Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-04-27
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Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (301) 663-0663
  • Fax:
  • (301) 663-6855
  • Street Address:

  • 920 West 7th Street

  • Frederick, MD 21701


Contact Information






Past Bulletins


Welcome

Welcome to Sts. Peter & Paul! It's a blessing to have you join us in prayer. If you would like to follow along with today's services, please scan the QR code, select today's date, and the service in progress ("Matins" or "Divine Liturgy").

Please join us for coffee hour after Divine Liturgy, located in our social hall on the lower level.

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Today

Christ is Risen!

Coffee hour will be hosted by the Parish Council.

Greek Folk Dance practice resumes today, following Divine Liturgy.

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Saints and Feasts

April 27

Thomas Sunday

Though the doors were shut at the dwelling where the disciples were gathered for fear of the Jews on the evening of the Sunday after the Passover, our Saviour wondrously entered and stood in their midst, and greeted them with His customary words, "Peace be unto you." Then He showed unto them His hands and feet and side; furthermore, in their presence, He took some fish and a honeycomb and ate before them, and thus assured them of His bodily Resurrection. But Thomas, who was not then present with the others, did not believe their testimony concerning Christ's Resurrection, but said in a decisive manner, "Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe." Wherefore after eight days, that is, on this day, when the disciples were again gathered together and Thomas was with them, the Lord Jesus came while the doors were shut, as He did formerly. Standing in their midst, He said, "Peace be unto you"; then He said to Thomas, "Bring hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not unbelieving, but believing."

And Thomas, beholding and examining carefully the hands and side of the Master, cried out with faith, "My Lord and my God." Thus he clearly proclaimed the two natures - human and divine - of the God-man (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-29).

This day is called Antipascha (meaning "in the stead of Pascha," not "in opposition to Pascha") because with this day, the first Sunday after Pascha, the Church consecrates every Sunday of the year to the commemoration of Pascha, that is, the Resurrection.


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Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal 1st Mode

Christ is risen from the dead, by death hath He trampled down death, and on those in the graves hath He bestowed life.
Χριστός ἀνέστη ἐκ νεκρῶν, θανάτῳ θάνατον πατήσας, καί τοῖς ἐν τοῖς μνήμασι ζωήν χαρισάμενος.

Apolytikion for Thomas Sun. in the Grave Mode

Whilst the tomb was sealed, Thou, O Life, didst shine forth from the grave, O Christ God; and whilst the doors were shut, Thou didst come unto Thy disciples, O Resurrection of all, renewing through them an upright Spirit in us according to Thy great mercy.
Ἐσφραγισμένου τοῦ μνήματος ἡ ζωὴ ἐκ τάφου ἀνέτειλας Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, καὶ τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων, τοῖς Μαθηταῖς ἐπέστης ἡ πάντων ἀνάστασις, πνεῦμα εὐθὲς δι' αὐτῶν ἐγκαινίζων ἡμῖν, κατὰ τὸ μέγα σου ἔλεος.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal 4th Mode

Though You went down into the tomb, You destroyed Hades' power, and You rose the victor, Christ God, saying to the myrrh-bearing women, "Hail!" and granting peace to Your disciples, You who raise up the fallen.
Εἰ καὶ ἐν τάφῳ κατῆλθες ἀθάνατε, ἀλλὰ τοῦ ᾍδου καθεῖλες τὴν δύναμιν, καὶ ἀνέστης ὡς νικητής, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, γυναιξὶ Μυροφόροις φθεγξάμενος. Χαίρετε, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις εἰρήνην δωρούμενος ὁ τοῖς πεσοῦσι παρέχων ἀνάστασιν.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Thomas Sunday
The Reading is from Acts of the Apostles 5:12-20

In those days, many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high honor. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life."

Thomas Sunday
Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 5:12-20

Ἐν ταῖς ἡμεραῖς ἐκείναις, διὰ δὲ τῶν χειρῶν τῶν ἀποστόλων ἐγίνετο σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα ἐν τῷ λαῷ πολλά· καὶ ἦσαν ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἅπαντες ἐν τῇ στοᾷ Σολομῶντος. Τῶν δὲ λοιπῶν οὐδεὶς ἐτόλμα κολλᾶσθαι αὐτοῖς, ἀλλʼ ἐμεγάλυνεν αὐτοὺς ὁ λαός· μᾶλλον δὲ προσετίθεντο πιστεύοντες τῷ κυρίῳ, πλήθη ἀνδρῶν τε καὶ γυναικῶν· ὥστε κατὰ τὰς πλατείας ἐκφέρειν τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς, καὶ τιθέναι ἐπὶ κλινῶν καὶ κραββάτων, ἵνα ἐρχομένου Πέτρου κἂν ἡ σκιὰ ἐπισκιάσῃ τινὶ αὐτῶν. Συνήρχετο δὲ καὶ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν πέριξ πόλεων εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ, φέροντες ἀσθενεῖς καὶ ὀχλουμένους ὑπὸ πνευμάτων ἀκαθάρτων, οἵτινες ἐθεραπεύοντο ἅπαντες. Ἀναστὰς δὲ ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς καὶ πάντες οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ - ἡ οὖσα αἵρεσις τῶν Σαδδουκαίων - ἐπλήσθησαν ζήλου, καὶ ἐπέβαλον τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀποστόλους, καὶ ἔθεντο αὐτοὺς ἐν τηρήσει δημοσίᾳ. Ἄγγελος δὲ κυρίου διὰ τῆς νυκτὸς ἤνοιξεν τὰς θύρας τῆς φυλακῆς, ἐξαγαγών τε αὐτοὺς εἶπεν, Πορεύεσθε, καὶ σταθέντες λαλεῖτε ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ τῷ λαῷ πάντα τὰ ῥήματα τῆς ζωῆς ταύτης.


Gospel Reading

Thomas Sunday
The Reading is from John 20:19-31

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe." Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered Him, "My Lord and My God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you may have life in His name.

Thomas Sunday
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 20:19-31

Οὔσης ὀψίας τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τῇ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων, καὶ τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων ὅπου ἦσαν οἱ μαθηταὶ συνηγμένοι διὰ τὸν φόβον τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ· ἐχάρησαν οὖν οἱ μαθηταὶ ἰδόντες τὸν Κύριον. Εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν, καθὼς ἀπέσταλκέ με ὁ πατήρ, κᾀγὼ πέμπω ὑμᾶς. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐνεφύσησε καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Λάβετε Πνεῦμα Ἅγιον. Ἄν τινων ἀφῆτε τὰς ἁμαρτίας, ἀφιένται αὐτοῖς, ἄν τινων κρατῆτε, κεκράτηνται. Θωμᾶς δέ, εἷς ἐκ τῶν δώδεκα, ὁ λεγόμενος Δίδυμος, οὐκ ἦν μετʼ αὐτῶν ὅτε ἦλθεν Ἰησοῦς· ἔλεγον οὖν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄλλοι μαθηταί· Ἑωράκαμεν τὸν Κύριον. Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Ἐὰν μὴ ἴδω ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων, καὶ βάλω τὸν δάκτυλόν μου εἰς τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων, καὶ βάλω τὴν χεῖρά μου εἰς τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ, οὐ μὴ πιστεύσω. Καὶ μεθʼ ἡμέρας ὀκτὼ πάλιν ἦσαν ἔσω οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ Θωμᾶς μετʼ αὐτῶν. Ἔρχεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων, καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον καὶ εἶπεν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Εἶτα λέγει τῷ Θωμᾶ· φέρε τὸν δάκτυλόν σου ᾧδε, καὶ ἴδε τὰς χεῖράς μου. καὶ φέρε τὴν χεῖρά σου καὶ βάλε εἰς τὴν πλευράν μου, καὶ μὴ γίνου ἄπιστος ἀλλὰ πιστός. Καὶ ἀπεκρίθη ὁ Θωμᾶς, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ὁ Κύριός μου καὶ ὁ Θεός μου. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ὅτι ἑώρακάς με πεπίστευκας, μακάριοι οἱ μὴ ἰδόντες, καὶ πιστεύσαντες. Πολλὰ μὲν οὖν καὶ ἄλλα σημεῖα ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐνώπιον τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, ἃ οὐκ ἔστιν γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ· ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύσητε ὅτι ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἵνα πιστεύοντες, ζωὴν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ.


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Announcements

Christ is Risen!

Save the Date

  • The Greek Festival begins May 8th and continues through May 11th. Gyros Days will continue through May 18th. Please tell your friends and family. We greatly appreciate all of our community support for this fundraiser.

  • The Parish General Assembly will be held on Sunday, May 18th, following the Divine Liturgy. All eligible stewards in good standing are encouraged to attend this vital parish event.
  • The Ladies Philoptochos will have their general membership meeting on Wednesday, May 7th, beginning at 7pm. Board Elections will also take place at this time.

Community

Coffee hour is a way for us to encourage fellowship and welcome visitors to our parish. If you would like to participate in this ministry by sponsoring a coffee hour, please contact the church office.

Host needed on these Sundays:

  • May 11

Hope/Joy & GOYA meet again on Tuesday, April 29th, at 6 pm.

The Metropolis of NJ Clergy-Laity Conference is coming up on Tuesday, April 29th. All Philoptochos Chapter members are invited and encouraged to attend, especially if you’re considering a role on our Chapter Board. Our Philoptochos Chapter Board elections are coming up on May 3rd. All seats are open, so please consider participating as a Board member to fulfill our mission and lead our chapter forward. Chapter Board of Directors elections held on May 7th.

Festival Prep

Soutzoukakia preparation will begin on Saturday, May 3rd, at 10 a.m. Volunteers are needed to help in the kitchen.

Pastry packaging/cutting: Help is needed on Tuesday, 4/6, at 5:00 and Wednesday, 4/7, at 11:00 and 5:00. Baked goods donations can be dropped off in the church social hall from May 6 to 8. *Help is also needed @ Pastry Booth during the Festival Thank you! The Pastry Committee 

Youth News

Camp Good Shepherd Summer Camp applications are now open! Join other youth from our region for a week filled with faith, fun, and fellowship. See flier for details.

Camp Good Shepherd is also seeking staff to help the week of June 15. Contact Fr. John if you are interested.

Pastoral Reminders

Please note that Holy Communion and other sacraments are reserved for baptized/chrismated Orthodox Christians in good-standing. Please contact Fr. John if you have any questions.

Please blot or remove any lip products before venerating icons and before approaching for Holy Communion to protect our liturgical items.

Visitations: If you or a loved one need hospital or long-term care, please call the church office to schedule a visit from Fr. John.

Memorial Services can be offered for our departed loved ones. Please call the church office to schedule. You can also honor the memory of your loved ones by hosting a coffee hour in their memory.

Give to Support our Church

When Jesus fed five thousand people with only five loaves of bread and two fish, He showed us how God’s love can multiply the effects of our generosity.

2025 Stewardship: Our parish ministries depend on your Stewardship Pledge. Frederick and the surrounding areas need to hear the Gospel message and experience God's love! Pick up a 2025 Stewardship Card in the Narthex or visit our website, www.stspeterpaul.net, and click GIVE. Stewardship Cards are also available in the Narthex. Thank you for your generous support!

Accessibility Project: To ensure that the church and hall of our beloved parish are open to all parishioners, inquirers, and visitors, Sts. Peter and Paul has approved an Accessibility Project to install a street-level ramp for access to the church and an ADA lift to allow access from the Narthex to the Social Hall. While a generous grant from Leadership 100 is providing funds to assist our parish in this effort, we also need the support and generosity of our Sts. Peter and Paul family to make this vision a reality. Please consider making a gift or a pledge today to help make Orthodoxy accessible to all! Donate

Altar Keepers: Donations received are used to help us with the purchase of liturgical items. Please donate through our parish App, our website, or by check.

Aero Energy House of Worship Program: If you are an Aero Energy customer, you can have a percentage of your bill donated to our church, without costing you anything extra. Visit Aero Engergy's website for details: aeroenergy.com

Join a Ministry

Hope/Joy & GOYA meet the last Tuesday of each month for worship, food, and fellowship, leading to deeper spiritual friendships with one another and with Jesus Christ. Open to all children in grades elementary thru high school. Contact Christina Summers at [email protected].

Young Adults (ages 18-35) meet once a month on a Saturday after Vespers for potluck, fellowship, and discussion. Contact Fr. John for info.

Greek Folk Dance is open to all ages and levels of experience. Contact Georgette Calomeris at [email protected] for more information.

Orthodoxy 101 meets virtually every other Thurs evening to discuss the Divine Liturgy and how it relates to our Faith. Contact Fr. John for info.

St. Eugenia Philoptochos ministers to the poor and needy in our community. To become a steward, complete the form which is located on the Philoptochos table. If you have any questions, contact Georgette Calomeris at [email protected] or 301-471-7303.

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Parish Calendar

  • Next Week

    April 27 to May 4, 2025

    Sunday, April 27

    8:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:30AM Greek Folk Dance

    Tuesday, April 29

    6:00PM Hope/Joy & GOYA Gathering

    Thursday, May 1

    7:00PM Orthodoxy 101

    Saturday, May 3

    10:00AM Soutzoukakia preparation

    2:00PM Greek Folk Dance Practice

    5:00PM Vespers

    Sunday, May 4

    8:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:00AM Sunday School Celebration

    11:30AM Greek Folk Dance

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Fliers

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