Serbian Bishops Take Part in the Consecration of a New Bishop for the Russian Church Abroad in Russia

Upon the invitation of His Eminence Archbishop Sophrony of St. Petersburg and Northern Russia, and His Grace Bishop Andrei of Yarraville and Australia, and New Zealand (who recently assumed the role of temporary administrator of the North American diocese, following the repose of Archbishop Andronik [Kotlyarov]), the hierarchs of the Serbian True Orthodox Church participated in the consecration of a new vicar bishop for the St. Petersburg and Northern Russia administrative district of the Russian Church Abroad (ROCA).

The consecration took place on October 10/23, 2026, on the feast day of the Venerable Elders of Optina at the Theophany Monastery in Naverezhye (Pskov region). Fr. Sergius (Pereskokov), the abbot of the monastery, was consecrated as bishop of Porkhov and vicar bishop of the St. Petersburg and Northern Russia diocese of ROCA. Arcbishop Sophrony of St. Petersburg and Northern Russian performed the festive consecration with the co-celebration of Serbian Bishops Akakije of Utešiteljevo and Nektarije of Šumadija. 

This meaningful occasion represents the continuation and deepening of our brotherly eucharistic communion. It also confirms our mutual recognition of canonicity between our Church and the Russian Church Abroad. After the holy services, Archbishop Sophrony expressed his deep pastoral gratitude to the Serbian hierarchs, clergy, monastics, and faithful present who had come from great distances in order to participate in this spiritual feast.

Commemorating this special occasion our brotherly love, Bishop Akakije of Utešiteljevo addressed those present and presented newly-consecrated Bishop Sergius a precious spiritual gift: an icon of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist St. John the Theologian. His Grace emphasized that this icon had been painted by our Serbian nuns in Ephesus at our hermitage dedicated to St. John the Theologian, little more than a stone’s throw away from the very miraculous tomb of the Lord’s most beloved disciple. This icon had been laid upon the apostle’s tomb and blessed on the place where he had written his gospel.  With prayerful wishes for the successful shepherding of the flock in these apocalyptic times, the bishop presented the icon with the words: “I am sure that by giving this icon to the newly consecrated Bishop Sergius, I am passing on a part of that grace, that blessing of Ephesus and John the Theologian, so that he may always stand firm and uphold the commandments of active love for God and active love for neighbor.” The bishop sealed his address with the Ephesian prayer: “Θεολόγε, βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ,” which translates as “Theologian, help thy servant,” adding: “With this prayerful wish, I give this icon and repeat: Theologian, help thy servant, the newly ordained Bishop Sergius!”

On the Sunday following the consecration, another conciliar Divine Liturgy was served with the participation of all the attending hierarchs and clergy.  Afterwards a joint Hierarchical Council was held between the hierarchs of the Serbian True Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad from the Saint Petersburg and Northern Russian administrative districts. In  addition to discussing various spiritual and current administrative topics, Bishop Akakije presented a report to the Russian hierarchs on the canonization of the Serbian royal martyrs – King Alexander and Queen Draga Obrenović, for their inclusion in the diptychs of saints and the church calendars of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. 

Through the joint service of Russian and Serbian hierarchs, it was once again confirmed in practice that the boundaries between the sister True Orthodox Churches have been overcome in one Chalice and shared apostolic succession. The clergy and faithful of our Diocese and the entire SIPC warmly welcome this significant event with great spiritual joy, cheering for the newly consecrated Bishop Sergius:

Axios! Axios! Axios!