in Franklin, Tennessee. He will be available on his cell phone. <\/p>\n

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Men: Join AMEN<\/h2>\n

\"Antiochian<\/p>\n

AMEN is growing in the Miami Diocese, very fast actually, and there is a lot of good energy behind it. Fr. Hans has been appointed the Spiritual Advisor to the group by Bp. Nicholas. Steve Breitenbach is our local president.<\/p>\n

What will AMEN do? It will bring together the men of the parish for friendship, fellowship, and work.<\/p>\n

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St. Peter’s Men: <\/p>\n