DIOCESE OF CHICAGO AND MID-AMERICA: June 5, 2007
Bishop Peter of Cleveland Visits Kazan Diocese

On the evening of May 21, 2007, the eve of the feast day of St Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra the Miracle-worker, Archbishop Anastasy of Kazan and Tatarstan and Bishop Peter of Cleveland, Administrator of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America, performed a solemn all-night vigil at St Nicholas Cathedral in the city of Kazan.

Bishop Peter arrived at the ancient Kazan cathedra on a pilgrimage, which became possible thanks to the reestablishment of communion between the two branches of Russian Orthodoxy.

On May 22, the day of the Translation of the Relics of St Nicholas, Archbishop Anastasy and Bishop Peter performed Divine Liturgy in Holy Trinity Cathedral in the city of Tetiushy, the historic homeland of Vladyka Peter's ancestors.

That evening, the Ruling Bishop and his esteemed guest performed vespers with an akathist to St Nicholas in the Church of St John of Kronstadt at Kazan Theological Seminary. The visit of Bishop Peter to the Kazan school continued in the auditorium, where His Grace met with its students; Vladyka told them about the Russian Church Abroad in America, about his archpastoral service, about the origins of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and its hierarchs, and answered questions. In particular, His Grace discussed the bonds which connect Kazan Seminary with the Church Abroad. Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky) of blessed memory labored here, as did Archbishop Tikhon of Western America and San Francisco and Archbishop Vitaly of Jersey City. It is interesting to note that Vladyka Peter held Metropolitan Anthony's staff as he first set foot on Kazan soil.

After his meeting, the Rector of the Seminary, Vladyka Anastasy, gave Vladyka Peter a tour of the Seminary.