DIOCESE OF CHICAGO AND MID-AMERICA: August 12, 2016
Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America Leads Celebrations at St Panteleimon Church in Minneapolis, MN

On August 9, 2016, the Day of Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon (+305), His Eminence Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America made an archpastoral visit to the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of St Panteleimon Russian Orthodox Church in Minneapolis, MN, and 1000-year anniversary of the Russian monastic presence on Holy Mount Athos. Also, this was the first visit of Archbishop Peter since his appointment to the Chicago see on July 2, 2016.

Archbishop Peter headed all-night vigil and Divine Liturgy on the parish feast at St Panteleimon Russian Orthodox Church in Minneapolis. His was joined by clergy of the Chicago Diocese: Archimandrite John (Magramm) of St Seraphim Skete in Fridley, MN; Archpriest Basil Kuzmych, Rector of Holy Trinity Church in Milwaukee, WI, Dean of the Second Deanery; Priest Mircea Vasiu (Romanian Orthodox Church); Priest Antony Alekseyenko, Rector of the parish; Priest Radomir Plavsic (Serbian Church); Protodeacon John Cavin of St Seraphim Skete in Fridley.

Protodeacon Basil Gilliland, parish deacon, and monk Seraphim (Surkov) of St Seraphim Skete in Fridley, MN, also prayed in church.

Before vigil, His Eminence was greeted by the parish rector. The Parish Icon of St Panteleimon, which contain the saint's relics, was brought out to the center of the church at polyeleos. The Day of the Feast started with the Blessing of the Waters served by Parish Rector, Reverend Antony Alekseyenko. In spite of it being a weekday, Liturgy was attended by people not only from all over Minnesota, but also from the neighboring states of North Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa.

Before Divine Liturgy, His Eminence was greeted by parishioners with the traditional bread-and-salt and flowers. After the reading of the third hour, Archbishop Peter tonsured a reader Alexander Poppenhagen to serve at St Seraphim Skete. After the augmental litany, His Eminence read the prayer for peace in Ukraine. The choir sang under the leadership of Galina Adjunts – parish choir director. Many partook of Holy Communion.

In the sermon at the end of Liturgy, Archbishop Peter noted the importance of monasticism in the Church life, and underlined the spiritual and intellectual role of monasticism in the development of the Russian Orthodox Church and Russian state. His Eminence remembered Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky, +1936) in his sermon, his connection to Holy Mountain, and the 80th anniversary of his blessed repose on August 10th this year.

The supplication service and procession of the cross followed the end of Liturgy. On the last stop before the church entrance, Archbishop Peter blessed a stone marked with the inscription “60th Anniversary of St Panteleimon Russian Orthodox Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota and 1000 Years of the Russian Presence on the Holy Mount Athos,” and read the prayer to Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon in front of the parish icon with relics.

Many Years was then intoned to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, all Russian monastics, parishioners, rector, brotherhood and sisterhood of St Panteleimon Church in Minneapolis.

Fr Antony welcomed His Eminence on behalf of the parish and gave him an icon of St Panteleimon, and asked him to convey another embroidered icon of the Great Martyr to Metropolitan Hilarion honoring this day.

After the veneration of the cross, the parish sisterhood invited the clergy and laity to the church hall for a festive meal, arranged by parishioners. Archbishop Peter noted the importance of brotherly fellowship after the service, which is the continuation of the Eucharist – agape. His Grace invited everyone to Protection Cathedral in Des Plaines (Chicago) on August 30 (the day of remembrance of St Alypy of the Kiev Caves, +1088) for honoring His Eminence Archbishop Alypy, which will be headed by the Primate of ROCOR.

After the festive meal, Archbishop Peter thanked the rector, parishioners, sisterhood and brotherhood for their labors and organization of the feast, and clergy for their prayers.

A photo report of the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of St Panteleimon Russian Orthodox Church in Minneapolis on the 5th Sunday of Great Lent, Venerable Mary of Egypt (April 17, 2016), which was prayerfully marked by numerous faithful and clergy, and headed by Archbishop Peter. The banquet was organized in St George Antiochian Orthodox Church in St Paul, MN, and a booklet was published honoring St Panteleimon Church history and Russian monasticism.