{"id":8634,"date":"2020-06-09T05:00:05","date_gmt":"2020-06-09T09:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=8634"},"modified":"2020-06-09T05:00:05","modified_gmt":"2020-06-09T09:00:05","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-june-9-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-june-9-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter June 9, 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

First Sunday after Pentecost<\/h2>\n

All Saints Sunday<\/h2>\n

The Holy Prophet Elisseus (Elisha); Methodius the Confessor, patriarch of Constantinople; Venerable Niphon of Athos; Cyril, bishop of Crete<\/h4>\n
\"Synaxis
Synaxis of All Saints<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first Sunday after the Feast of Holy Pentecost is observed by the Orthodox Church as the Sunday of All Saints. This day has been designated as a commemoration of all of the Saints, all the Righteous, the Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, Shepherds, Teachers, and Holy Monastics, both men and women alike, known and unknown, who have been added to the choirs of the Saints and shall be added, from the time of Adam until the end of the world, who have been perfected in piety and have glorified God by their holy lives<\/p>\n

Background<\/strong><\/p>\n

Honoring the friends of God with much reverence, the Prophet-King David says, “But to me, exceedingly honorable are Thy friends, O Lord” (Ps. 138:16). And the Apostle Paul, recounting the achievements of the Saints, and setting forth their memorial as an example that we might turn away from earthly things and from sin, and emulate their patience and courage in the struggles for virtue, says, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every burden, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1).<\/p>\n

This commemoration began as the Sunday (Synaxis) of All Martyrs; to them were added all the ranks of Saints who bore witness (the meaning of “Martyr” in Greek) to Christ in manifold ways, even if occasion did not require the shedding of their blood.<\/p>\n

Therefore, guided by the teaching of the Divine Scriptures and Apostolic Tradition, we honor all the Saints, the friends of God, for they are keepers of God’s commandments, shining examples of virtue, and benefactors of mankind. Of course, we honor the known Saints especially on their own day of the year, as is evident in the Menologion. But since many Saints are unknown, and their number has increased with time, and will continue to increase until the end of time, the Church has appointed that once a year a common commemoration be made of all the Saints. This is the feast that we celebrate today.<\/p>\n

Read more on the Orthodox Church in America website<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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THIS WEEK! The Parish Life Conference is Going Virtual!<\/h2>\n
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The Parish Life Conference scheduled for June in Memphis, TN was cancelled because of the virus. It is going virtual instead! Click the image (or here<\/a>) to see the schedule and sign up!<\/p>\n

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THIS WEEK! Camp St. Thekla (Youth Camp) is Going Virtual!<\/h2>\n

\"Click<\/a><\/p>\n

Register at: Camp St. Thekla at Home!<\/a><\/p>\n

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Sunday Attendance Increased to 40 persons<\/h2>\n