Homily for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
Greek Orthodox Church Cathedral of Saint Paul
Hempstead, New York
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
I am delighted to join in prayer with you here today, as you celebrate the Feast of your magnificent Cathedral of Saint Paul on Long Island. As you know, the Cathedral of Saint Paul was the first of the many, many Greek Orthodox Churches that now crisscross the map of Long Island. Therefore, it is only fitting that it retains its special place of pride as our Cathedral parish for the area.
On the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, we celebrate their foundational role in the life of the Church. Saint Peter was more of the Apostle to the Jewish People, especially those beyond Palestine. But Paul was the Apostle to the Nations – not only because God called him to be, but because he always held a more expansive view of what the Gospel meant. He realized that the Message of Jesus Christ – of God’s redemptive love – was for every human being. He realized this because he knew it was true for himself. For he was not always called Paul. First he was Saul, a zealous – even fanatical – persecutor of Christians, which he did on behalf of the Temple Authorities in Jerusalem.