On Saturday, March 28—the Feast of the Laudation of the Most Holy Theotokos—at the Diocesan Cathedral of the Western American Diocese in San Francisco, California, during the Divine Liturgy celebrated by a host of hierarchs led by the First Hierarch, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, Archimandrite Peter (Karakozoff) was consecrated as Bishop of Seattle, Vicar of the Western American Diocese.

Participating in the divine service was the Dean of the Western States of the Patriarchal Parishes and dean of St. Nicholas Cathedral in San Francisco, Priest Michael Kozyrev, who conveyed to the newly consecrated hierarch a greeting from the Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA & Canada, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh:

Your Grace, beloved brother and fellow-servant, dear Vladyka Peter!

I offer you my heartfelt greetings on the day of your episcopal consecration.

Sharing in the joy of your entire flock and loved ones, I prayerfully wish you blessed labors for the good of the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who—through the election by God-wise archpastors—has elevated you to the highest rank of sacred ministry.

I sincerely wish that, in this new calling, you may remain a kind and attentive helper to your *abba*—His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill—and be a sensitive and responsive father to the clergy entrusted to your care and to the faithful children of the Seattle Vicariate." May the Veil of the Queen of Heaven—in whose cathedral church your consecration took place on the Feast of Her Praise—and the prayerful intercession of the Hierarch and Wonderworker John ever inspire you to zealous service, bringing joy to all who grieve and await the consolation of Christ.