The formal recognition of Bishop Petros Astyfides of Astoria by the Russian Church Abroad

THE HOLY SYNOD OF BISHOPS OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OUTSIDE OF RUSSIA

The Great High Priest, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who wills that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers. For the providential care of His salvation, Archimandrite PETROS ASTYFIDES was chosen and deemed worthy to be Bishop of the God-saved city of Astoria and was consecrated, according to the order of the Holy Apostolic Eastern Church, with the cooperation of the All-accomplishing and All-holy Spirit, in the year from the Incarnation of the Word of God 1962, in the month of November, on the 29th day, in the city of Astoria of Long Island, U.S.A., and in the Holy Church of Saint Markella of the Greek Orthodox Church, as Bishop of Astoria by the Most Reverend LEONTY, Archbishop of Santiago and Chile-Peru, and SERAPHIM, Bishop of Caracas and Venezuela.

Be diligent, O Bishop, to present yourself approved unto God, a worker that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Strive for the good fight of the faith. Lay hold on the eternal life, to which you were also called and did confess the good confession before many witnesses. As a steward of the mysteries of God and a faithful minister in the Lord, be blameless, offering yourself in every place to good works.  Being always nourished by the words of the faith and the sound teaching from the God-inspired Scriptures, the Ecumenical and Local Councils, and the holy Fathers, do the work of an evangelist, guard the deposit. Avoid unlawful acquisitions, and flee, wretched one, idle talk and vain babbling of falsely called knowledge, which begets strife. A servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but be gentle toward all, apt to teach, patient, forbearing, meek, holding to the teaching of the truth, so that he may both instruct and correct those who oppose. Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins; but stand firm in every good work and word, that your progress may be manifest in all things. Do not accept an accusation against a presbyter, unless it be before two or three witnesses. Those who sin, rebuke before all, so that the rest also may have fear. But let the presbyters who rule well, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching, be counted worthy of double honor; for the worker is worthy of his reward. For these, and for the building up of the Church and the perfection of those who have undertaken the work of ministry through your labors and struggles, seek the will of the Lord and guard His testimonies. And turn not aside from the canons and statutes of the Church, neither to the right hand nor to the left. And in the difficult matters of your duties and responsibilities, it is fitting and proper that you seek counsel and guidance from the Most Reverend Metropolitan PHILARET. And do not recall other things unnecessarily; but write upon the tablets of your joy that which was spoken aloud before the Church and before God by you at your ordination, with the oath of promise, when you swore to observe everything impartially, doing nothing until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the calling.

As a testimony, when you were consecrated as Bishop of Astoria, this Letter was given to you, signed by our hands and sealed with the seal of the Holy Synod, in the city of New York, in the year from the creation of the world 7476, and from the divine Incarnation of the Word of God 1968, in the month of November, on the 12th/25th day.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOLY SYNOD
+Metropolitan Philaret [of New York and Eastern America]

THE MEMBERS OF THE SYNOD
+Archbishop Nikon [of Washington and Florida]
+Bishop Laurus [of Manhattan]