St. Peter the Aleut

ARTIST: Br. Robert Lentz, OFM

ARTWORK NARRATIVE:

Peter was born on Kodiak Island in the late 1700's. He was baptized by St. Herman, a Russian Orthodox monk who lived nearby on Spruce Island as a hermit. He accompanied Russian fur trappers to northern California, where he hunted seals and sea otters with them along the Pacific coast, an area claimed by both Russia and Spain.

In 1815, Spanish soldiers captured Peter while he was hunting in his kayak south of San Francisco. When he refused to be re-baptized as a Roman Catholic, he was so severely abused physically that he died that same night. When word reached the Franciscan friars at the nearby mission, they sent word that the soldiers should release the rest of the Orthodox Indians. Peter was buried in unconsecrated ground near Mission Dolores, probably under what is now the asphalt playground of the parochial school.

He was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church several decades ago and is now considered one of the patrons of San Francisco. In this icon a raven sits on his arm, representing his Native heritage before his baptism. That same arm points to a Russian cross, which is a symbol of the new religion he freely chose to embrace. It is also a martyr's cross, however, thanks to the fanaticism of Catholic soldiers.

His feast day is September 24.

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Saint Peter the Aleut is mentioned in the Life of St Herman of Alaska (December 13). Simeon Yanovsky (who ended his life as the schemamonk Sergius in the St 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 St 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 usl"

We know very little about St Peter, except that he was from Kodiak, 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 (November 27).

Both in his sufferings and in his steadfast confession of the Faith, St 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.

Died: 1815

"Excerpts from "Martyr Peter the Aleut", Orthodox Church of America

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