Our Hierarch - His Eminence ArchBishop Peter, of Blessed Memory
His Eminence Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia reposed in the Lord on November 8, 2024.
His Eminence Archbishop Daniel of Chicago and the Midwest expresses his condolences to His Eminence Metropolitan Nikolai, First Hierarch of the Church Abroad, Archpriest Gregory Joyce, Secretary of the Mid-American Diocese, and all of the clergy, monastics, and faithful of Mid-American Diocese.
In a memo to diocesan clergy, the Archbishop reflected on the good relationship that the Diocese of the Midwest shared with the reposed hierarch, “Vladyka Peter has been a constant friend and supporter to me, to my predecessors and to our diocesan clergy. I ask that he be remembered in your prayers, both privately and liturgically.”
A memorial service was held at the Diocesan Cathedral, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Chicago, IL, shortly after the news was received.
May the Lord grant His servant, the newly-reposed Archbishop Peter, rest with the saints in the Kingdom of Heaven and memory eternal!
Our Temporary Hierarch:
The Most Reverend Gabriel -
Archbishop of Montreal and Canada
His Grace, the Right Reverend Gabriel (Chemodakov) is the ROCOR bishop of Montreal and Canada.
He was born George L'vovich Chemodakov on June 2, 1961, in Sydney, Australia.
In 1980 he entered Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, New York, from which he graduated in 1984 and where he remained as an instructor of Russian culture and other subjects through 1989. In 1989 he was appointed cell attendant to Metropolitan Vitaly and then to Bishop Hilarion of Manhattan. He continued in this obedience until 1996, when he was tonsured a monk.
On the Fifth Sunday of Lent of 1996, he was ordained hierodeacon by Archbishop Laurus of Syracuse and Holy Trinity. In the same year on the feast of the Entry of our Lord into Jerusalem, he was ordained hieromonk by Metropolitan Vitaly.
On the feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist, he was consecrated bishop of Brisbane, vicar of the Australian and New Zealand diocese, but then was quickly transferred to the Manhattan cathedra and appointed deputy secretary of the Synod of Bishops. In October 2001 he was appointed secretary of the Synod of Bishops and in 2004 as member of the Commission for the Conducting of the Fourth All-Diaspora Council.
In May 2008, he was appointed Bishop of Montreal and Canada
