Santiago, Chile: 6 November, 2026
Celebration of the feast day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God Church

On Thursday, October 29, 2026, His Grace Bishop John of Caracas and South America arrived in Santiago, Chile, to lead the celebrations for the feast day of the church dedicated to the Kazan Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God.

During his stay in Santiago, Bishop John accepted an invitation for a visit from Protopresbyter George Abed, a representative of the Antiochian Orthodox Church in Chile. During their conversation, they discussed the historical ties that unite the two church communities serving in this country.

On Saturday, October 31, Bishop John led all-night vigil, assisted by the rector of the church, Priest Georgiy Mashtaler, Fr George, and Priest Ioann Kintrekura (of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate).

On Sunday, November 1, Bishop John led the festive Divine Liturgy. About 90 people attended the service, including the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Russian emigrants and their descendants, as well as Orthodox believers of Chilean and Palestinian origin.

A special and joyful moment of the Liturgy was the ordination of long-serving Deacon Roberto Leon to the priesthood. At the end of the ordination, the faithful greeted the newly ordained priest with the exclamation: "Axios!"

In his sermon, His Grace John honored the Most Holy Theotokos with deep feeling and tears of love, specially noting the gracious presence of the Mother of God, which the faithful feel through Her holy icons.

At the end of the service, there was a festive meal, during which the parishioners expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Bishop John for his archpastoral visit, for conducting the festive services, and especially for ordaining Father Roberto as a priest.

On Tuesday, November 3, Bishop John returned to Buenos Aires.