St. Peter Orthodox Church

Newsletter

How and Why Do We Fast?

Fasting is, according to St. John Chrysostom, the third most important element in our spiritual practices outside the worship of God in community.

Saturday of the Souls

Three Important Announcements

Saturday of the Souls Divine Liturgy On Saturday, February 21 at 9:30 we will hold the Saturday of the Souls Divine Liturgy. Bring the names of your loved ones you

St. Peter Newsletter — February 10, 2015

The Sunday of the Last Judgment is the third Sunday of a three-week period prior to the commencement of Great Lent. During this time, the services of the Church have

The Publican and the Pharisee

St. Peter Newsletter — January 30, 2015

The Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee By Fr. Alexander Schmemann The Lenten season begins then by a quest, a prayer for humility which is the beginning of true repentance.

Lenten Fasting Guidelines

Below are the guidelines for the Lenten Fast according to the Canons of the Orthodox Church. Several things we must consider: Fasting rules are not laws, but disciplines. They are

Jesus Calling Zacchaeus

St. Peter Newsletter: The Sunday of Zaccheaus is a Bell that Tolls in the Distance

The Sunday of Zacchaeus The Sunday of Zacchaeus rings like a bell in the distance to alert us that Great Lent is approaching. Starting this Sunday we are to start

A Brief History of St. Paisios

On January 13, 2015, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Synod unanimously added the blessed Paisius to the roles of the Saints of the Church. This decision was made following

St. Peter Newsletter – January 15, 2015

Sts. Athanasius and Cyril, Patriarchs of Alexandria This Sunday we commemorate Sts. Cyril and Athanasios. Who were they? Both me fought valiantly against the heresies (false teachings) in the first

Jubilee Year of the Repose of St. Raphael of Brooklyn

January, 2015 Brother Hierarchs, Reverend Clergy, Esteemed Members of the Archdiocese Board of Trustees and Parish Councils, Department Chairs and Beloved Faithful: Greetings to you and your families in the

The Good Samaritan by Vincent Van Gogh (detail)

Anticipating Needs

Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ Galatians 6:2 If you watch the altar servers closely, you will see that they anticipate the needs of the

Bible study

Bible Study Begins Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 7pm

They word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for

St. John Maximovitch

St. John Maximovitch and the Dove

When I came to San Francisco to be close to the saintly Archbishop John Maximovitch, I heard a lot of fascinating accounts of his ascetic life. Frequently I visited St.