UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA
CONSISTORY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
PRESS RELEASE
Bishop Daniel Visits Venerable Job of Pochaiv Parish Community in Los Alamos, NM
On October 24th and 25th, 2015, His Grace Bishop Daniel, the Ruling Hierarch of the Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the United States of America, made his first official visit to the parish of St. Job of Pochaiv parish family in Los Alamos, New Mexico. He presided over Great Vespers on Saturday evening and served the Divine Liturgy on the following morning, helping the parish family celebrate the Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
On Sunday morning the children of the parish offered His Grace flowers; Nicholas-Michael Gordon presented him the traditional offering of bread and salt; and Father Theophan, their pastor, presented a cross decorated by the children for his veneration and blessing. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy His Grace presented Father Theophan and the parish with a large icon of Venerable Job of Pochaiv written by Michael Kapeluck, who generously prepared and gifted the icon for the occasion of first archpastoral visit of Vladyka Daniel to Los Alamos community. It is a stunning icon and will forever be cherished by the people.
Bishop Daniel spoke to the congregation of the dual nature of Christian life.
We must “plug-in” to the source of our spirituality, the Church and community, and then we must go out into the world to spread the word and live in service to others. In essence, “Enter to worship, exit to serve.”
During his visit he met with parishioners, catechumens, and the parish council, and gave wise advice and inspiration to the gathered faithful.
There was record attendance at both Great Vespers and Divine Liturgy. Many visitors were present, eager to witness this historic visit.
With God’s Grace, the parish of Saint Job will be moving into a new facility better suited to church life and more centrally located in the town of Los Alamos. Bishop Daniel toured the new facility, which is still in the process of renovation, and gave his enthusiastic blessing to the move.
The construction contractor has said work may begin in earnest this coming week, and much of the work will be done by volunteers in the parish community.
It was a blessed time for the people of the newest community in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of USA.
|
|