St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary - News Releases OCA Diocese of the West clergy visit students SVS welcomes alumnus, Bishop-Elect Benjamin

On Wednesday, March 17, 2004, Archimandrite Benjamin (Peterson), Chancellor of the Diocese of the West and Archpriest Matthew Tate, Dean of the Missionary District visited St Vladimir's Seminary. Fathers Benjamin and Matthew held meetings with Dean John Erickson, students from the Diocese of the West and graduating students interested in ministry in the diocese.

On the same day, the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America elected Archimandrite Benjamin to the episcopacy to serve as Bishop of Berkeley and Auxiliary to His Grace, Bishop TIKHON of San Francisco and the West. A native son of the Diocese of the West and former dean of Saint Herman Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kodiak, AK, Archimandrite Benjamin will be consecrated to the episcopacy at Holy Trinity Cathedral, San Francisco, CA on Saturday, May 1, 2004. The announcement of Archimandrite Benjamin's election is available at http://www.oca.org.

Fathers Bejamin and Matthew attended the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts at the seminary's Three Hierarchs' Chapel Wednesday evening. Following the Liturgy, Archpriest Paul Lazor, rector of the Chapel, welcomed the clergy from the Diocese of the West and congratulated Archimandrite Benjamin, an alumnus of the seminary (1981), on his election to the episcopacy. In his words, Father Paul assured Archimandrite Benjamin of the seminary community's prayers and "Many Years" was sung for the Bishop-Elect.

That evening, the Diocese of the West hosted a supper for students from the Diocese and those interested in ministry there.