On Sunday April 7, 2024, His Grace Bishop Irinej paid a canonical visitation to Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Church in Steubenville, Ohio. Bishop Irinej served the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy for the Triune Feast of Third Sunday of Lent, Sunday Resurrection, Veneration of the Cross and Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos. In the Holy Liturgy, His Grace was joined in concelebration by the parish priest, Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Rajko Kosic, together with Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Rodney Torbic and Deacon Daniel August. Responses were prayerfully rendered by the famed Petar Krstich Choir under the capable direction of Mr. Nino Karas. 

His Grace was welcomed by the clergy and children of Steubenville parish, who presented him with two floral bouquets. Before the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy began, during the singing of the Great Doxology, His Grace brought out the beautifully decorated cross from the altar to the middle of the church, so everyone could venerate it.

In his edifying homily, Bishop Irinej spoke about the fulfillment of announcements and the Annunciation. He noted Zacchaeus’ desire to see Christ as the first announcement of the coming of Great and Holy Lent. Zacchaeus, overcoming himself and his limitations, was rewarded by Christ entering his home. Ultimately, our desire is fulfilled in the receiving of Holy Communion, as we hear the words of Christ how He “greatly desired” to eat this Pascha with his disciples. The Annunciation to Mary is, as we sing, the “beginning of our salvation”. Christ was born of her, for us and for our salvation, which, includes the Cross, in order to destroy death by death. As such, the Cross becomes the new Tree of Life.  

After Holy Communion, the faithful received a blessing and antidoron from His Grace, as well as being anointed by oil from the vigil lamp burning before the miraculous Sitka Icon of the Theotokos from Alaska. The parishioners then welcomed Bishop Irinej at the coffee hour. The Sunday School children took photos with His Grace, and he returned their favor by visiting their classroom. His Grace was delighted with work of the church schoolteacher, Mrs. Lynn Busic, and the school children on their collective Lenten Journey.

The visit concluded with a light luncheon with church President Paul Liggett and all members of the Executive Board.  Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to visit with Bishop Irinej in a private setting. His Grace impressed the group with his intimate knowledge of our historic and the more contemporary icons and their creators, renown seascape artist and iconographer, Alexander Dzigurski, and iconographer Filip Subotic.

The members of Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Church in Steubenville thank His Grace Bishop Irinej for visiting our church and sharing a special Divine Liturgy with us.