December 22, 2013
Wayne, WV: Feast of St. Nicholas Celebrated at Holy Cross Monastery

On the feast of the Holy Hierarch Nicholas, Wonderworker of Myra in Lycia, His Grace George, Bishop of Mayfield, led the divine services in Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV. Bishop George had been traveling extensively through diocesan parishes over the past several weeks, so this celebration of the feast was a welcome return to the beautiful hierarchal rite led by His Grace.

Co-serving at the divine services were monastery dean Hieromonk Alexander (Frizzell), Hieromonk Andrew (O’Leary; monastery cleric), Priest Mark Tyson (rector of Holy Dormition Carpatho-Russian Church in Bluefield, WV), Priest Michael Furry (rector of St. Innocent of Alaska Bulgarian Mission in Roanoke, VA), Priest Jonah Campbell (rector of the neighboring Church of Christ the Savior in Wayne), Priest Matthew Penney (cleric of the Canadian Diocese), and monastery clerics: Hieromonk Hilarion (Heagy), Hierodeacon Sergius (Wilson), and Deacon Jeremiah Davis.

Abbot Seraphim (the monastery’s deputy abbot) prayed in the altar and communed of the Holy Mysteries. His Grace delivered a homily on the life and holiness of St. Nicholas. Various ROCOR parishes dedicated to St. Nicholas, along with clergy and others celebrating their namesday, were commemorated at the Divine Liturgy.

Many pilgrims came from the local area and joined the monastics and a number of monastic candidates currently visiting the monastery in prayer to our Lord and the great wonderworker of Christ St. Nicholas. Bishop George remarked that the service reminded him of feast days in Jordanville, with the large number of concelebrants, festive singing, and heartfelt prayer which was palpable to all present.

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