"Saint Peter was a humble, devout and peace-loving man, unlike his father, Tsar Symeon the Warrior (d. 927), during whose reign there had been perpetual warfare. By contrast, Peter's long reign was peaceful, and notable for the restoration of good relations with Byzantium and with the West. Peter married Maria, the grand-daughter of the Emperor Romanus Lecapenus, who recognized him as basileus (tsar or king), and he obtained independence from Constantinople for the Bulgarian Church with its own Patriarch. He had a great love for Saint John of Rila (19 Oct.), whom he would often consult, and he kept in touch with renowned ascetics of the time like Saint Paul of Latros (15 Dec.). The King acted energetically against the Bogomil heresy, an offshoot of Manicheism, by which some of his people, lacking sufficient instruction in the faith, were being misled. He called a council in order to condemn the heresy and reassert Christian principles. Nevertheless, the infection was to remain active for many years in Bulgaria. Following the invasion of the north of his Kingdom by Prince Svyatoslav of Kiev in 969, Peter abdicated and became a monk. He died in the following year, having consecrated his final days to God alone." (Synaxarion)   A note on the Bogomils: The Bogomils flourished in the Eastern Europe as an organized church from the 10th to the 15th century. In theology they were dualistic, incorporating some Manichean and Gnostic ideas from the Paulicians. They were nationalistic and gained much support through their opposition to Byzantine dominance over the Slavic peoples. They disappeared as an organized body around the fifteenth century, but elements of their beliefs persisted in popular thinking for many centuries afterward.

For the lives of these two great Apostles, we can only recommend a reading of the entire New Testament, which contains accounts of their lives and many of their inspired writings. St Peter, after preaching in Judea, Antioch and parts of Asia, came to Rome, where he was crucified by order of the Emperor Nero, about the year 66. Being led to the cross, he begged the executioner to crucify him upside-down, because he felt unworthy to partake of the same death as the Savior.   St Paul's apostolic labors extended from Arabia to Spain. He also ended his earthly course in Rome, beheaded by order of Nero, some say at the same time that St Peter was crucified.

The story of St Peter's imprisonment and miraculous release by an Angel of God is told in Acts ch. 12. The chains which fell from his hands were collected by Christians and passed down through the generations as precious relics, finally coming to Constantinople and being placed in the Church of St Peter, where they worked many miracles and healings.   There is nothing superstitious about the veneration of clothing and other objects belonging to the Saints; the Acts of the Apostles describes how handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched the Apostle Paul would heal the sick (ch. 19), and that even the shadow of the Apostle Peter healed those on whom it fell (ch. 5). In the twentieth century, a shirt worn by St Nektarios on his death-bed healed a paralyzed man. The sanctity of those united to God extends not only to their bodies but at times to their garments.

"Saint Peter was a humble, devout and peace-loving man, unlike his father, Tsar Symeon the Warrior (d. 927), during whose reign there had been perpetual warfare. By contrast, Peter's long reign was peaceful, and notable for the restoration of good relations with Byzantium and with the West. Peter married Maria, the grand-daughter of the Emperor Romanus Lecapenus, who recognized him as basileus (tsar or king), and he obtained independence from Constantinople for the Bulgarian Church with its own Patriarch. He had a great love for Saint John of Rila (19 Oct.), whom he would often consult, and he kept in touch with renowned ascetics of the time like Saint Paul of Latros (15 Dec.). The King acted energetically against the Bogomil heresy, an offshoot of Manicheism, by which some of his people, lacking sufficient instruction in the faith, were being misled. He called a council in order to condemn the heresy and reassert Christian principles. Nevertheless, the infection was to remain active for many years in Bulgaria. Following the invasion of the north of his Kingdom by Prince Svyatoslav of Kiev in 969, Peter abdicated and became a monk. He died in the following year, having consecrated his final days to God alone." (Synaxarion)   A note on the Bogomils: The Bogomils flourished in the Eastern Europe as an organized church from the 10th to the 15th century. In theology they were dualistic, incorporating some Manichean and Gnostic ideas from the Paulicians. They were nationalistic and gained much support through their opposition to Byzantine dominance over the Slavic peoples. They disappeared as an organized body around the fifteenth century, but elements of their beliefs persisted in popular thinking for many centuries afterward.

For the lives of these two great Apostles, we can only recommend a reading of the entire New Testament, which contains accounts of their lives and many of their inspired writings. St Peter, after preaching in Judea, Antioch and parts of Asia, came to Rome, where he was crucified by order of the Emperor Nero, about the year 66. Being led to the cross, he begged the executioner to crucify him upside-down, because he felt unworthy to partake of the same death as the Savior.   St Paul's apostolic labors extended from Arabia to Spain. He also ended his earthly course in Rome, beheaded by order of Nero, some say at the same time that St Peter was crucified.

A silly visit from the "Easter Bunny" leads to a serious exposé of "Spring Celebration Customs," the bunny basket, and the Pascha basket—even red eggs—in this timely encore episode.

Fresh from a week at Camp St. Raphael, Fr. Joseph "heard the news of the day—O Boy!"

So tell us, Father Joseph—just how did the Resurrection of our Lord get mixed up with bunnies, chocolate, and eggs?

Fr. Stephen De Young introduces the Epistles of St. Peter and Jude.

Fr. Stephen De Young begins the discussion of St. Peter's First Universal Letter.

Fr. Stephen De Young continues the discussion of 1 Peter.

Fr. Stephen De Young continues the discussion of St. Peter's First Universal Letter.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses 1 Peter, Chapter 2.

Fr. Stephen De Young continues the discussion of St. Peter's First Universal Letter.

Fr. Stephen De Young concludes the discussion of 1 Peter.

Fr. Stephen De Young begins the discussion of Peter's Second Epistle.

Fr. Stephen De Young continues the discussion of St. Peter's Second Epistle.

Fr. Stephen De Young continues the discussion of St. Paul's Second Epistle.

Fr. Stephen De Young wraps up the discussion of St. Peter's Second Epistle.

In this final episode of his reflection on Muscovite Russia, Fr. John describes the Old Believer Schism as a crisis in the formerly optimistic cosmology of eastern Christendom, leading to its decline on the eve of modern times.

Most Americans know Tchaikovsky as the composer of the delightful dances contained within the Nutcracker Ballet. As Fr. John Strickland shows, however, there is much more to be heard in their melodies, and little that was delightful about the emotionally agonized life behind them. Using selections from a variety of works, he explores how the romantic agony came for Tchaikovsky in his boyhood and thereafter never departed. Special attention is given to an analysis of the famous Sixth Symphony, nicknamed Pathetique. First performed just days before the composer's abrupt death, the work brings the generation of the romantics to a heart-rending and emblematic conclusion.

Fr John reflects on Dr. Peter Bouteneff’s podcast concerning “Post-Episcopalian Stress Disorder,” and suggests a course-correction.

"Saint Peter," from The Disciples of Christ, Illustrated Biographies, by Spiritual Fragrance Publishing (2012)

Kevin Allen talks with Fr. Peter Gillquist about the status of Orthodox Evangelism and the Church in America.

Meet Peter, one of the treasures that is part of the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.

Fr. Dn. Christopher speaks on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.

Fr. Christopher looks at three incidents in the life of St. Peter that are instructive for our life of repentance.

Fr. Gregory talks about the challenges Ss. Peter and Paul faced and how we can learn from them today.

Dr. Rossi welcomes guest Dr. Peter Bouteneff, Professor of Systematic Theology at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary to discuss a retreat he recently led about finding the proper view of self as a person created in the image of God.

Dr. Albert Rossi interviews Dr. Peter Bouteneff about his new book titled, How to Become a Sinner, published by St. Vladimir's Press. Dr. Bouteneff is the Director of the Master of Arts Program and Professor of Systematic Theology at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in Yonkers, NY.

Following yesterday's pontifical election, Fr. Andrew Damick comments on this most recent event as well as the recent election of Patriarch John X of the Holy Synod of Antioch.

Fr. James Ellison was with Fr. Peter Gillquist and the family when he breathed his last and participated in the prayers that followed his repose. Fr. James is priest at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in Urbana, IL.

Dr. Frank Papatheofanis talks with John Maddex about the newly announced endowed chair established at St. Katherine College in honor of Fr. Peter Gillquist who fell asleep in the Lord on July 1, 2012.

John Maddex visits the home of Fr. Peter and Kh. Marilyn Gillquist to talk about the recent announcement by His Eminence Metropolitan Philip of Fr. Peter's retirement as Chairman of the Department of Missions and Evangelism for the Antiochian Archdiocese. Joining them is their son, Fr. Peter Jon Gillquist.

Fr. Pat discusses Sts. Peter and Paul and their relationship to the Orthodox Church.

Fr. Pat compares Peter attempting to walk on water to what Holy Scripture tells us of the Patriarch Jacob.

Offers have been made for a site which inspired JM Barrie but a timeline for any sale is uncertain.

Peterborough United, Swindon Town and Cheltenham Town all win in the EFL Trophy to seal their places in the last 16 of the competition.

Derk Haank to succeed Peter Wakkie as Chairman of the Supervisory Board as of the 2019 Annual General Meeting

The Vatican and Microsoft on Monday unveiled a digital twin of St. Peter's Basilica that uses artificial intelligence to explore one of the world's most important monument's while helping the Holy See manage visitor flows and identify conservation problems.

The GEO XIII Plenary will take place on 9 & 10 Nov 2016 in St. Petersburg, Russia. More information to follow.

These are testing times for trustees, but do we expect too much of them?

Sector veteran Peter Cardy offers answers to your workplace dilemmas

Sector veteran Peter Cardy offers answers to your workplace dilemmas

Sector veteran Peter Cardy offers answers to your workplace dilemmas.

Yet another fraud against a charity shows why trustees need to brush up on their basic maths and grasp of finances

There is a lot to be said for radical change, but opting for evolution instead can have greater benefits