On Saturday, August 5th, 2023, on the Feast Day of Old Holy Virgin Cathedral in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” at 864 Fulton Street in San Francisco, CA, His Eminence KYRILL Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America ordained his longtime assistant Archdeacon Peter (Karakozoff) to the priesthood.

Peter Karakozoff was born in West Sacramento, CA, in 1976. From his youth, Peter spent all his spare time in church and around the clergy. He was tonsured a Reader at the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women Church in West Sacramento (OCA) as a teenager. He served as the choir conductor at Holy Ascension Church (Western American Diocese, ROCOR) in Sacramento from 1998-2003. It was during these years that Peter earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of California, Davis. In 2003 Reader Peter relocated to San Francisco, CA, and became an occasional assistant to the needs of His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill. At that time Reader Peter was placed in charge of the operations of the Diocesan Chancellery.

Reader Peter was tonsured a monk at Holy Resurrection Church in San Francisco by Bishop Theodosy of Seattle in December of 2014, and thus became a member of the Saint Ignatius Brotherhood. Soon after that monk Peter was ordained to the diaconate and within a short time, he was elevated to the rank of archdeacon. With this new vocation, he became the Ruling Bishop’s constant concelebrant and traveling companion wherever Archbishop Kyrill was needed in the Diocese.

His Eminence Archbishop Kyirill ordained Archdeacon Peter to the priesthood in the company of a multitude of priests and deacons. His Grace JAMES Bishop of Sonora, Deputy Rector of Old Holy Virgin Cathedral, hosted His Eminence and all of the guest clergy. Many laypeople came to participate in the Feast Day of the cathedral and in the ordination of Hieromonk Peter, people who have come to love and respect him for his dedication to the Holy Church and cheerful demeanor expressed in all his dealings. Truly Father Peter is a seasoned veteran; with a full 20 years of service in the heart of the Western American Diocese.

According to Decree No 8/2023 of the Western American Diocese, Hieromonk Peter is released of all duties and responsibilities at Holy Virgin Cathedral on Geary Blvd and is now assigned to the Old Holy Virgin Cathedral at 864 Fulton Street in San Francisco. He will continue his obedience as a consultant at the Diocesan Chancellery and remains Archbishop Kyrill’s personal assistant.

Save, O Christ God, newly-ordained Hieromonk Peter. Axios!

On Sunday, August 6^th, 2023, Hieromonk Peter served his first Liturgy as a priest, concelebrating with His Grace JAMES Bishop of Sonora, and Father Deacon Therapon Jajeh.