The Synaxis (“Gathering”) of the Twelve Apostles
June 30, 2019
“O Holy Apostles, intercede with our merciful God, to grant our souls forgiveness of sins.”
+ Apolytikion of the Synaxis in Tone Three
The Holy Apostles
From the Synaxarion (What is that?)
On June 30 in the Holy Orthodox Church, we celebrate the Synaxis of the holy, glorious, and alllauded Twelve Apostles.
Verses
The friends of Christ and twelve God-seers do I honor,
Whom I dare call heroes and gods, and do rightly.
The thirtieth gathereth the Twelve glorious Initiates.
Even though each one of the Twelve has his own special day of celebration throughout the year, the Church has set aside this day as a festal assembly of all the apostles together and with them, Paul. These are the names and the separate celebration days of the Holy Apostles; and how each one of these most holy and beneficial men in world history ended their earthly life:
- Peter (June 29, January 16) was crucified upside down.
- Andrew (November 30) was crucified.
- James, the son of Zebedee (April 30) was beheaded.
- John the Theologian (September 26) died in a miraculous, peaceful manner, the only one of “The Twelve” to do so.
- Philip (November 14) was crucified.
- Bartholomew (June 11, August 25) was crucified, scraped and beheaded.
- Thomas (October 6) was pierced with five spears.
- Matthew the Evangelist (November 16) was burned alive.
- James, the son of Alphaeus (October 9) was crucified.
- Thaddeus [Jude] (June 19), the Brother of James was crucified.
- Simon the Zealot (May 10) was crucified. Matthias (August 9) was stoned and then was beheaded after death.
- Paul (June 29) was beheaded.
On this day, we also commemorate the Martyr Peter of Sinope; and New-martyr Michael the Gardener of Athens.
By their intercessions, O Christ God, have mercy upon us. Amen.
The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (4:9-16)
Brethren, I think that God has exhibited us Apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the scourge of all things. I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. Though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. I became your father in Christ Jesus through the Gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me.
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (9:36-10:8)
At that time, when Jesus saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His Disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” And He called to Him His twelve Disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. The names of the twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him. These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And preach as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay.”
Source: antiochian.org
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Patronal Feast Day Celebration
The Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
FRIDAY (6/28)
Patronal Feast Day Celebration of Sts. Peter and Paul June 28, 2018 at St. Paul in Naples, FL. Pictured from Left to Right: Fr. Ovidiu Pacurar, Hieromonk Youhanna Semaan, Archmandrite Gregory Hutton, Fr. Paul Girgis, His Grace Bishop +NICHOLAS, Fr. Hans Jacobse, Dn. Nicholas Reid, Subdcn. Elias Bardawil, Reader Chris Abdelahad
Friday June 28, 2019
Orthros 6:00PM
Divine Liturgy 7:00PM
Refreshments will be served following the Divine Liturgy
Join us in commemorating our parish patron and protector, the holy glorious Apostle Paul alongside St. Peter, the patron of our sister parish in Bonita Springs. Last year, St. Paul hosted the Patronal Feast Day Celebration. This year, the faithful of St. Peter the Apostle in Bonita Springs will host.
We look forward to His Grace Bishop +NICHOLAS of Miami and the Southeast praying with us on such an important day of the year.
This is how we invite God into our lives brothers and sisters – through worship. Please make every effort to attend. The reality of being part of the “Body of Christ”, the Church, is made manifest and most real when we gather around our Bishop, our Brothers and Sisters in Christ (i.e. from St. Peter and the surrounding area) to worship the Creator of the Universe and, in this case, also commemorate and honor the Great Apostles Peter and Paul.
Come and receive the gracious hospitality from the faithful at St. Peter.
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Join us immediately after the Divine Worship each Sunday for Fellowship Coffee Hour.
There is great joy in serving, offering hospitality, and “breaking bread” together, which are essential elements of the Christian life.
In order to avoid allowing this “labor of love” to fall upon the same few people week-after-week, please sign-up to sponsor theFellowship Coffee Hour on any available Sunday.
“Great – what exactly am I signing up for?”
Simply bring 1 1/2 – 2 dozen Bagels sliced in half (or specialty breads, breakfast cake, etc.) to the kitchen, upon arrival to service Sunday morning. After service, set the food out and then clean up at the end – there is help so you’re not alone! We already have the toppers (peanut butter, jam, etc.), paper goods, and coffee at the parish!
“Can I support Fellowship Coffee Hour in a different way?”
No problem – make an offering that would donate towards the bagels and we will handle the rest!
Either way, keep it simple and give it a shot!
Don’t wait – send a note to this email (info@stpaulnaples.org) or reach out to our Antiochain Women (AW) Chair, Anna Castley (anna@icsamerica.com), to learn which Sunday is available.
May it be blessed!
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NEW Ancient Faith Ministries
New and wonderful Ancient Faith Ministries material waiting for you on the visitors table!
This free material provides an excellent opportunity to learn the basics, share the liberating Truth of Orthodox Christianity with family and friends, refresh our memory and so forth!
Take them home, read at the church, grab for friends and family – either way!
Spread the Gospel starting with your own life! Learn the faith!
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Commemorations of Contemporary Saints!
July 2
Feast of St. John Maximovitch of Shanghai and San Francisco (+1966)
Preparation Prayers 9:00AM
Divine Liturgy 9:30AM
July 12
Feast of St. Paisios the Athonite (+1994)
Preparation Prayers 9:00AM
Divine Liturgy 9:30AM
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Weekly Community Bible Study
Thursday’s 6:00PM-7:00PM
If we don’t know our faith, how can we live it?
Come learn about the Faith, which was “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). We will continue our “pilgrimage” through the spectacular and relevant spiritual counsels of St. Paisios the Athonite concerning the “Passions and Virtues”.
On our way back to Thessalonki from Mt. Athos, our little group (Joe Ablan, Matt Ablan, Fr. Paul) were able to stop by the women’s convent of St. John the Theologian in Souroti, Greece.
This is the same monastery St. Paisios established and spent the final days of his earthly life.
It was a great bless to venerate his grave and receive warm hospitality from his spiritual daughters.
Fr. Paul kneeling next to the grave of St. Paisios asking for his intercessions for the community of St. Paul;
Icon of St. Paisios the Athonite who departed this life in 1994;
A bowl of the most delicious loukoumi we have ever had. A traditional offering of hospitality in Orthodox Christian communities throughout Greece.
Fr. Paul was generously gifted the book by one of the sisters as well as several icon cards of St. Paisios.
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Great Vespers
Saturday 6:00PM-6:45PM
Why is Great Vespers important?
“The service leads to the meditation of God’s word and the glorification of his love for men. It instructs and allows us to praise God for the particular events or persons whose memory is celebrated and made present to us in the Church. It prepares us for the sleep of the night and the dawn of the new day to come. On the eves of the Divine Liturgy, it begins the movement into the most perfect communion with God in the sacramental mysteries.”
Learn more about Great Vespers here
