PRESHOV: 22 September 2008
Archbishop John of Presovska and Slovakia meets with Bishop Peter and the ROCOR delegation

On September 13-16, 2008, His Grace Bishop Peter of Cleveland, Administrator of the Diocese of Chicago and the Midwest, accompanied by Protopriest Seraphim Gan, Priest Liubomir Kupec, Deacon Nicholas Olhovsky and Reader Eugene Hrihoriak, visited the Orthodox Church in Slovakia. 

On September 13th, at the administrative headquarters of the Orthodox Diocese of Presovska, an official meeting took place between Bishop Peter, His Grace Bishop Meletius of Khotin, Vicar of the Diocese of Chernovtsy and Bukovina, with His Eminence Archbishop John of Presovska and Slovakia, His Grace Bishop Tikhon of Komarnyansk, His Eminence's assistant for the administration of the Orthodox Diocese, members of the diocesan staff and the Metropolitan Council, and the Secretary of the Sacred Synod. 

In the course of the meeting, both side spoke of the life and present situation of their Churches, and also discussed the possibility of the rebirth of monastic life in the former Ladomirovo Monastery, which has played such a significant rule in the life of both Churches.  Both sides agreed that in addition to further cooperation, an in-depth study of the historical significance of that holy monastery is needed, that memory of it may be preserved among the people of God for future generations of the Orthodox. 

Bishop Peter will present a report to the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad on his visit to the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, to lay the groundwork for the proposed cooperation between both Churches. 

Archbishop John will present to the Holy Synod and to the members of the Diocesan Council the results of this meeting. 

Bishop Meletius,  recalling past attempts to revive monastic life in Slovakia, expressed the desire to find suitable men for the rebirth of the monastery in Ladomirova. 

After the meeting and a shared meal, the participants visited the Orthodox community in Ladomirova, where the Lesser Sanctiifcation of Water was performed, followed by vespers. 

On the following day, September 14, Divine Liturgy was celebrated for the feast of the Beheading of St John the Baptist, which had been transferred to Sunday to accommodate a larger number of clergy and pilgrims. 

At all meetings and conversations, the name of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Church Orthodox Church Abraod, who early in this year had been invited to these meetings and intended to participate in them, was remembered with great respect and love. 

Bishop Peter brought as a gift to the Ladomirova community one of the late Metropolitan's white klobuks. 

Archbishop John in turn gave the guests an icon of the holy Prince Rostislav of Moravia, Equal-to-the-Apostles, who was the founder of the mission of Saints Cyril and Methodius.