Didn’t the Apostles Paul and Barnabas establish a church in 42 A.D.? That church was the Church of Antioch. We are standing before Saints Peter & Paul Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church. It is part of that same tradition. Saints Peter & Paul Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church is under the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. The archdiocese traces its roots directly to first-century Antioch. That is the city where Jesus Christ’s disciples were first called Christians.
The Orthodox Church is old and quite large. It is the oldest and second-largest Christian group in the world. The Orthodox Church has about 225 million members worldwide. The Antiochian Archdiocese wants to bring America to the ancient Orthodox Christian Faith.
The Church of Antioch is one of Christianity’s five ancient Patriarchates. The others are Alexandria, Constantinople, Jerusalem, and Rome. They nurture Orthodox Christians. They welcome immigrants, native-born people, cradle Orthodox, and converts.
Saints Peter & Paul Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church has a fascinating local history. The Saints Peter & Paul Church community started as a mission. That was on May 15, 1979. Fr. George Rados and sixty founding members started it. They purchased property. They renovated a structure. They furnished a church. All this cost $500,000. It took less than two years.
The first Vesper-Liturgy happened on June 29, 1979. It was the Feast day of Saints Peter & Paul. This service was at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in Bethesda. The first Divine Liturgy was on Sunday, August 10, 1979. It was at Whittier Woods Elementary School. For two years, the school was their church home.
The parish became a church on Sunday, July 11, 1980. They purchased an abandoned firehouse in Bethesda one month earlier. They had to raise $65,000 in cash within sixty days. They met the challenge. On June 29, 1981, they celebrated a Vesper Liturgy. It was at their new church home on Bradley Boulevard in Bethesda. 240 parishioners and guests attended.
In 1985, the parish started a building fund. They wanted to erect an educational building and a social hall. This was completed in July 1988. It cost $800,000. In May 1989, they bought property next to the church. It cost $450,000.
In 1995, the parish dedicated themselves to a new building program. They purchased six acres of land on River Road. This is their permanent home today. Saints Peter & Paul Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church was voted Best Of Potomac Places of Worship in 2009.
Saints Peter & Paul Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church extends an invitation to all. You are welcome to join them for worship. You can stay for coffee hour afterward. If it’s your first time in an Orthodox Christian Church, let them know.
Inside Saints Peter & Paul Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, it is customary to light candles. You can offer prayers for personal needs. You can pray for family or friends. Candles are lit before icons. This shows faith and hope in God’s help. The candle shows burning love for God.
Stewardship is important here. It means using all the gifts God gave you. You can give time to the church. You can offer your talents. You can share your treasure. All donations and contributions are tax deductible. Saints Peter & Paul Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church continues to thrive. It stands as a testament to faith. It embodies community spirit. It welcomes all who seek spiritual connection.