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June 7, 2011
St. Petersburg, FL: Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal led the divine services in St. Andrew’s Church

On Sunday, May 29, the parish of St. Andrew Stratelates celebrated the 20th anniversary of rector Archpriest Igor Chitikov’s ordination. Fr. Igor was ordained to the diaconate by His Grace Arseny (Epifanov), Bishop of Istra, Vicar of His Holiness, Patriarch Alexey, on April 14, 1991 on the Sunday of Antipascha and the feast of St. Mary of Egypt in the Church of Our Lady, "Joy of All Who Sorrow," in Holy Ascension Convent in Tambov, Russia. On May 22 of the same year, on the feast of the Translation of the relics of St. Nicholas, he was ordained a priest in Tambov’s Cathedral of the Protection of the Mother of God by His Eminence Evgeny (Zhdan), Archbishop of Tambov and Michurin. Fr. Igor served in Tambov until April of 1992. On April 22, he was accepted as a cleric of the Diocese of Great Britain of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia by His Eminence Mark, Archbishop of Berlin, Germany, and Great Britain, where he served until October 1992. In October he was transferred to the Eastern American & New York Diocese to care for the parish of Sts. Cosmas & Damian in Passaic, NJ, and in July 1993 was appointed rector of St. Andrew’s Church in Florida, where he has been fulfilling that obedience for almost 18 years.

The eve prior, Saturday, May 28, the All-Night Vigil was led by His Grace, Bishop Victor, who 20 years ago, as Bishop of Podolsk and the Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Property Administration, concelebrated the Divine Liturgy at which the future Fr. Igor was ordained a deacon. Also praying in the altar was His Eminence Gabriel, Archbishop of Montreal & Canada.

The following day, on the Sunday of the Blind Man, Archbishop Gabriel celebrated the Divine Liturgy, co-served by Bishop Victor, Fr. Igor, Priest Alexander Kazak (cleric of the Synodal Cathedral of The Sign), Priest Steven Webb (cleric of Holy Elders of Optina Church in Winter Garden, FL), Protodeacon Vasily Milonow (cleric of Protection of the Holy Virgin Memorial Church in Ottawa, Canada), and parish Deacon Igor Tarasov. Both hierarchs congratulated the rector, and Archbishop Gabriel read aloud a congratulatory gramota from the ruling bishop, Metropolitan Hilarion. Parishioners presented Fr. Igor with an ornate jeweled cross.

Many words of congratulation were offered on behalf of the rector over the course of a delicious and bountiful luncheon. Parish children rehearsed a piano concerto for the occasion. At the end of the luncheon, the rector thanked all of the guests, altar servers, parishioners, parish council members, choir singers, and the parish sisterhood for organizing the feast, the gifts, and for all their loving attention. Matushka’s labors of love were praised, as well. "Memory eternal" was sung for Archbishop Evgeny, who had ordained Fr. Igor to the priesthood. Congratulations were offered to Archbishop Gabriel, as well, who at the last meeting of the Sobor of Bishops was elevated to the rank of archbishop, and who recently celebrated his fiftieth birthday.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese