October 1, 2014
Wayne, WV: Bishop George leads Feast of Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord in Holy Cross Monastery

On Friday the 26th and Saturday the 27th of September, the brethren of Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV celebrated the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the monastery’s patronal feast. Divine services were led in the monastery’s main church by its abbot, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop George of Mayfield, recently returned from a more than two-month archpastoral visit to the Australian Diocese.

His Grace was co-served by monastery & local clergy: the monastery’s deputy abbot, Abbot Seraphim (Voepel), monastery dean Hieromonk Alexander (Frizzell), Hieromonk Andrew (O’Leary), Priest Jonah Campbell (rector of Christ the Savior Church in Wayne), Hieromonk Nektarios (Merry; superior of St. John the Theologian Skete in Hiram, OH), Hieromonk Hilarion (Heagy), Hieromonk Gabriel (Hooten), Hierodeacon Sergius (Wilson), and Deacon Jeremiah Davis. Praying church were the brethren and many pilgrims.

After the Vigil on Friday night, Bishop George tonsured Novice David as the newest rassophore monk at the monastery. Upon completion of the rite of tonsure, His Grace addressed the newly tonsured monk with a word of instruction, in which he encouraged Monk David to learn to take up his cross in order to lay at good foundation at the beginning of his monastic life.

Divine Liturgy was celebrated the following morning. Upon its conclusion, the Rite of the Panagia was performed, during which the brethren, singing hymns, transferred the Theotokion prosphora (from which a piece was removed in honor of the Mother of God during the Proskomedia) from the church to the monastery refectory. It was kept there in a special vessel, and upon completion of the communal meal, the brethren and faithful all partook of it.

Saturday the 4th and Sunday the 5th of October will mark the annual pilgrimage in honor of the feast of the Exaltation. The divine services will be led by His Grace, Bishop George, co-served by Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan. For more information, please visit the official website of Holy Cross Monastery here.

Pilgrimage Schedule

Saturday, October 4^th
2:30 PM – Great Procession with Moleben.
4:30 PM – Buffet supper for pilgrims.
6:00 PM – Vigil with Litiya.

Sunday, October 5^th
9:00 AM – Hours & Hierarchal Liturgy
1:00 PM (approx.) – Celebratory Banquet at Holy Spirit Antiochian Church in Huntington, WV

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese