St. Peter the Apostle parish’s 72nd annual commemoration of Ss. Peter and Paul (Petrovdan) was held on Sunday, July 16. The day, at which we gather to honor our patron saint and heavenly intercessors, is always a day of great joy.

On this very hot Fresno summer day, in which the temperature reached 110 degrees here in the heart of California’s Central Valley, it didn’t prevent the church from being completely filled with faithful who gathered as a Eucharistic community mystically identified with Ss. Peter & Paul—through Christ—to specifically ask them to intercede in 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 deacon and friend to the parish community Deacon Dragan Stojanovich, from St. Sava Church in Jackson, CA. The responses to Matins and Liturgy were beautify chanted and sung by our St. Peter Choir under the direction of Deborah Hart.

The Gospel reading for the sixth Sunday after Pentecost was Matthew 9:1-8. In his sermon on the reading, Bishop Maxim recounted that a paralytic lying on a bed was brought to Jesus and that Jesus’ immediate reaction was to say, “Son your sins are forgiven.” Bishop Maxim pointed out that the people witnessing the event all thought to themselves that Jesus was committing blasphemy, because only God can forgive sin – he also pointed out that people hearing the Gospel reading typically wonder to themselves “What sins did this man commit that caused the paralysis?” The Bishop explained that the paralysis wasn’t caused by any sins the man individually committed, but it was the sin of all humanity, since the time when the first man fractured his relationship with God, that brought sickness into the world.

Resuming the Gospel story, Bishop Maxim said that when Jesus perceived what people were thinking he asked them why they were thinking those things and asked which they thought was easier to say “Your sins are forgiven,” or “Get up and walk?” The Bishop explained that the order of these questions is very important because since Adam’s sin against God brought illness into the world, the sin the paralytic carried had to first be forgiven before he could be healed so he could get up, take up his bed, and go home.

But more significant than first forgiving the sin that ushered in illness, is the fact that Jesus forgave this sin and healed the man as the Son of Man. Because of his close relationship with God, Jesus was able to forgive sin and heal, even in his fully human form. Bishop Maxim pointed out that just as Jesus told his Apostles that they would be able to do everything he did, and more, all of us are able to do what Jesus did, and still does, as long as we stay close to God – with the power of such a relationship, we can heal each other. Towards the end of the sermon, the Bishop emphasized that the most important thing is to love each other. Incidentally, this is also something he writes in letters to newly elected Church board members of his when he says, “If you can, receive the message and understand the one secret: that everything is brought into being and directed by love.”

Before the end 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 Kuma for the Slava was Elizabeth Dobrinen. She has been very active in her service and devotion to Christ and our St. Peter’s Church for 18 years, from the time that she was a catechumen and received into the Orthodox Church.

After 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 leading us in our celebration.

At the banquet that followed we were honored to be joined by Protopresbyter James and Presvytera Donna Pappas from our neighboring parish of St. George Greek Orthodox Church. Since the time of the founding of our parish in 1951 we have always had a very close relation-ship with the clergy and parishioners of St. George’s.

Father George, on behalf of the parish presented our Slava Kuma Elizabeth Dobrinen with an Icon the Holy Apostle Peter for her many years of service. Elizabeth has served as a teacher in our parish’s church school program for the upper elementary grades (4th, 5th and 6th). Kuma Elizabeth and her students annually host a fund raising luncheon in February benefitting Ortho-dox and local Charities. Some of the organizations they have raised money for through the years are St. Innocent’s Orphanage, Project Mexico, St, Nilus Serbian Orthodox Skete in Alaska, Kosovo Humanitarian relief and the Dairy Farm project with the Diocese of Prizren, IOCC and locally the Evangel Home for drug addicted mothers and their children. Elizabeth has also organized many Project Mexico home building mission trips from our parish over the years. She will be leading another group of parishioners this summer from August 1 through 8. Elizabeth expressed her gratitude for being honored, the blessing it has been to be able to work with so many in our community, and the love that they had for each and every parishioner. She also re-counted how her first trip to Project Mexico had been as a catechumen with some reluctance. She had been encouraged by Protinica Elena the day before the group was to depart to join them on the trip, and being unsure she approached Bishop Maxim who was visiting the parish and asked his opinion. He gave his blessing and told her that she had to go! So she joined the mission trip and fell in love with the work and mission of Project Mexico.

The delicious banquet was prepared by Ernie and Cheryl Duran and their dedicated committee and we are very grateful to them for chairing this committee for many years. We especially appreciate Ernie and parishioners Anthony Olivo and Justin Nika for grilling the lamb outdoors in the 111 degree heat! 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!

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