April 13, 2014
Atlanta, GA: Parish Life in St. Mary of Egypt Church

Parish life in St. Mary of Egypt Church in the first week of April was especially eventful. On Tuesday, April 1, the parish in the Georgian capital of Atlanta was visited by the myrrh-streaming Icon of the Mother of God "Softener of Evil Hearts," currently traveling throughout America. Parish clerics – rector Archpriest John Townsend and Priest Alexander Lisnichuk ‒ read the moleben and akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos. American and Serbian clerics from neighboring parishes also came to lift up their prayers, and the church was filled with a multitude of parishioners and guests. Fr. John noted that a genuine feeling of repentance reigned in the church ‒ the rector maintains it was for this reason that the Theotokos visited and blessed the Atlanta parish with her streaming myrrh.

The following weekend, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop George of Mayfield visited the parish. On Friday evening, His Grace led Matins and the Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos, and celebrated the Divine Liturgy the following morning.

On Sunday morning, the parish celebrated its patronal feast day – the Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt. During the Little Entrance, Bishop George tonsured parish altar server Joseph Nguyentan a reader, and Reader Steven Hanes a subdeacon. After the Eucharistic Canon, His Grace ordained Subdeacon Steven to the diaconate. The newly ordained Deacon Steven will fulfill his service in St. Mary’s Church in Atlanta, while Reader Joseph intends to enroll in Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville this fall. Upon completion of the service, Bishop George addressed the faithful with an edifying word on the life of St. Mary, and congratulated parishioners on the occasion of their patronal feast.

After the Liturgy, a bountiful luncheon was served in honor of the patronal feast day and the distinguished guest; that evening, the All-Night Vigil was served for the great feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos. On Monday morning, His Grace was co-served by the parish priests, as well as the new Deacon Steven, who ably served his first Hierarchal Liturgy, aided by the grace of his recent ordination.

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