MOSCOW: February 3, 2016
Bishop John of Caracas and South America Celebrates Divine Liturgy at Pokrovsky Church in Rubtsovo

With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, His Grace Bishop John of Caracas and South America of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Old Rite in Pokrovsky Church in Rubtsovo (Moscow) on Sunday, January 31, 2016. Vladyka John performed all-night vigil at the church on Saturday evening.

He was joined by Protopriest Ioann Mirolyubov and Priest Andrei Fastov, clerics of the church. Also participating was Protopriest Pimen Simon, Rector of the Old Rite Church of the Nativity of Christ in Erie, PA. The choir sang the znamenny chant under the direction of golovshchik [deputy choir director/chanter] GB Pechenkin.

Vladyka John, who in addition to ruling the South American Diocese, also ministers to the Old Rite parishes of the Church Abroad, participated in the conference “The Old Rite in the Russian Orthodox Church” and a round table of representatives of Old-Rite churches, as part of the 24 th International Nativity Educational Readings on January 26-27.

After the service, the hierarch from America met with parishioners, fielded questions on the history of the church in Erie and interrelations with adherents of the Old-Rite.