Holy Trinity Cathedral, Chicago, Illinois
October 1, 2022
Your Eminences and Your Graces,
Your Grace Bishop Daniel,
Clergy and faithful of the Diocese of the Midwest,
I greet you with joy on this holy occasion. And I thank you all for your gracious hospitality.
I do not intend to speak at length, but I hope you will allow me to reflect briefly on what has happened today.
In the epistle at this morning’s liturgy, we heard how the high priest of the first covenant performed his divine service to the Most Holy Trinity, offering sacrifice for himself and for the ignorance of the people. We heard about the lampstand, the table, the shewbread, the censer, the ark, the mercy seat, and the cherubim.
And today, as we celebrated the Protection of the most holy Theotokos—her who is the true temple and the true ark—we came together in a temple dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity to enthrone an archpastor and a high priest for the Diocese of the Midwest.
I congratulate you, Bishop Daniel, on this occasion, and I also congratulate your clergy and faithful, both those who are gathered here to celebrate with us and those who are absent in the body but with us in prayer and the Spirit.
Your Grace, one of the first times that I had the pleasure of collaborating with you was in 2005 when you travelled with me as a recently consecrated auxiliary bishop to represent the Orthodox Church in America at the enthronement of Pope Benedict XVI in Rome. Your administrative competence was already well known in the Church and our brief time in Rome also made evident your facility for navigating the area external relations, not only in that context but many other contexts both locally and internationally. In addition, your seven years as an auxiliary bishop to His Eminence Archbishop Benjamin have allowed you to add pastoral care to your portfolio of talents, which also includes theological wisdom and expertise in canon law, as well as a gift for clarity in speaking and writing. But beyond all these talents, Your Grace has also proven to be a good friend to many, including me, and I am confident that both your friendship and your pastoral talents will be well appreciated by the clergy and faithful of the flock that now comes under your omophorion.
It is a great joy for the priesthood of the Diocese of the Midwest to receive a new high priest to serve at their head; it is a great blessing for the faithful of the Diocese to receive a new archpastor and intercessor.
All of you, please be assured of my prayers and the prayers of the Orthodox Church in America, both on this joyous occasion and into the future.
Bishop Daniel, may your ministry prosper through the mediation and protection of the most holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, and may the Lord God remember your high priesthood in the kingdom. And may the clergy and the faithful and the entire diocese of the Midwest continue to flourish, by your prayers and under your direction.
Once again, please accept my congratulations, and also my thanks for all the hard work and generosity on display at this banquet and throughout the events of the past day.