August 13, 2013
Wayne, WV: The Feast of St. Panteleimon at Holy Cross Monastery

The festal celebrations of the heavenly protector of Holy Cross Monastery, the Holy Great-Martyr and Healer Panteleimon, began with the All-Night Vigil on the evening of Thursday, August 8th. Visiting clergy and pilgrims came from near and far to Wayne, WV to celebrate with the monastery’s abbot, His Grace, Bishop George, and the monastic brotherhood. After the magnification was sung to St. Panteleimon, an akathist was served, with the whole assembly of the faithful joining in the singing. After the Vigil, Novices William and Ephraim were tonsured into the riassa.

The celebration of the feast of St. Panteleimon continued on Friday morning, August 9, with a Hierarchal Liturgy. Concelebrating with Bishop George were Archpriest John Dixon (rector of Holy Spirit Antiochian Church in Huntington, WV), Priest Mark Elliot, (rector of St. George Greek Church in Huntington), monastery dean Hieromonk Alexander (Frizzell), monastery cleric Hieromonk Andrew (O’Leary), Priest Jonah Campbell (rector of Christ the Savior Church in Wayne), monastery cleric Hieromonk Nektarios (Merry), Priest Richard Reed, and monastery clerics Hierodeacon Sergius (Wilson) and Deacon Jeremiah (Davis). Also praying in church were the deputy abbot, Abbot Seraphim (Voepel), Priest Mark Tyson (rector of St. Mary's Carpatho-Russian Church in Bluefield, WV), and Priest Justin Patterson (rector of St. Athanasius OCA Church in Nicholasville, KY).

Over 100 people gathered in the humble monastery church to pray to the Great-Martyr and Healer. After the consecration of the Gifts, Monk Subdeacon Hilarion (Heagy) was ordained to the diaconate. A multitude of the faithful received the Holy Mysteries. At the conclusion of the Liturgy, a moleben was served to the saint, during which hundreds of names sent in by the faithful were read for the healing of soul and body. Bishop George then delivered a homily on the life and miracles of St. Panteleimon. After the Liturgy, a wonderful banquet was served by friends of the monastery in the refectory.

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