Peter the Aleut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Peter the Aleut |
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Icon of St. Peter the Aleut
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| Martyr of San Francisco and Protomartyr of America | |
| Born | Cungagnaq c. 1800 |
| Died | 1815 |
| Venerated in | Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Canonized | 1980 by Orthodox Church in America |
| Feast | September 24; December 12 |
| Attributes | portrayed as an Aleut youth, wearing a traditional gut parka |
Cungagnaq (also known as Peter the Aleut) was a young man from Kodiak Island. He is honored as a martyr and saint by some parts of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Cungagnaq was born around 1800. He was given the Christian name Peter when he was baptized into the Orthodox faith. This happened through the work of missionaries from St. Herman's mission in the northern lands. Peter was captured by Spanish soldiers and died in 1815. This happened because he would not change his Christian faith.
At that time, California was Spanish territory. Spain was worried about Russian explorers moving south from Alaska.
Contents
Peter's Capture and Faith
In 1815, Peter was part of a group of hunters. They worked for the Russian-American Company. They were hunting seals and otters near a place called San Pedro. Spanish soldiers captured them.
The soldiers took the hunters to a mission. There, Roman Catholic priests tried to make the Aleuts change their Orthodox faith. They threatened them with torture.
Peter's Brave Refusal
Peter and the other Aleuts refused to give up their faith. The priests then ordered Peter to be tortured. They cut off his toes, one by one. Peter still would not deny his beliefs.
Then, they ordered his fingers to be cut off, joint by joint. Finally, both of his hands were removed. Peter remained strong in his faith. The Spanish captors were about to torture another Aleut. But then, orders came to release the other Russian and Native Alaskan prisoners.
The Story's History
The story of Peter's death comes from a letter. It was written in 1865 by Semyon Ivanovich Yanovsky. He was a manager of the Russian colonies from 1818 to 1820. Yanovsky heard the story from someone who said they saw it happen. This was 50 years after the event.
Different Accounts of the Event
Yanovsky's letter says "Jesuits" tortured Peter. However, the Jesuit order had been removed from Spanish lands long before 1815. In California at that time, there were only Franciscans.
An earlier letter from Yanovsky in 1820 also tells the story. It came with an account from a Kodiak Islander named Ivan Kiglay. Kiglay's story is the only one from a supposed eyewitness. He said that he and Peter (Chukagnak) were imprisoned. He said Peter was tortured and killed by Native Americans at the command of a Spaniard. Kiglay's account does not say Peter was killed for refusing to change his religion. It says the Kodiak islanders had already refused to become Catholic because they were already Christians.
Where Did It Happen?
Peter the Aleut is sometimes called a "martyr of San Francisco." Many stories say his death happened in San Francisco. Others say it was near Los Angeles or in Southern California. These different ideas come from old stories and how people understand the historical documents.
Understanding "San Pedro"
The earliest records say the event happened at "the mission of San Pedro." Some people think this means San Pedro y San Pablo Asistencia. This was a smaller mission near Pacifica, California.
Others believe "San Pedro" refers to the dock in San Pedro, Los Angeles. This was a trading post used by Spanish friars. This idea fits with other places mentioned in the old documents. These include islands like Santa Rosa Island and Catalina Island. These documents also say the captured hunters were moved to Fort Ross. They stopped in Santa Barbara and Monterey along the way.
Honoring Saint Peter
When St. Herman heard about Peter's death, he was very sad. He cried out, "Holy new-martyr Peter, pray to God for us!"
Peter the Aleut was made a saint in 1980. This was done by the Orthodox Church in America. He is known as the "Martyr of San Francisco." His special day is celebrated on September 24 or December 12. Many churches in North America are named after him. These include churches in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, Minot, North Dakota, Calgary, and Abita Springs, Louisiana.
Sources
- (Google Play Books link)
- Farris, Glenn, "The Strange Tale of Saint Peter, the Aleut: A Russian Orthodox Martyr on the California Frontier". A paper presented at "The Spanish Missions and California Indians Symposium," D-Q University, 3 March 1990.
- Ogden, Adele, The California Sea Otter Trade 1784-1848. (University of California Publications in History, 26). (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1941).
- The Russian Orthodox Religious Mission in America, 1794–1837, with Materials Concerning the Life and Works of the Monk German, and Ethnographic Notes by the Hieromonk Gedeon. Originally published in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1894. Translated from the Russian by Colin Bearne; ed. by Richard A. Pierce (Kingston, Ont., Canada: Limestone Press, 1978).
- Tarakanoff, Vassili Petrovitch, Statement of My Captivity Among the Californians (Los Angeles: Glen Dawson Press, 1953).
- Tikhmenev, P. A, A History of the Russian-American Company. Translated and edited by Richard Pierce and Alton Donnelly. (Seattle: Univ. of Washington Press, 1978).
See also
In Spanish: Pedro el Aleutiano para niños
