On Friday, November 8, 2024, the feast day of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica, His Eminence Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America died suddenly.
He was born on August 9, 1948, in San Francisco. There he also studied at SS Cyril and Methodius High School. On August 19, 1965, he was ordained a reader by St John (Maximovich, †1966). He was an altar boy to Saint John, helping him and accompanying him on his archpastoral journeys. In September 1966, he entered Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY, and he remained at Holy Trinity Monastery.
From 1971 to 1976, he worked in the Chancery of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, assisting Bishop Laurus of Manhattan. After graduating from seminary, he graduated from the University of Norwich and the Theology Department of the University of Belgrade.
On March 2, 1987, he became a novice. In 1988, he was tonsured a monk and ordained a hierodeacon by Archbishop Laurus of Syracuse and Holy Trinity.
On April 25, 1989, he was ordained a hieromonk. He taught Church History, World History and Civilization at Holy Trinity Seminary, and was an inspector of the seminary. As for monastic obediences, he served as secretary of the Spiritual Council of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY.
In 2000, he was appointed head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission of the ROCOR in Jerusalem. In 2002, he was appointed administrator of the Diocese of Chicago and Detroit.
In 2003, he was consecrated Bishop of Cleveland, Vicar of the Diocese of Chicago.
By the decision of the ROCOR Synod of Bishops of June 30-July 1, 2016, he was appointed to be the Ruling Bishop the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America. At a meeting of the Synod, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop.
The time and place of the funeral services, funeral and burial of Archbishop Peter will be announced a shortly.