HIERARCHS MAKE CANONICAL VISITATION
TO ST. ELIAS PARISH, ALLENTOWN, PA


Place the cursor over each picture to read the caption.

Archbishop-Metropolitan Michael is assisted by Fathers Tokarick and Kasyanov during the enarxis of the Divine Liturgy

On Saturday and Sunday, October 9 and 10, 2004, Metropolitans Stephan and Michael made a canonical visitation to St. Elias Church in Allentown, PA.

On Saturday, the hierarchs had the opportunity to meet with representatives of the parish council over dinner. That evening, clergy from around the area arrived for the next day's celebration of the Divine Liturgy.

The Gospel Book, carried aloft by Fr. Tokarick, is brought to the hierarchs at the time of the Little Entrance

The Pontifical Divine Liturgy was celebrated at 12:30 p.m. on October 10. Concelebrating with Metropolitan Stephan and Metropolitan Michael was Bishop Alexy Bondarenko of Minneapolis, MN, bishop of the True Russian Orthodox Church for the United States, who was the special guest of the hierarchs.

Concelebrating clergy included the Rev. Andrew Dib, administrator of St. Elias Church; the Rt. Rev. Canon John Tokarick, Protosyncellus, pastor of Holy Trinity Church, Lancaster, PA and Dean of the Eastern Deanery of the Archeparchy; and the V. Rev. Yuriy Kasyanov, of Long Island, NY. In attendance in the nave, was the Rev. Michael Wytish, who served as assistant to Bishop Alexy.

The concelebrating clergy bring the holy gifts to the hierarchs during the Great Entrance of the liturgy

During the Divine Liturgy, Christopher Texter of Holy Trinity Church and Samir Alejilat of Yonkers, NY were elevated to the minor orders of Lector and Subdeacon, by Metropolitan Michael and Bishop Alexy respectively, to serve in the UAOC Archeparchy of the United States.

The homily was delivered by Vladyka Michael and Vladyka Stephan offered remarks at the conclusion of the liturgy. Metropolitan Stephan encouraged the people to work for the growth of their church, in cooperation with both present and future clergy.

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Stephan holds the sacred diskos while making his commemorations at the Great Entrance

An honorary dinner was served in the parish hall after the Pontifical Liturgy, in observance of the visit of the three hierarchs and in memory of a relative of one of the parish families, who had passed away oversees just 40 days before. Before taking leave of the premises, the bishops had time to meet privately with the clergy present.

Captions for the pictures included with this article may be seen by placing the cursor over each photo.


Archbishop-Metropolitan Michael is assisted by Fathers Tokarick and Kasyanov during the enarxis of the Divine Liturgy

The hierarchs say the prayer 'Niktozhe Dostoin' during the Cherubic Hymn

The hierarchs pass the hand cross to one another during the final remarks

Fathers Tokarick and Dib before the Divine Liturgy

Archbishop-Metropolitan Michael is seated near the altar, while His Beatitude Metropolitan Stephan addresses the congregation


Back to Main Page.