The servant of God Fr. Peter E. Gillquist departed this life at 9:20 p.m. on July 1, 2012, surrounded by family. He has finished the race. Memory eternal!
July 7, 2012
Last evening ended three days of services culminating in Fr. Peter’s burial at All Saints Orthodox Cemetery in Bloomington, IN. His Grace Bp. Anthony, who presided at the funeral service, delivered an inspiring, engaging and memorable eulogy. Fr. Gordon Walker preached a truly evangelistic homily at the preceding Divine Liturgy. The Audio for both, as well as Fr. Jon Braun’s tribute, can be found at Ancient Faith Radio (http://ancientfaith.com/specials/fr._peter_gillquist_memorial). Below you will see the tri-fold sunbeams caught on film by one of the faithful at the funeral service.
We will post more photos as they become available.
We are moved by your outpouring of love. Thank you for your kind words and sincere prayers!
+++
In lieu of flowers it is requested that memorial donations be made payable to All Saints Church (6004 So. Fairfax Rd, Bloomington, IN 47401). Funds will be split between the building funds of All Saints Church, Bloomington, Indiana, and St. Athanasius Church, Santa Barbara, California — Fr. Peter’s two “home parishes.”
Schedule of Services for Fr. Peter E. Gillquist – July 4-6, 2012
Wednesday, July 4
6:00 p.m. Public Visitation at All Saints in Bloomington
7:00 p.m. Trisagion Service
*All Night Vigil to Follow* (Reading of the Psalter)
Thursday, July 5
9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy in Bloomington (Followed by transport to Carmel, IN)
5:00 p.m. Public Visitation at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (3500 W 106th St. Carmel, IN)
7:00 p.m. Trisagion Service
*All Night Vigil to Follow* (Reading of the Psalter)
Friday, July 6
9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy (His Grace Bishop Anthony Presiding)
11:00 a.m. Funeral Service followed by Mercy Meal at Holy Trinity GOC
3:30 p.m. Burial Service at All Saints Cemetery in Bloomington
Accommodations near Holy Trinity Church, Indianapolis/Carmel
The following hotels currently have rooms available for Thursday night, July 5.
Jamieson Inn
10201 N. Meridian Street
Indianapolis, IN 46280
(317) 816-1616
Mention “$69 funeral rate”
Courtyard Marriott
10290 N. Meridian Street
Indianapolis, IN 46290
(317) 571-1110
Mention “Fr. Peter Gillquist” to get special $79 rate
Embassy Suites Indianapolis – North
3912 Vincennes Rd.
Indianapolis, IN 46268
(317) 872-7700
$119 king room
$139 two queen beds
Drury Hotel
9310 N. Michigan Road
Indianapolis, IN 46268
(317) 876-9777
$87 for King or double
June 10, 2012
In 1999, Fr. Peter E. Gillquist (retired and attached to All Saints) was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma. Miraculously, he survived through the grace of God, the prayers of the saints, and the care of physicians. His prayer was to be given more time to assist in starting more mission churches, and to grow old with his wife, Khouria Marilyn.
Now, 13 years later, he has again been diagnosed with melanoma — only now stage 4. We are awaiting further word on a prognosis and possible treatment options. Scroll down to see any updates posted on this page. God bless you.
***For Immediate Release***
June 14, 2012…
The Very Rev. Fr. Peter E. Gillquist has been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic melanoma. Fr. Peter survived a diagnosis of stage 3 melanoma in 1999 and another bout in 2010. He, Kh. Marilyn, and family await test results to determine treatment options in the management of this aggressive cancer.
The Gillquists request your prayers as they continue a lifelong journey of faith in the Great Physician, remembering that our communal prayer is for the healing of soul and body, and in the Lord’s time, a Christian ending to life, that is painless, blameless and peaceful.
Fr. Peter retired from 25 years of service to the Antiochian Archdiocese as Director of the Department of Missions and Evangelism in January. He is attached to All Saints Antiochian Orthodox Church in Bloomington, Indiana, where his son, Fr. Peter Jon, serves as pastor.
June 19, 2012
Fr. Peter is in the hospital tonight with a fever. His physician felt it would be the best place for him to receive care as the doctors search for a possible infection causing this elevated temperature. Thank you for your continued prayers.
June 20, 2012
Fr. Peter is still in the hospital. During tests early this morning to determine the cause of his fever, it was discovered that his cancer is moving even more quickly than anticipated, and has spread to some of his vital organs. Fr. Peter’s children are travelling now to be with him and Kh. Marilyn. Your prayers for their safe travel, and for Fr. Peter and Kh. Marilyn’s continued peace during this time of illness are appreciated.
June 22, 2012
Our family shared a special time in the hospital room with Fr. Peter this morning, reading aloud your kind words of encouragement which have been posted on this site. Thank you for your continued prayerful support.
June 24, 2012
Fr. Peter is still in the hospital, surrounded by his wife, children, and a grandchild who is carrying his first great-grandchild. More family will be en route to Bloomington throughout the week.
We discovered today that reading your posts is not only encouraging to Fr. Peter, but also a helpful diversion from his physical pain.
As will happen, it seems there is some mis-information being circulated on the internet regarding Fr. Peter’s condition. Please always refer to this site for up-to-date and accurate information from those at his bedside.
June 25, 2012
We have been anticipating test results regarding possible treatment options, and today we received news that no cancer treatment would be of positive effect in Fr. Peter’s case. Therefore, the emphasis of his care is on pain management and prayer, so we are working on both. Fr. Peter, Kh. Marilyn, and their children are strengthened through your prayers.
June 27. 2012
Fr. Peter is sleeping more and more each day. He will be transferred to a hospice facility this afternoon, where his family will continue to participate in his care and comfort management, together with a 24-hour nursing staff. Your continued prayers for a peaceful journey are appreciated more than you know.
June 29, 2012 – The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
Blessed feast day, dad. Fr. Peter has been in a hospice facility since Wednesday afternoon. When our family first heard about a hospice house, we were unsure what to expect. What we have found has been a blessing beyond what we can express: a large living room with couches and a kitchenette, a smaller, intimate sitting room, a chapel, a sizible outdoor deck, and eight large bedrooms, most of which look out into the woods. Currently, only half of the rooms are occupied by patients. At the foot of Fr. Peter’s bed is a four foot wooden shelf, which holds icons of Christ, the Theotokos, St. Peter the Apostle, St. Nectarios, and many of the holy unmercinaries. Vigil lamps burn around the clock, and at least one family member is with Fr. Peter at all times.
Presently, Fr. Peter sleeps most of the day. When he is awake, he asks for prayer. The family gathers to pray and sing, and he sings with us. These are the things we will remember all our lives.
The prayers you offer and the words you post here are such a source of encouragement to all of us. Thank you for your love and support as we continue this journey together.
July 1, 2012 – Saints Cosmos and Damian
These are holy days. God is so merciful, loving, and compassionate.
After the Liturgy of Ss. Peter and Paul Thursday night, Fr. Peter asked for prayer at the Hospice House. Fr. Peter Jon arrived around 10 p.m. and asked, “Dad, would you like to receive communion tonight or tomorrow?” Fr. Peter stated clearly that he would like communion right away, so we began to pray and sing. Although it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to speak in complete sentences, Fr. Peter recited all the prayers by heart and sang perfect harmony with the communion hymns. Then he went to sleep. That is the last food he has consumed — the Bread of Life, and thr Fountain of Immortality.
Fr. Peter didn’t awaken again until the following evening at 9:00 p.m. (Friday), when the wheels of Fr. Gordon Walker’s car hit the driveway. Fr. Gordon had driven six hours to be with his friend of 50 years in his time of need. They talked a while, smiled a lot, and then Fr. Peter went back to sleep following evening prayers.
The following morning (Saturday), we all gathered in Fr. Peter’s room for morning prayers, as he slept. Around 3:00 p.m., Fr. Peter awoke and asked if Fr. Gordon would hear his confession, which he did. Then a call was placed to Fr. Jon Braun, and the three old friends shared a few minutes together, talking about heaven. Then Fr. Peter fell asleep again.
Since that time, his vitals have changed dramatically, and he appears to be making the final sprint for the finish line. “Finish the race” is what his family members whisper in his ear. We are gathered by his bedside in prayer, Scripture-reading, and song. Finish the race, dad. We love you so much.
July 1, 2012
The servant of God Fr. Peter E. Gillquist departed this life at 9:20 p.m. surrounded by family. He has finished the race. Memory eternal!
“Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!”
Funeral arrangements will post tomorrow morning.
Father, bless.
Yours was the first book I read on my journey to Becoming Orthodox. I thank God for you.
Thank you Fr. Peter for helping me to find Orthodoxy and Christ’s one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I perhaps wouldn’t have been chrismated this year without you.
With much love in Christ from Madrid Spain,
Eric Halverson
Dear Fr. Peter and Kh. Marilyn,
During these past days of praying for healing and God’s mercy, many memories of you come flooding in. Homilies, church family nights of hearing your music, and of course your wonderful family that I have been blessed to know. I just can not put into words how much we love you! All I can say is Thank you!
Stan and Donna
Lord have mercy on Fr. Peter and his family. My family became Orthodox this past Pascha, and we are so grateful for Fr. Peter and all those who have come before us and shed more light on the journey. Thanks be to God for His unfailing love and for the faithful who trust in that love.
Dear Fr. Peter,
When we attended the banquet following the OCF board meeting in Jacksonville a couple of years ago, Jordan insisted that I meet you. Once I met you, it was easy to see why he loves and respects you so. Recently, when I heard you speak in Jackson I was challenged and encouraged by your messages. I was especially challenged by how positive and gracious you are. I feel honored to have shared a meal with you and your wife. We remember you all in our prayers.
With love,
Lauri Deniakos Henderson
Fr. Peter, thanks to you we are emboldened to keep reaching out to build up the Church of Tomorrow. May I use a quote from one of our conversations? Your kindnesses and encouragement have been worth more than gold, and your prayers sustain us.
You can be sure of my prayers for you. Please pray for us also.
What a blessing to read of the bond of love we all have for you, Fr. Peter and Marilyn and because of you, for one another. It brings to mind David’s song of ascent (Ps. 133) “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity” … To share the acts of the ministers of the Lord Jesus- to be of one accord, having the same love. “It is like precious oil poured on our heads….for there the Lord bestows His blessing” . Thank you for the life you chose to live for God. May your powerful presence will be remembered eternally.
Fr. Nicholas and Jan
Just last week I pulled out an old photo of “Mare bear” and Fa. Peter on the porch swing at Pauper’s Alley with a ? 12mo. old Heidi between them. How good is God for all the years, all the memories, all the time? Your precious lives are imprinted, for eternity, across my heart. Thank God, in His great mercy and love, we can always be together. I love you.
Fr. Peter and Family,
I was so sad to hear the news of your illness, and it is with sadness that I read these updates. What a challenging time this must be for your family. And yet, what a sacred time, as well…entering eternity. Isn’t this what we live our lives for? But it is with sadness that we share in this journey, watching such a dear man and faithful servant say goodbye. It has been a joy to know you and have you in my life. I wish I could say that in person. Just last week I was thinking about you as I ran across a pink slip from my work days, with a phone message from you from early 2003. It said, “TO: Kimmie; FROM: Fr. Peter; MESSAGE: I was just wondering if you had any new jewelry on your 4th finger around the holidays.” It brought such a smile to my face as I remembered your joy and encouragement in that season of my life, when Dan and I were “falling in love.” I could still see the twinkle in your eye that came with the message. It brought a smile to my face, all these years later. We just celebrated our 9th anniversary, by the way, and our 2 lovely children so enjoy reading the beautiful books you and Kh. Marilyn gave them many years ago.
Thank you for your encouragement, support and example over the years. You and your wife and your family have had quite an influence on so many lives, and it has been a joy to share even a small bit of this journey with you.
Please be assured of our prayers and thoughts. May you and your family know God’s peace that passes all understanding. May you be covered by His wing, and may you know what a blessing you all have been and continue to be. Know that you are surrounded and loved.
“…and praised and glorified be the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Now and ever and unto ages of ages, AMEN.”
With love and prayers,
Kimberly (“Kimmie”) Finger Crawford for the Crawford Family
Fr. Peter,
You are in our prayers. Thank you for serving our Lord faithfully. You have been an inspiration to so many.
In Christ,
The Burdette family
Dear Father Peter & Marilyn,
Nine years ago (August 20, 2003), I lost my father, the Rev. Kenneth Hamrick, to this same hideous disease. But the days leading up to his falling asleep were among some the most holy moments we have ever experienced. I can only pray for the same peace and sanctifying grace for you and your family as you journey through the days ahead.
It was only last August at Antiochian Village during House of Studies that I was able to eat lunch with you and Marilyn to discuss my idea of writing my master’s thesis on “Orthodox Preaching as the Oral Icon of Christ.” Your encouragement will certainly bear fruit as I will begin my research and writing this fall. I want you to know that I will be dedicating my work to you.
You both have helped to lead the way for us former evangelicals who were searching for the true Church, and it is largely as a result of your courage and witness over the past quarter century that many thousands of others have followed. We will only know the full scope of your influence on the other side of eternity.
I give thanks to our Lord for all that you have done in this life–for your faithfulness and devotion, and for the abundant ways that you have help to enflesh the Gospel through your own life and witness.
I (and the people of St. John the Baptist Mission) commit to praying for you and your family.
In Christ,
Father James Hamrick (the retired cop)
St. John the Baptist Mission
Lewistown, MD
Be assured of our continual thoughts and prayers — and of those of all of us at St. Peter’s. Your attending our church’s 25th Anniversary Celebration last month was more special than you can possibly know. We have lots of great memories of you in Memphis, Grand Junction and even back to your visit to Ole Miss MANY years ago. May our good God grant his mercies in abundance to you and all of your wonderful family.
Dear Fr. Peter and family,
Thanks to “Becoming Orthodox”, and by the grace of God, my family was led into the Holy Orthodox Church on February 12, 2011. I have never met you in person, but just wanted to say how grateful I am that you allowed the Lord to lead you so courageously into the journey that you have now led so many others into as well. Be strengthened and encouraged today. God is at your rear guard. He is beside you, and goes before you! He dwells within you! May He give you peace and joy as you step into this next journey. Thanks be to God!
With great love and admiration,
Christa Conrad
Christ the King Orthodox Mission Station
Dear Fr. Peter and Kh. Marilyn,
It is with great sadness that I am reading this update, but I also know that our loving Father in heaven is in control of each of our lives. May the God of peace give you His peace and strength during these difficult days. You were both so instrumental in our becoming Orthodox, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We will never forget our visits: good food, walks on the beach, and long talks. Thank you for your love and care for us and our family over the years. You and your whole family are and will continue to be in our prayers.
Love and prayers,
Barb and Chris
Dear Fr. Peter,
I first read Becoming Orthodox in the spiritual mecca of Bloomington Indiana while a grad student at IU. My first Orthodox liturgy was at All Saints back when it was a mission parish. I was the pianist at Evangelical Community Church at the time. I’m now the head chanter at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Lincoln NE and thank God daily for the journey. Your book was the beginning of that journey. My prayers are with you and your family.
Paul Barnes
Dear Fr. Peter and Kh Marilyn–with the feast of Sts Peter and Paul at hand, I think of the verse from 1st Peter: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
Together, this is what you have done with the hours and days of your lives, with your beautiful family (especially Fr. Peter Jon, whose faithful witness takes my breath away), with your love for each other and everyone around you. I grieve so much that you are being called away from us, Father. Reading your book, “Becoming Orthodox,” played such a huge part in my own conversion–I read it over and over–and I marvel that God blessed me with coming to know you both, to pray, study, and worship with you, graced by your faith, by the way faith, hope, and love emanate from both of you. In the midst of my sorrow and the sorrow of all who know and love you, I still see so clearly that you are moving from light to light, being welcomed home yet again. God bless you both for manifesting, in yourselves, “the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Love in the One who has trampled down death by death–Barb
This is to Kh. Marilyn, Fr. Peter Jon and the rest of the Gilquist clan. (hi Jennifer)
We are with you in prayers and in my heart too. I walked a similar scenerio
with my own Mother several years ago. Please please….take care of yourselves at this time…and be gentle with each other as you each will have different memories and emotions and it is crucial to be extra kind. We will continue to walk Fr. Peter to the gates with you too….love and prayers…Mother Galina
Fr. Peter… my husband, 2 daughters, and I began researching the Orthodox Church in 2000 and were Chrismated in 2001. We were living in New Orleans at the time and a lady from Eagle River, Alaska, who I met online, sent me your book: Becoming Orthodox. It was instrumental in our decision to join the Church.
We are praying for you and your family.
Joanne Luebke
St. Nicholas Church, Grand Rapids, MI
Fr. Peter, Kh Marilyn & family,
Continued prayers and love for all. You are constantly on our minds, and in our hearts. God Bless.
Love In Christ,
Marvin & Alice
Dearest Father,
Glory to Jesus Christ! May our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, through the prayers of His all-holy Mother, have mercy upon, bless, and keep you and your beautiful family. You have been such a blessing to the Church and, especially, to all of us here in America. We are praying for you, father; please pray for us!
In Christ,
+Paul
As I have scanned through all of the prayers and kind words left here by others, Psalm 23 comes to mind. This was my Oma’s (Helen Peters) favorite and always encouraging to me in hard times. Fr. Peter and Kh. Marilyn, you have touched the lives of so many people. I have fond memories from childhood in Isla Vista and adulthood in Eagle River of hearing you speak, Fr. Peter, and being awed and inspired by you and, as a kid maybe a bit intimidated. May the Lord give you and your family peace during this time. My prayers are with you all.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.” ~Psalm 23