Archimandrite Benjamin to be Consecrated Bishop of Berkeley, Auxiliary For Diocese of the West at San Francisco’s Holy Trinity Cathedral - April 30-May 1
His Grace, Bishop Tikhon of San Francisco and the Diocese of the West, Orthodox Church in America announces that Bishop-elect Benjamin’s Consecration to the episcopacy will be celebrated at Holy Trinity Cathedral here on Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1, 2004.
The canonical election followed by Great Vespers will be held at the cathedral on Friday, April 30, 2004 at 6:00 p.m. The Divine Liturgy and the Consecration of Archimandrite Benjamin as Bishop of Berkeley and Auxiliary to His Grace, Bishop Tikhon will be celebrated the following morning at 9:30 a.m. His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, will preside at the Liturgy, together with Bishop Tikhon and other members of the Holy Synod of Bishops.
A banquet honoring Bishop Benjamin will be held at the renowned McCormick and Kuleto’s Seafood Restaurant, located in historic Ghirardelli Square, at 1:30 p.m. Banquet reservations and other details related to the festive weekend are available on the Holy Trinity Cathedral web site at www.holy-trinity.org or 415-673-8565.
Archimandrite Benjamin was born Vincent Peterson in Pasadena, CA on June 1, 1954 and was baptized and chrismated at Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral, Los Angeles, CA on April 27, 1972. In 1978 he was awarded a Master of Divinity degree and Certificate in Liturgical Music from Saint Vladimir Seminary.
A prolific musician, he served as choirmaster at parishes in Detroit, MI and Los Angeles and as chairman of the Orthodox Church in America’s Department of Liturgical Music. He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on November 15, 1987 by Bishop Tikhon at his home parish, which he served for 10 years as deacon and youth and education director. The following year he was tonsured a riasophore monk by Bishop Tikhon and further tonsured to the lesser schema by Archbishop [now Metropolitan] Herman at Saint Tikhon Monastery, South Canaan, PA. In 1991 he was elevated to the rank of archdeacon.
On July 19, 1997, he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Bishop Tikhon. In 1999, Igumen Benjamin was was transferred to the Diocese of Alaska. In addition to other responsibilities, he served as dean of Saint Innocent Cathedral and later as administrative dean of Saint Herman Seminary, Kodiak, AK. He was elevated to the rank of archimandrite in 2002. In January 2004 he was reassigned to Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral, Los Angeles, and appointed Chancellor of the Diocese of the West.
Upon his consecration to the episcopacy, Bishop-Elect Benjamin will serve as Auxiliary to Bishop Tikhon of San Francisco and will continue to serve as Diocesan Chancellor.
Historic Holy Trinity Cathedral, the site of the consecration, is the oldest Orthodox community in the contiguous United States. The cathedral, established in 1857, is the seat of the Bishop Tikhon of San Francisco and the Diocese of the West of the Orthodox Church in America.
For further information, please visit http://www.holy-trinity.org or contact the event chairman, V. Rev. Victor Sokolov, Cathedral Dean at 415-673-8565; .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).