The Nomination and Consecration of Archimandrite Peter (Lukianov) as Bishop of Cleveland, Vicar of the Diocese of Chicago and Detroit

According to the teachings of the Orthodox Church, the greatest service on this earth is that of the episcopacy. The service of an Orthodox bishop continues the mission of Christ in the world. Despite the loftiness of episcopal service, the path of a bishop is uncommonly difficult. St. John Chrysostom said “a bishop struggles no less than a thousand martyrs.” And the Synod of Bishops called to this service the Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem and the Administrator of the Diocese of Chicago and Detroit, Archimandrite Peter (Lukianov), who had labored for many years in Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville as the assistant of Metropolitan Laurus and the dean and teacher of the Seminary.

The consecration was scheduled for 12 June, the feast day of Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, falling this year on Saturday. A multitude of clergymen from all over America and even Australia convened in Chicago to spiritually support the new bishop of our Church, attending the first consecration to the episcopacy in the new, magnificently-adorned Cathedral, the holy images painted by Archbishop Alypy.

At the end of vigil, during which the episcopal choir under the direction of George Perekrestov sang beautifully, the rite of nomination began, headed by Metropolitan Laurus along with Archbishop Alypy of Chicago and Detroit and Bishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America. After a brief prayer service to the Holy Spirit, the consecratee read a sermon in which he recounted his spiritual path under the direction of the Archbishops of San Francisco, Tikhon, John and Anthony, and also thanked his parents, who reared him in love for the ideals of Holy Russia. Archimandrite Peter expressed his gratitude to the living archpastors who attended the consecration for their steady support, asking their prayers and help in his difficult work ahead. He also said that the process of spiritual awakening in Russia beginning in the 1990's places upon us the obligation to work in a constructive way on the territory of our historic Homeland, helping and serving Her. Thereupon, Protodeacon Joseph Jaroschuk intoned Many Years, during the singing of which the new nominee kissed the cross and was sprinkled with holy water.

The following morning at 8:30 a.m., the helmsman of our Church Abroad, Metropolitan Laurus, was greeted at the church. After he was vested, and after the reading of the hours, the rite of confessing the faith was performed at which the consecratee, standing upon a large orlets [eagle rug], ceremoniously and expansively confesses his fealty to the teaching of the Orthodox Church and makes his archpastoral oath, promising to observe peace in the Church, to obey the Council of Bishops, to earnestly instruct the flock, to visit the parishes of the diocese annually, to counter the enemies of the Church with meekness and wisdom, and so forth. Liturgy then began, celebrated by the bishops along with over 40 clergymen of the diocese, guests and representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Liturgy was attended by Bishop Job, the local Ruling Bishop of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA); the rector of the OCA office in Moscow, Archimandrite Zaccheus (Wood) and other representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches. The sister of the Bulgarian King Simeon, Her Royal Highness Princess Maria Louisa, attended along with other representatives of the Bulgarian Royal Family, who were commemorated during the Great entrance. During “Holy God” the moment of the great ceremony of consecration arrived. Expecially impresive were the exclamations of “axios” [“he is worthy”] by the clergy and the worshipers, as was the vesting of newly-consecrated Bishop Peter by the archpastors themselves, upon which he was led out by them to the people. After the eucharistic canon, Bishop Peter, with the blessing of the Ruling Archbishop Alypy, performed the ordination into the deaconate of subdeacon Julian Grachev for service at the Cathedral. After the prayers before the Eucharist, Protopriest Stefan Pavlenko, rector of the Church of All Russian Saints in Burlingame, CA, gave a sermon.

At the end of liturgy, Metropolitan Laurus, entrusting the bishop’s staff to the newly-consecrated Bishop Peter, gave a speech in which he remarked that the beginning of his episcopal service is beset with sorrows from the false brothers and the enemy of mankind–the devil, who always interferes with every good deed, and especially consecrations, for the bishop is a source of the grace of God in the Church. His Eminence also noted that sorrows are good for the humility of the servant of the Church; they develop faith and help in trusting the First Pastor, Christ, Who cares for the servant and his flock. Metropolitan Laurus called upon the new bishop to always follow the legacy of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco and his successor to the cathedra of San Francisco, the recently-reposed Archbishop Anthony of blessed memory, who loved him so and now rejoice in the Church Triumphant. After these words, Vladyka Peter blessed the worshipers while the choir sang “Ton despotin,” and then offered the cross for veneration.

At the banquet organized in honor of Bishop Peter, Bishop Kyrill warmly greeted the new archpastor on behalf of the Western American flock and presented him with a panagia. It is interesting to note that some parishioners of the Cathedral in San Francisco, present at the ceremony in Chicago, said that the SS Kyrill and Methodius High School at the Cathedral in San Francisco produced several clergymen, and now this group of clergymen is headed by Bishop Peter, who had graduated the school during the time of St. John. Besides Bishop Peter, SS Kyrill and Methodius High School produced Priests Michael Ilyin and Seraphim Gan, Deacons Vadim Gan and Nikolai Triantafillidis (the latter was elevated to rank of protodeacon on this same day in the Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul in Sydney, Australia).

During the trapeza feast, the president of the Church Music Committee of the Synod of Bishops, Priest Andrei Papkov, congratulating Bishop Peter, also read telegrams of greeting from Archbishops Mark of Berlin and Germany, Hilarion of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand, Bishop Alexander of Buenos Aires and South America, Metropolitan Cyprian of Oropos and Fili, Metropolitan Iakovos of the local Greek Archdiocese, Metropolitan Amphilochius of Montenegro, Bishop Longin of the local Serbian Church, Bishop Jovan of Sumadija, at one time heading the Serbian Orthodox parishes in America; Abbess Elizabeth and the nuns of Gethsemane Convent, Shmuel Avitar, Advisor to the Mayor of Jerusalem on Christian Affairs, Professor Anthony-Emil N. Tachiaos of Thessaloniki University, and many others.

Protopriest Alexander Lebedeff spoke on behalf of the Seminarians who studied with Bishop Peter in Jordanville, expressing the overall joy felt by all the alumni of 1971 over the consecration. M.A. Lukianov, the new bishop’s older brother, spoke on behalf of the family. Words of greeting were given by Priest Gregory Joyce, the Secretary of the Diocesan Administration, speaking on behalf of the clergy of the Diocese of Chicago and Detroit as well as the Synodal Committee on St. Herman’s Youth Conferences. In his speech on behalf of the Chicago Cathedral parish, R.I. Diakon assured Vladyka of the love and filial loyalty of the parishioners of Protection Cathedral, calling upon the latter to come, support their bishops and help build a Russian school at their church.

Metropolitan Laurus supported the appeal of Mr. Diakon, expressing hope that this good intention will be met with God’s blessing and the prayerful support of St. Jonah of Hankow, in whose honor it is proposed that the school be named. In his reply, Bishop Peter thanked everyone and especially Her Royal Highness, Princess Maria Louisa, as the representative of the Bulgarian Royal Family, for all they had done for Russian refugees; he also asked the prayers and support of the bishops, pastors and flock in his new and laborious service to the Church.

After the banquet, many headed back to the Cathedral for all-night vigil, at which His Grace Bishop Peter officiated along with a large contingent of clergymen. The following morning, Metropolitan Laurus allowed the greeting of the bishop to be held for Bishop Peter, who was met with the clergy singing “With glory,” at the parish house, from whence all went to the Cathedral accopmanied by the singing of the troparion for the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God. Divine liturgy was headed by Metropolitan Laurus along with Archbishop Alypy and Bishop Peter, Protopriests Vsevolod Drobot, Alexander Lebedeff and Stefan Pavlenko, Hieromonks John and Roman, Priests John Sykaluk, Christopher Stade, Gregory Joyce, Serafim Gan, Jeremiah Loch, Victor Boldewskul and Valery Vovkovsky. Bishop Peter also emerged during “Look down from Heaven, o God,” and administered the Holy Gifts. Priest Victor Boldewskul of the Cathedral of St. Sergius in Cleveland read the sermon.

At the banquet prepared by the Cathedral Sisterhood at the church hall, the following made speeches: Archbishop Alypy, Her Royal Highness Princess Maria Louisa, who warmly welcomed the newly-consecrated bishop; Priest Victor Boldewskul, on behalf of the Cleveland Cathedral; Protodeacon Victor Lokhmatov and Priest Serafim Gan on behalf of a large contingent of seminary graduates who studied when Bishop Peter was Dean and who participated in the consecration celebrations. In his closing speech, Vladyka Peter thanked the archpastors and clergymen for their prayerful support and participation in the divine services, Princess Maria Louisa for her kind attention and consistent good will expressed towards him, the altar boys led by A.P. Urtieff for their assistance, the choir directed by George Perekrestov for their inspired singing, which bolstered the prayerful mood of the clergy and laity in the church; the Sisterhood for their labors and magnificent feast during the days of the celebrations. Bishop Peter once again asked everyone for their prayers, patience, understanding and support.

We wish Bishop Peter good health and God’s help in his archpastoral service in the glory of God and the good of our Russian Church.

Eis polla eti despota!

Priest Seraphim Gan