On September 24th the brotherhood and faithful celebrated their patronal feast of their heavenly protectors Saints Sergius & Herman of Valaam.

With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Peter this year the services were presided over by His Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah.Vladyka Jonah stayed several days with the brotherhood and took part in the daily life.

A group of pilgrims from the Orthodox Motorcycle club “Orthodox Dead” at St. Vladimir (Ann Arbor, MI) made it up to our monastery for this occasion. We were happy to see that our feast day is an occasion for faithful to go on a pilgrimage. We hope that in future years this will develop even further.

On Sunday a festal vigil for the Patronal Feast was served. After the Vigil, the parish got to meet Vladyka and talk with him over wine and cheese.

On Monday morning, the hierarchical Divne Liturgy for the Feast was celebrated. Very Reverend Archpriest Gregory Joyce (Dean of the Michigan Deanery) joined us for this festal occasion. At the end of the Divine Liturgy the monastery was bequeathed a rare and special gift by the Metropolitan: two relics of Saints Sergius and Herman of Valaam. Not only are those relics rare it is a special joy to be able to venerate our patron saints right here at our humble location.

After the cross procession, everyone had the opportunity to venerate the relics, and the brotherhood invited to a festal lunch at the nearby Brownstone Hall.

Vladyka stayed with the brotherhood until the following day. On Sunday afternoon he enjoyed a trip through the copper country to see the onset of fall and Lake Superior.

Efforts are on the way to procure an appropriate reliquary for the bequeathed relics :  https://mailchi.mp/f545cd192602/reliquary-for-our-patron-saints

In Christ -

Igumen Alexander

Acting Abbot