This year is our parish’s 100th anniversary and our centennial celebration includes several special events:

• Miraculous Icon - On Friday, September 23, 2022, the Miraculous Icon of St. Anna from St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Monastery will visit Ss. Peter & Paul’s. Commissioned by Archimandrite Athanasy (Mastalski), rector of Our Lady Joy of All Who Sorrow Church in Philadelphia, from the Mount of Olives Convent in Jerusalem in 1998, and blessed at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the icon began weeping fragrant myrrh in 2004. The icon has been kept at St. Tikhon's Monastery since 2012, and still has a wonderful heavenly fragrance, but is not currently weeping. Assistance and healings are still wrought by the Miraculous Icon of St. Anna and she continues to work wonders for those who approach with faith. Click here for flier:

• Hierarchical Divine Liturgy & Banquet - On Sunday, October 23, 2022, we will have the main celebration of our centennial, with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at 9:30 AM, followed by a banquet at the Knights of Columbus Hall (corner of Avenue C and West 30th Street) at 12:00 PM.  If you wish to purchase a banquet reservation, please complete and return the reservation section of the invitation letter Anniv. Banquet Invitation or email your contact information to: sspeterandpaulbayonne100th@gmail.com

• 100th Anniversary Commemorative Book - A commemorative anniversary book is being planned, with silver-page, full-page, half-page, and quarter-page ads being available.  Click here to download: Ad Form for 100th Anniversary Book   The deadline for submissions to the book is August 15th.

Holy Apostles Peter and Paul are traditionally regarded as the leaders of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ.

Both St. Peter and St. Paul received their new names, indicating a new relationship with God. Simon the fisherman became known as Cephas (John 1:42), or Peter after confessing Jesus as the Son of God (Mt.16:18).

St Peter, the brother of St Andrew, was a fisherman on the sea of Galilee. He was married, and Christ healed his mother-in-law of a fever (Mt.8:14). He, with James and John, witnessed the most important miracles of the Savior's earthly life.

Despite his earlier recognition of Christ as the Son of God, he denied Him three times on the night before the Crucifixion. Therefore, after His Resurrection, the Lord asked Peter three times if he loved Him. Then He told Peter to feed His sheep (John 21:15-17).

After the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, St. Peter addressed the crowd (Acts 2:14), and performed many miracles in Christ's name. He baptized Cornelius, the first Gentile convert (Acts 10:48). He was cast into prison, but escaped with the help of an angel (Acts 5:19). St. Peter also traveled to many places in order to proclaim the Gospel message. He wrote two Epistles, which are part of the New Testament.

St. Peter was put to death in Rome during the reign of Nero. According to Tradition, he asked to be crucified upside down, since he did not feel worthy to die in the same manner as his Lord.

St. Paul was of the tribe of Benjamin, and lived in Tarsus in Cilicia. He once described himself as a Hebrew, an Israelite of the seed of Abraham (2 Cor. 11:22). He was also a Pharisee and a tent-maker (Acts 18:3) who had studied the Law with Gamaliel at Jerusalem.

At first, he was called Saul, and had persecuted the Church. He was present at the stoning of St. Stephen (Acts 7: 58). Then, on the road to Damascus, he was converted when Christ appeared to him. Blinded by the vision, he was healed when Ananias laid his hands on him. After his cure, he was baptized (Acts 9:18).

St. Paul is the greatest of the missionaries. He preached the Gospel in Greece, Asia Minor, and in Rome, and wrote fourteen Epistles. Tradition says that he was martyred in Rome about the year 68.