The Gospel of Matthew tells the story of how Jesus Christ, the Son of God, promised his disciple Simon (Peter) that he would build a church "on stone". (The name Peter in Greek and Aramaic means "stone").
"And I say to you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)
Simon was stunned by the teacher's words. After he denied the Savior on the day of his crucifixion, he considered himself an unworthy predecessor of Christ. In response to the betrayal, Jesus did not rebuke the sinful fisherman, but promised that he would build the church of Peter.
Jaffa Church
In the southern lands, in the city of Jaffa, in Israel, there is an Orthodox Church of the Apostle Peter and the righteous Tabitha of the Moscow Patriarchate. According to ancient legends, a weaver lived on this land, a respectable woman who was loved by everyone she knew. The news of the death of a seamstress was very upsetacquaintances. The Apostle Peter performed a miracle, resurrecting a virtuous and righteous woman who lived for many years after a momentous event.
Several centuries have passed, an Orthodox church was built on the burial site of Tabitha.
It happened like this. A certain missionary Kapustin took possession of the area, planted fruit trees, built buildings for religious people visiting historical regions.
In 1888, the Romanov princes Sergey and Pavel Alexandrovich, and Princess Elizaveta Feodorovna arrived in the city to consecrate the land in their presence and lay the foundation for the construction of the future church. At the end of the 19th century, the Church of St. Peter the Apostle was finally completed and consecrated by the Jerusalem Patriarch Gerasim. In the 20th century, Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia visited the Church of Apostle Peter and Righteous Tabitha.
Constantinople style can be traced in the atmosphere and structure of the cathedral. The bell tower is the most bulky building in the city. There are two altars in the temple: the central one - the Apostle Peter - and the left one - the God-fearing Tabitha. The Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society provided a two-tiered iconostasis for the Church of the Apostle Peter. On the left side of the icon of the Mother of God is the icon of the Resurrection of Tabitha. At the beginning of the 20th century, Archimandrite Leonid Sentsov painted the walls of the temple with craftsmen from the Pochaev Lavra. Vibrant paintings from the life of the Apostle Peter and the twelve disciples are displayed in the choir area and upper tiers.
The temple functions every day except Monday. There are Bible lessons for adults and children.
Visit Hours:
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - from 9:00 to 13:00; from 15:00 to 17:00.
- Friday, Saturday - from 8:00 to 13:00; from 15:00 to 19:00.
- Sunday - from 6:30 to 12:00.
The church is located at: Tel Aviv Jaffa, Abu Kabir, Herzl Street 157.
Fun Village Cathedral
The Church of the Holy Primate Apostle Peter appeared on March 10, 2005 in a small village. On April 23, the cathedral was blessed by Metropolitan Vladimir of the St. Petersburg and Ladoga Nevsky District.
Not far from the church is the Park of Builders. The building is the largest and most significant in a small area. The church territory includes a temple, a bell tower, a clergy house, Western, Northern and Southern gates.
The remains of the apostles Peter, Paul, James, brother John, Matthew and other disciples are kept in the room. They were accepted as a gift from the Moscow Roman Catholic Church of Saint Louis.
The cathedral is large and spacious. The dome is frescoed with gospel stories.
Schedule of the Church of the Apostle Peter:
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: funeral services, baptisms, prayers.
- Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Confession, Vigil, Liturgy
- Opening hours: daily from 9:30 to 19:00.
Temple at the monastery in Karelia
In one of the small resort towns of Karelia there is a Church of the Holy Apostle Peter and Paul in the Valaam Monastery. Squarebuilt by monastic cells in the shape of a square. The Cathedral has been visible above the Holy Gates since 1809. The name associated with "Valaam" is derived from the words "holy, bright land". According to ancient legends, the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called preached the Word of God on this earth.
After a millennium of the stay of the Apostle Andrew on the "holy land", the monks Sergius and Herman erected the first monastery. The building expanded, prospered, which subsequently led to the functioning of the largest Russian skete.
During the Northern War, the territory of the Church of the Apostle Peter was subjected to attacks and robberies, and finally, under Tsar Peter the Great, the cathedral was finally restored.
In the 19th century, the temple was led by a wise spiritual mentor - Abbot Father Damascus. Under his leadership, the church developed and prospered.
At present, there is a wonderful forest near the church, the Museum of the First Russian Resort, the sanatorium "Marcial Waters".
Inside the church, including the iconostasis, is lined with white stone. Majestic icons resemble paintings with exciting biblical scenes, the lower row of the iconostasis conveys the history of Russia of past years. The images on the canvases are reminiscent of Russian Almighty rulers: the Pantocrator of the Savior resembles Peter the Great in appearance, features reminiscent of Catherine the Great can be traced in the image of the Mother of God.
The temple is open daily. In addition to services, there are guided tours.
Temple in Lakhta
In a small village of St. Petersburg, in Lakhta,The Church of the Apostle Peter was founded at the end of the 19th century. The decision to build an Orthodox cathedral was timed to coincide with the historical date when the Russian emperor Peter the Great took active measures to save the soldiers who were drowning in the sea.
Count Stenbock-Fermor, who at that time owned Lakhta, contributed finances for the construction of the temple in the amount of 20 thousand. But the villagers did not remain indifferent, sacrificing something from their hiding places for the holy cause. The cathedral was erected at a rapid pace. On June 12, 1894, the church was consecrated by Metropolitan Pallady, Bishop of Gdov and John of Kronstadt.
The overthrow and restoration of the temple
In communist times, the cathedral was closed and for some period the Zvezdochka cinema functioned in its rooms.
In the early 90s, the building was handed over to the St. Petersburg diocese, and in 1994 the Church of the Apostle Peter was again consecrated.
Ancient shrines are stored in the church altar:
- remains of George the Victorious, Apostle Mark;
- images of the martyrs Princess Elizabeth and Barbara;
- image of Saint Peter.
Next to the temple there is a cast-iron sanctuary, and, according to tradition, pilgrims annually make a crusade to it. Nearby is a hospice, where seriously ill patients receive the necessary medical and psychological assistance.
Sunday school and Christian camps for children are operating.
Opening hours: daily from 9:00.
Church on the "stone"
The Savior Christ foretold the Apostle Peter that hisname, a church is formed.
In Russia, several Churches of the Supreme Apostle Peter are developing and replenished by parishioners every year. The name of the Lord is glorified daily outside the walls of the church and in the hearts of the parishioners.
