Met. Nicholas Leads Annual Feast of St. Panteleimon at Holy Cross
WE MAGNIFY THEE, O Holy Passion Bearer, Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon, and we honor Thy precious sufferings, which thou didst endure for Christ!
On August 8-9, 2024, Archimandrite Seraphim and the Holy Cross brotherhood joyfully received their first Hierarch Metropolitan Nicholas for celebrations in honor of the monastery’s patronal intercessor and protector, the Holy Great-Martyr and Healer Panteleimon.
Vladyka Nicholas and the monastic fathers were joined by both local and out-of-state clergy and pilgrims for two days of worship, fellowship, and feasting.
On the eve of the feast, Vladyka Nicholas officiated at the Hierarchal Vigil. In one of the high points of the evening service, Vladyka and the serving clergy led the faithful in the thunderous singing of the Magnification and Akathist to St. Panteleimon.
The next morning Vladyka served the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy, during which he awarded Hieromonk Paisios the right to wear the gold cross for his many years of service in the monastery.
Co-serving with His Eminence were monastery clergy, Archpriest John Dixon, Archpriest Jonah (Campbell), Archpriest Gabriel Weller, Priest Antony Alekseyenko (spiritual director of the Classic Academy in Chicago), Priest Joeph Hazar, Priest Jeremiah Davis, and Deacon Joshua (Duncan).
At his homily before the dismissal, Vladyka underscored the virtues of gratitude and courage as exemplified in the life of St. Panteleimon. He also asked the monastic fathers and all the faithful to remember the brotherhood of St. Panteleimon’s Monastery on Mount Athos in prayer.
As is the tradition at Holy Cross, a festive moleben was served immediately upon the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, wherein all those were commemorated who had asked the prayers of St. Panteleimon for themselves and their loved ones. These festive molebens continued each morning thereafter for eight days.
Special thanks to Subdeacon Michael Jarrouj and Olive Tree Cafe & Catering for a worthy banquet in honor of Saint Panteleimon on the day of the feast. May God reward you!
While at the monastery, Vladyka Nicholas also walked the grounds of the construction site to see all the progress that has been made in the building of the new monastery church, concerning which he expressed his great excitement. May we continue to have his holy prayers, as well as the heavenly intercessions of St. Panteleimon!
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