Journey back to April 1 1894. On this day the seeds of the Saint Peter and Paul Russian Church were sown. Eight dedicated men formed the SS. Peter and Paul Greek Catholic Russian Orthodox Church Association. Their goal was to establish an Orthodox parish. It was the first of its kind in the Niagara Frontier.
The Saint Peter and Paul Russian Church started with humble beginnings. A fund was established with just $59 in cash and $253 in pledges. This money was for constructing a church. By May 1894 a site was purchased for the proposed church. It was located at 45 Ideal Street extending to Benzinger Street. The property consisted of four city lots and cost $2160.
From June 1894 through December 1895 the parish worked tirelessly. They purchased lumber for $300. They built a small wooden church. Parish men did the construction. They also built a parish hall showing their dedication.
In 1903 Saint Peter and Paul Russian Church received a special gift. It was a bell cast from bronze made in Pittsburgh. Archbishop Tikhon consecrated the bell on April 23 1903. He later became a Patriarch of Moscow. In the 1980s he was glorified as a saint in the Orthodox Church.
Father Alexander Venjaminoff was assigned as the first full-time rector in 1905. The Saint Peter and Paul Russian Church saw continuous growth in membership.
July 1 1928 marked the arrival of Father Erast Wolkodoff. About a year later plans emerged for a brick church. During the autumn of 1932 contracts were signed. The architect Joseph E. Fronczak designed the church in the Russian-Byzantine style. It had a capacity of 400 and an estimated cost of $45000. The cost included copper gutters Spanish tile roofing and three towers. A 30-foot copper tower for the central dome extended the church’s height to 100 feet.
The cornerstone was laid for the new Saint Peter and Paul Russian Church. Unemployed men from the parish were hired as laborers. By October 1933 the church was completed. Thousands attended the consecration on October 8 1933. Many people traveled great distances to participate. They represented different ethnic Orthodox Christians. Nicholas Kedroff director of the famous Kedroff Quartet arranged the Lord’s Prayer especially for the choir.
Father Erast Wolkodoff sponsored refugees to the United States. This contributed to the parish growth. These refugees greatly enriched the cultural financial educational and spiritual life. Most refugees came from Russia Belarus and Ukraine.
Following Father Wolkodoff’s departure Saint Peter and Paul Russian Church mirrored its earlier history. Several clergy were assigned to the parish. The longest stay was eight years. Every priest contributed to what the parish is today.
In August 2011 Bishop Michael initiated Operation Buffalo. This project aimed to renovate the parish rectory for a new full-time priest. It galvanized the enthusiasm of the parishioners. They looked towards the great future of Saint Peter and Paul Russian Church.
Today the Saint Peter and Paul Russian Church stands as a testament to faith community and perseverance. Its 125-year history is filled with hard work heroic accomplishments and unwavering dedication.