KIEV: October 25, 2016
Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America Celebrates Divine Liturgy at Uspensky Cathedral at Kiev Lavra of the Caves

On Sunday, October 23, 2016, in the grand Uspensky Cathedral at Kiev Lavra of the Caves, His Eminence Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America celebrated Divine Liturgy, joined by Schema-Archimandrite Gavriil (Bunge), Archimandrite Amvrosy (Makar), Rector of St Amvrosy of Milan Church in the city of Milan, as well as monastic and visiting clergymen.

After the Gospel reading, Archbishop Peter delievered a sermon in which he said that the worshipers had heard two readings each that day from the Epistle and Gospel, which related to this Sunday and the memory of the Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council. Vladyka Peter stressed the second Gospel reading about the prayer as High Priest of Jesus Christ.

“The Lord lifts His prayers,” said Archbishop Peter, “and in theological terms, this is called the prayer of the High Priest. He prays to God the Father as a Great Bishop, Who brings the Sacrifice of Himself for the redemption of us all from sin. It is not sufficient to simply believe in Jesus Christ, one must believe correctly, that is the key to our salvation. Any departure from dogma leads inexorably to moral ruin. We must all adhere to these dogmas, hold on to the Church, keep to her teachings. And the most important thing is to pray that one does not depart from Truth into schism. Then we can attain the Kingdom of Heaven!”

The spiritual hymn of Ukraine was sung during the service. Afterwards, Archbishop Peter thanked all the monastics who joined him in the service for their prayers and invoked Divine blessings upon all in attendance.