All Saints of North America Orthodox Church · Phoenix, Arizona

Orthodox Church on the west side of Phoenix Arizona including Sun City, Surprise, Peoria, Glendale, Litchfield Park, Buckeye, Tonopah, and more

  • Home
  • About
    • Clergy & Leadership
    • ASONA Mission Statement
    • New Visitor Information
    • How to Become Orthodox
    • For Orthodox Visitors
    • List of Activities for Orthodox Christians Desiring to Transfer to ASONA
    • Saints of North America
  • Faith
    • Statement of Faith
    • About Orthodox Christianity
    • The Correct Understanding of Being Born Again with Fr. Josiah Trenham
    • Orthodox View of Salvation by Steve Robinson
    • Welcome Home! Evangelicals Come Home to Orthodoxy
    • What happens to those who have never heard of Jesus?
    • To Sincere Converts to the Orthodox Faith, and those who are Seeking
  • Catechesis
    • New Member Class
    • List of Activities to Complete Prior to Baptism
    • Online Catechism Lessons
    • Audio Lectures
    • Bible Survey Lessons
    • The Mystery of Confession
    • Christian Names and Patron Saints
  • Education
    • Mystagogy
    • The Faith
    • Eucharist: Sacrament or Symbol?
    • Eucharistic Bread: Leavened or Unleavened?
    • Welcome to the Orthodox Church! (Videos)
  • Directions
  • Calendar
    • ASONA Calendar
    • Paschal Greetings from Around the World
    • When Someone Dies
  • Articles
  • Contact
    • Donate Now
    • GIVING Page
    • ASONA Legacy Society
    • The Book of Needs
  • New Member Class
  • Calendar of Services
  • Sisterhood of St. Olga
  • Prologue of Ohrid
  • Ready
  • Ecclesioclasm

St. Peter the Aleut

New Martyr of America

Feast Day: September 24

Saint Peter the Aleut is mentioned in the Life of Saint Herman of Alaska (December 13). Simeon Yanovsky (who ended his life as the schemamonk Sergius in the Saint Tikhon of Kaluga Monastery), has left the following account:

“On another occasion I was relating to him how the Spanish in California had imprisoned fourteen Aleuts, and how the Jesuits (actually Franciscans) were forcing all of them to accept the Catholic Faith. But the Aleuts would not agree under any circumstances, saying, ‘We are Christians.’ The Jesuits argued, ‘That’s not true, you are heretics and schismatics. If you do not agree to accept our faith then we will torture all of you to death.’ Then the Aleuts were placed in prisons two to a cell. That evening, the Jesuits came to the prison with lanterns and lighted candles. Again they tried to persuade two Aleuts in the cell to accept the Catholic Faith. ‘We are Christians,’ the Aleuts replied, ‘and we will not change our Faith.’ Then the Jesuits began to torture them, at first the one while his companion was a witness. They cut off one of the joints of his feet, and then the other joint. Then they cut the first joint on the fingers of his hands, and then the other joint. Then they cut off his feet, and his hands. The blood flowed, but the martyr endured all and firmly repeated one thing: “I am a Christian.’ He died in such suffering, due to a loss of blood. The Jesuit also promised to torture his comrade to death the next day.

But that night an order was received from Monterey stating that the imprisoned Aleuts were to be released immediately, and sent there under escort. Therefore, in the morning all were sent to Monterey with the exception of the dead Aleut. This was related to me by a witness, the same Aleut who had escaped torture, and who was the friend of the martyred Aleut. I reported this incident to the authorities in Saint Petersburg. When I finished my story, Father Herman asked, ‘What was the name of the martyred Aleut?’ I answered, ‘Peter. I do not remember his family name.’ The Elder stood reverently before an icon, made the Sign of the Cross and said, “Holy New Martyr Peter, pray to God for us!”

Saint Peter was from Kodiak, his Aleut name was Tchounagnuk, and was arrested and put to death by the Spaniards in California because he refused to convert to Catholicism. The circumstances of his martyrdom recall the torture of St. James the Persian.

Both in his sufferings and in his steadfast confession of the Faith, Saint Peter is the equal of the martyrs of old, and also of the New Martyrs who have shone forth in more recent times. Now he rejoices with them in the heavenly Kingdom, glorifying God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, throughout all ages.

Holy New Martyr Peter, pray to God for us!

Read about more Saints of North America

 

All Saints of North America Orthodox Church

18700 N. 107th Ave Unit#5
Sun City, AZ 85373

(928) 910-2186

RSS Orthochristian.com

  • Cleveland’s historic Orthodox cathedral needs your help: $10 million restoration one year after devastating fire
  • Orthodox journalists expose Cyprus Archbishop’s hypocrisy in Metropolitan’s removal
  • English Orthodox hymns in traditional Byzantine notation published by Mull Monastery
  • Commemoration of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Empress Helena in the German City of Trier

RSS LifeSite News

  • After Banning Abortions, Arkansas Awards $1.9 Million to Pregnancy Centers Helping Women
  • Vermont Forced to Stop Discriminating Against Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers
  • Pro-Life Conservative Karol Nawrocki Wins Presidential Election in Poland

Official Telegram Channel of the W American Diocese
Official Instagram account of the W American Diocese
Official Facebook page of the Western American Diocese

RSS Journey to Orthodoxy

  • Mass Baptisms Around the World at Theophany
  • Belfast parish baptizes 10+ in Irish Sea
  • Orthodox Liturgy celebrated in ancient Welsh church for first time since Great Schism
  • WEBINAR: The Path to the Priesthood
  • Interview with Justine Alter

RSS Good Guys Wear Black

  • The Good Priest
  • WEBINAR: The Path to the Priesthood
  • The Necessity of Speaking Out for the Faith
  • The Melody of Faith: Singing the Creed in Orthodox Liturgy
  • How to Know that You are Called to be a Priest – 5 Minutes With A Priest

A Directory of Arizona Orthodox Churches

Find what you’re looking for

Weekly Bulletin for Sunday, June 1, 2025

Orthodox Calendar



Copyright © 2025 All Saints of North America Orthodox Church · All Rights Reserved
Designed by Fr. John A. Peck · Log in