{"id":8044,"date":"2019-12-10T05:00:26","date_gmt":"2019-12-10T10:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=8044"},"modified":"2019-12-10T05:00:26","modified_gmt":"2019-12-10T10:00:26","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-december-10-2019-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-december-10-2019-2\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter December 10, 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hieromartyr Eleutherios, bishop of Illyria
Sunday of the Forefathers (Ancestors) of Christ<\/h2>\n

Martyr Anthia, Mother of Eleutherios; Venerable Paul of Latra; Stephen, Bishop-Confessor of Surozh; Venerable Tryphon of Pechenga<\/h4>\n
\n\"The<\/p>\n

The Forefathers (Ancestors) of Christ<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Sermon on the Sunday of the Forefathers<\/h2>\n

By Fr. Thaddeus Hardenbrook<\/p>\n

On the second Sunday before Nativity, the Gospel reading leaves off its progression based on Pentecost and aligns itself with the approaching Nativity. This is a sign for us; a message of urgency regarding what is about to happen. Worries, distractions, and cares must now be set aside for the sake of not missing out on the greatest of the Father’s gifts to us, which is His Son in human flesh. Every other mystical and sacred gift is secondary to the Incarnation.<\/p>\n

We have been preparing for the feast by fasting. And now that we have moved past the midpoint of the fast, the pace quickens in anticipation of Christ’s birth. We commemorate the Holy Forefathers who were part of mankind’s preparation for the Messiah. Without them, there would be no God-man, no Christ, for prophecy foretold His birth from their lineage. Therefore their flesh, their prophecies, and their piety prepared the way for the coming of Christ.<\/p>\n

Without the Incarnation, there is no salvation as we know it, there is no Cross, there is no Resurrection, there is no partaking in the divine energies of God and no deification. Even paradise and immortality submit to the mystical superiority of the Incarnation. For both paradise and immortality were given to man before the fall. Without the Incarnation, Paradise and eternal life only result in being perfectly and eternally joined to God as His servants.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

Read the rest of the sermon here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Who is St. Eleftherios?<\/h4>\n
\n\"St.<\/p>\n

St. Eleftherios<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Hieromartyr Saint Eleftherios, a Young Bishop<\/strong><\/p>\n

This wonderful saint was the son of noble and prominent parents. He was born in Rome, where his father was an official in the imperial service, though he died in the saint’s childhood. His mother, Anthia, had heard the Gospel from Saint Paul and was, in fact, baptized by him. Given the fact that she was a widow, she entrusted her son’s education to the Bishop of Rome, Anacletus (or Anectus or Anencletus). The Bishop saw how promising the young boy was and how he was illumined by the grace of God and so ordained him deacon when he was no more than fifteen, priest at eighteen and bishop at twenty.<\/p>\n

He more than made up in wisdom what he lacked in years, and became Bishop of the Illyricum province, with his seat in Valona, in what is now Albania. His flock increased, but the Emperor Hadrian (117-138), persecuted Christians and sent a commander (comes) called Felix, with a detachment of soldiers, to fetch Eleftherios to Rome. Felix arrived in Valona and went into the church there, but when he saw and heard Eleftherios, his heat softened and he became Christian. When Eleftherios arrived in Rome, he was subjected to dreadful tortures, but withstood them so well that Choribus, the governor in charge of his punishment, was also persuaded to become a Christian. Both he and Felix were tortured and beheaded. Then it was Saint Eleftherios’ turn to be martyred. His mother Anthia found the remains of he dead son and embraced them, before also being beheaded. This was in about the year 126.<\/p>\n

St. Eleftherios is the saint to pray to for a safe childbirth.<\/em><\/p>\n

Source: Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Thank you to Everyone Who Helped with the St. Nicholas Program<\/h2>\n
 <\/div>\n
\n\"St.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

What a great evening it was! Thank you to everyone who pitched in and contributed to its success!<\/p>\n

You can see pictures of the event on our Facebook page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Lenten Cookbook by Tabita Valentine Available<\/h2>\n
 <\/div>\n
\n\"Lenten\n<\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n

Tabit Valentine has compiled a cookbook of Lenten recipes available to our parishioners and for sale in our bookstore.<\/p>\n

The recipes are good. Many of you have sampled her work during Social Hall and special events and will agree that what she makes tastes great and topped with a good dose of healthy!<\/p>\n

Suggested donation is $15 with all proceeds going to the building fund.<\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Dr. Zannos and Julia Are Going to be Married and You Are Invited<\/h2>\n
 <\/div>\n
\n\"Wedding\n<\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n

We are pleased to announce the marriage of Zannos and Julia to be held on Saturday, January 4, 2020 in the afternoon. They have invited all members of the parish to attend. <\/p>\n

If you plan to attend, please RSVP online to Julia (click here)<\/a> or mention it to her in person by December 14, 2019.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n

Nativity Fast Continues 2019<\/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. 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. Here are the guidelines:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Meat<\/strong><\/td>\nDairy<\/strong><\/td>\nFish<\/strong><\/td>\nWine<\/strong><\/td>\nOil<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
beef, chicken, pork, turkey, elk, veal, lamb, deer, rabbit, buffalo, and so forth<\/td>\nmilk, eggs, cheese, butter, yogurt, cream, and so forth<\/td>\nfish with a backbone (not including shrimp, octopus, shellfish, squid, or other seafood.<\/td>\n(some include all types of alcohol in this category)<\/td>\n(some include all types of oil in this category)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Abstain.<\/strong><\/td>\nAbstain.<\/strong><\/td>\nPermitted<\/strong> only on Saturdays and Sundays before December 20. (some permit fish Tuesdays and Thursdays also)<\/td>\nPermitted<\/strong> only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, & Sundays before December 20.<\/td>\nPermitted<\/strong> only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, & Sundays before December 20.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
 <\/div>\n

The Purpose of Fasting<\/h4>\n

The purpose of fasting is to focus on the things that are above, the Kingdom of God. It is a means of putting on virtue in reality, here and now. Through it we are freed from dependence on worldly things. We fast faithfully and in secret, not judging others, and not holding ourselves up as an example.<\/p>\n