On Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd of October, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, paid an archpastoral visit to St. Mary of Egypt Church in Roswell (Atlanta), GA, where he officiated the divine services for the feast of the Synaxis of the Optina Elders.

On Wednesday morning, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad celebrated Divine Liturgy, co-served by: Archimandrite John (Townsend; parish rector), Hieromonks Gabriel (Davis) and Rajden (Ashjazadeh) and Priest Isaac Weaver (parish clerics), Priest Aaron Blanco (priest in charge of St. Innocent of Alaska Mission in Canton, GA), and Deacons Jude Rountree, Peter Epstein (parish clerics), and Matthew Campbell (cleric of St. Innocent Mission).

Prior to the start of Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas tonsured Jonah and Seraphim Evans readers, and then ordained Reader Jonah a subdeacon. After the Eucharistic Canon, Subdeacon Jonah was ordained to the diaconate. The newly ordained Deacon Jonah will fulfill his service in St. Katherine of Alexandria Mission in Dallas, GA.

In his sermon, His Eminence spoke on the Gospel account of the Apostles and the Lord on the boat: "This happens often in our lives. Christ is with us, so close, and we bring upon ourselves the turbulence of the winds of Satan. And when we are in despair, we cry out to the Lord to help us, to save us. And we will always hear the same question we heard today: ‘Why are you afraid? I am with you.’ We must always remember that the Lord is with us when we live as Orthodox Christians. Pray about this and remember this, that the Lord is with us, and we have to be with Him. That is the key element in our lives."

The following morning, Metropolitan Nicholas celebrated Liturgy once more on the feast of the Optina Elders. Concelebrating were the above-mentioned clergy (excepting Fr. Aaron), joined by: Priests Daniel Iliev (parish cleric) and Elias Crowder (rector of St. Martin of Tours Mission in Montgomery, AL) and Deacon Mark King (parish cleric).

Prior to the start of Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas ordained Reader Victor Ovtchinnikov a subdeacon. After the Great Entrance, Fr. Jonah Evans was ordained to the priesthood.

In his sermon, the First Hierarch spoke about the Heavenly Patrons of Holy Elders of Optina Skete, which operates at St. Mary’s Church: "They gave an example of prayer, fasting, and ultimately love for God, even during the difficult times of revolution in Russia. We are far away from the Optima Hermitage, but their example is alive and felt, and we have to try to also take these qualities which we hear about often in the Gospel: love, humility, patience, forgiveness, kindness – and truly develop them in our lives. Their example is before us."

In reference to the newly ordained Priest Jonah and Reader Seraphim Evans, His Eminence added: "Everyone contributes, not just one person. It is one family. We pray that this sense of family grows with our newly ordained Priest Jonah and his community dedicated to St. Katherine of Alexandria in Dallas. May God help you now to keep the flame of the priesthood above your head, keep it lit, let it build and grow and spread to those that come to you. And now look and pray to your patron saints in the Optina Elders for guidance and example. We love you, we support you, and we will pray for you, dear father."

Fr. Jonah’s ordination is the latest in an expanding missionary effort in the Greater Atlanta area, centered at St. Mary’s Church and Holy Elder of Optina Skete. Three new missions are spreading the Orthodox Faith there: St. Katherine in Dallas, St. Clement in Rome, and St. Innocent of Alaska in Canton. Through the intercessions of their Heavenly patrons, may their efforts be greatly blessed!