On Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th of August, Abbot Gabriel (Hooten) and the brotherhood of Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV celebrated the feast day of their beloved Heavenly patron, the Holy Great-Martyr and Healer Panteleimon.

The festivities were officiated by His Grace, Western American Diocesan vicar Bishop James of Sonora, whom the monastic brotherhood was honored to welcome for his first visit to the monastery. A multitude of pilgrims also traveled from near and far to be present for the feast.

On Saturday evening, All-Night Vigil was served; at the Polyeleos, the with akathist to St. Panteleimon was sung. Bishop James presided, accompanied by Fr. Gabriel and monastery clergy, Archpriest Jonah Campbell (rector of nearby Christ the Savior Church in Wayne), and Priest Jeremiah Davis (cleric of St. Matrona Mission in Winchester, KY). Praying in the nave were Archpriest John Dixon and Deacon John Paise (clerics of Holy Spirit Antiochian Church in Huntington, WV), and Priest Mark Elliott (rector of St. George Greek Church in Huntington).

Following Vigil, a reception was offered for His Grace, the clergy, and pilgrims after the joyous labors of the divine service.

On Sunday morning after the serving of the Lesser Blessing of the Waters, Bishop James was greeted by monastery and local clergy and celebrated Divine Liturgy. His Grace delivered a stirring homily for the feast on how every choice in our lives is in fact a response to our Lord’s question to each one of us, similar to His question to Peter: "Lovest thou Me?" (John 21:15).

A festal moleben was served to the Holy Great-Martyr and Healer Panteleimon upon conclusion of Liturgy. All those whose names had been submitted for commemoration were prayed for before the icon of the monastery’s Heavenly patron. Bishop James, the clergy, and pilgrims were then treated to a festal meal and a blessed time of feast day fellowship.

Later in the afternoon, Bishop James served a graveside panihida for the previous abbot and monastery builder Schema-Archimandrite Panteleimon (Voepel; +2025) and others. Afterwards, His Grace gave a brief eulogy. Pointing out that our prayer for eternal memory for the departed is a supplication that the Lord would put away their sins and remember their spiritual labors and good works, we should pray this prayer with all our hearts, since it is precisely their spiritual labors which made it possible for us to be where we are today.

Bishop James continued his very active schedule that evening, hosting a spiritual conference with the brotherhood. On Monday, His Grace joined some of the fathers in the bakery to make prosphora together, breaking only for lunch and a mid-day panihida for the Most Blessed Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky; +1936) on the 90th anniversary of his repose.

It was with full hearts and a hope for a future visit that Fr. Gabriel and the brotherhood bade farewell to Bishop James on Tuesday. May God reward his labors in honor of St. Panteleimon and on behalf of the Holy Cross brotherhood!