San Tan Valley, Arizona, April 3, 2026
Photo: orthodoxethos.com
A new Orthodox parish has been founded to serve the faithful of San Tan Valley, Arizona, as well as nearby Queen Creek and Coolidge, under the rectorship of Archpriest Peter Heers.
The parish was founded with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas and is dedicated to two great ascetics of the 20th century, Sts. Paisios the Athonite and St. Cleopa of Romania, reports the Orthodox Ethos.
“The twofold patronage reflects the pan-Orthodox make-up of the parish but also the spiritual ties that parishioners have had with the two saints,” the OE explains.
Sts. Paisios and Cleopa together during the latter’s visit to Mt. Athos in 1977. Photo: orthodoxethos.com
The announcement comes two months after Fr. Peter was received into the Romanian Metropolia. He was initially assigned as an assistant priest at Holy Protection of the Mother of God Orthodox Church in Houston, with a blessing to explore missionary opportunities.
Though it originally seemed Fr. Peter would start a new mission in central Texas, dozens of faithful came forward in the San Tan Valley area wanting to start a new parish with him, which Met. Nicolae blessed.
Fr. Peter previously served as rector of the parish of St. Seraphim of Sarov in Florence, Arizona, and is well known to the faithful who are starting the new mission. “The chapel is already too small for the nearly one hundred faithful who have committed to establishing the mission, and thus the search for a larger location will commence shortly,” the OE explains.
Services for the new parish will begin with Great Vespers for the feast of Palm Sunday and continue daily throughout Holy Week and Bright Week.
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