Peter L'Huillier
Encyclopedia
Peter L'HuillierPeter L'Huillier (December 3, 1926 Paris
, France
– November 19, 2007) was a prominent scholar and the archbishop
of the Orthodox Church in America
's Diocese of New York and New Jersey
.
to Eastern Orthodoxy
in 1945, while enrolled at St. Denys Institute
in Paris. On August 30, 1954, he was tonsure
d as a monk
, and took the name Peter. On September 4 and 5, 1954, he was ordained hierodeacon and hieromonk
by Archbishop Boris, Exarch
of the Russian Patriarchate in Europe. In 1960, Peter was elevated to the rank of archimandrite
.
On September 12, 1968, Archimandrite Peter was consecrated
Bishop of Chersonese (Patriarchal Exarchate in Western Europe
). In 1979, Bishop Peter was invited to serve in the Orthodox Church in America by Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor)
. Bishop Peter accepted, and was installed as Bishop of Brooklyn
that year. Two years later, he succeeded Metropolitan Theodosius as Bishop of New York and New Jersey. In 1990, Bishop Peter was elevated to the rank of archbishop.
The author of several books, Archbishop Peter's final volume spurred some disagreements in Orthodox circles. Published by St. Vladimir's Press, it urged the Orthodox Churches to adopt the Western Christian calculation of Easter, aka Paschalion. This has been a controversial topic for some time in Eastern Orthodox discourse. Some critics of the book emphasized that only the Eastern Paschalion holds to the Nicene Council's 4th century prohibition on celebrating the Resurrection before the Jewish Passover. Some argued that abandonment of that stipulation could even imply a subtle subtext of antisemitism, since it would further decouple the connection between Christianity and Judaism. This criticism is made on both historical and contemporary grounds, the latter because Western Christianity annually ignores contemporary Jews' calculation of Passover.
Subsequent to Abp. Peter's retirement from the episcopate in 2005, the Diocese of New York and New Jersey was combined with the Diocese of Washington (D.C.
) to create the Diocese of Washington and New York.
Both during his episcopate and subsequent to his retirement, Abp. Peter taught canon law
at Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
.
The Archbishop died in Bronxville, New York
on November 19, 2007. He was buried at St. Tikhon's Monastery
in South Canaan, Pennsylvania
.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
– November 19, 2007) was a prominent scholar and the archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of the Orthodox Church in America
Orthodox Church in America
The Orthodox Church in America is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church in North America. Its primate is Metropolitan Jonah , who was elected on November 12, 2008, and was formally installed on December 28, 2008...
's Diocese of New York and New Jersey
Orthodox Church in America Diocese of Washington and New York
The Orthodox Church in America Diocese of Washington is a diocese of the Orthodox Church in America . Its territory included parishes, monasteries, and missions located in Washington, D.C., southern Delaware, Maryland and Virginia...
.
Biography
Paul L'Huillier convertedReligious conversion
Religious conversion is the adoption of a new religion that differs from the convert's previous religion. Changing from one denomination to another within the same religion is usually described as reaffiliation rather than conversion.People convert to a different religion for various reasons,...
to Eastern Orthodoxy
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
in 1945, while enrolled at St. Denys Institute
St. Dionysus Institute in Paris
St. Denys Theological Institute, is an Orthodox theological institute in Paris, France.-Foundation:The institute was founded in 1944 by members of the Cathedral of St. Irenaeus in Paris and a number of French intellectuals who were not themselves Orthodox. The first registrar, for example, was the...
in Paris. On August 30, 1954, he was tonsure
Tonsure
Tonsure is the traditional practice of Christian churches of cutting or shaving the hair from the scalp of clerics, monastics, and, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, all baptized members...
d as a monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
, and took the name Peter. On September 4 and 5, 1954, he was ordained hierodeacon and hieromonk
Hieromonk
Hieromonk , also called a Priestmonk, is a monk who is also a priest in the Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholicism....
by Archbishop Boris, Exarch
Exarch
In the Byzantine Empire, an exarch was governor with extended authority of a province at some remove from the capital Constantinople. The prevailing situation frequently involved him in military operations....
of the Russian Patriarchate in Europe. In 1960, Peter was elevated to the rank of archimandrite
Archimandrite
The title Archimandrite , primarily used in the Eastern Orthodox and the Eastern Catholic churches, originally referred to a superior abbot whom a bishop appointed to supervise...
.
On September 12, 1968, Archimandrite Peter was consecrated
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
Bishop of Chersonese (Patriarchal Exarchate in Western Europe
Patriarchal Exarchate for Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe
The Patriarchal Exarchate for Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe is an exarchate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Russian Orthodox tradition, based in Paris, and having parishes throughout Europe, mainly in France. The Exarchate is sometimes known as Rue Daru from the street...
). In 1979, Bishop Peter was invited to serve in the Orthodox Church in America by Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor)
Theodosius (Lazor)
Metropolitan Theodosius was the primate of the Orthodox Church in America from 1977 until his retirement in 2002. On April 2, 2002, Metropolitan Theodosius submitted a petition to the Holy Synod of the OCA, requesting his retirement...
. Bishop Peter accepted, and was installed as Bishop of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
that year. Two years later, he succeeded Metropolitan Theodosius as Bishop of New York and New Jersey. In 1990, Bishop Peter was elevated to the rank of archbishop.
The author of several books, Archbishop Peter's final volume spurred some disagreements in Orthodox circles. Published by St. Vladimir's Press, it urged the Orthodox Churches to adopt the Western Christian calculation of Easter, aka Paschalion. This has been a controversial topic for some time in Eastern Orthodox discourse. Some critics of the book emphasized that only the Eastern Paschalion holds to the Nicene Council's 4th century prohibition on celebrating the Resurrection before the Jewish Passover. Some argued that abandonment of that stipulation could even imply a subtle subtext of antisemitism, since it would further decouple the connection between Christianity and Judaism. This criticism is made on both historical and contemporary grounds, the latter because Western Christianity annually ignores contemporary Jews' calculation of Passover.
Subsequent to Abp. Peter's retirement from the episcopate in 2005, the Diocese of New York and New Jersey was combined with the Diocese of Washington (D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
) to create the Diocese of Washington and New York.
Both during his episcopate and subsequent to his retirement, Abp. Peter taught canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
at Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary is an Orthodox Christian seminary in Crestwood, New York, in the United States. Although it is under the omophorion of the Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church in America, it is a pan-Orthodox institution, providing theological education to students...
.
The Archbishop died in Bronxville, New York
Bronxville, New York
Bronxville is an affluent village within the town of Eastchester, New York, in the United States. It is a suburb of New York City, located approximately north of midtown Manhattan in southern Westchester County. At the 2010 census, Bronxville had a population of 6,323...
on November 19, 2007. He was buried at St. Tikhon's Monastery
Saint Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary
Saint Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan Township, Pennsylvania, is one of three institutions of professional theological education in the Orthodox Church in America. The other two schools are St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, Yonkers, New York, and St....
in South Canaan, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.