You are invited to visit Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in the village of Crossingville in Crawford County, Pennsylvania! We are a parish of the Orthodox Christian Faith which was established by the Apostles on the day of Holy Pentecost in the Year 33 AD. Our church is a member of the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and Western Pennyslvania of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA).
The Orthodox Church is evangelical, but not Protestant. It is orthodox, but not Jewish. It is catholic, but not Roman. It is not non-denominational, it is pre-denominational. It has been believed, taught, preserved, defended, and died for. It is the Faith that has established the universe!
The central worship service of the Orthodox Church, celebrating the Eucharist (Holy Communion). Usually celebrated on Sundays and feast days, the Divine Liturgy consists of the Liturgy of the Word (scripture readings) and Liturgy of the Faithful (Eucharistic prayer and communion). The most common forms are the Liturgies of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great.
Presanctified Liturgy
A special Lenten service combining Vespers with communion using bread consecrated at a previous Divine Liturgy. Celebrated on Wednesday and Friday evenings during Great Lent, this service allows the faithful to receive communion during the fasting period without celebrating the full Divine Liturgy. It maintains the penitential character of Lent while providing spiritual nourishment.
Vespers
The evening prayer service of the Orthodox Church, traditionally celebrated at sunset. Vespers includes psalms, hymns, scripture readings, and incense. On Saturday evenings, Great Vespers is often combined with the Sunday Divine Liturgy. The service marks the end of the liturgical day and prepares the faithful for rest and reflection.
St. Gregory Palamas
The 14th-century Archbishop of Thessalonica who defended hesychast spirituality and taught about the uncreated energies of God. Celebrated on the Second Sunday of Lent, Palamas developed theological foundations for mystical prayer and the Jesus Prayer tradition. His teachings on theosis (deification) are central to Orthodox spiritual life.
Matins (Orthros)
The morning prayer service of the Orthodox Church, traditionally celebrated at dawn. Also called Orthros in Greek tradition, this service includes the reading of the Gospel, the Great Doxology, and numerous psalms and hymns. Matins prepares the faithful for the day and is often celebrated immediately before the Divine Liturgy on Sundays and feast days.
Holy Confession
The sacrament of reconciliation through which the faithful confess their sins to a priest and receive absolution. Also called the sacrament of repentance or penance, confession restores the baptismal purity lost through sin and reconciles the penitent with God and the Church. The penitent stands before an icon of Christ while confessing to the priest, who acts as a witness and minister of God's forgiveness. The priest then covers the penitent's head with his epitrachelion (stole) and pronounces the prayer of absolution.
Parish News & Events
Prosphora Baking Class
02/20/26
Lenten Retreat 2026
02/06/26
Great Blessing of Waters
01/03/26
Lenten Retreat
11/01/24
Today's Scripture Readings
All Scripture Readings
Today's Saints
Martyr Conon of Isauria
The Holy Martyr Conon of Isauria was born in Badinḗ (Βαδινή), a village near the city of Isauria in Asia Minor, whose inhabitants had received the Christian Faith from the Apostle Paul. From his youth, Saint Conon was protected by the Archangel Michael, who helped him in many difficult…
Read the Life
Troparion & Kontakion
Finding of the relics of Saint Theodore, Prince of Smolensk and Yaroslavl, and his children
On March 5, 1463, the relics of holy Prince Theodore and his sons, David and Constantine were uncovered at Yaroslavl. The chronicler, an eyewitness to the event, wrote: “At the city of Yaroslavl in the monastery of the Holy Savior they unearthed three Great Princes: Prince Theodore…
Read the Life
Monastic Martyr Adrian of Poshekhonye, Yaroslavl
Saint Adrian of Poshekhonye was born at Rostov the Great at the end of the sixteenth century, of pious parents named Gregory and Irene. Saint Adrian received monastic tonsure at the monastery of Saint Cornelius of Komel (May 19). Among the brethren gathered around Saint Cornelius were some capable…
Read the Life
Troparion & Kontakion
Martyr Onesimus of Isauria
The Holy Martyr Onesimus (Onisius) lived in Palestine. He was beheaded with the sword for confessing faith in Christ.
Read the Life
Troparion & Kontakion
Martyr Conon the Gardener of Pamphylia
The Holy Martyr Conon the Gardener was born in Nazareth of Galilee, but he lived in the city of Mandona, where he occupied himself with gardening. He was a God-fearing man, sincere in heart, and without malice. The saint suffered for his faith in Christ under the emperor Decius (249-251). When they…
Read the Life
Troparion & Kontakion
Virgin Martyr Irais (Rhais) of Antinoe in Egypt
No information on the life of this saint is available at this time.
Read the Life
Troparion & Kontakion
Martyr Eulogius of Palestine
The Holy Martyr Eulogius was a native of Palestine. After the death of his pagan parents he gave away all his inheritance to the poor, and he himself became a wanderer and went through Palestine, converting pagans to Christianity. During the time of a persecution he was arrested, subjected to…
Read the Life
Troparion & Kontakion
Martyr Eulampius of Palestine
The Holy Martyr Eulampius lived in Palestine. He was beheaded for his faith in Christ.
Read the Life
Troparion & Kontakion
Saint Mark the Ascetic of Egypt
Saint Mark the Ascetic was born in Athens during the fifth century, and became a monk in the Nitrian desert (Lower Egypt). From his youth his fondest pursuit was the reading of Holy Scripture. It is said that he knew the whole Bible by heart. Nine of his thirty discourses have come down to us.…
Read the Life
Troparion & Kontakion
Saint Hesychius the Faster of Bithynia
Saint Hesychius the Faster was born in the eighth century in the coastal city of Adrineia in Bithynia. Raised since his youth in piety, he left his parental home and practiced asceticism in a wilderness spot on Mount Maionis. Despite the threat of demons and wild animals and robbers living there,…
Read the Life
Troparion & Kontakion
Icon of the Mother of God “The Nurturer”
In the Icon called “Nurturing,” the Mother of God is depicted with her eternal Child sitting on her left arm. Christ’s right hand is extended upward to the face of the All-Pure Virgin. Before 1917, the holy image was located in the Kazan Cathedral on Red Square, but it was lost…
Read the Life
Troparion & Kontakion
Saint John, New Martyr of Bulgaria
The holy New Martyr John was born in Bulgaria in 1775. Since fanatical Moslems believed that they would be assured of an eternal “paradise” where they would enjoy beautiful virgins and an abundance of food if they could force Christians to deny Christ and follow Mohammed, they spared no…
Read the Life
Troparion & Kontakion
Visit Us
Sts. Peter & Paul Orthodox Church · 25636 N. Mosiertown Rd. · Edinboro, PA 16412