Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christ is risen!

“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5).

The founder of this parish, the ever-memorable Archimandrite Peter (Zaychenko) fully understood the deep meaning of this verse from the first letter of the Holy Apostle Peter.  Indeed, throughout his many years of priestly ministry here in the United States, he worked diligently to establish and to build up already-established church communities and to found them, as well.  Our own parish of Saints Peter and Paul here in Phoenix, Arizona, was his last effort in this regard.  Even in his retirement, after having faithfully served Christ and the Church for over forty years, he worked to lay the foundation of a new church community here in the northern Sonoran Desert and, in 1951, our parish was founded and canonically established, built upon living stones.

In its first few years, the parish began to grow and began to flourish and it came to the moment when it was prepared to build a new temple… the one in which we now worship.  And, as we commemorate this month, this temple, this house of the Lord, was consecrated on May 12, 1968.

Our parish church, having been consecrated fifty years ago, has been faithfully cared for, worshipped in, and beautified throughout these past five decades.  And so, we gather to give thanks to God for the Mercy has shown to so many people in this “holy house.” As we gather to commemorate that event five decades ago, we are grateful for all the “founders, builders, and benefactors of this holy house” who built our church fifty years ago.  We remember them with the hope that, fifty years from now, those who gather to commemorate the centenary of this consecration will also remember us and give thanks to God for us, for what we, through our abilities, have also been able to accomplish.  May they see us, as we see those who have gone before us, as people who, in words printed on the occasion of the consecration fifty years ago were “dedicated to serving God and promoting the Holy Orthodox Faith.”  As they prayed fifty years ago, so we, too, pray today: “Grant forgiveness of sin to them that have diligently completed this building and the consecration of a church by Thy word, granting unto them such petitions as are unto salvation.  Stir them up to the fulfilling of Thy commandments; grant unto them the renewal of the gift of Thy Holy Spirit, that  uncondemned they may worship Thee, the only True God, and Jesus Christ Whom Thou has sent: through the prayers of the Theotokos, of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and of all Thy Saints.  Amen.”

Thank you to all who have made this celebration possible.  We are grateful to His Eminence, Archbishop BENJAMIN, our Archpastor, for his presence with us, for leading us in prayer and worship, and for the archpastoral care he shows to us and to all those throughout the Diocese of the West whom the Lord has entrusted to his care.

With love in the Risen Lord,

+Bishop Daniel

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday, May 16 -             Vespers, 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 17 -                 Divine Liturgy, 9:00 a.m., Ascension of the Lord

Sunday, May 27 -                    Pentecost – Divine Liturgy followed by Kneeling Prayers

CONGRATULATIONS AND MANY YEARS!  We express our congratulations to Father David Balmer who was recently elevated to the rank of Archpriest by the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America.  It was a joy for our community to witness his elevation during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, April 29.  Father David was honored in this way as an expression of our gratitude to God for his fidelity in serving Christ’s Holy Orthodox Church.  May the Lord grant Father David and Matushka Mary many continued years of service to the Flock of Christ!  MANY YEARS!

THE IMPROVEMENTS CONTINUE… The new church doors are almost finished being installed and the new windows should be installed within the next few weeks!  As we celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of the Consecration of our church, we continue to care for, as responsible stewards, for the beautiful gift given to us by those who have gone before us.  Bless, O Lord, those who love the beauty of Thy House…

THANK YOU to all who made our observance of Great Lent, Holy Week, and Pascha to be so spiritually rewarding, growth-giving, and joyous.  May the Risen Lord grant His light and joy to all who work with such dedication to glorify the Most Holy Trinity through our worship and our community life.

MEMORY ETERNAL!  As we celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of the Consecration of Saints Peter and Paul Church, we remember all the Clergy and Faithful who founded our parish (1951), who built our “new” church and witnessed its consecration (1968), and who, through all these 67 years since the founding of our parish, have faithfully served Christ’s Flock here in our parish community.  We especially remember Archbishop JOHN (Shahovskoy), the Archbishop of San Francisco, who founded our parish and placed it under the spiritual guidance of Archimandrite Peter (Zaychenko).  Archbishop John also consecrated the church during the pastorate of Archpriest John Karateev, rector of our parish from 1962 to 1972.  And we give thanks to God for the faithful parishioners, gone to their rest before us, who, through their faith, sacrifices, and dedication, have provided us with the gift that is ours as members of this God-protected flock.  May the Lord grant them rest with the saints!  May their memory be eternal!

WELCOME to His Eminence, Archbishop BENJAMIN, as he comes to lead us in prayerful thanksgiving on the occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Consecration of Saints Peter and Paul Church!