DIOCESE OF CHICAGO AND MID-AMERICA: 24 March, 2026
Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in Chicago hosts a conference of clergymen

The Pastoral Retreat of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia was held at Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in Des Plaines, a suburb of Chicago, IL, on March 9-11, 2026. His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel, provisional Ruling Bishop, presided over the event.

The diocesan clerics gathered on March 9 to perform the Rite Holy Unction; hundreds of clergymen and laypersons participated.

The clergy gathered the evening of March 9 to serve the Great Lenten General Unction service led by Archbishop Gabriel. Hundreds of clergymen and gathered faithful were anointed that evening.

The next morning the retreat began in earnest. The time of the clergymen together was spent receiving guidance from Archbishop Gabriel, working on administrative issues in their parishes and the diocese at large, reciving reports on the various diocesan endeavors, and other pertinent issues to the gathered clergymen and their parishes. The Diocesan Assembly was discussed and the dates for this undertaking were solidfied for October 13-17, 2026.

On Tuesday evening, after a full day of the work of the retreat, the fathers gathered in the cathedral to celebrate the Great Lenten services and had the opportunity to confess their sins. These opportunities for confession are especially important for the fathers, as many in our diocese are geographically isolated from other priests.

On Wednesday morning the Great Lenten Hours were read and sung as usual, and Archbishop Gabriel lead the Presanctified Liturgy. More than 30 priests and deacons served with the Archbishop.

Following the Liturgy a meal was held in the parish hall provided by the cathedral sisterhood, who diligently labored to feed and host the gathered clergy over the days of the retreat. After the meal His Eminence thanked the sisters for their zealous work. The resolution of the retreat was then accepted unanimously by the fathers, Archbishop Gabriel gave his final instructions and blessing, and the fathers departed for their home parishes.

Resolution of the Lenten Clergy Retreat of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America - 2026

We, the clergy of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America, gathered at Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral from March 9th to 11th for a Great Lenten clergy retreat. The retreat began with Archbishop Gabriel leading the clergy and hundreds of faithful in the celebration of the Sacred Mystery of Holy Unction. May God grant us all physical and spiritual strength and healing and enable us “to fight the good fight; to accomplish the course of the Fast; to preserve inviolate the faith; to crush underfoot the heads of invisible serpents; [and] to be accounted victors over sin,” so that we may “ attain unto and adore the holy Resurrection” (Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts).

We urge the faithful to pray for immediate cessation of the present hostilities and for the peace of the Holy Land and of the entire Middle East during these times of extraordinary violence. We note with regret that wars disproportionately harm those most vulnerable, which include some of the oldest Christian communities in the world. The Orthodox Church prays continually for the Peace of the Whole World, the Salvation of our Souls, and the Union of All; and we remind everyone of Christ's admonition to love both our neighbor and our enemy (Matthew 22:39; Matthew 5:44).

Among the numerous consequences of the present hostilities is increased risk to our communities in the Holy Land. We note with thanksgiving and a heavy sense of responsibility that the Russian Church Abroad has been entrusted with several historic Holy Sites in Jerusalem, which include the Mount of Olives Convent of the Ascension, Gethsemane Convent, Bethany Convent, and St. Chariton’s Skete. These communities rely heavily on pilgrimages for their survival, and travel to the Middle East has been entirely disrupted. As is traditional in our diocese, all parishes will take up a special collection for our Russian Ecclesiastical Mission to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Your participation is especially important during this great time of need.

We are grateful to God for the Pan-Orthodox Legislative Day of Action held in Washington, D.C. in December 2025, where the clergy and faithful of various Orthodox Jurisdictions brought the attention of American legislators to the persecution of the long-suffering Ukrainian Orthodox Church under Metropolitan Onuphry. This was a pan-Orthodox effort largely led by parishioners of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. We give thanks to God that Metropolitan Arseny of Svyatogorsk has been released. However, we note with sadness that persecution against the clergy and faithful of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church continues. The Church has now been evicted from all of the historic churches and territory of the millenium-old Kiev Caves Lavra, and nearly 100 years since the godless Soviet regime made this holy complex into a so-called museum of atheism, the current Ukrainian regime has essentially committed the same abomination. We also note with sadness the forced conscription of clergymen of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church into the Armed Forces, where they are being commanded to take human life, which they are canonically forbidden to do.

Vladyka Gabriel discussed the upcoming Bishop’s Council in Munich, Germany scheduled for April 28th to May 8th. The Bishop’s Sobor is being held there in celebration of that diocese’s 100th anniversary. This is the same diocese where young Saint Alexander Schmorell suffered under the Nazis in 1943; his grave is just steps from our Munich Cathedral. Vladyika Gabriel feels very strongly that the next ruling hierarch of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America will be chosen at this Council.

We look forward to the Church Musicians Conference that is scheduled for September 30th through October 4th and especially the Diocesan Assembly scheduled for October 13th through 17th, both in the God-preserved City of Chicago.

Fr. Gregory Joyce, Secretary of the Diocese, led an engaging discussion on best practices for the celebration of the Presanctified Liturgy, also called the Liturgy of St. Gregory the Diologist. The guiding presence of Archbishop Gabriel was invaluable during this discussion.

Ascension Wine Company held a tasting of their excellent and affordable chalice wine. The production of high-quality chalice wine in our diocese is an exciting development. The wine is made by Mr. Vladimir Banov, a parishioner of St. Sebastian of Jackson Orthodox Christian Mission Church in Traverse City, Michigan. We pray that Ascension Wine Company will prove a valuable resource for parishes of various jurisdictions throughout the United States and we call down God’s blessing on Vladimir for his good work. Ascension Wine Company now ships to 49 states. Please visit ascensionwineco.com for more information.

Vladyka also mentioned with pleasure the explosive growth of the Diocese and the many clergy ordinations he has celebrated in his year and a half as our Locum Tenens.

The Clergy Retreat concluded with a Hierarchical Presanctified Liturgy on Wednesday, March 11th, followed by an excellent meal. The Clergy of the Diocese would like to thank Vladyka Gabriel, with heartfelt appreciation, for his self-sacrificial service during this important and challenging time of transition.

In Christ,

The Clergy of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America
Feast of St. Porphyrios of Gaza
February 26/March 11, 2026