South American ROCOR Bishop Visits Venezuela Parishes

Bishop John (Berzins) of Caracas, administrator of the Eparchy of Buenos Aires of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), has made his first pastoral visit to his cathedra and the other Venezuelan parishes of the ROCOR. More (in Russian) here.

The country's parishes were largely established by the wave of imperial Russian and Soviet emigres and refugees leaving Europe after World War II. Although many later moved on to the United States and other countries, as was the case with my godmother's family, many also settled permanently in Venezuela and have been joined in recent years by a second wave of Russian Orthodox emigres from Belarus.

Bishop John of Caracas Interviewed on South American Diocese

An interesting Russian-language interview with auxiliary Bishop John (Berzins) of Caracas about the history and current state of the South American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) can be found here. Encouragingly, Vladyka John speaks of the need to transition to using more Spanish in the divine services so that the younger generations in South America are not completely lost to Orthodoxy.

My godmother spent several years with her family in Caracas, Venezuela, before moving on to the United States (as so many did in those days) and her stories about the life of the Russian Diaspora there following World War II are generally happy ones - the interview with Bishop John is another fascinating glimpse into the life of a part of the ROCOR that the rest of us often forget existed, much less exists to this day. Enjoy!

Bishop John of Caracas Participates in Moscow Old Ritualist Conference

At a recent conference at Christ the Savior Church in Moscow the secretary of the commission for the Old Ritualist parishes of the Moscow Patriarch, Fr. John Mirolubov, gave a presentation on the past and present role of the Old Rite in the Russian Orthodox Church. Bishop John (Berzins) of Caracas, who was recently made part-time overseer of the Old Ritualist parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, participated in the conference as part of his ongoing visit to Moscow.

Services at the conference were held according to the Old Rite. Both the ongoing growth of the Old Rite and intolerance to it on the part of adherents of the New Rite was discussed as part of the conference. More here and here.

Bishop John of Caracas Visits New York, Moscow

Bishop John (Berzins) of Caracas, administrator of the Diocese of South America of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, has visited New York on his way to Moscow to participate in a Council of Bishops of the worldwide Russian Orthodox Church. Although currently in the South American Diocese, Bishop John was consecrated according to the Old Rite and may eventually serve the Old Ritualist flock of Edinovertsy of the Synod Abroad. More here.