On Saturday the 20th and Sunday the 21st of May, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, paid an archpastoral visit to Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church in Summerville, SC. The visit was scheduled for the priestly ordination of Deacon Daniel Gregoire, as well as to coincide with nearest Sunday to the feast of the holy Equals-of-the-Apostles Cyril & Methodius, Teachers of the Slavs, the parish’s patronal feast day.

The history of the parish goes back to 1973, when it was established with the blessing of Archbishop Nikon (Rklitsky) of Washington & Florida. Until 1995, there were four to six Liturgies a year celebrated by visiting priests and all other weekend, great feast, and Holy Week services were led by readers. Since 1995, there are Wednesday evening and weekend services, as well as on all the great feasts and many saints’ days.

Metropolitan Hilarion arrived in Charleston, SC, on Saturday, May 20. Upon the arrival, His Eminence was treated to lunch. That evening, the Metropolitan served Vespers, joined by parish rector Archpriest Anastasy Yatrelis and Deacon Daniel Gregoire, along with visiting clergy in attendance: Archpriests Steven Ritter, Onouphry Keith (pastor emeritus of St. Nicholas Church in Fletcher, NC), and Alexander Logunov (rector of Reigning Mother of God Church in Charlotte, NC), Priest John Johnson (cleric of St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, DC), and Deacons Ivan Makarow (cleric of Reigning Mother of God Church) and Cyril Gregoire (cleric of Holy New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia Church in Norwich, CT).

On May 21, the Sunday of the Blind Man, after the greeting of the archpastor by Fr. Anastasy, Liturgy began. Deacon John Dean (cleric of St. John the Baptist Cathedral) joined the above-mentioned clergy for Liturgy. After the Great Entrance, Metropolitan Hilarion ordained Fr. Daniel to the priesthood.

Liturgy was followed by a banquet in honor of the Metropolitan’s visit.

The whole week after the ordination, Fr. Anastasy scheduled daily Liturgies, so that the newly ordained priest could serve a full cycle of services every day.