After presiding over the great consecration of Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Santa Rosa, CA, on Monday, November 11, and bidding farewell to His Eminence Kyrill, Archbishop of San Francisco & Western America, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, headed to Chicago, IL to officiate the services for the departed Archbishop Peter (Loukianoff) of Chicago & Mid-America, who reposed on Friday, November 8.
Since the repose of Archbishop Peter, through the efforts of the secretary of the diocesan administration, Archpriest Gregory Joyce, the clergy of the Mid-American Diocese had taken turns celebrating Divine Liturgy in the churches of the diocese, lovingly commemorating the departed hierarch. After the funeral and burial of Archbishop Peter, the clergy will continue this daily service until Tuesday, December 17, when the Diocese of Mid-America will honor the 40th day of its archpastor.
On Friday, November 15, the clergy and worshippers of Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in Chicago greeted the coffin with the body of the newly departed hierarch, after which the cathedral clergy performed a parastas. Upon completion of the service, Metropolitan Nicholas addressed those present with words of edification and condolence, stressing that the late Archbishop Peter had left his wards the light of the laborious life, wise instruction, and legacy of St. John, Archbishop of Shanghai & San Francisco, the Wonderworker. For this alone, everyone should pray with love and gratitude for Archbishop Peter and be sure to record his name in their commemoration book. His Eminence then performed a litia at the coffin of the newly reposed, co-served by His Grace John, Bishop of Caracas & South America, and His Grace James, Bishop of Sonora, vicar of the Western American Diocese, Fr. Gregory Joyce and Archpriest Valery Vovkovsky, the cathedral’s senior priest, clergy of the Mid-American Diocese and visiting clerics.
Present in the cathedral was the greatest holy icon of the Russian Diaspora – the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign."
On the evening of the same day, a dinner was served in honor of the archpastors, visiting clergy, and relatives and friends of Archbishop Peter, who had arrived for His Eminence’s funeral.
The following morning, Metropolitan Nicholas celebrated Divine Liturgy at Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral, co-served by the above-mentioned archpastors, along with Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), Chief of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, who had known the late hierarch since childhood; Archpriest Stefan Pavlenko, who graduated from Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary alongside the deceased in 1971; and the clergy of the Mid-American Diocese. The large number of deacon was headed by cathedral Protodeacon Alexander Kichakov.
Praying at the service were His Eminence Longin, Archbishop of New Gracanica-Chicago and Metropolitan of Midwestern America (Serbian Orthodox Church), His Eminence Daniel, Archbishop of Chicago & the Midwest (Orthodox Church of America), and His Grace Seraphim, Bishop of Kostajnica (Serbian Orthodox Church), as well as other representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches.
Before the funeral service, Metropolitan Nicholas addressed the entire holy gathering of archpastors, clergy, and faithful with words of gratitude for their prayers and participation in their common sorrow, especially calling on the clergy and children of the Diocese of Mid-America to cherish the legacy of the departed, who always generously shared his memories of the Holy Hierarch and Wonderworker John, the details of his service, and the traditions to which he adhered.
All this should be preserved as a path of life and a point of contact with our past, His Eminence advised, once again calling on everyone to pray for the deceased with love and gratitude. His Eminence especially thanked the representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches, who treated Archbishop Peter with great love. A funeral service was then held, in which all the bishops and the assembled clergy participated.
The liturgical hymns were prayerfully sung by the hierarchal choir under the direction of Dr. Michael Gill.
At the end of the funeral service, a farewell service began, during which, through the efforts of the hardworking and caring sisterhood of the cathedral, an abundant memorial luncheon was served. At lunch, condolences were read out from Primates and various representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches. Then funeral service participants went back to the cathedral. Here, Metropolitan Nicholas read a prayer of absolution over the newly departed Archbishop Peter, after which a procession took place around the cathedral, ending with a litany at the hearse. From here, a group of representatives of the diocese went with the coffin of the archpastor to Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY.
On the evening of the same day, the All-Night Vigil was served in the cathedral, after which the choir director hosted a dinner in honor of the First Hierarch, Bishop James, the reverend guests, relatives and friends of Archbishop Peter, including his brother Nicholas Andreevich who, like the deceased, also served as an altar boy under St. John. Dinner was held in a very warm and friendly atmosphere.
The following morning, the 21st Sunday after Pentecost, Metropolitan Nicholas celebrated Divine Liturgy at Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral. Concelebrating with the First Hierarch were His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicolae, head of the North American Metropolia of the Romanian Orthodox Church; Bishop James; Fr. Roman (Krassovsky); Archimandrite John (Magramm); Archpriest Serafim Gan, chancellor of the Synod of Bishops; Fr Gregory Joyce; Fr. Valery Vovkovsky, the cathedral clergy and visiting priests. The deacons were led by Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur (cleric of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY). During the service, Archpriest Andrei Papkov prayed and communed of Christ's Holy Mysteries.
At the end of the service, Metropolitan Nicholas expressed his deep gratitude to the head of the North American Metropolia, all his concelebrants, and the multitude of worshippers for the joy of prayerful communion. His Eminence once again called upon all to pray for the newly departed Archbishop Peter and to follow his constant concern for the strengthening of Church life.
Metropolitan Nicholas, who has taken upon himself the temporary administration of the diocese, called upon the leaders of the diocese and the cathedral to cooperate closely and fraternally for the sake of the eternal salvation of their neighbors, the unity of the clergy and flock, and the blessed success of the work of God entrusted to the clergy and officials. Metropolitan Nicolae expressed his condolences to Metropolitan Nicholas and all those present in connection with the repose of Archbishop Peter, recalling in warm words the love with which the deceased participated in the church life of the Orthodox Romanians in Chicago.
Bishop James spoke a few words on behalf of Archbishop Kyrill of and the diocese in which the deceased was born and grew up, assuring everyone of his prayers for the clergy and flock of the Diocese of Mid-America.
The First Hierarch, archpastors, clergy, and numerous participants of the service were then offered a magnificent luncheon by the cathedral sisterhood. At the end of the luncheon, the First Hierarch delivered a farewell speech, expressing gratitude to all and asking for holy prayers, after which he departed with the Kursk Root Icon to Holy Trinity Monastery to perform the burial of Archbishop Peter on Monday, November 18, the day of the election of the Holy Hierarch-Confessor Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow.
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Photos: LN Kichakov and other participants.
