Visit to Sts. Peter & Paul in Tucson, AZ

Details: Created on Friday, 13 February 2015 20:44

Father Christos and Prebystera Katina Patitsas of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, visited SS. Peter & Paul Orthodox Church in Tucson, Arizona, for the weekend of the Sunday of the Prodigal Son (Jan 26/Feb 8, 2015). Father Christos served Great Vespers on Saturday evening, and before the Hours and Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning, served the Holy Baptism of James Bell, the 8th-day naming of James' son David, and the 40th day churching of James' wife Anastasia and son David. James' Godfather is his father-in-law, David Wright. Two other close family members, Photini who is Anastasia's sister, and Maria who is James' and Anastasia's five-year-old daughter, were numbered among the witnesses.

Twenty-four people filled the small chapel to capacity for the Hours and Divine Liturgy following the Baptism, and there was standing room only at the potluck Trapeza following the services. Presbytera Katina delighted everyone with her beautiful Orthodox folk songs, including “The Prodigal Son,” “The Wind and the Sea,” and “St. John of Kronstadt.”

Father Christos' interesting and compelling stories, always containing an Orthodox truth, were not only entertaining, but filled the hungry hearts of our isolated desert community. Many thanks to Father Christos and Presbytera Katina! Many years to the newly-illumined James and his family: Anastasia, Maria, David the younger, Photini, and David the elder!

Liturgy at Sts. Peter Paul AZ

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Missions

Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Mission, Tucson, Arizona

Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church is a beautiful mission parish near downtown Tucson, a city in southern Arizona. It was started in 1997 by Father John Bockman, who was a missionary Priest formerly serving missions in Tennessee and Massachusetts since 1990. Father John served the faithful in Tucson and the surrounding area in his home Chapel until his repose in November of 2000. His wife, Presbytera Valerie, continued to make her home Chapel available for the mission, with clergy from Saint Nectarios Orthodox Church in Seattle and His Eminence, Metropolitan Moses of Toronto (then of Portland), visiting to provide the Divine Services.

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