North Canton, OH - On Sunday, March 15th, His Grace Bishop Dr Mitrophan celebrated the Holy Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at St George Serbian Orthodox Church on the third week of Lent, dedicated to the Holy Cross. His Grace was welcomed by Rev Aleksa Pavichevich and altar servers at 9:45am for vesting and prayers. 


Immediately prior to the service, His Grace tonsured Larry Soper to the position of “Reader” within the Orthodox Church. Larry is a well-respected member of the North Canton community and recently completed the diaconal formation program offered by Jordanville’s Holy Trinity Seminary. He is currently working on his theological undergrad while, at the same time, running a non-profit transitional recovery home he founded (The St Paul Project) and working full-time at the Interval Brotherhood Home in the field of addiction, recovery, and rehabilitation.

The seats at St George Serbian Orthodox church were overflowing, with well over 100 people in attendance. The faithful prayed, venerated the Holy Cross, and received Holy Communion. Rev Aleksa Pavichevich, parish priest of the host community, and Father Deacon Orestes Varonis, from St George Greek Orthodox Church in Massillon, Ohio, celebrated Divine Liturgy with His Grace Bishop Dr. Mitrophan. Eleven altar servers, including the newly tonsured reader Larry Soper, vested and served.

Following Liturgy, the congregation gathered for a lenten luncheon, and fellowship, at the St George Serbian Center. The meal, prepared by Catering by George, was sponsored by the Circle of Serbian Sisters. Near the end of the meal, His Grace Bishop Dr Mitrophan offered inspiring words about having the courage to pray, and to be a Christian in this modern age. It was a day of great spiritual joy for the faithful in North Canton, Ohio.