Father Peter Gilstrap Ordained to the Holy Priesthood

Details: Created on Friday, 30 October 2020 15:58

On Sunday October 5/18, the feast of the Holy Hierarchs of Moscow, Metropolitan Demetrius of America ordained Father Peter Gilstrap to the priesthood at Holy Transfiguration chapel in Owasso, Oklahoma. The chapel, founded by the late Father Mark Gilstrap, is the home of the congregation of St. James the Brother of our Lord. The congregation hosted His Eminence Metropolitan Demetrius and Father John Somers for services throughout the weekend.

Father Peter is the younger son of Reverend Presbyter Mark Gilstrap, who reposed on 22 August/4 September 2017. Father Peter began serving in the altar alongside his father, then a Deacon assigned to St. George’s church in Cincinnati, at two years old while the family lived in Bloomington, Indiana. In 1997, the family relocated to Owasso, OK and the parish of St. James was established. Father Peter has continuously served St. James since its inception: as an altar boy, Reader, Subdeacon and then Deacon. Father Peter was tonsured a Reader at the Cathedral of St. Markella's in Astoria, New York, by His Eminence Metropolitan Pavlos on September 28/October 10, 2009, and ordained as Subdeacon by His Eminence Metropolitan Demetrius on the Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple in 2016 during an hierarchical visit to St. James. His Eminence, Metropolitan Demetrius ordained Father Peter to the Diaconate on March 5/18, 2018 at the Monastery of St. John in Cobleskill, NY.

The weekend’s activities included vigil services Saturday night, Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning followed by a luncheon and fellowship Sunday afternoon. Metropolitan Demetrius was able to stay for vigil services again on Sunday night, prior to departing early Monday morning. Throughout the weekend, guests were treated to inspiring messages and enlightening anecdotes from His Eminence as well as some personal commendations from Father John, who has served intermittently with Father Peter for more than three years.

Father Peter is trained in Architectural Engineering, and maintains secular employment as a structural consultant in Tulsa, OK. He and Matushka Genevieve have three young children, and reside in Owasso, OK.

In addition to the parishioners of St. James, many faithful travelled from around the large central region of the United States to be present at the Metropolitan’s visit. This ordination restores normative services to the St. James Parish, as well as provides a Priest in a clergy scarce portion of the Metropolis.

2020frpeterpriest01

2020frpeterpriest02

2020frpeterpriest03

2020frpeterpriest04

2020frpeterpriest05

2020frpeterpriest06

2020frpeterpriest07

2020frpeterpriest08

2020frpeterpriest09

2020frpeterpriest10

2020frpeterpriest11

2020frpeterpriest12

2020frpeterpriest13

2020frpeterpriest14

2020frpeterpriest15

2020frpeterpriest16

2020frpeterpriest17

2020frpeterpriest18

2020frpeterpriest19

2020frpeterpriest20

2020frpeterpriest21

2020frpeterpriest22

2020frpeterpriest23

2020frpeterpriest24

2020frpeterpriest25

2020frpeterpriest26

2020frpeterpriest27

2020frpeterpriest28

2020frpeterpriest29

2020frpeterpriest30

2020frpeterpriest31

2020frpeterpriest32

2020frpeterpriest33

2020frpeterpriest34

2020frpeterpriest35

2020frpeterpriest36

2020frpeterpriest37

Orthodox Awareness

A Brief History

In the early 20th century, the idea of promoting the union of Churches (Orthodox and heterodox) began to gain ground among circles in the Eastern Orthodox Church by establishing a "Communion of Churches" modeled on the League of Nations.

The Patriarchal Encyclical of 1920 foresaw a series of steps toward the “union of the Churches,” of which the first was the change of the calendar for the simultaneous celebration of feast days by all the “Churches.” The content of the encyclical was kept secret from the faithful and only after a few years became known. Read more...

Missions

Saint John of Kronstadt - Bunnell, Florida

St. John of Kronstadt Orthodox Church began as a mission parish in the year 2000, in a home chapel in Palm Coast, FL – a small town on Florida’s northeast coast located between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. After two years, it became necessary to have services in area community centers, rented for Sundays and other Holy Days. Read more...

Menu