My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΜΕΣΩ ΗΜΩΝ! ΚΑΙ ΗΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΑΙ.

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ON JUNE 29th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMMEMORATES THE FEAST OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL AND ON JUNE 30th THE FEAST OF THE HOLY AND GLORIOUS APOSTLES OF CHRIST

THE HOLY APOSTLE PETER

The son of Jonah and brother of Saint Andrew the First-Called, of the tribe of Simeon and the town of Bethsaida, he was a fisherman and was at first called Simon, but the Lord was pleased to call him Cephas, or Peter (St. John 1:42). He was the first of the disciples to give clear expression to his faith in the Lord Jesus, saying: "Thou art the Chist, the Son of the Living God" (St. Matthew 16:16). His love for the Lord was very strong, and his faith in Him went from strength to strength. When the Lord was put on trial, Peter denied Him three times, but it needed only one look into the face of the Lord, and Peter's soul was filled with shame and repentance. After the descent of the Holy Spirit, Peter became a fearless and powerful preacher of the Gospel. After his first sermon in Jerusalem, about 3,000 souls were converted to the Faith. He preached the Gospel throughout Palestine and Asia Minor, in Italy and In Illyria. He performed many wonders (miracles), healing the sick and raising the dead, and even his shadow had the power of healing the sick. He had a major struggle with Simon the Magician, who declared himself to be from God but was actually a servant of the devil. He finally put him to shame and overcame him. Peter was condemned to death on the order of the wicked Emperor Nero, a friend of Simon's. After installing Linus as Bishop of Rome and exhorting and encouraging the flock of Christ there, Saint Peter went to his death with joy. When he saw the cross before him, he asked the executioner to crucify him upside-down, because he felt himself to be unworthy to die in the same way as his Lord. And so this great servant of the Greatest Master went to his rest and received a crown of eternal glory.

THE HOLY APOSTLE PAUL

Born in Tarsus of the tribe of Benjamin, he was formerly called Saul and studied under Gamaliel. He was a Pharisee and a persecutor of Christians. He was wondrously converted to the Christian faith by the Lord Himself who appeared to him on the road to the city of Damascus. He was baptized by the Apostle Ananias, named Paul and enrolled in the work of the Great Apostles. He preached the Gospel everywhere with burning zeal, from the borders of Arabia to the land of Spain, among both the Jews and the heathen (pagans), and receiving the title of "the Apostle to the Gentiles". His fearful sufferings were matched only by his superhuman endurance. Through all the years of his preaching, he hung from day to day like a thread between life and death. Filling his days and nights with toil and suffering for Christ, organizing the Church in many places and reaching a high level of perfection, he was able to say: "I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me" (Galatians 2:20). He was beheaded in Rome in the reign of Nero, at the same time as Saint Peter.

THE ASSEMBLY OF THE HOLY, GLORIOUS AND ALL-PRAISED APOSTLES OF CHRIST

Although each of the Twelve Apostles has his own Feast Day during the year, the Church has set aside this day for a general feast of all of them together, including Saint Paul. The names and Feast Days of the Twelve Apostles are:

Peter - June 29th and January 16th
Andrew - November 30th
James the son of Zebedee - April 30th
John the Theologian - September 26th and May 8th
Philip - November 14th
Bartholomew - June 11th and August 25th
Thomas - October 6th
Matthew the Evangelist - November 16th
James the son of Alphaeus - October 9th
Thaddeus (or Jude the brother of James) - June 19th
Simon the Zealot - May 10th
Matthias - August 9th
Paul - June 29th
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Let us also remember here how these most holy and selfless men in the history of the world died and finished their earthly course:

St. Peter was crucified upside-down.
St. Andrew was crucified on X shaped cross.
St. James was beheaded.
St. John the Theologian died in a wondrous way.
St. Philip was crucified.
Saint Bartholomew was crucified, then flayed and beheaded.
St. Thomas was pierced with five spears.
St. Matthew was burned alive.
St. James the son of Alphaeus was crucified.
St. Thaddeus was crucified.
St. Simon the Zealot was crucified.
St. Matthias was stoned, then beheaded with an axe when dead.
St. Paul was beheaded.

[Source: The Prologue from Ochrid]

Please note: The names of both of the holy Apostle Peter and Saint Paul were changed. Simon became Peter and Saul became Paul. All the apostles had only one name and not two or more! Let us not attempt to change our Holy Orthodox Christian Tradition but respect it and adhere to it.

DIVINE LITURGIES ON JUNE 29th and JUNE 30th:

On Friday June 29th - the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul:
Orthros (Matins) at 9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.
Place of worship: The Chapel of the Holy Dormition of the Mother of God in New Carlisle

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On Saturday June 30th - The Feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Apostles:
Orthros (Matins) at 9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.
Place of worship: Saint Andrew

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!"--Saint John Chrysostom

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George