April 9, 2012
Atlanta, GA: Bishop George led the divine services in St. Mary of Egypt Church on the occasion of the patronal feast day

On Saturday the 31st and Sunday the 1st of April, the Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop George of Mayfield, visited St. Mary of Egypt Church in Roswell, GA, to join in the celebration of the parish’s patronal feast day. His Grace led the All-Night Vigil that evening, co-served by parish rector Archpriest John Townsend, Archpriest Alexis Duncan (rector of the neighboring Church of Our Lady, "Joy of All Who Sorrow"), Archpriest Steven Ritter, Priest Alexander Lisnichuk, and Deacon John Hanson (parish clerics), as well as Priest Eugene Antonov and Deacon Anton Kouznetsov (clerics of Joy of All Who Sorrow Church).

The following morning, His Grace led the Divine Liturgy, co-served by parish clergy and Fr. Eugene, as well as clergy from the Chapel of the Protection of the Mother of God and St. Nektarios of Aegina in Chattanooga, TN: rector Archpriest Stavros Rousos, Priest Matthew Smith, and Deacon Christophe Lepoutre. During the hours, Cyprian Lawrence (parishioner of Holy Protection Chapel in Chattanooga) was tonsured a reader. During the Small Entrance, for his dedicated and selfless service to Christ’s Holy Church, and with the blessing of the First Hierarch of ROCOR, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, Fr. Stavros was awarded the right to wear the miter. Click here for an article written by Fr. Stavros’ five-year old granddaughter on her impressions of the service. Father Alexander was also awarded the right to wear the nabedrennik. Upon completion of the Liturgy, Fr. Alexis and Fr. Anton, having celebrated the Liturgy in their parish, then arrived for a moleben before the icon and a procession around the church. The Polychronion was then intoned for Fr. Matthew, who marked the first anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.

After the Liturgy, a generous Lenten luncheon served by the parish sisterhood, bringing a feeling of early Pascha to the North Atlanta parish.

Republication of materials must include a reference to: 
"Eastern American Diocese www.eadiocese.org."

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese