On Wednesday the 8th and Thursday the 9th of August, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan paid an archpastoral visit to Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV where, joined by the hermitage brethren and a multitude of pilgrims, he celebrated the memory of the their Heavenly patron – the feast of the Holy Great-Martyr & Healer Panteleimon.

St. Panteleimon is the monastery’s patron and an intercessor for monastics and pilgrims, who seek his aid in sickness and life’s trials.

On Wednesday evening, the vicar of the Eastern American Diocese, co-served by the hermitage’s abbot Archimandrite Seraphim (Voepel) and clergy, led the All-Night Vigil. On Thursday morning, the very day of the feast, he celebrated Divine Liturgy. At the service, Hierodeacon Macarius (Ruegemer) was ordained a hieromonk, and Monk-Subdeacon Basil (Blevins) – a Hierodeacon. The newly ordained clerics will fulfill their given obediences laboring on behalf of the growing monastic community.

Upon completion of Liturgy, a short moleben was served to the Holy Great-Martyr and Healer Panteleimon. After the moleben, Bishop Nicholas thanked the monastery brethren and all of the pilgrims present for their labors and shared prayer.