We learn of Saint Peter the Aleut from the Life of Saint Herman of Alaska who we honor tomorrow.
Born in the end of the 18th century in Alaska, Peter was from the small city of Kodiak of the Aleutian islands. The conditions here were severe from the snow. Through the Russian missionaries, the Orthodox Christian faith spread through Alaska. His family was poor and did not have much food. Still, Peter remained joyful and had a rich love for Christ. He was baptized to Christ by a Russian priest. In his village, people would take advantage of him due to his earnest obedience. He worked for a company in Alaska that had a better position in San Francisco. So he left and traveled there to earn more money for his family.
During the 18th century, California was owned by Spain. The Spanish Jesuits were there and captured and imprisoned anyone who refused to become Catholic. The Jesuits who worked with him began pressing him to turn to Catholicism. Peter refused saying that he was an Orthodox Christian and would not change his faith. Peter also traveled throughout the city and spread the word of God to those who were in fear of the Jesuits. He was able to convert several to Christ. When those he worked with learned of this, they turned him over to the Judge who served for the Catholic church.
This Judge ordered him to change his faith, and Peter refused saying that he was Orthodox and would never deny his faith.
He was them imprinted alongside 13 other Aleuts who refused to deny the Orthodox faith.
As the Jesuits tried to convert the Aleuts to Christ, they would not abide, saying “We are Christians. We do not want to change our faith. ” The Jesuits continued to press them and threatened the 14 Aleuts’ with torture if they did not convert to Catholicism. When the Aleut’s all remained firm, as they had been baptized as Orthodox Christians, the Jesuit’s broke them off into pairs of two and placed them in small cells. The first to be tortured was Peter. They began by cutting off one of the joints in his feet, then they cut off the joints in his fingers and through his hands. Although his arms and feet were still attached, he was unable to move. They then took a big sword and sliced through his stomach. As the blood spilled from his flesh, he continued to say, “I am a Christian, and I will not change my faith.” From a severe loss of blood, Peter then gave his soul to the Lord.
They turned to his companion in the cell and warned him of the same fate the following day. However, when morning came, the Jesuits had been given order from Monterey that the Aleuts were to be released. An escort came to ensure this occurred. All 13 of the other Aleuts were freed and went to Monterey safety.
We learn all of this from the Aleut who was in the same cell as Peter, and who was spared from martyrdom. When Saint Herman of Alaska heard this story he said “Holy New Martyr Peter, pray for us!”
May we remind ourselves that Peter suffered only a few centuries ago, and may we too have this steadfast devotion to Christ!