On Saturday, August 19, the great feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Luke of Syracuse, celebrated Divine Liturgy in Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, co-served by monastery clergy.

After the Great Entrance, His Grace ordained Deacon Paul Siewers (cleric of St. John the Wonderworker Church in Lewisburg, PA) to the priesthood. Fr. Paul will continue his service in Lewisburg, and will be serving his 40 days at the monastery.

After the Eucharistic Canon, Bishop Luke ordained Subdeacon David Parker to the deaconate at the request of Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada. Assigned to Christ the Saviour Church in London, ON, the newly ordained Deacon David spent the following week serving at the monastery.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, the monastery abbot went in procession with the clergy to the entrance of the church to bless the baskets of fruit brought by the faithful, as is traditional on this feast.

On the following day, Sunday, at the end of Liturgy, His Grace and the clergy went in procession to the crypt of Metropolitan Anastassy (Gribanovsky; +1965), second First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, as it was the 150th anniversary of his birth on the feast. A litia was served for him, as well as for Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko; +1960), who also was born 150 years ago, on August 8/20. These two hierarchs were outstanding bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church in our times, especially of the Church Abroad.