Welcome to Ss. Peter & Paul Russian Orthodox Church

Thank you for visiting our website. I hope that you find it to be a welcoming introduction to our parish community and a source of valuable information.

Our History and Community

Saints Peter & Paul Russian Orthodox Cathedral was founded in the early 20th century by Russian immigrants from the northeastern regions of the Carpathian Mountains. Today the faithful who worship here are comprised of a mix of American “cradle” Orthodox Christians, as well as those among the “new immigration” from Orthodox nations and American converts to the Orthodox faith from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds. We are under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA – Moscow Patriarchate, we adhere to the Julian (Old) Calendar, and our services are conducted primarily in English.

The Church as a Building Under Construction

One of the images of the Church contained in the New Testament is of a building under construction: Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord, In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit (Eph 2:19-22). As every Orthodox Christian community must reflect the image of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church of which we are members, those words of St. Paul are called to mind when we consider the current state and future vision of our own parish. We are called to grow not only physically with the increase of souls, but more importantly it’s essential for us to grow spiritually, and by doing so souls will be added. That’s the same way in which the Church has grown since the first century.

The Foundation of Growth

True growth is only achieved when a parish is built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets. (v. 20). What that means is that a parish community cannot and will not truly grow unless it is firmly rooted in a genuine life of prayer, founded solely upon the Apostolic Tradition which has been given by Christ and has been passed to us unaltered to this day. Any other foundation will crumble and fall.

Transition and Vision

The parish of Saints Peter & Paul is undergoing a transition. While we were once great in numbers, the vast majority of our founders’ descendants no longer attend services on a regular basis. Many of them did not raise their children as Orthodox Christians and/or they have themselves apostatized from the Orthodox faith, and over the course of many generations that has caused us a great deal of harm. Keeping in mind that the mark of a failing parish is one that idolizes its past, our vision is rather to look with anticipation toward the future. The transition we’re undergoing is one that will bring us, if we are persistent, toward an authentic spiritual life in uncompromising adherence to Holy Tradition. There has been, so to speak, the dawn of a new day in our parish community, and we have begun to see the results with an increase of souls who are desiring Christ in Truth. If you are of like mind, if you seek the Truth among the falsehood that the world offers, if you are an Orthodox Christian or are inquiring about the Orthodox Faith, then we welcome you to our community. My prayer is that you will be part of our new beginning, a return to Holy Tradition, and with that the increase of souls seeking their salvation within the walls of our beautiful temple.