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 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.
Divine Liturgy
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.
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.
Akathist
A devotional service of praise consisting of hymns sung while standing ("akathist" means "not sitting"). The most famous is the Akathist to the Theotokos, traditionally sung during the fifth Friday of Great Lent. Akathists can honor Christ, the Theotokos, or various saints. These services are deeply moving expressions of Orthodox hymnography and devotion.
Nativity of Christ
The celebration of Christ's birth in Bethlehem. The feast is preceded by a 40-day Nativity Fast and celebrated with the Divine Liturgy, special hymns like the Troparion of the Nativity, and the blessing of homes.
Nativity of John the Baptist
The birth of St. John the Baptist, the Forerunner of Christ, to the elderly Zacharias and Elizabeth. Celebrated on June 24th, this feast honors the one who prepared the way for Christ's ministry. John's birth was miraculous, and he grew up in the desert to become the voice crying in the wilderness, baptizing Christ in the Jordan.
Parish News & Events
Orthodox Discovery Class
05/23/26
Today's Scripture Readings
All Scripture Readings
Today's Saints
Saint Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria
Saint Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria, a distinguished champion of Orthodoxy and a great teacher of the Church, came from an illustrious and pious Christian family. He studied the secular sciences, including philosophy, but most of all he strove to acquire knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and the…
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Troparion & Kontakion
Venerable Cyril, Igoumen of White Lake
Saint Cyril, Igoumen of White Lake, (in the world Cosmas) was born in Moscow of pious parents. In his youth he was left an orphan and lived with his kinsman, the boyar (nobleman) Timothy Vasil’evich Vel’yaminov, in the surroundings of the court of the Great Prince Demetrius Donskoy (1363-1389).…
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Troparion & Kontakion
Venerable Alexander, Abbot of Kushta, Vologda
Saint Alexander, Hegoumen of Kushta Monastery in Vologda, was born about the year 1371, and his name in the world was Alexei. He was tonsured at the Savior-Stone (Spaso-Kamen) monastery by Hegoumen Dionysios of the Holy Mountain, who brought the Athonite Rule to the monastery. Later, he became the…
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Troparion & Kontakion
Five Nuns beheaded in Persia: Martyrs Thecla, Mariamne, Martha, Mary, and Ennatha
During the time of the Persian king Saphor II (ca. 330 A.D.), a priest by the name of Paul was living near the village of Aza. He was wealthy and a lover of money, and he had with him five women who had consecrated their virginity to God. Saints Thekla, Mariamne, Martha, Maria, and Ennatha were…
The great Georgian hymnographer, philosopher, and orator Saint John of Shavta labored in the 12th and 13th centuries, during the reign of the holy queen Tamar. Few details of his life have been preserved, but we know that he received his education at Gelati Academy, where he studied theology,…
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Troparion & Kontakion
Saint David Gareji, and Venerable Lucian, spiritual son of Saint David
Saint David of Gareji was Syrian by birth. The future ascetic became a disciple of Saint John of Zedazeni and journeyed with him to Georgia. Saint David and his spiritual son Lucian settled on a mountain above Tbilisi, the capital of Kartli. At that time Kartli was constantly under threat of the…
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Troparion & Kontakion
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Sts. Peter & Paul Orthodox Church · 25636 N. Mosiertown Rd. · Edinboro, PA 16412