DIOCESE OF MID-AMERICA: 18 November, 2024
The funeral service for Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America is held

After presiding over the great consecration of SS Peter and Paul Church in Santa Rosa, CA, on Monday, November 11, 2024, and bidding farewell to His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, headed to Chicago to lead the services for the departed Archbishop Peter (Loukianoff) of Chicago and Mid-America, who reposed on Friday, November 8.

Since the repose of Vladyka Peter, through the efforts of the Secretary of the Diocesan Administration, Archpriest Gregory Joyce, the clergy of the Mid-American Diocese commenced taking turns celebrating Divine Liturgy in the churches of this diocese, lovingly commemorating the departed hierarch. After the funeral and burial of Archbishop Peter, the clergy will continue this daily service until Tuesday, December 17, when the Diocese of Mid-America will honor the fortieth day of its archpastor.

On Friday, November 15, the clergy and worshipers of Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in Chicago greeted the coffin with the body of the newly-departed bishop, after which the cathedral clergy performed a parastas. Upon completion of the service, Metropolitan Nicholas addressed those present with words of edification and condolence, stressing that the late Vladyka Peter had left his wards the light of the laborious life, wise instruction, and legacy of St John, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco the Wonderworker. For this alone, everyone should pray with love and gratitude for Vladyka Peter and be sure to record his name in their commemoration book. His Eminence then performed a litiya at the coffin of the newly-reposed along with His Grace Bishop John of Caracas and South America and His Grace Bishop James of Sonora, Vicar of the Western American Diocese; Fr Gregory Joyce and Archpriest Valery Vovkovsky, the Cathedral’s Senior Priest.

Present in the cathedral was the greatest shrine of the Russian diaspora – the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign."

On the evening of the same day, a dinner was served in honor of the archpastors, guests in the priestly rank, and relatives and friends of Archbishop Peter, who had arrived for the funeral.

The following morning, Metropolitan Nicholas officiated at Divine Liturgy at Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral, co-served by the above-mentioned archpastors, along with Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), Chief of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia), who had known the late bishop since childhood; Archpriest Stephen Pavlenko, who graduated from Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in 1971, and the clergy of the Mid-American Diocese.

The large deacon's choir was headed by the cathedral's Protodeacon Alexander Kichakov. Praying at the service were His Eminence Archbishop Longin of New Gracanica and Chicago of Midwestern America (Serbian Orthodox Church), His Eminence Archbishop Daniel of Chicago and the Midwest (Orthodox Church of America) and His Grace Bishop Seraphim of Kostajnica (Serbian Orthodox Church), and other representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches. The faithful communed of the Holy Mystery from four chalices.

Before the funeral service, Vladyka Nicholas addressed the entire consecrated council of archpastors, clergy and faithful with words of gratitude for their prayers and participation in the common sorrow, especially calling on the clergy and children of the Diocese of Mid-America to cherish the legacy of the departed, who always generously shared his memories of St John the Wonderworker, the details of his service and the traditions that he adhered to.

All this should be preserved as a path of life and a point of contact with our past, His Eminence advised, once again calling on everyone to pray for the deceased with love and gratitude. His Eminence especially thanked the representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches, who treated Archbishop Peter with great love. A funeral service was then held, in which all the bishops and the assembled clergy participated.

The liturgical hymns were prayerfully sung by the bishop's choir under the direction of Dr Michael Gill.

At the end of the funeral service, a farewell service began, during which, through the efforts of the hardworking and caring sisterhood of the cathedral, an abundant memorial luncheon was served. At lunch, condolences were read out from Primates and various representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches. Then the funeral service participants went back to the cathedral. Here, Metropolitan Nicholas read a prayer of absolution over the newly-departed Archbishop Peter, after which a procession of the cross took place around the cathedral, which ended with a litany at the hearse. From here, a group of representatives of the diocese went with the coffin of the archpastor to Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY.

On the evening of the same day, the all-night vigil was served in the cathedral, after which the choir director hosted a dinner in honor of the First Hierarch, Bishop James, the reverend guests, relatives and friends of Archbishop Peter, including his brother Nicholas Andreevich, who, like the deceased, also served as an altar boy under St John. Dinner was held in a very warm and friendly atmosphere.

The next morning, the 21st after Pentecost, Metropolitan Nicholas officiated at Divine Liturgy at Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral. Concelebrating with His Eminence were His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas, head of the North American Metropolia of the Romanian Orthodox Church; Bishop James; Archimandrite Roman; Archimandrite John (Magramm); Archpriest Serafim Gan, Chancellor of the Synod of Bishops and Secretary of the First Hierarch; Fr Gregory; Fr Valery, the cathedral clergy and visiting priests. The deaconal order was headed by Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur. During the service, Archpriest Andrei Papkov prayed and communed of Christ's Holy Mysteries.

At the end of the service, Vladyka Nicholas expressed his deep gratitude to the head of the North American Metropolia, all his concelebrants and the multitude of worshipers for the joy of prayerful communion. His Eminence once again called upon all to pray for the newly-departed Archbishop Peter and to follow his constant concern for the strengthening of church life.

Metropolitan Nicholas, who has taken upon himself the temporary administration of the diocese, called upon the leaders of the diocese and the cathedral to cooperate closely and fraternally for the sake of the eternal salvation of their neighbors, the unity of the clergy and flock, and the blessed success of the work of God entrusted to the clergy and officials Metropolitan Nicholas and all those present in connection with the repose of Archbishop Peter, recalling in warm words the love with which the deceased participated in the church life of the Orthodox Romanians in Chicago.

Bishop James spoke a few words on behalf of Archbishop Kyrill of and the diocese in which the deceased was born and grew up, assuring everyone of his prayers for the clergy and flock of the Diocese of Mid-America.

The First Hierarch, archpastors, clergy and numerous participants in the service were then offered a magnificent luncheon offered by the cathedral sisterhood. At the end of the luncheon, the First Hierarch delivered a farewell speech, expressing gratitude to all and asking for holy prayers, after which he departed with the Kursk-Root Icon to Holy Trinity Monastery to perform the burial of Archbishop Peter on Monday, November 18, the day of the election of the Holy Hierarch-Confessor Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow.

Photos: LN Kichakov and other participants.