St. Peter the Apostle parish’s 70^th annual commemoration of Ss. Peter and Paul (Petrovdan) was held on Sunday, July 18.  This day, at which we gather to honor our patron saint, is always a day of great joy.

On this very warm summer day here in the heart of California’s Central Valley, we gathered as a Eucharistic parish community that has been mystically identified with Ss. Peter & Paul—through Christ—to specifically ask them to intercede on our behalf, and to glorify God  “who is wonderful in His saints.”  The day began with the celebration of Matins followed by the Hierarchical Liturgy, led by our beloved Father and Bishop MAXIM, together with the parish rector Father George Gligich and visiting priest Father Milovan Katanic, from St. Petka Church in San Marcos, CA. Father Milovan was traveling to attend our diocese St. Sava Children’s Camp in Jackson, California for the first week of summer camp. Also serving was Deacon Joseph Wesseler, who has served in our parish since graduating from St. Vladimir’s Seminary in 2017.  Fr. Deacon Joseph and his family will be relocating next month to Greenville, South Carolina and working at St. John of the Ladder Orthodox Church.  Deacon Joseph and his family will be greatly missed by the parishioners of St. Peter’s.

Following the Gospel reading, Bishop Maxim’s homily was on the day’s lesson from Matthew 8:5-13.  “…the centurion that was mentioned in today’s gospel was a pagan, meaning he did not belong to the Jewish community, meaning he was not in Israel, in this chosen people. This centurion demonstrated a faith which was something that the Lord didn’t encounter in His own people, among His own nation, His chosen people, and that really beautiful contextual story which includes the elements of how a person who works for authority reacts to and interacts with somebody who is the Author of Life and who is the Commander of the Universe. It is truly intriguing, and we can learn many things from that, how to react. When the Lord says “I will come and heal him,” he said, “No need. If You just say it then it will happen, because I am a soldier, so when we are commanded to go we go or to stay we stay.” And it is very interesting. But this interesting context leads us to a very crucial point about the whole story which is how our faith is what brings us to the Lord, and how the Lord also touches these existential chords within us which is our faith. And when the Lord Himself said I haven’t found such faith in Israel, that is a reminder to us, dear brothers and sisters. That not only means that in other nations we can find people of faith, it means that those who are pagan, meaning estranged from the Lord, they can have stronger faith than us. Is not that something very striking? Because according to our manner of understanding the gospel, those who receive faith, those are the bearers of faith, and that’s essentially true. But this exception shows us how things are more complex than now we see them and basically by introducing us into the liturgy with this gospel, the Lord reminds us how important it is for us in our prayer and in our liturgical synaxis to think about everyone on this planet because the liturgy is a cosmic event. In a way that is not completely known to us but is real, the liturgy affects the entire creation and includes the entire creation. And even those pagan people and those who as the centurion—who was a Roman soldier, meaning somebody who is not welcome in Israel—all these people can become our brothers and sisters because they also have faith. And let us pray that this liturgy be such an event of inclusion, love, and resolution. God bless you.”

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, the Litya procession around the church with the reading of the Gospel and sanctification with Holy Water took place.  Upon reentering the temple the Slava Bread and Wheat were blessed.  This year the Kumovi for the Slava were the Jim and Svetlana Ward.  Jim has served on our parish council for over five years as vice-president and currently as the president and Svetlana in currently the vice-president of our parish Circle of Sisters

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, His Grace warmly and lovingly greeted Father George and all of the faithful on the celebration of our Slava and the joy that he was filled with on being able to share this day with us.  Father George welcomed His Grace expressing the blessing of having our beloved archpastor once again in our midst.  He also congratulated Bishop Maxim on the 17^th Anniversary of his ordination as a bishop on this day and for the upcoming 15 years on July 30^th as the bishop of our Western American Diocese!  The choir and of the faithful in attendance sang the “Many Years” to His Grace.

During the banquet that followed, Father George, on behalf of the Parish presented our Slava Kumovi Jim and Svetlana Ward with an Icon the Holy Apostle Peter for their many years of service to the parish.  They expressed their gratitude for being honored, the blessing it has been to work with the many in our community, and the love that they had for each and every parishioner.

At the conclusion of the banquet, the annual St. Peter Youth Scholarship in the amount of $500 was presented to graduating High School Seniors Jason Woolsey, and $1500 was presented to Braeden Epperson.  Jason is the son of parishioner Kathryn Woolsey and the grandson of Marjorie Woolley and the late Ron Woolley. He had numerous academic honors from Clovis North High School and will be continuing his education at Clovis Community College.  Braeden is the son of parishioners Jason and Lamia Epperson and was the valedictorian of his graduating class at Eddison High School as well as having outstanding participation in the activities and worship of our parish community.  Braeden will be attending the University of Oklahoma in Tulsa this fall.  We congratulate both of our scholarship recipients and ask God’s blessings and protection in their future!

The banquet was prepared by Ernie and Cheryl Duran and their dedicated committee and we are grateful to them.  We also thank the Duran Family for generously donating all of the expenses of the banquet.  This was truly a special day in the life of our parish community.  We thank God and through the intercessions of the Holy Apostles for His continued mercy and love for our parish!