Resolution of the Clergy of the Diocese of Chicago and Detroit

of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

Gathered from among the scattered parishes of our Diocese at the Cathedral of the Protection of the Most-Holy Mother of God in the God-preserved city of Chicago, under the guidance of our Ruling Bishop, His Eminence Archbishop Alypy, and the admistrator of the Diocese, Fr. Archimandrite Peter (Lukianov), we, the clergy of the Diocese of Chicago and Detroit, thank the Lord God for His great mercy towards us and our flock.

This past year has been a difficult one for our Diocese, troublesome: but, with God's help, Vladyka Archbishop Alypy is recuperating after his injury, incurred during Great Lent in 2002. And although in an adminstrative sense, a great deal is achieved during pastoral conferences, for example, the elections for diocesan posts and reports on parish life, we find the greatest benefit in concelebrating at the altar of God and in the cooperation that can only be brought about when we gather for prayer together. On this basis, we decided this year to organize a second meeting of the clergy in the fall, so that we could further support each other and council each other in the spirit of brotherhood and spiritual love.

We pray the Lord God that He send His mercy and His aid to our bishops, our First Hierarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, upon whom lies the great and thankless task of guiding the Church in difficult seas; upon the Synod of Bishops, and especially upon His Eminence, our Archbishop Alypy and Fr. Archimandrite Peter, directing us, under their guidance, to our heavenly Homeland.

We also beseech the Almighty, during these times of war, to bless our nation and the entire world with peace, allowing us to calmly labor over our salvation. May, too, this Great Lent of 2003 be led in piety, in love for God and the spreading of the holy truths of the Orthodox faith in our Diocese.

Ü Archbishop Alypy
Archimandrite Peter, Diocesan Administrator
Priest Gregory Joyce, Diocesan Secretary
Protopriest John Shaw
Hegumen John
Protopriest Eugene Gruchetski
Priest Martin Swanson
Priest Victor Boldewskul
Priest Valery Vovkovsky
Priest John Sykaluk
Priest Christopher Stade
Priest Thomas Kalp
Deacon Basil Gilliland
8/21 March 2003
St. Theophylact of Nicodemus