On Saturday, August 9, the brotherhood of Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV celebrated the feast day of their beloved patron saint, the Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon.

His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Luke of Syracuse, abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery and rector the Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY, officiated the festal divine services. The Holy Cross brotherhood was happy to welcome His Grace back, whose last visit to the monastery was in 2012.

On the evening of Friday, August 8, a festal All-Night Vigil was served in the new monastery church. During the service, Bishop Luke led the clergy and faithful in chanting the akathist to St. Panteleimon, filling the whole temple with resplendent hymnody in honor of God’s saint. Vigil was followed by a reception in the new refectory downstairs.

On the morning of Saturday, August 9, the Lesser Blessing of the Waters was served, followed by the greeting of His Grace by all of the clergy and faithful. Concelebrating with Bishop Luke were Holy Cross clergy, Archimandrite John (Townsend; dean of Georgia, Alabama & Mississippi) and the brotherhood of Holy Elders of Optina Skete in Roswell, GA, as well as other local and regional visiting clergy. Other visiting clergy also stood and prayed in church, while nuns of Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Ellwood City, PA were also present in spiritual solidarity. Countless faithful were able to partake of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Before the dismissal, His Grace led a procession to the outdoor chapel, where he blessed the newly arrived crosses and cupolas for the new church. This beautiful set of golden cupolas and crosses had been ordered many years ago, but various and sundry temptations had long prevented their delivery until they at last arrived in time to be blessed on the feast day.

Returning to the temple, Bishop Luke led a special festal moleben to St. Panteleimon with all of the clergy praying for the sick and suffering by name. For eight days following the feast, this special service of supplication to St. Panteleimon will be served for all those in need of his aid.

Following the moleben, with the blessing of Metropolitan Nicholas and the ROCOR Synod of Bishops, the diocesan vicar installed Abbot Gabriel (Hooten) as the new abbot of Holy Cross Monastery and entrusted him with the abbatial staff. Fr. Gabriel had been elected abbot by the brotherhood on Palm Sunday earlier this year in the presence of Schema-Archimandrite Panteleimon (Voepel) of blessed memory, who reposed shortly thereafter during Bright Week.

Afterward, Bishop Luke exhorted all those present to emulate St. Panteleimon by striving to acquire the same courageous spirit as the great martyr. He reminded everyone that, although we may not be able to imitate his martyric sufferings in the flesh, nevertheless we can and should imitate his spiritual fortitude and fervent love for Christ God in the circumstances of our own lives.

At the conclusion of the divine services, a banquet was served for the hierarch, clergy, and all the faithful in attendance, with much spiritual fellowship and the forging and renewing of spiritual bonds between the pilgrims and monastics.

Later in the afternoon, Bishop Luke served a graveside panihida for the ever-memorable Archimandrite Panteleimon (Nizhnik), the founder and builder of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, as well as for Holy Cross Monastery’s beloved former abbot Schema-Archimandrite Panteleimon and the other departed fathers of the monastery.

Many years to His Grace, Bishop Luke, Abbot Gabriel, and the brotherhood of Holy Cross Monastery, and to all the clergy and faithful celebrating this glorious feast day!