His Eminence Archbishop Peter led the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, July 30, 2023 at his St. Vladimir parish in Ann Arbor, Michigan. His Eminence arrived to the peal of the parish bells and was greeted by the Parish Starosta, Alexey Mitchell, and a group of the parish children bearing bread and salt, and in traditional costume.

In addition to Archbishop Peter, the following clergymen participated in the Divine Liturgy on this day:

Archpriest Gregory Joyce, Parish Rector

Priest Colin Bower, Parish Cleric

Protodeacon Alexander Kichakov, Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral, Des Plaines, Illinois

Deacon Ioann Feloniuk, Dormition Cathedral, Ferndale, Michigan

Deacon Mathew Kaminsky, St. Sergius Cathedral, Parma, Ohio

Deacon Vladimir Pyrozhenko, Parish Cleric

Deacon Dmitriy Kashchenko, Parish Cleric

Deacon Dmitri Mihaliov, Parish Cleric

At the small entrance Deacons Vladimir Pyrozhenko and Dmitriy Kashchenko were awarded the right to wear the double orarion for their sincere service to the Holy Church.

Following the reading of the Gospel, His Eminence gave the sermon on the Holy Fathers commemorated this day, and Who indeed is the True God.

The parish church was full to overflowing with worshipers, the vast majority of whom partook of the Holy Mysteries on this day from two chalices.

After the dismissal, on behalf of the St. Vladimir parish, Fr. Gregory presented Archbishop Peter with a copy of an icon which depicts St. Mardarije of Libertyville, who fell asleep in the Lord while in Ann Arbor seeking treatment for Tuberculosis at the University of Michigan Hospital, working in his study. With Vladyka’s blessing St. Mardarije is the patron saint of the parish’s Ann Arbor Orthodox Classical Academy.

A meal was then offered for the many gathered faithful, which they were able to enjoy with their spiritual father Archbishop Peter. Later that afternoon His Eminence participated in the wedding of Reader Mikhail Moibenko and Ksenia Dugan, which took place at the Ann Arbor parish.

Pictures of Archbishop Peter’s Visit can be found here: https://stvladimirchurch.smugmug.com/2023/Sunday-July-30-2023/

The web site of the Ann Arbor Orthodox Classical Academy can be found here: https://www.a2oca.org/