On May 7th, the Sunday of the Paralytic, the clergy and parishioners of St. Matrona Mission celebrated the first Divine Liturgy and patronal feast day at their new location in Lexington, KY. With the blessing of His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, the parish transferred the celebration of the feast of St. Matrona of Moscow from May 2nd to that Sunday.

On Saturday evening, mission rector Priest Jonah Campbell officiated the All-Night Vigil, co-served by Protodeacon Jeremiah Davis. On Sunday morning, Fr. Jonah served the Lesser Blessing of Water and celebrated Divine Liturgy, again co-served by Fr. Jeremiah.

Fr. Jonah’s homily highlighted the humility and faithfulness of the paralytic man, described in the Gospel for Sunday, and the deep spiritual insight of Blessed Matrona the Blind. He encouraged parishioners to emulate their examples, and to cultivate each day a true life in Christ and dedication to the Orthodox Faith.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, the protodeacon intoned the Polychronion to Fr. Jonah and to the brotherhood and sisterhood of the temple.

The parish sisterhood prepared and adorned the Church beautifully and hosted a festal meal following the divine services. The clergy and parishioners then conducted a brief extraordinary meeting to appoint a provisional parish council and to discuss the immediate needs of the mission.

St. Matrona Church was founded in 2021 with the blessing of Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) of blessed memory and the continued guidance of Metropolitan Nicholas. It is a mission parish with the support of Christ the Savior Church in Wayne, WV. For more information about the mission and questions about the weekly schedule, please visit www.stmatrona.org or contact Fr. Jeremiah Davis at info@stmatrona.org or (859) 250-8850. For spiritual questions and confessions, please contact the rector, Fr. Jonah Campbell, at (828) 279-8862 or frjonah@gmail.com.