Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America - Russian Church Outside of Russia

Bishop Peter visits Orthodox Churches in the Austin, TX area

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

SPECIAL REPORT: News from Afghanistan

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

During the month of December, 2011, Fr. Christopher Allen, a priest of our diocese and a Lieutenant in the Navy Chaplain Corps currently serving with the Marines on Okinawa, traveled to Afghanistan to provide the Holy Mysteries to US and Coalition Orthodox military and civilian personnel. He traveled with his assistant, Religious Program Specialist 2nd Class, Jimmy Todd. "RP's," as they are called, are the Sailors who act as Chaplains' assistants and bodyguards. When Fr. Christopher arrived in Afghanistan, Fr. Jerome Cwiklinski, a Navy Captain and the senior Orthodox priest in the Navy Chaplain Corps, was just finishing several weeks there. He and Fr. Christopher concelebrated Divine Liturgy on the Sunday when their time overlapped.

In addition to providing specifically for the needs of Orthodox troops, Fr. Christopher also assisted the long-term chaplain staff by visiting the wounded, taking the watch as the Duty Chaplain, and providing a general ministry of counseling and presence. He also served a Moleben of Thanksgiving with special petitions for healing and protection for the assembled Coalition Forces Chaplains (US, British and Danish) at their weekly meeting. For many, it was their first experience of any form of Orthodox worship. Others told Fr. Christopher it brought back warm and joyful memories of attending Orthodox services back home while they were visiting close Orthodox friends.

Throughout the his month-long tour there, Fr. Christopher continually met members of the Coalition Forces who had a great interest in Holy Orthodoxy. He is greatful for the Lord's merciful protection of himself, his assistant and all his colleagues. Please add your prayers for the safety of our troops and those of our allies and people of good will in Afghanistan.

Cathedral holds annual Winterfest

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

On Sunday, January 22nd, the Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in Des Plaines held its 3rd annual Russian Winter Festival. Bigger than any of the previous two years, this festival drew in many of the parishioners from the cathedral and surrounding parishes but a gratifyingly large number of visitors from the surrounding community. The festival included a variety of vendors of handicrafts and antiques in addition to the food court that was filled with piroshki, piping hot borsch and tea served in authentic Russian glasses. There were tastings of over 15 home-made flavoured vodkas. Entertainment included the Cathedral Folk Ensemble under the direction of Protodeacon Vadim Gan, Golosa (a folk ensemble from the University of Chicago) as well as traditional Russian dances and songs. A children's craft table kept the little ones occupied as adults perused the abundant displays of books and icons.

During the festival, the cathedral was open for tours and there were quite a number of came to visit, admire the iconography and ask very thoughtful questions about Orthodoxy.

The festival raised over six thousand dollars to support the continued construction of the parish school and diocesan center attached to the hall.

Glory be to God for the many volunteers that helped set up, staff and run the festival!

Winter Services at Holy Protection Orthodox Church in the Kansas City Area

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Holy Protection Orthodox Church in the Kansas City area is celebrating its first winter with a resident priest, thus marking an end to a long podvig of readers’ services interrupted occasionally by travel for hours on snowy and windy highways. The ordination to the priesthood of Father Zachary Rose this past July by Metropolitan Hilarion in Oklahoma City has changed church life in this mission considerably.

For St. Nicholas’ day, after crafts for the children, they were led unshod into the church where Father Zachary read aloud the life of the saint and taught them a song about this great bishop. Meanwhile small shoes were being filled with treats. Delightful discovery soon followed. “Dark chocolate,” 5-year-old Jonathan was overheard saying very deliberately. “It’s fasting. Today is a fasting day.”

Services for the Feast of the Nativity began with Matins on Thursday evening, followed by Royal Hours and Vesperal Liturgy on Friday, and later by Great Compline and Matins on Friday evening. The chapel was decorated with pine boughs and beribboned holly, plus vases of red and white roses in addition to the traditional poinsettias. For the Feast itself on Saturday, more than forty people, coming from near and far, gathered in prayer for the Divine Liturgy, with many communicants. Given the presence of nineteen children aged ten and under, the calm beauty of the service was now and again punctuated by a joyful noise.

The festive trapeza in the large Fellowship Hall so kindly made available to us by the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection featured a honey-baked ham, cheesy potatoes, salads, and a wonder-cake, the latter all rolled with raspberry and custard, covered with chocolate, and embellished with the Nativity scene piped in frosting in the “cave” at one end. There was convivial conversation for the adults and more crafts for busy young fingers. Towards the end of trapeza, a quick decision was made to eschew temptation by starting the Vigil for Sunday right away. Tired children were taken home at the end of Vespers.

The next morning at Liturgy, we celebrated Sts. Joseph the Betrothed, David the King, and James, the brother of the Lord. Trapeza afterwards featured kholodetz with horseradish, plus the ever-popular string cheese. Commenting on the events of the last four days, Father Zachary remarked, “That’s a lot of church when you’re only ten years old.” Other voices immediately chimed in, “or 26,” “or 37,” “or 65!”

Cleanup interspersed with spontaneous Christmas caroling left us tired, joyful, and grateful: grateful for the Feast and the unspeakable gift of Christ’s Incarnation, grateful for the services of the Church, grateful for the presence of our priest, and grateful for each other.

Having now celebrated the Circumcision of Christ and given greetings to St. Basil’s church in St. Louis, we sing the Forefeast of the Theophany of Christ. Step by gentle step, the hymnography of the Church teaches us and leads us from feast to feast. From the Missouri-Kansas border, we send festal greetings across the plains and up and down the great rivers to the sister parishes of our diocese.

A participant

Patronal Feast Day celebrated at St. Basil the Great Orthodox Church in St. Louis

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500