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.
The Hours
Brief prayer services traditionally celebrated at specific times of day: First Hour (6 AM), Third Hour (9 AM), Sixth Hour (noon), and Ninth Hour (3 PM). Each Hour includes psalms, troparia, and prayers appropriate to that time of day. These services sanctify the day and connect us to Christ's Passion, as they commemorate specific moments in His crucifixion and death.
St. Vladimir
The Great Prince of Kiev who brought Christianity to Russia in 988 AD. Celebrated on July 15th, St. Vladimir's conversion and baptism of his people established Orthodox Christianity as the foundation of Russian civilization. His feast honors both his personal transformation from pagan ruler to Christian saint and his role in spreading the Orthodox faith.
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. Seraphim of Sarov
The beloved Russian hermit and mystic known for his joy and spiritual wisdom. Celebrated on January 2nd, Seraphim spent years in solitude before becoming a spiritual father to thousands. His greeting 'My joy!' and teaching that the purpose of Christian life is acquiring the Holy Spirit inspired countless believers. He represents the mystical tradition of Orthodox spirituality.
Prophet Elijah
The fiery Old Testament prophet who defended monotheism against Baal worship and was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire. Celebrated on July 20th, Prophet Elijah represents zealous faith and God's power over false gods. His appearance at the Transfiguration alongside Moses shows his continued importance in Christian revelation.
Sts. Boris and Gleb
The first saints canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church, sons of St. Vladimir who chose martyrdom over civil war. Celebrated on July 24th, these 'Passion-Bearers' were murdered by their brother but refused to resist, following Christ's example of non-violence. They represent the choice of peace over power and Christ-like suffering.
The Miracle of Saint Euphemia the All-Praised: The holy Great Martyr Euphemia (September 16) suffered martyrdom in the city of Chalcedon in the year 304, during the time of the persecution against Christians by the emperor Diocletian (284-305). One and a half centuries later, at a time when the…
Equal-to-the-Apostles Blessed Great Princess Olga (in Holy Baptism Helen)
Saint Olga, Equal of the Apostles, was the wife of the Kievan Great Prince Igor. The struggle of Christianity with paganism under Igor and Olga, who reigned after Oleg (+ 912), entered into a new phase. The Church of Christ in the years following the reign of Igor (+ 945) became a remarkable…
The Hieromartyr Kindeos was a priest in the village of Talmenia (Sidḗ in Pamphylia) in Asia Minor. At that time Emperor Diocletian was persecuting the Christians. Even so, Saint Kindeos labored tirelessly to spread the message of the Gospel. For this reason, he was denounced to the eparch…
The Rzhevsk (or Okovetsk) Icon of the Mother of God is from the Rzhevets Monastery in Poltava. On May 26, 1539, on the day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost), in Tver diocese, in Vyryshensk town situated in a virgin forest on the bank of the rivulet Vyryshna in the Okovetsk district, not…
The New Monastic Martyr Νikόdēmos came from Elbasan, a town of Epirus (Albania) and was raised by devout parents. When he reached a suitable age, he married a Christian woman and they had several children. Since he associated with Turks, he was influenced by them and became a Moslem. He even…
In the VI century the relics of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara (December 4) were transferred from Heliopolis to Constantinople, and in the XII century Princess Barbara, the daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Alexios Komnenos (reigned 1081-1118) married the Russian Prince Michael Izyaslavich, bringing…
Saint Arcadius of Vyazma and Novotorsk was from the city of Vyazma of pious parents, who from childhood taught him prayer and obedience. The gentle, perceptive, prudent and good youth chose for his ascetic feat of being a fool-for-Christ. He lived by alms, and slept wherever he found himself,…
Finding of the Relics of Saint Hilarion, Archbishop of Verey
The New Hieromartyr Hilarion (Troitsky) fell asleep in the Lord on December 15, 1929 after spending six years in labor camps. When Metropolitan Seraphim (Chichagov) of Leningrad obtained permission from the authorities to take Saint Hilarion's body from the prison hospital for burial, he vested him…