On May 19-20, 2018 His Eminence, Archbishop Peter of Chicago & Mid-America, visited his parish in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Clergy from throughout the Michigan Deanery and from both the Russian and Serbian Churches, joined His Eminence at the Vigil and Divine Liturgy during this hierarchal visit. Following the Vigil, which was sung beautifully by the St. Vladimir parish choir under the direction of Julia Easson, a meal was held at the parish’s Assistant Starosta’s home for the clergy, the choir, the parish council, and others who make a special effort to work for the good of the St. Vladimir parish. On Sunday, May 20 His Eminence was met by the peal of the parish bells. The bell program at the parish is directed by John Hill, and provides the opportunity for parishioners to “sing” to the Lord through the beautiful tones of the traditionally struck Russian bells of the parish. At the Divine Liturgy His Eminence ordained Deacon Thomas Sprunger a priest for service at the St. Paisius Velichkovsky mission in Fort Wayne, Indiana and Subdeacon Dmitri Kashchenko a deacon for service at the St. Vladimir parish. This was the first ordination of a priest in the history of the parish and the parish church was full to overflowing with those who desired to participate in this sacrament of the Holy Church which is so rarely performed in parish church. Following the Divine Liturgy a meal was held in honor of His Eminence. Parishioners lingered through the afternoon recalling the momentous events of the day. Archbishop Peter traveled on to the St. John the Theologian monastery in Hiram, Ohio for their feast day. At 6:00 p.m. the parish bells again were rung to mark the beginning of a week of daily evening and morning Divine Services at which the newly ordained Priest Thomas and Deacon Dmitri had the opportunity to practice the liturgical expression of their newly-ordained ministries.

Pictures of His Eminence’s visit can be found at this link: https://stvladimirchurch.smugmug.com/2018/Archbishop-Peter-Visit-May-2018/

A Participant