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 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.