Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-07-13
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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

A 40-day memorial will be chanted today for Yuri (Georgie) Nesterova. May his memory be eternal!

Thank you to the Nesterova family for hosting Coffee Hour in loving memory of Yuri.

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Saints and Feasts

July 13

Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council

On the Sunday that falls from the 13th to the 19th of July, we commemorate the 630 Fathers who came together for the 4th Ecumenical Council in Chalcedon in 451. This council defended our understanding of the “hypostatic union” of Christ’s divine and human natures, as expressed at the Council of Ephesus of 431. It also expressed the Antiochian emphasis on the genuine humanity of Jesus as expressed in the Formulary of Peace, as well as the Roman emphasis on the ongoing distinctiveness of the fully divine and fully human natures of Christ, as expressed in the language of Leo’s Tome.

The union of divinity and humanity in Christ is called the hypostatic union. This expression means that in the one, unique person, or divine hypostasis, of Christ, divine nature and human nature are united in such a way that they are neither changed, nor confused, nor separated, nor divided. Christ is one Person Who is both human and divine. One and the same divine person (or hypostasis) is the Son of God and the Son of Mary.


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 4th Mode

When the women Disciples of the Lord had learned from the Angel the joyful message of the Resurrection and had rejected the ancestral decision, they cried aloud to the Apostles triumphantly: Death has been despoiled, Christ God has risen, granting His great mercy to the world.
Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον· Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for Sun. of the Holy Fathers in the Plagal 4th Mode

You are supremely glorified, O Christ our God, who established the Fathers as lights upon the earth, and by them did lead us all to the truth faith. O most merciful Lord, glory to You.
Ὑπερδεδοξασμένος εἶ, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ φωστῆρας ἐπὶ γῆς τοὺς Πατέρας ἡμῶν θεμελιώσας, καὶ δι' αὐτῶν πρὸς τὴν ἀληθινὴν πίστιν, πάντας ἡμᾶς ὁδηγήσας· πολυεύσπλαγχνε, δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion for the Church in the 4th Mode

As the first in rank of the Apostles and teachers of the world, intercede with the Master of all that He grant peace unto all the world and great mercy unto our souls.

Οι τών Αποστόλων πρωτόθρονοι, καί τής Οικουμένης διδάσκαλοι, τώ Δεσπότη τών όλων πρεσβεύσατε, ειρήνην τή οικουμένη δωρήσασθαι, καί ταίς ψυχαίς ημών τό μέγα έλεος.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 2nd Mode

A protection of Christians unshamable, intercessor to our Holy Maker, unwavering, please reject not the prayerful cries of those who are in sin. Instead, come to us, for you are good; your loving help bring unto us, who are crying in faith to you: hasten to intercede and speed now to supplicate, as a protection for all time, Theotokos, for those who honor you.
Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, μεσιτεία πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀμετάθετε. Μὴ παρίδῃς ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι· Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιμώντων σε.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to Titus 3:8-15

Titus, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.

When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.

All who are with me send greeting to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council
Πρὸς Τίτον 3:8-15

Τέκνον Τίτε, πιστὸς ὁ λόγος, καὶ περὶ τούτων βούλομαί σε διαβεβαιοῦσθαι, ἵνα φροντίζωσιν καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι οἱ πεπιστευκότες θεῷ. ταῦτά ἐστιν καλὰ καὶ ὠφέλιμα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις · μωρὰς δὲ ζητήσεις καὶ γενεαλογίας καὶ ἔριν καὶ μάχας νομικὰς περιΐστασο, εἰσὶν γὰρ ἀνωφελεῖς καὶ μάταιοι. αιῥετικὸν ἄνθρωπον μετὰ μίαν καὶ δευτέραν νουθεσίαν παραιτοῦ, εἰδὼς ὅτι ἐξέστραπται ὁ τοιοῦτος καὶ ἁμαρτάνει, ὢν αὐτοκατάκριτος. Ὅταν πέμψω Ἀρτεμᾶν πρὸς σὲ ἢ Τυχικόν, σπούδασον ἐλθεῖν πρός με εἰς Νικόπολιν, ἐκεῖ γὰρ κέκρικα παραχειμάσαι. Ζηνᾶν τὸν νομικὸν καὶ Ἀπολλῶν σπουδαίως πρόπεμψον, ἵνα μηδὲν αὐτοῖς λείπῃ. μανθανέτωσαν δὲ καὶ οἱ ἡμέτεροι καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι εἰς τὰς ἀναγκαίας χρείας, ἵνα μὴ ὦσιν ἄκαρποι. Ἀσπάζονταί σε οἱ μετ ᾽ἐμοῦ πάντες. Ἄσπασαι τοὺς φιλοῦντας ἡμᾶς ἐν πίστει. ἡ χάρις μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council
The Reading is from Matthew 5:14-19

The Lord said to his disciples, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 5:14-19

Εἶπεν ὁ Κὐριος τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ μαθηταῖς· ῾Υμεῖς ἐστε τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου. οὐ δύναται πόλις κρυβῆναι ἐπάνω ὄρους κειμένη· οὐδὲ καίουσι λύχνον καὶ τιθέασι αὐτὸν ὑπὸ τὸν μόδιον, ἀλλ᾿ ἐπὶ τὴν λυχνίαν, καὶ λάμπει πᾶσι τοῖς ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ. οὕτω λαμψάτω τὸ φῶς ὑμῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὅπως ἴδωσιν ὑμῶν τὰ καλὰ ἔργα καὶ δοξάσωσι τὸν πατέρα ὑμῶν τὸν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς. Μὴ νομίσητε ὅτι ἦλθον καταλῦσαι τὸν νόμον ἢ τοὺς προφήτας· οὐκ ἦλθον καταλῦσαι, ἀλλὰ πληρῶσαι. ἀμὴν γὰρ λέγω ὑμῖν, ἕως ἂν παρέλθῃ ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ, ἰῶτα ἓν ἢ μία κεραία οὐ μὴ παρέλθῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου ἕως ἂν πάντα γένηται. ὃς ἐὰν οὖν λύσῃ μίαν τῶν ἐντολῶν τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων καὶ διδάξῃ οὕτω τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, ἐλάχιστος κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν· ὃς δ᾿ ἂν ποιήσῃ καὶ διδάξῃ, οὗτος μέγας κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν.


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Announcements

New and Notable

Join us for Orthros and Divine Liturgy at the Prophet Elias Chapel, Sat, July 19th at 8am to celebrate the chapel's name day. See flier for details.

Community

Coffee hour is one of the most important ways we can welcome visitors to our parish, and encourage fellowship between parishioners. If you are able to sponsor a coffee hour, please contact the church office.
A host is needed on these Sundays:

  • July 27th
  • Aug 3rd
  • Aug 10th

Pastoral Reminders

We will continue to stand during the Consecration of the holy Gifts on Sundays, at the request of His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos. This has traditionally been the practice of our Church (kneeling is reserved for Liturgies during the week). Each Sunday is a "little Pascha"— a day of joy for the resurrection which is set apart from the rest of the week. Although we will be standing, we should remain reverent with our heads bowed.

We have received notice about the current uncanonical standing of St. Nina Monastery in Union Bridge, therefore we do not recommend visiting the monastery until the issue is resolved. 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. If you cannot make kollyva and are not able to prepare it, a Trisagion service can still be offered for the departed. 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 is our ministry for elementary, middle, and high schoolers. This ministry will resume again in the fall. 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 more information.

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

Orthodoxy 101 serves as a catechism for inquierers and a continued learning opportunity for our parishioners. We will resume meetings again in the fall. Contact Fr. John for more information.

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. Contact Shannon Nerantzis at [email protected].

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Parish Calendar

  • Next Week

    July 13 to July 20, 2025

    Sunday, July 13

    8:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    Thursday, July 17

    9:00AM Orthros & Divine Liturgy for St. Marina

    Saturday, July 19

    8:00AM Orthros and Liturgy for Prophet Elias (at Chapel of Prophet Elias)

    5:00PM Vespers

    Sunday, July 20

    8:30AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

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Fliers

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