by His Grace Bishop Theodosius of Sitka and Alaska
The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Metropolia at its Spring Session of 1970, appointed a delegation officially to represent the Church in America at the reception of the Tomos of Autocephaly in Moscow. His Grace Bishop Theodosisu, Bishop of Sitka and Alaska, was chosen to represent the Church in America at the funeral of the late Patriarch Alexis, who signed the official Tomos four days before he died on Lazarus Saturday, April 18, 1970. Other members of the delegation included: Mitred Archpriest John Skvir, Archpriest Daniel Hubiak, Archpriest John Nehrebecki, Professor Archpriest John Turkevich (son of the late Metropolitan Leonty), Mr. Stephen Kopestonsky, editor of The Orthodox Church and Mr. Constanine Kallaur, member of the Department of External Affairs.
Upon arrival at the airport in Moscow, the delegation was met by a delegation representing the Church of Russia headed by His Eminence Metropolitan Alexis of Tallin and Estonia, Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate, Bishop Vladimir of Chrenigov and Nezhni, other members of the hierarchy and clergy of the Moscow Patriarchate and members of the Department of External Affairs. The following day, Saturday, May 16, the delegation visited the Church of the Holy Resurrection in Sokolni Park where a solemn Service of Thanksgiving was celebrated before the Miraculous Icon of Our Lady of Iberia.
On Monday, May 18,1970, the delegation from America was received at the Patriarchal Residence by His Eminence Metropolitan Pimen of Krutitsky and Kolomensky, Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne (later Patriarch of Moscow and All Rusia), members of the Holy Synod, members of the hierarchy, clergy and lay representatives of the Orthodox Church of Russia. The proclamation was read by His Eminence Metropolitan Pimen and answered by His Grace Bishop Theodosius, head of the American Delegation. Following this, a service of thanksgiving was celebrated in the chapel of the patriarchal residence. An icon of the Blessed Herman of Alaska was presented to Metropolitan Pimen by Bishop Theodosius. Present for the granting of the Tomos of Autocephaly and the reception following was the Honorable Jacob Beam, Ambassador of the United States to the Soviet Union.
Other services of note during the visit included a Panikhida in the Donskoy Monastery in Moscow at the grave of Patriarch Tikhon, now Saint Tikhon, former Archbishop of America (1898-1907), and a Panikhida at the grave of Patriarch Alexis in the vault of the Holy Dormition Cathedral at the Holy Trinity - Saint Sergius Lavra in Sergey-Posad outside Moscow. Wreaths of flowers from the faithful of the Orthdoox Church in America were placed upon the graves at the conclusion of the services. It is of special note that the Panikhida sung by the delegation at the grave of Saint Tikhon was in English, in commemoration of his encouragement of the use of English in the services in America.
Also, while visiting the Holy Trinity - Saint Sergius Lavra, His Grace Bishop Theodosius served a Panikhida at the grave of Metropolitan Innocent (Veniaminov), now Saint Innocent, the first ruling bishop of Alaska. Metropolitan Innocent, who is currently being considered for canonization as the “Apostle to Alaska” is buried in the Church of the Holy Spirit at the monastery.
The visit to the Soviet Union was concluded by pilgrimages to shrines and holy churches in Kiev, Leningrad, now St. Petersburg, and Pskov in addition to those in Moscow and Sergey-Posad.
His Grace Bishop Theodosius was honored by His Eminence Metropolitan Pimen who requested him to ordain a student of the Moscow Theological Academy, Victor Korjakin, to the diaconate at the 40th day Liturgy for the late Patriarch Alexis at the Holy Dormition Cathedral, Sergey-Posad.