| Saints Peter and
Paul Albanian Orthodox Church Parish of the Albanian Archdiocese - Orthodox Church in America Primate: The Most Blessed JONAH, Archbishop of Washington and New York, and The Metropolitan of All America and Canada Diocesan Bishop: The Right Reverend NIKON, Bishop of Boston, New England, and the Albanian Archdiocese |
SS Peter & Paul has a new, more modernized webpage. We will be gradually phasing out this website. To visit the new website, click here:www.sspeterpaulalbanianorthodox.org |
Albanian Orthodox Church |
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Saints Peter and Paul was established in 1915, serving the first Divine Liturgy on December 25th of that year. The priest appointed to serve was Fr. Naum Cere, the building was a rented facility at 4th & Sharswood Streets. Three years later, the community had gathered enough funds to purchase the church building at Hancock & Oxford Streets. The new building was renovated by parishioners and was consecrated by then Archimandrite, Theofan S. Noli, on January 12th, 1919. Fr. Marko Kondili served the parish from that time until 1928. Fr. George Suli endured the sacrifices of the Great Depression with the parish. Fr. Nikolla Prifti served the parish from 1934 until his falling asleep in 1941. From 1943 through the difficult years of the Second World War, the parish flock was tended by Fr. Christo Costa. In the postwar years, the parish was cared for by Fr. Haralamp Dode, Fr. Costa Belba, and Fr. Diogen Econom. In 1949, another transition took place. Far ahead of many of local Orthodox parishes, the choir began to sing responses in English, thanks to the publication of the translation work of then Bishop Theophan Noli. Ordained to the priesthood in June 1949 by Bishop Noli, Fr. Stephen Lasko served the parish from 1951 to 1955. He was followed by Fr. Constantine Noni, formerly the Abbot of the Monastery of Kalishti, Albania. Many of our current parishioners received the sacrament of marriage or baptism through Fr. Noni. Under the pastorate of Fr. Vangel Avgerinos, who served from 1958 to 1961, the parish made further progress, using English as the language of the Liturgy and for the reading of the Gospel. From 1961 until 1964, the pastor was Fr. Ernest Tsonis, among the first of the American-born clergy, and the first to use the Theological Fund for his seminary studies at St. Vladimir's in New York. Through another transition, and the formation of the Albanian Archdiocese as a part of the soon to become autocephalous Orthodox Church in America, Fr. Gregory Fontaine served the parish from 1964 to 1969. The following year, Hieromonk Fr. Roman Serdynski came to serve SS. Peter & Paul. He had returned to Philadelphia for treatment of a kidney ailment. It was through the efforts of Fr. Roman that the seed was planted to find a new parish building, in the northeast part of the city. During. Fr. Roman's extended grave illness, and after his falling asleep in September 1974, the parish was served by Fr. Basil Horsky. Fr. Basil was retired, but came to serve with saintly humility and great love. Shortly after celebrating his 80th birthday at the parish, he served the last Liturgy of his life with us. It was then Fr. John Rachko, who traveled 62 miles each way from Bethlehem, PA, to serve the parish. But through his spiritual care and fatherly guidance, the parish finally achieved the goal of relocating to a new church facility. Once again, the parishioners gave of their time, efforts, talents, and finances to make the needed renovations. In 1983, Fr. Antony Bassoline came to serve the parish for a six month period, which became ten years. He was a fiery preacher, a scholarly theologian, and a talented linguist. It was Fr. Antony who shaped the Liturgical form we now use, blending the Slavonic typicon, used in our Liturgy of the Word, with the Byzantine typicon, used in the Liturgy of the Faithful. At the untimely falling asleep of Fr. Antony, the parish was blessed to be served by Fr. George Gregory, who had only just retired. He too, came for a period of months, which became five years. And he too, traveled a considerable distance, often when a more cautious man would not have come. Through his steadfastness, the unity and stability of the parish was maintained. As Fr. George had so graciously agreed, when a priest became available for permanent appointment, he returned to retirement. That came as a gift to us in the person of Fr. Stephen Siniari. Baptized at SS. Peter and Paul, his spiritual journey has been an extended and mission-oriented one. Even while Fr. Stephen continues his work of ministering to the needs of the poor and the homeless, we rejoice at the work of the Lord in bringing Fr. Stephen, Priftesha Margot and their family home to us. SS. Peter and Paul is a parish of acceptance, diverse peoples, spiritual seeking, and great joy because it has been so well cared for by its pastors and people. We hope you will join with us singing the responses, and in sharing our full liturgical involvement. |