On Sunday, April 5 – the great feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) – His Grace Michael, Bishop of Boston celebrated Divine Liturgy in St. Xenia Church in Methuen, MA. The evening prior, on April 4, he officiated the All-Night Vigil and the blessing of palms.

Serving alongside the vicar of the Eastern American Diocese were parish clerics: Priest Alexei Klar and Deacons Dimitry Doohovskoy and John Sarantakis.

The parish choir sang beautifully, and was joined by the parish youth choir for the feast.

Over 200 people were in attendance, most of whom communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, Bishop Michael greeted all with the feast, and addressed the worshippers with a homily, in which he said, in part:

"Many in confession have expressed the difficulties of the past couple of weeks. This is normal, it is good. It is our Lord bringing us to the point where we realize that we cannot save ourselves, that we need to completely surrender to Him. This surrender requires deep humility. So how do we find this humility? St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) tells us that humility only comes through obedience. So we strive to live an obedient life; obedience to the commandments of Scripture and Tradition, obedience to our parents, obedience to our boss at work, our teachers, obedience to traffic signs – a life of obedience. In this way we become not simply observers of the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, but participants in this mystery, entering the Jerusalem of our own hearts. We then walk with the Lord through His Holy Passion and Death on the Cross, to the ultimate triumph over death – the Glorious Resurrection."

In the parish hall, the sisterhood hosted a festal meal for the clergy and faithful.