In an extraordinary naturalization ceremony, U.S. District Judge Thomas A. Varlan visited the St. Mary's Medical Center in Knoxville, Tenn., to swear in a 104-year-old Russian immigrant as a new U.S. citizen.

     Shlema Khaimovich Livshits is now one of the oldest persons in history to become an American citizen. His doctors had advised him not to leave the hospital, where he was under care. So the judge agreed to move the December 17 swearing-in ceremony. Livshits originally was scheduled to take the Oath of Citizenship at the federal courthouse in Knoxville.

     Livshits arrived in this country in 1996 from St. Petersburg, Russia. His 72- year-old son emigrated with him. "We felt free and so grateful," his son said.