On Tuesday the 10th and Wednesday the 11th of January, the feast of the Holy Innocents, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York paid an archpastoral visit to Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV. On Tuesday, His Eminence prayed with the brethren during the evening divine services.

The following day, Wednesday, January 11, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. At the Little Entrance, he elevated Priest James Dougherty (cleric of Christ the Savior Church in Wayne) to the rank of archpriest; awarded Hieromonk Nektarios (Merry; superior of St. John’s Skete in Hiram, OH) the right to wear the gold cross; and elevated Deacon Jeremiah Davis (cleric of Christ the Savior Church) to the rank of protodeacon.

After the Great Entrance, monastery Hierodeacon Paisios (Laiblin) was ordained to the holy priesthood. After the Eucharistic Canon, Subdeacon-monk Macarius (Ruegemer) was ordained to the diaconate.

Already filled with the joy of the grace of our Lord’s Incarnation in the flesh, the Metropolitan, monastery abbot Archimandrite Seraphim (Voepel), the priests, deacons, monastics, laity, friends, and pilgrims were all filled with gratitude for the additional outpouring of grace on this festive occasion.

The brethren ask all of you for your continued prayers and support. Please make special and fervent intercession for the newly ordained and newly awarded clergy, that they might be filled with all virtue and grace, shining the light of Christ upon the Church and all the world, to the glory of God.