With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Pavlos, on Sunday, July 14/27, 2008, the newly-formed Mission parish of the Holy Mother of God (Panagia Axion Estin) in Palmyra, Virginia, which is near Charlottesville, held its inaugural liturgy.
Presiding were His Grace Bishop Christodoulos, and serving were Fr Patrick Danielson, who will be assigned to pastor the mission, and Fr Anastasios Hudson of St Mark's Orthodox Mission in Raleigh, North Carolina. Hieromonk Savvas of Holy Ascension Monastery chanted.
After Matins and the Divine Liturgy, His Grace performed the Blessing of Waters (agiasmo) on the spot where the organizers of the mission will construct a free-standing chapel.
This miracle of Saint Spyridon took place in Mandra, Greece in 1926.
It was 12/25 December, 1926. The state Church of Greece adopted the Papal calendar and with the help of the Greek government persecuted all those who did not accept the Papal calendar. The faithful Orthodox Christians of Mandra woke up and headed to their Church to celebrate the Feast of Saint Spyridon. When they reached the Church they saw that the door to the Church had been secured with chains and the faithful could not enter. Before leaving the Church to return to their homes they stuck their candles on the door. As soon as the last person placed his candles on the door
the chains broke and fell. The faithful, confirmed in their Faith, entered the Church and celebrated the Feast of Saint Spyridon.
The miracle was reported the next day by the newspaper Skrip.
St. John of Kronstadt Orthodox Church began as a mission parish in the year 2000, in a home chapel in Palm Coast, FL – a small town on Florida’s northeast coast located between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. After two years, it became necessary to have services in area community centers, rented for Sundays and other Holy Days. Read more...
2023 Youth Conference
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Q. Can you please explain the significance of the forty day memorial service? An Evangelical family asked one of our relatives that question. We said that it’s best to ask a clergy member. Thank you in advance for your response. (We will forward it to them as soon as possible).
-P. & M. G.
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