December 27, 2011
Bristol, VA: Metropolitan Hilarion led the Divine Services in St. Tikhon’s Church with Bishop George

On Wednesday the 20th and Thursday the 21st of December, as part of his Archpastoral visit to North Carolina and Virginia, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, visited St. Tikhon’s Church in Bristol, VA. His Eminence was accompanied by His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop George of Mayfield.

On Tuesday evening, the hierarchs prayed at the Vespers and Matins service to St. Patapius of Thebes. On Wednesday morning the First Hierarch celebrated the Divine Liturgy, co-served by Bishop George, Archpriest Onouphry Keith (rector of St. Nicholas Church in Fletcher, NC), Priest Michael Furry (rector of St. Innocent of Alaska Mission in Roanoke, VA), the rector, Priest Matthew Williams, and Deacon Jeremiah Davis (cleric of Holy Cross Monastery).

During the Small Entrance, Metropolitan Hilarion awarded Fr. Matthew the right to wear the nabedrennik. Upon completion of the Liturgy, His Eminence presented the parish with a piece of the relics of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow.

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