Very Reverand Father Mikel Bock
My name is Fr. Mikel Bock, son of the late Reader Stephen Bock and Monya Bock. I was born and raised as an Orthodox Christian in SS Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, a large parish in Endicott, NY. My parents both worked at IBM. In 1979, IBM had a mass transfer of employees to Charlotte, NC. My parents, my brother and I, moved there. I subsequently met my wife, Lisa. I worked for Piedmont Natural Gas, and later moved on to additional jobs in the construction industry.
After being married for 14 years, we decided to move to Alaska in 1998 so I could attend St. Herman’s Orthodox Seminary on Kodiak Island, Alaska. I graduated from the seminary in 2001, was ordained to the Holy Diaconate in June of 2002, and then to the Holy Priesthood in December of 2002.
Over the years, I served as a priest in Alaska in many different capacities. I was attached to St. Innocent Cathedral in Anchorage where I often served, but I was also a supply priest to many of the villages such as King Cove, Cordova, Valdez, Tyonek, Homer, Nikolai, and others. While attached to the Cathedral, Fr. Daniel Andrejuk and I ran a church store for the Diocese called The Russian Alaskan Liturgical Supply. We made several trips to Sofrino, Russia and bought items for the churches in Alaska, such as chalices, vestments, crosses, and more.
Part of my duties was to oversee the construction and remodeling teams that came to Alaska—whether it was OCMC, OCF’s Real Break Team*, or the several churches who came on their own. Among the projects that were undertaken were the remodeling of St Herman’s Seminary, a remodel of the chapel on Spruce Island and the addition of its large deck.
In 2006, I was assigned to St Herman Orthodox Church in Fairbanks, AK, serving that parish for 3 years. While there, we had many new people come to the church—both Orthodox and Catechumens. We made many improvements to the physical building and the Altar area.
We moved back to Anchorage in 2009, where I re-opened a vacated church, St Nicholas Orthodox Church, in Eklutna, AK. While there, we were able to offer a full round of services at St Nicholas. I also was in charge of the tourism at that church, where we hosted several thousand tourists every year. Several of the people who attended services there were from the Wasilla area, and expressed their desire to build a church in Wasilla. Through God’s grace we were able to buy and pay off land and subsequently build St. Juvenaly Orthodox Church. I served there until 2019.
While I was in the Wasilla area, I also held Bible studies in the Palmer Correctional Facility until it was temporarily closed in 2016. I also held Bible studies in the Goose Creek Prison for 5 years until 2019.
In July of 2019, Matushka Lisa and I moved to Rock Hill, SC to serve at St Anthony the Great Orthodox Church. No one could have foreseen the pandemic, but nonetheless we seem to have made it through by following the directives that were given to us. During the pandemic, we were able to remodel the church and the house next door. The house next door now serves as the hall for coffee hour and meetings, as well as classrooms for Sunday school. Since we have fully opened up, we have seen a steady stream of new inquirers.
Matushka Lisa and I are looking forward to serving the faithful of SS. Peter and Paul in Phoenix.
Regular Services
Saturday: Vespers, 5:00 pm
Sunday: Divine Liturgy, 9:00 am
Address
1614 E. Monte Vista Rd.
Phoenix, Az 85006
Phone / Email
Fr. Mikel: 907-444-8545
Church: 602-253-9515
Directions To Saints Peter & Paul
This Week...
September 24, 2023
The Vespers on Sept 25th and the Liturgy on the 26th is canceled.
Weds, Sept 27th 6 pm Class
Sat, Sept 30th 5pm Vespers
Sun, Oct 1st 840 am Hours/Divine Liturgy
Weds, Oct 4th NO CLASS
Sat, Oct 7th 5pm Vespers
Sun, Oct 8th 840 am Hours/Divine Liturgy 12 -1230 pm Vespers
Mon, Oct 9th 840 am Hours/Divine Liturgy Pat. Tikhon
Weds, Oct 11th 6 pm Class
Sat, Oct 14th 5pm Vespers
Sun, Oct 15th 840 am Hours/Divine Liturgy
Weds, Oct 18th 6 pm Class
Fri, Oct 20th 6pm Vespers
Sat, Oct 21st 840 Hours/Divine Liturgy 5pm Vespers
Sun, Oct 22nd 840 am Hours/Divine Liturgy
Weds, Oct 25th NO CLASS
Sat, Oct 28th 5pm Vespers
Sun, Oct 29th 840 am Hours/Divine Liturgy
Mon, Oct 30th 6 pm Vespers
Tues, Oct 31st 840 am Hours/Divine Liturgy
The Myrrh Bearers are taking orders for nut rolls. The deadline is Sunday October 1st. Also they are looking for helpers, to make them.
October 29th will be a Tailgate party here at St Peter and Paul afte Divine Liturgy.
October 29th St John the Evangelist in Tempe is having their gala titled "St. John Gala & Auction: Music Under the Stars." Here is the link for more information; go.stjohnaz.org/gala
The Christmas outreach program is beginning, Foca is asking that Children’s books be donated. Books should be new or gently used and for children K-8.
A man in this world must solve a problem: to be with Christ, or to be against Him. And every man decides this, whether he wants to or not. He will either be a lover of Christ or a fighter of Christ. There is no third option. St. Justing Popovich.