St. Irene Chrysovalantou Parish in Rochester Hills (Detroit area), Michigan, celebrated our second parish feast day on 28 July/10 August, 2016.
With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Demetrius, His Grace Christodoulos, Bishop of Theoupolis, a member of our Holy Synod, graciously visited St. Irene in honor of this joyous day of our holy patroness, presiding at Great Vespers and celebrating the Divine Liturgy for the Feast, assisted by Protopresbyter Christos Pittos and our rector, Presbyter Steven Allen. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, His Grace performed the traditional blessing of apples, which were distributed to the faithful.
Despite our small size and it's being a work day, 42 of the faithful were present for the Divine Liturgy. Fr. Steven, the parish council, and the parish brotherhood wish to thank His Grace Christodoulos for showing archpastoral love in gracing our feast with his apostolic blessing. We also want to express our delight in the visit of Fr. Christos and Presvytera Ekaterina, cherished members of our spiritual family, who came from Chicago to add to the joy of the feast.
We ask the prayers of all the brethren of our Church of the True Orthodox Christians in America, that our young community continue to grow both outwardly and inwardly, remaining steadfast in the pure confession of Faith and nurturing genuine spiritual life for all those who come to us seeking salvation in the Holy Church.
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