On Thursday, November 7, the eve of the feast of the Holy Great-Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York paid an archpastoral visit to St. Mary of Egypt Church in Roswell (Atlanta), GA, where he led the All-Night Vigil.

Serving alongside His Eminence was the parish clergy: rector Archpriest John Townsend, Hieromonk Alexander (Lisnichuk), Priests Daniel Iliev and Mikhail Beliakov, and Deacon Jude Rountree.

After the service, the Metropolitan tonsured Fr. John Townsend a monk, renaming him in honor of the Holy Forerunner and Baptist John (Fr. John’s first Heavenly patron was the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John). On September 23, Fr. John’s Matushka Barbara reposed in the Lord. Until the Synod of Bishops approves the title of archimandrite, the newly tonsured Fr. John will hold the clerical title of abbot.