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.
This miracle of Saint Spyridon took place in Mandra, Greece in 1926.
It was 12/25 December, 1926. The state Church of Greece adopted the Papal calendar and with the help of the Greek government persecuted all those who did not accept the Papal calendar. The faithful Orthodox Christians of Mandra woke up and headed to their Church to celebrate the Feast of Saint Spyridon. When they reached the Church they saw that the door to the Church had been secured with chains and the faithful could not enter. Before leaving the Church to return to their homes they stuck their candles on the door. As soon as the last person placed his candles on the door
the chains broke and fell. The faithful, confirmed in their Faith, entered the Church and celebrated the Feast of Saint Spyridon.
The miracle was reported the next day by the newspaper Skrip.
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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Q. In considering becoming part of the GOC in America, I am getting warnings from various circles that the attitude of GOC people is that of being “walled off,” “arrogant,” “judgmental,” and “in your face” toward those not in the Genuine Orthodox Church, with accusations such as “World Orthodox” priests are “not even Christians” and the like. Could you give me your personal, realistic assessment of this dynamic and possibly refer me to an official statement on how GOC members should and do relate to and communicate with those in “World Orthodoxy”? Read more...