September 12, 2012
Wayne, WV: Bishop George
led the Divine Services in Christ the Savior Church
On
Sunday, August 26, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop
George of Mayfield, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in anticipation of
the patronal feast day on August 29 of
Christ the Savior Church (dedicated to the Icon of the Savior
"Not-Made-By-Hands"). His Grace was co-served by parish rector
Priest Jonah Campbell, Hieromonk Nektarios (Merry; cleric of
neighboring Holy Cross Monastery), Deacon Jeremiah Davis (monastery
cleric), and Deacon Matthew Penney, who was serving his 40 days at
the monastery.
During the Sixth Hour, Reader Matthew Long
was ordained a subdeacon. Upon completion of the Liturgy, Bishop
George was presented with an icon of the Entry of the Mother of God
into the Temple in honor of the original chapel founded on the
current property of Holy Cross Monastery, that original outpost of
Orthodoxy in Wayne, of which Christ the Savior Parish is the
successor.
On Tuesday evening, Fr. Jonah served the
All-Night Vigil on the eve of the parish feast of the Translation of
the Icon "Not-Made-By-Hands," co-served by Fr. Matthew Penney. On
Wednesday morning, a water blessing was served along with the festal
Liturgy. In addition to the two above-mentioned clerics, Archpriest
John Dixon (rector of Holy Spirit Antiochian Church in Huntington,
WV) prayed in the altar.
Fr.
Jonah delivered a sermon describing how the Savior came to "seek and
save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). That which He sought was the
likeness of God in mankind, which became darkened through the fall
of our first parents, Adam and Eve. The Most Holy Word, the image of
the Invisible God, restored His Own image in us through His Most
Holy Passion and Resurrection. In that sense, each one of us also
bears within himself the image of God, and the likeness to God is
restored within us through struggling against the passions and a
life of repentance.
One week prior to the patronal feast,
parishioners installed a total of 33 new fresco icons and
ornamentals, including Scripture verses, all printed by Fr. Jonah’s
icon printing shop "Damascene
Gallery." In the coming weeks, parishioners hope to complete
printing and installing frescoes throughout the entire church.
Republication of materials must include a reference to:
"Eastern American Diocese www.eadiocese.org."
Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese
