On Friday, October 23, the feast of the Synaxis of the Venerable Optina Elders, His Eminence, Metropolitan Jonah, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV. His Eminence was co-served by monastery clergy: Archimandrite Seraphim (Voepel; monastery abbot), Abbot Alexander (Frizzell; monastery deputy abbot); Hieromonks Andrew (O’Leary), Hilarion (Heagy), and Gabriel (Hooten), Archdeacon Sergius (Wilson), and Hierodeacon Paisios (Laiblin). Visiting clergy who also co-served include Archpriest Chad Williams (rector of St. Alexander Nevsky Church in Richmond, ME), Hieromonk Cyprian (DuRant; rector of St. Mary of Egypt Church OCA in Norcross, GA), Priest Jonah Campbell and Deacon Jeremiah Davis (respectively rector and cleric of Christ the Savior Church in Wayne).

The Feast was greeted by the temperate October climate and vibrant colors of all in West Virginia. Many pilgrims and local faithful gathered to pray at the divine services and venerate the relics of the Holy Elders. During the Liturgy, following the reading of the Gospel, Metropolitan Jonah offered a homily, drawing the attention of the faithful to the lives of the Elders of Optina, encouraging all present to persevere in the Christian life and edifying them with stories about the Elders and Optina Monastery.

Following the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Jonah was presented with an icon of the monastery’s Heavenly intercessor, the Great-Martyr and Healer Panteleimon, a gift from Archimandrite Seraphim on behalf of the brotherhood of Holy Cross Monastery. His Eminence’s prayers were asked for on behalf of the brotherhood, and an open invitation was offered to come again for this feast or any other time of the year.

The Liturgy was followed by a moleben to the Venerable Fathers and Elders of Optina, wherein was prayed that they would extend a helping hand to the brethren and faithful, teaching them to pray, to believe, to hope, to be patient, to forgive, and to love: that, walking thus in the commandments of the Lord, all might through their intercessions be vouchsafed everlasting joy in the Kingdom of Heaven…

The moleben was followed by the Rite of the Panagia and all those who served and had come to pray moved in procession from the church into the monastery refectory, where a festal meal had been prepared and the lives of the Optina Elders was read. After dinner, Metropolitan Jonah offered some reflections of his visit, the first time he had been able to come to the monastery. He noted that something is "different" as soon as one enters through the monastery gate, and that he was struck by how kind and loving the monastics are toward one other and their guests.

The afternoon continued on the refectory porch with much conversation, His Eminence sharing stories of his many trips to various monasteries throughout America and around the world.