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!
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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.
Fr. Peter was very influential in bringing me into the Orthodox Church and bringing my wife back to the Church. We will always be thankful for having known Fr. Peter. May his memory be eternal.
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Jim was given the opportunity to interview Fr. Peter when he visited Jackson, MS, over ten years ago. Because of Fr. Peter’s influence, my husband converted, and I reverted back to the never changing Orthodox faith. After we converted, we drove to Mobile, AL to hear him speak and to thank him. Most recently, when he came for the celebration at St. Peter’s, we were thankful to hear him speak and greet him. Wherever he went, Fr. Peter shared the Good News of Jesus Christ. Memory Eternal!
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Father Peter,
Thank you for your prayers for us. I was so glad to be able to meet you this spring. You will continue to be a great help to us on our journeys, as we struggle to live out our mission like you have. May God grant you memory eternal!
Benjamin
Fr. Peter will be sorely missed. We wish you, his family, comfort and peace during this time.
May His Memory be eternal!
Memory Eternal, Beloved of God, Fr. Peter… and beloved of SO MANY on earth and in heaven! So many memories… so many blessings… so much gratitude. With love and prayers… for Fr. Peter, for Marilyn and for all our dear Gillquists! -Fr. Patrick, Vanessa & Anthony Kinder
May teh memory of this great preacher and defender of Orthodoxy be eternal! God bless you the family and friends upon your loss!
Dear Kh. Marilyn and family,
We are saddened to hear of the passing of Fr. Peter. We will always remember how he preached the word of God with such passion. His book, Becoming Orthodox, is one we have given many times to those searching for the New Testament Church, and one we recommend to countless others. We know so many who have read that book and “became Orthodox.” We thank God for Fr. Peter’s gift of storytelling and for his love for Christ and His Holy Church. May his memory be eternal.
With love,
The King’s: Fr. Jim, Kh. Audrey, Zoe, Jimmy and Kyranna
Thank you Lord Jesus for the gift that you have bestowed upon us all through the life of Fr.Gilquist, Kh. Marilyn and their family. He now intercedes with the saints for those of us who remain here. His memory will be eternal for he labored in the love of God to bring people to the Truth. Father Bless!
Memory Eternal our beloved Archpriest Peter.
With much love and appreciation from me, my family and parishioners of St. Elias in Peoria, IL. Without you, there would not be St. Elias and I thank you for being the source of my becoming a priest.
May your memry be Eternal Fr. Peter and may your soul dwell where the just repose. Pray for us!
Our deepest Sympathy to you Kh Marilyn and of your Family.
Fr. Habib & Kh. Norma Ghantous & family and the Parishioners of;
St. Elias Antiochion Orthodox Christian Mission
Peoria, IL
Farewell Fr. Peter to your heavenly home. Despite his cancer and a surgery to remove it a few days before the conference, he decided to attend the first Coptic Orthodox Evangelism Conference in North America i n 1999. His lectures and his tears that accompanied his words when he had described his joy of entering the Orthodox Church had a great impact on all attendees. He came back four times as the key speaker of the Coptic Evangelism Conference. When I wrote him last year telling him about the objective of the conference that is to start “my college mission” as an avenue for evangelism, he excitedly wrote back a detailed five lectures outlines, offering himself as the presenter of these lectures. Knowing his health status, his secretary asked me to consider his old age and his needs to rest, recommending to give him one lecture or two only a day, each is one hour only. Surprisingly, he lectured continually for at least five hours with small breaks. He energized everyone with his evangelistic passion and deep simple message. He probably is the first priest from an Eastern Orthodox Church to speak in conferences in the Coptic Orthodox Church. I remembered when we had attended the conference together in Nashville, he also attended the Divine Liturgy. After the prayer he told me he had felt deep sorrow to not to participate in the Holy Communion because of the division among the churches. He will be missed. My condolences to his family, friends, and to his church.
Deacon Victor Beshir,
Coptic Orthodox Church.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Memory eternal! He will be missed.
Sheryl VanderWagen
President, Midwest Antiochian Women
St. George, Grand Rapids MI
Dear Marilyn and family:
May the God of all-comfort, comfort you and all who dearly loved Father Peter.
May Father Peter’s memory be eternal!
Father Duane
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Memory Eternal to the saint of God, the Archpriest Peter,
Without you, there would be no St. Ananias Orthodox Church in Evansville. No Orthodox witness for over one hundred miles in every direction. You were a new Barnabas, a “son of encouragment”, to all who knew you. Dozens and dozens of missions founded by your servant leadership will remember you as a special messenger of glad tidings. It is only fitting that your last communion and departure from this life ocurred during this time of the apostles. For not only were you named for one of them, you lived a life of tireless travel in order that others may know Jesus, the light of the world. As the Prokeimenon for Sts. Peter & Paul says, “Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the end of the world”.
Sincere prayers for Kh. Marilyn, the family and all who mourn at this time. Pray for us Fr. Peter.
An unworthy Priest,
Fr. Daniel M. Hackney
Pastor,
Saint Ananias Orthodox MIssion
Evansville, Indiana
μνημη αιωνια, Fr. Peter! I am grateful for our time serving together on the OCF board of directors. You and your family are in the prayers of Sarah and me and the parish of St. John in Memphis.
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Memory Eternal! Thanks so much for the courage, the strength, the insight, persistence, faith and abiding love that brought so many of us into the Church… the incarnation of a faith fully alive and an example to so many! “Yes, we CAN do this.”
Thank you so much as well to the family for your love … the sort of love that feeds and frees a man to follow his heart, and so fed and freed so many others.
The official account of 2,000 has never begun to measure the full breadth of your reach! And by your prayers, by your words, and by your silence we have learned to pray. May you continue to lead us onward. Thanks be to God for your life and witness. Memory Eternal!
I take comfort that I have a “friend” in heaven. Memory Eternal, Father Peter!
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Memory Eternal! I always remember the Missions and Evangelism conference in 2005 at which I attended as a protestant minister seeking Christ’s Church. Fr. Peter met with me and encouraged me. His words to trust Christ’s Church who gave me the Scriptures that teach me about Jesus in whom I already trust, still ring in my ears.
With tears I say a loud Memory eternal! Memory eternal! May your memory Father Peter the faithful servant of God be eternal!
From my heart I ask the Lord Christ risen from the dead to comfort all Father Peter’s family +
Always yours in the Saviour,
Hieromonk Joshua +
The Hermitage of Saint George