Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-05-04
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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 our Sunday School students and parents.

Greek Folk Dance practice following Divine Liturgy.

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Saints and Feasts

May 04

Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women

About the beginning of His thirty-second year, when the Lord Jesus was going throughout Galilee, preaching and working miracles, many women who had received of His beneficence left their own homeland and from then on followed after Him. They ministered unto Him out of their own possessions, even until His crucifixion and entombment; and afterwards, neither losing faith in Him after His death, nor fearing the wrath of the Jewish rulers, they came to the sepulchre, bearing the myrrh-oils they had prepared to annoint His body. It is because of the myrrh-oils, that these God-loving women brought to the tomb of Jesus that they are called the Myrrh-bearers. Of those whose names are known are the following: first of all, the most holy Virgin Mary, who in Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40 is called "the mother of James and Joses" (these are the sons of Joseph by a previous marriage, and she was therefore their step-mother); Mary Magdalene (celebrated July 22); Mary, the wife of Clopas; Joanna, wife of Chouza, a steward of Herod Antipas; Salome, the mother of the sons of Zebedee, Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus; and Susanna. As for the names of the rest of them, the evangelists have kept silence (Matt 27:55-56; 28:1-10. Mark 15:40-41. Luke 8:1-3; 23:55-24:11, 22-24. John 19:25; 20:11-18. Acts 1:14).

Together with them we celebrate also the secret disciples of the Saviour, Joseph and Nicodemus. Of these, Nicodemus was probably a Jerusalemite, a prominent leader among the Jews and of the order of the Pharisees, learned in the Law and instructed in the Holy Scriptures. He had believed in Christ when, at the beginning of our Saviour's preaching of salvation, he came to Him by night. Furthermore, he brought some one hundred pounds of myrrh-oils and an aromatic mixture of aloes and spices out of reverence and love for the divine Teacher (John 19:39). Joseph, who was from the city of Arimathea, was a wealthy and noble man, and one of the counsellors who were in Jerusalem. He went boldly unto Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and together with Nicodemus he gave Him burial. Since time did not permit the preparation of another tomb, he placed the Lord's body in his own tomb which was hewn out of rock, as the Evangelist says (Matt. 27:60).


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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, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life.
Χριστός ἀνέστη ἐκ νεκρῶν, θανάτῳ θάνατον πατήσας, καί τοῖς ἐν τοῖς μνήμασι ζωήν χαρισάμενος.

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 2nd Mode

When You descended unto death, O Lord who Yourself are immortal Life, then did You mortify Hades by the lightning flash of Your Divinity. Also when You raised the dead from the netherworld, all the Powers of the heavens were crying out: O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory be to You.
Ὅτε κατῆλθες πρὸς τὸν θάνατον, ἡ Ζωὴ ἡ ἀθάνατος, τότε τὸν ᾅδην ἐνέκρωσας τῇ ἀστραπῇ τῆς Θεότητος, ὅτε δὲ καὶ τοὺς τεθνεῶτας ἐκ τῶν καταχθονίων ἀνέστησας, πᾶσαι αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν ἐπουρανίων ἐκραύγαζον·Ζωοδότα Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion for Holy Myrrhbearers Sunday in the 2nd Mode

The noble Joseph, taking Thine immaculate Body down from the Tree, and having wrapped It in pure linen and spices, laid It for burial in a new tomb. But on the third day Thou didst arise, O Lord, granting great mercy to the world.
Ὁ εὐσχήμων Ἰωσήφ, ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου καθελὼν τὸ ἄχραντόν σου Σῶμα, σινδόνι καθαρᾷ, εἱλήσας καὶ ἀρώμασιν, ἐν μνήματι καινῷ κηδεύσας ἀπέθετο, ἀλλὰ τριήμερος ἀνέστης Κύριε, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for Holy Myrrhbearers Sunday in the 2nd Mode

Unto the myrrh-bearing women did the Angel cry out as he stood by the grave: Myrrh oils are meet for the dead, but Christ hath proved to be a stranger to corruption. But cry out: The Lord is risen, granting great mercy to the world.
Ταῖς Μυροφόροις Γυναιξί, παρὰ τὸ μνῆμα ἐπιστάς, ὁ Ἄγγελος ἐβόα. Τὰ μύρα τοῖς θνητοῖς ὑπάρχει ἁρμόδια, Χριστὸς δὲ διαφθορᾶς ἐδείχθη ἀλλότριος, ἀλλὰ κραυγάσατε, Ἀνέστη ὁ Κύριος, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal 4th Mode

Though You went down into the tomb, O Immortal One, yet You brought down the dominion of Hades; and You rose as the victor, O Christ our God; and You called out “Rejoice” to the Myrrh-bearing women, and gave peace to Your Apostles, O Lord who to the fallen grant resurrection.
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

Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women
The Reading is from Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7

In those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "it is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochoros, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaos, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women
Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 6:1-7

Ἐν ταῖς ἡμεραῖς ἐκείναις, πληθυνόντων τῶν μαθητῶν, ἐγένετο γογγυσμὸς τῶν Ἑλληνιστῶν πρὸς τοὺς Ἑβραίους, ὅτι παρεθεωροῦντο ἐν τῇ διακονίᾳ τῇ καθημερινῇ αἱ χῆραι αὐτῶν. Προσκαλεσάμενοι δὲ οἱ δώδεκα τὸ πλῆθος τῶν μαθητῶν, εἶπον, Οὐκ ἀρεστόν ἐστιν ἡμᾶς, καταλείψαντας τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ, διακονεῖν τραπέζαις. Ἐπισκέψασθε οὖν, ἀδελφοί, ἄνδρας ἐξ ὑμῶν μαρτυρουμένους ἑπτά, πλήρεις πνεύματος ἁγίου καὶ σοφίας, οὓς καταστήσωμεν ἐπὶ τῆς χρείας ταύτης. Ἡμεῖς δὲ τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ τῇ διακονίᾳ τοῦ λόγου προσκαρτερήσομεν. Καὶ ἤρεσεν ὁ λόγος ἐνώπιον παντὸς τοῦ πλήθους· καὶ ἐξελέξαντο Στέφανον, ἄνδρα πλήρης πίστεως καὶ πνεύματος ἁγίου, καὶ Φίλιππον, καὶ Πρόχορον, καὶ Νικάνορα, καὶ Τίμωνα, καὶ Παρμενᾶν, καὶ Νικόλαον προσήλυτον Ἀντιοχέα, οὓς ἔστησαν ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀποστόλων· καὶ προσευξάμενοι ἐπέθηκαν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας. Καὶ ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ ηὔξανεν, καὶ ἐπληθύνετο ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν μαθητῶν ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ σφόδρα, πολύς τε ὄχλος τῶν ἱερέων ὑπήκουον τῇ πίστει.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women
The Reading is from Mark 15:43-47; 16:1-8

At that time, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 15:43-47, 16:1-8

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐλθὼν Ἰωσὴφ ὁ ἀπὸ Ἀριμαθαίας, εὐσχήμων βουλευτής, ὃς καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν προσδεχόμενος τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ, τολμήσας εἰσῆλθε πρὸς Πιλᾶτον καὶ ᾐτήσατο τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ. Ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος ἐθαύμασεν εἰ ἤδη τέθνηκε, καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος τὸν κεντυρίωνα ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτὸν εἰ πάλαι ἀπέθανε· καὶ γνοὺς ἀπὸ τοῦ κεντυρίωνος ἐδωρήσατο τὸ σῶμα τῷ Ἰωσήφ. Καὶ ἀγοράσας σινδόνα καὶ καθελὼν αὐτὸν ἐνείλησε τῇ σινδόνι καὶ κατέθηκεν αὐτὸν ἐν μνημείῳ, ὃ ἦν λελατομημένον ἐκ πέτρας, καὶ προσεκύλισε λίθον ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν τοῦ μνημείου. Ἡ δὲ Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία Ἰωσῆ ἐθεώρουν ποῦ τίθεται. Καὶ διαγενομένου τοῦ σαββάτου Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία ἡ τοῦ Ἰακώβου καὶ Σαλώμη ἠγόρασαν ἀρώματα ἵνα ἐλθοῦσαι ἀλείψωσιν αὐτόν. Καὶ λίαν πρωῒ τῆς μιᾶς σαββάτων ἔρχονται ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον, ἀνατείλαντος τοῦ ἡλίου. Καὶ ἔλεγον πρὸς ἑαυτάς· Τίς ἀποκυλίσει ἡμῖν τὸν λίθον ἐκ τῆς θύρας τοῦ μνημείου; Καὶ ἀναβλέψασαι θεωροῦσιν ὅτι ἀποκεκύλισται ὁ λίθος· ἦν γὰρ μέγας σφόδρα. Καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον εἶδον νεανίσκον καθήμενον ἐν τοῖς δεξιοῖς, περιβεβλημένον στολὴν λευκήν, καὶ ἐξεθαμβήθησαν. Ὁ δὲ λέγει αὐταῖς· μὴ ἐκθαμβεῖσθε· Ἰησοῦν ζητεῖτε τὸν Ναζαρηνὸν τὸν ἐσταυρωμένον· ἠγέρθη, οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε· ἴδε ὁ τόπος ὅπου ἔθηκαν αὐτόν. Ἀλλ᾿ ὑπάγετε εἴπατε τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ Πέτρῳ ὅτι προάγει ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν· ἐκεῖ αὐτὸν ὄψεσθε, καθὼς εἶπεν ὑμῖν. Καὶ ἐξελθοῦσαι ἔφυγον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου· εἶχε δὲ αὐτὰς τρόμος καὶ ἔκστασις, καὶ οὐδενὶ οὐδὲν εἶπον· ἐφοβοῦντο γάρ.


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Announcements

Save the Date

  • May 8 - Greek Festival begins
    and continues through May 11th

  • May 18 - Spring General Assembly
    following the Divine Liturgy. All eligible stewards in good standing are encouraged to attend.

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
  • June 1

The Ladies Philoptochos will have their general meeting on Wednesday, May 7th, beginning at 7pm, followed by Board Elections.

Festival Prep

Pastry packaging/cutting: Help is needed on Tuesday, 4/6, at 5:00pm and Wednesday, 4/7, at 11:00am and 5:00pm. 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!

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

Proper Disposal of Blessed Items: Now that Holy Week has passed, you may have Palm Crosses from past years, old flowers from the Cross, and other accumulated items that have been blessed. These items, along with icons, should not be thrown in the trash. They can be burried, respectfuly burned, or if they will decompose, they can be placed in a place where they won't be trampled (a garden). If you have blessed items that you are unable to dispose of, please contact Fr. John to coordinate drop-off at the church so they can be burned.

We have recieved notice from Metropolitan Apostolos on the current uncanonical standing of St. Nina Monastery. If you have any questions, please contact Fr. John.

Please note that Holy Communion, Unction, 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

    May 4 to May 11, 2025

    Sunday, May 4

    8:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:00AM Sunday School Celebration

    11:30AM Greek Folk Dance

    Monday, May 5

    9:00AM Orthros & Divine Liturgy for St. Irene the Great Martyr

    Tuesday, May 6

    5:00PM Pastry Packaging

    Wednesday, May 7

    11:00AM Pastry Packaging

    5:00PM Pastry Packaging

    7:00PM Philoptochos General Membership Meeting & Elections

    Thursday, May 8

    Spring Greek Festival

    8:00AM Orthros & Divine Liturgy for the Miracle of St. John the Theologian

    10:00AM Blessing of the Waters

    5:30PM Vespers

    Friday, May 9

    5:30PM Vespers

    Saturday, May 10

    5:30PM Vespers

    Sunday, May 11

    Mother's Day

    8:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

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Fliers

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