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

Bishop Peter officiates at Rite of the Washing of the Feet

Thu, 02 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

On Great and Holy Thursday following the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, His Grace, Bishop Peter officiated the rite of the Washing of the Feet at the Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in Chicago. This service is based on the reading of a short section of the Gospel according to St. John during which the officiating bishop, representing Christ, girds himself with a towel and washes the feet of His disciples, represented by twelve clergymen.

Serving on this day were V. Rev. Andrei Papkov of the cathedral; V. Rev. Matata Korchilava (Georgian Orthodox Church); V. Rev. Darko Spasojevic, dean of the Holy Resurrection Serbian cathedral in Chicago; V. Rev. Vasyl Kuzmych, rector of Holy Trinity church in Milwaukee; Rev. Radovan Jakovljevic of the Holy Resurrection Serbian cathedral in Chicago; Rev. Tarasiy Maximtsev, rector of St. Innocent of Moscow church in Carol Stream, IL; Rev. Sergi Alekseyev (Carpatho-Russian Orthodox church); Rev. Hieromonk Timothy of St. George Orthodox church in Michigan City, IN; Rev. Valery Vovkovski from the cathedral; V. Rev. Lazar Kostur (retired, Serbian Orthodox church); Rev. Leontiy Naidzions from the cathedral; and Rev. Miroslav Obretkovic (Serbian Orthodox church).

Attending the service were the children and teachers of the nearby St. Sava Academy who came following the Divine Liturgy at Holy Resurrection Serbian Cathedral to observe this unique service. Afterwards, His Grace Bishop Peter had a discussion with the pupils and answered their questions.

Miraculous icon in Chicago and Milwaukee

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Chicago – on the 4^th Sunday of Great Lent, the Cathedral was graced by the presence of the miraculous myrrh-streaming icon of the Mother of God “Softener of Evil Hearts”. Arriving shortly before Vigil service on Saturday night, the parishioners and a great multitude of visitors waited in long lines to venerate the icon. Approaching the icon, one first noticed what appeared to be condensation under the glass. Then with sudden joy it became obvious that this was actually myrrh. At the veneration of the Gospel, all were anointed with oil, which had been mixed with myrrh collected on cotton swabs earlier in the day from the icon. As Bishop Peter noted in his sermon, any icon can potentially be miraculous. It is God’s dispensation which manifests this to us. However, while given to us as a blessing and a comfort, we should not lose sight of the fact that when we venerate an icon, we actually reverence the one whom it represents.

The icon was in church again for hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday and remained in church during the afternoon for a near steady stream of Orthodox believers from the area who came to venerate it. At three o’clock the “passion service” (vespers with reading of a Passion Gospel) was served. The icon was carried out of the church as the congregation sang “Beneath Thy Compassion.” As the final refrain “O My Holy Theotokos, Save Us” was chanted and she drove off, all present were left with a very real feeling that we had been graced by the actual presence of the Mother of God. Glory to God in all things!