On the afternoon of the Fifth Sunday of the Great Fast, March 28, our parish hosted the Mission Vespers for the Wilkes-Barre Deanery of the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania. Eleven priests and over one hundred faithful from throughout the deanery participated in this event. His Grace, Bishop Tikhon of South Canaan, the newly-appointed administrator of the diocese, made his first visit to our parish to celebrate the Vespers. We were delighted to welcome him to our community and to receive his support and blessing. We pray that he be granted many years of fruitful service to the Lord Jesus Christ.
After Vespers and a meal in the fellowship hall, Bishop Tikhon visited The Pilgrim's Inn Bookstore, along with Father James Weremedic, Deacon Ambrose Arrington, Seminarian Timothy Hojnicki and Seminarian Bert Johnson. His Grace expressed enthusiasm about this outreach endeavor, as did the other visitors to the bookstore.