On the weekend of March 28 and 29 (April 10 and 11 n.s.), Fr. Anastasios Hudson paid his first pastoral visit to a nascent community of Orthodox faithful in the Nashville, Tennessee area.
In 2009, a family from this area became aware of True Orthodoxy, and had prayerfully pondered what course to take. They contacted Fr. Anastasios and began Reader’s Services under his guidance. They were received into the Holy Metropolis of the G.O.C. of America in November at Nativity of the Holy Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church in Greenville, North Carolina. Father agreed to visit as soon as time permitted given their distance from other parishes.
In time, another Orthodox family began to meet with them for the Reader’s Services, and recently yet another family, in this instance inquirers, made physical contact. Electronic and telephone inquiries continue to come in. Seeing this growth, Fr. Anastasios and the Tennessee faithful arranged for his visit on the weekend of Thomas Sunday.
Arriving in Nashville on Saturday morning, Father was given a tour of the area. The materials necessary to construct an altar table appropriate for mission use were purchased, and said altar was constructed with diligence and due reverence. Around 4 pm, a “meet and greet” session was held, where everyone assembled to ask questions and give introductions. Vespers followed, along with confessions.
On Thomas Sunday morning, Matins and Liturgy were held. The Lewis family, one of the local families, prepared the chanting for the services and provided a prayerful atmosphere. Father appreciated their dedication and exemplary preparation.
A trapeza meal followed, with another extended question and answer period. Father blessed holy water and prayed for the health of one of the faithful. He was returned safely to the airport, and arrived back in Raleigh, North Carolina, right on schedule. Airport security was a non-issue, despite Father’s anxiousness at potentially raising curiosity by transporting a chalice set (the lance was left at home out of propriety, and a suitable knife purchased locally).
We pray for the faithful of Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, Hendersonville, and all of Middle Tennessee, that this will be the first of many pastoral visits, and that this Orthodox cooperation might result in the establishment of a fully-established mission in the near future!
