After celebrating the Feast of St. Tatiana in New York (12/25 January), and the Feasts of St. Nina and the Apodosis of Theophany in the Church of Holy Wisdom in Catlett, Virginia (13/26 - 14/27 January), Bishop Gregory of Brookline visited the Pillars of Orthodoxy Church in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, for the celebration of one of the patronal Feasts of the parish - the Feast of St. Mark of Ephesus, the single-handed champion of our blameless Orthodox Faith (18 January/1 February). Following the Great Vespers on the eve of the Feast, Bishop Gregory gave a talk, after which the parishioners had the opportunity to ask questions and to become better acquainted with the visiting hierarch.
The Sunday after the Feast, on the day of the commemoration of our Righteous Father Maximus the Confessor, Bishop Gregory celebrated the Divine Liturgy together with Fr. Rodion (Laskowski) and Fr. Peter (Farnsworth), as well as with the visiting clergy: Fr. James (Bockman) from Virginia and Fr. Chrysostomos (Larrea) from Maryland. Mother Brigid from Philadelphia, Mother Irene and the nuns of St. Mary Magdalene Hermitage in Virginia, as well as the faithful from different parishes also made the effort to be present for the occasion.
During the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Gregory, on behalf of Metropolitan Ephraim, handed a Certificate of Gratitude to Florence Rusynyk, for more than 30 years of selfless service to the Pillars of Orthodoxy parish.
The pastoral visit was an occasion for joy and consolation for everybody: the bishop, the clergy and above all, the faithful.
Glory be to God for all things. Amen.
