On Sunday, June 27, 2021, His Eminence Metropolitan Antony, accompanied by Archbishop Daniel along with the seminarians of St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary of the UOC of the USA rom South Bound Brook, NJ traveled to the little church of the Protection to the Birth-Giver of God Ukrainian Orthodox Parish of Arnold, PA, where Fr. Mark Swindle provides spiritual care for the flock of the parish community.

Victoria and Anna Swindle greeted the hierarchs with the traditional bread and salt made by Anna, as they entered the church. Rochelle Sakal presented flowers on behalf of the Sisterhood. Rev. Fr. Mark Swindle expressed how special it was to welcome His Eminence Metropolitan Antony as the parish priest because when Rev. Fr. Mark was a young boy in Hammond, IN, he looked up to Metropolitan Antony when he was known as “Fr. John”.  Rev. Fr. Mark was elevated to Very Rev. and was presented with a gold cross representing his dedication to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Assisting in the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy were Subdeacons Pavlo Vysotskyi and James Cairns, Reader Maksym Zhuravchyk and Reader Andrii Vatrich, Seminarians Mykola Stefanyk, Andrii Akulenko of St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Bound Brook, NJ), who joined the parishioners, friends and guests of the Protection to the Birth-Giver of God.

At the conclusion of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy the Centennial Medal of the UOC of the USA was bestowed to Mr. Homer Kline for his lifelong devotion and service to the Parish.

Once a formal commemorative photo was taken, those in attendance went to a local restaurant for lunch. His Eminence Metropolitan Antony thanked the Arnold parish for having him along with His Eminence Archbishop Daniel and the seminarians for joining in the celebration and look forward to visiting for the 100 year anniversary in 2025.

Text by Victoria Olena Swindle