In early April, His Eminence Archbishop Anthony of Krasnoyarksk and Yeniseisk prayed in the Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Washington DC.  Archbishop Anthony had come to the United States in order to participate in the presentation of a new book entitled From Ancient Valaam to the New World: the Russian Orthodox Mission in North America.  The presentation took place on March 28 in the Embassy of the Russian Federation.  The book was authored by [recently-reposed] Archpriest Dimitry Grigorieff, Rector Emeritus of Washington's St Nicholas Cathedral (OCA).  Archpriest Dimitry Grigorieff's work was published in Moscow by the St Tikhon Orthodox University Press.

Archbishop Anthony visited Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville on March 29 and 30, the third Sunday of Great Lent.  There he celebrated the all-night vigil and the Sunday Liturgy, and prayed at the grave of newly-translated Metropolitan Laurus.  After lunch at the Monastery, Archbishop Anthony departed for St Tikhon's Monastery in Pennsylvania.  Thereafter, he went to New York City to pray before the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God at the Cathedral of the Sign.  There, the honored guest was welcomed by His Eminence Archbishop Hilarion, First Deputy Chairman of the Synod of Bishops.  After having tea and a friendly discussion with Vladyka Hilarion, Archbishop Anthony paid a visit to Metropolitan Herman, First Hierarch of the Orthodox Church in America.   That night, March 31, Vladyka Anthony arrived in Washington, where he was the guest of Archpriest Victor Potapov, Rector of the Cathedral of St John the Baptist.

On the eve of the 4th Sunday of Great Lent, Archbishop Anthony celebrated the late all-night vigil in ROCOR's Cathedral in the nation's capital.  On Sunday, April 6, he celebrated the late Divine Liturgy.  Concelebrating was the Rector, Protopriest Victor Potapov, with the assistance of Protodeacon Leonid Mickle and Deacon Alexander Resnikoff.   After the reading of the Gospel, Vladyka Anthony gave a homily on the subject of Church unity and its significance to the spiritual life of the Orthodox Christian.  At the festal meal, Archbishop Anthony shared with the faithful his joy in serving in the Cathedral of St John the Baptist. “I felt myself at home,” remarked the Archbishop. Vladyka also told the faithful about life in his distant Siberian Diocese. 

According to Vladyka Anthony, during the period of Soviet persecution, the Krasnoyarsk Diocese was almost entirely destroyed.  At the time the Millennium of the Baptism of Rus' was being celebrated, there were fewer than 15 functioning churches in the area spanned by the Diocese.  The contemporary history of the Diocese, and its revival following 70 years of troubled times under the atheist regime, began in 1990, when the Diocese of Krasnoyarsk was established and His Grace Bishop Anthony was appointed Bishop of Krasnoyarsk.  Vladyka was elevated to the rank of Archbishop in 1999.

Over the course of 18 years, 250 churches, houses of prayer, and chapels – including chapels in hospitals and penal institutions – have been restored and or erected.  Six monasteries – three for men, and three for women – have been established.  Religious organizations, Orthodox social organizations, brotherhoods and sisterhoods have been established.  Theological courses for pastors and parish Sunday schools are functioning. There are Orthodox cultural centers and libraries, church and youth religious choirs, and several Orthodox primary and secondary schools.  The Diocese maintains a pilgrimage service, press service, and a publications center.  The Lesosibirsk Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, erected at the close of the 20th Century, is one of the largest churches in the Trans-Ural area.  The Krasnoyarsk Diocese also includes one of the northernmost Orthodox parishes in the world – the parish of the Church of the Theophany in Khatanga.

On the Eve of the Feast of the Annunciation, His Eminence the Most-reverend Archbishop Anthony of Krasnoyarsk and Yeniseisk was principal celebrant at the festal all-night vigil in the Cathedral of St John the Baptist.  On the actual Feast-day, he served the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of St Nicholas (OCA).

On Wednesday, April 9, His Eminence  Archbishop Anthony once again came to the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, and took part in reading of the Great Penitential Canon of St Andrew of Crete, during the “St. Andrew's Standing” Matins. 

The parishioners of the Cathedral of St John the Baptist are happy to see the visit by our honored guest as yet one more visible fruit of the unification of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Archpriest Victor Potapov

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