December 20, 2014
Miami, FL: Metropolitan Hilarion Celebrates Spanish Liturgy & Performs Diaconal Ordination at Apostolic Mission of Christ

On Saturday, December 20, the Apostolic Mission of Christ (under the protection of the Holy Apostles), in Miami, FL, was blessed with an archpastoral visit from its ruling bishop, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion. The mission was received into ROCOR in early 2014, but this was the first time that His Eminence was able to celebrate the Divine Liturgy here. In the opinion of those present, it was a moving and memorable event, thanks in part to the fact that the Metropolitan served the Liturgy in Spanish.

Concelebrating with the Metropolitan were Archpriest Daniel McKenzie (rector of St. Vladimir Church in Miami), mission rector Archpriest Peter Jackson, and Priest Demetrio Romeo (rector of St. Luke the Blessed Surgeon Mission in Coconut Creek, FL). Also present were Canon Miguel Lobo and Priest Gustavo-Gregory Alfonso, both of Our Lady of Regla Western Rite Antiochian Church in Miami.

Before Divine Liturgy, His Eminence tonsured Subdeacon Pedro Medina to the monastic rank of rassophore. Fr. Pedro has been an integral part of the Apostolic Mission of Christ for many years and is of great assistance to the rector, Fr. Peter.

After the consecration of the Gifts, Subdeacon John Kern of St. Sophia Church in Kissimmee, FL was ordained to the sacred diaconate. He is assigned to St. Sophia Mission.

The choir chanted under the skilled direction of Cyril (Charles) Weber.

At the conclusion of the service, His Eminence presented a diocesan gramota to Matushka Myriam Bukawyn, widow of the mission’s founder, for her tireless dedication and service to the mission for its three-decade history. The mission is devoted to helping refugees and asylum-seekers from all over the world be legally processed. Over 600,000 have been helped so far.

The Apostolic Mission of Christ is the only Spanish-language ROCOR parish on the U.S. mainland. By God’s grace, twelve people have been baptized this year, and more catechumens are being prepared for illumination.

The parishioners served a bountiful lenten meal in the parish hall, during which Archimandrite Alexander (Belya), dean of the Florida Deanery and rector of St. Matrona Church in Hallandale Beach, FL, was able to join the faithful.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese