First All-American Sobor (Council) anniversary marked

On Sunday, October 28, 2007, Saint John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Mayfield, PA celebrated the centennial anniversary of the First All-American Sobor (Council) which was held there in 1907. Alexis Liberovsky, OCA Archivist and Director of the Department of History and Archives, was the guest speaker for the occasion. The festal Divine Liturgy was presided by His Eminence, Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR). Earlier this year ROCOR reestablished Eucharistic Communion with the Moscow Patriarchate after decades of estrangement. The Liturgy was concelebrated by ROCOR clergy and priests of the Russian Patriarchal Parishes in the US. In his address at the banquet in the parish center following the liturgy, Mr. Liberovsky highlighted the history and lasting significance of the Mayfield Council in 1907 and its importance for all Orthodox Christians.The text of Mr. Liberovsky’s presentation is available on this web site in PDF format.

Faithful gathered for the anniversary celebrationAbove: OCA Archivist and Director of the Department of History and Archives, Alexis Liberovsky was guest speaker at Saint John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Mayfield, PA, at the celebration of the centennial of the First All-American Sobor (Council).

Left: Faithful gathered for the anniversary celebration.

Photographs courtesy of Saint John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Mayfield, PA.