“Christ is Risen!” resounded frequently within the walls of St. George Russian Orthodox Church during services for the feast of the parish’s patron Monday and Tuesday, May 5-6. These words were often exclaimed by His Eminence, Archbishop Gabriel, who led the festivities during his first visit to the parish. But just as likely they were exchanged by parishioners who took time off from work to honor their Heavenly Patron or by the multitude of visitors from throughout the diocese who journeyed to share in the joy of the feast and to pray for friends and family.

In addition to serving litia for St. George, a water blessing and a festal procession with the Cross, these hierarchical services also included an ordination to the deaconate and two tonsures. John Alekseev, son of Fr. Sergei Alekseev, rector of St. Basil the Great Church in St. Louis, was ordained a deacon by Vladyka Gabriel in order to serve there alongside his father, who was blessed to witness his son’s ordination. Reader Alexei Wilson was tonsured a subdeacon for Dormition Cathedral outside Detroit. From the host parish, Steven Luber was tonsured a reader.

A number of other local and visiting clergy joined in the festivities: Fr. Gregory Joyce, rector of St. Vladimir Church in Ann Arbor and Secretary of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America, Fr. Nabil Fino from St. James Antiochian Church in Cincinnati, Fr. Gregory Ealy of St. Paul Church (OCA) in Dayton, Fr. Mikail Volzhanskii from Dormition Cathedral, Fr. Gabriel Monforte from Holy Resurrection Mission in Indianapolis, Indiana, Fr. Jacob Ponomarenko from St. Sergius Cathedral in Cleveland, Ohio, and Fr. Protodeacon Alexander Kichakov from Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in Chicago. St. George clerics, Fr. Daniel Marshall, Fr. George Lardas, Fr. Paul Akmolin and Fr. Protodeacon Alexander Petrovsky also served. Fr. Paul was awarded the gold cross by Archbishop Gabriel during the small entrance at the liturgy.

The St. George parish choir, under the direction of Reader Laurence (Kurt) Sander, inspired all present with their exuberant and skillful singing, both during the services and in the parish hall. The Parish Sisterhood, led by Head Sister Svetlana Pinkerton, added a delicious festal meal to the already abundant spiritual joy of the feast.

photo credits: Natasha Joyce/Anya Marshall