October 15, 2023

Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council

Todaythe Church remembers the 350 holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council under the holy Patriarch Tarasius (February 25). The Council of 787, the second to meet at Nicea, refuted the Iconoclast heresy during the reign of Empress Irene and her son Constantine Porphyrogenitos.

The council decreed that the veneration of icons was not idolatry (Exodus 20:4-5), because the honor shown to them is not directed to the wood or paint, but passes to the prototype (the person depicted). It also upheld the possibility of depicting Christ, Who became man and took flesh at His Incarnation. The Father, on the other hand, cannot be represented in His eternal nature, because “no man has seen God at any time” (John 1:18).

Titus 3:8-15: Titus, my son, faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire you to affirm confidently, that those who have believed in God may be thoughtful of how to preside in honorable occupations. These things are good and profitable to men. But avoid foolish disputes, and genealogies, and contentions, and controversies about the Law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man who is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject, knowing that such a one is subverted, and sins, being self-condemned. When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicós, give diligence to come to me to Nicopolis; for I have determined to winter there. Set forward Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that they may be lacking in nothing. And let our people also learn how to preside in honorable occupations, so as to help in cases of urgent need, that they should not be unfruitful. All who are with me salute you. Salute those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Luke 8:5-15: The Lord spoke this parable: “A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold.” And when His Disciples asked Him what this parable meant, Jesus said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.” As Jesus said this, He called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Troparion of the Resurrection: When thou, O immortal Life, didst humble thyself unto death, then didst thou destroy death by the brightness of thy Godhead; and when thou didst raise the bowels of the earth, then all the heavenly powers exclaimed, O Christ, thou art the Giver of life! Glory to thee, O our God!

Troparion of the Holy Fathers: Thou, O Christ, art our God of exceeding praise who didst establish our holy Fathers as luminous stars upon earth, and through them didst guide us unto the true Faith, O most merciful One, glory to thee.

Troparion of the Chains of St. Peter: O Holy Apostle, Peter, thou dost preside over the Apostles by the precious chains which thou didst bear. We venerate them with faith and beseech thee that by thine intercessions we be granted the great mercy.

Kontakion of the Theotokos: O undisputed intercessor of Christians, O mediatrix, who is unrejected by the Creator, turn not away from the voice of our petitions though we be sinners; come to us in time, who cry to thee in faith, for thou art good. Hasten to us with intercessions, O Theotokos, who didst ever intercede for those who honor thee.

CALENDAR

UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE: All services listed on the calendar will be available through streaming and webcast. (Instructions can be found on the parish website.)

Sunday, October 15 (Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros (webcast)

9:00 a.m. – Christian Education resumes

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

Monday, October 16

Father Herman off

Tuesday, October 17

NO Services

Wednesday, October 18 (Apostle Luke)

6:30 p.m. – Daily Vespers

Thursday, October 19

NO Services

Friday, October 20

NO Services

6:30 – 9:00 p.m. – Choir Workshop

Saturday, October 21

7:45 a.m. – Choir Breakfast

8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Choir Workshop

5:00 p.m. – Great Vespers (please note the change in time)

Sunday, October 22 (Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost)

8:50 a.m. – Orthros (webcast)

9:00 a.m. – Christian Education

10:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy (webcast)

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Eucharist Bread …was offered by the Ken Joneses for the Divine Liturgy this morning.

Eucharist Bread Schedule:

Eucharist Bread Coffee Hour

October 15 K. Jones Lasseter/Miller

October 22 Davis D. Root/Baker

October 29 Meadows Henderson/K. Jones

Schedule for Epistle Readers – Page numbers refer to the Apostolos (book of the Epistles) located on the Chanters’ stand at the front of the nave. Please be sure to use this book when you read.

Reader Reading Page#

October 15 Simeon Root Titus3:8-15 322

October 22 Katie Miller Gal. 1:11-19 188

October 29 Sophie Dansereau Gal. 2:16-20 193

Also, please remember that we still need your tithes and offerings which may be placed in the tray that is passed during the Divine Liturgy, in the tithe box at the back of the nave or be mailed to: St. Peter Orthodox Church, P.O. Box 2084, Madison, MS 39130-2084.

Please remember the following in your prayers: Aidan Milnor, the Milnor family; Lamia Dabit and her family; Mary Greene (Lee and Kh. Sharon’s sister); Jay and Joanna Davis; Fr. Leo and Kh. Be’Be’ Schelver and their family; Kathy Willingham; Marilyn (Kyriake) Snell; Jack and Jill Weatherly; Lottie Dabbs (Sh. Charlotte Algood’s mother), Sh. Charlotte and their family; Maria Costas (currently at St. Catherine’s Village); Reader Basil and Brenda Baker and their family; Buddy Cooper; Georgia and Bob Buchanan; Fr. Joseph Bittle; Anthony and Athena Zouboukos and Keri Waites; Steve and Sheryl Chamblee; Rick Carlton; Very Rev. Fr. Nicholas and Kh. Jan Speier.

Kh. Nora Bleam (wife of Fr. David Bleam, Pastor of St. Andrew the Apostle in Pensacola, FL) will be at St. Peter October 20-21 for a workshop with our choir. On the 21st, Great Vespers will begin at 5:00 p.m. instead of the usual 6:00 p.m.

October is Teen Month in our Archdiocese. The Teens will be reading the Epistle during the Divine Liturgy for the month.

Fall Festival! Get ready to have some fun and good fellowship at our annual Fall Festival, to be held this year on Saturday, October 28th, beginning at 4:00 p.m.! Anna Kathryn Stewart has graciously agreed to head this up again. She will need volunteers for the various activities and for food dishes for our meal. Sign-up sheets are located on the bureau in the hallway outside the nave, so please be sure to sign up. As is our parish custom, we will not have Great Vespers that evening.

Save the Date! Dr. Jeannie Constantinou will be here for a talk on November 3rd, beginning in the Fellowship Hall at 6:30 p.m.

At last, we are able to resume (after all the disruption of Co-vid) our annual women’s retreat with our sisters of the Jackson area! Dr. Constantinou will be the speaker for the retreat, hosted this year by the women of Holy Trinity/St. John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Church on Saturday, November 4th from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Registration for the retreat is available online at HolyTrinityPhiloptochos.com.

Calendar Items:

* The men of the parish meet for lunch at 11:00 a.m. on the first Thursday of the month.

* The Ladies meet at the church at 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month to pray the Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children on behalf of our children.

* The Ladies meet for lunch at 1:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday of the month.

* Choir Workshop – October 20-21.

* Fall Festival – Saturday, October 28th, beginning at 4:00 p.m. (No Great Vespers that day.)

* Dr. Jeannie Constantinou will be speaking at St. Peter Friday evening, November 3rd, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

* The Pan-Orthodox Women’s Retreat, hosted this year by Holy Trinity/St. John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Church, will be held Saturday, November 4th from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Dr. Constantinou will be the featured speaker this year.

* The Feast-day of St. Raphael will be celebrated with Divine Liturgy (only) on Saturday, November 4th, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Fasting Discipline for October

In September the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the month.

Major Commemorations for October

October 15 Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council

October 23 Apostle James, Brother of the Lord

October 26 Great-martyr Demetrios

Quotable: “When you are in church, and are going to partake of the divine mysteries of Christ, do not go out until you have attained complete peace. Stand in one place, and do not leave it until the dismissal. Think that you are standing in heaven, and that in company of the holy angels you are meeting God and receiving Him in your heart. Prepare yourself with great awe and trembling, lest you mingle with the holy powers unworthily.”

Abba Philemon

Worship: Sunday, October 22, 2023 (Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost)

Scripture: Galatians 1:11-19; Luke 8:26-39

Celebrant: Father Herman

Epistle Reader: Katie Miller

Prosphora: Davis

Coffee Hour: D. Root/Baker