On Bright Tuesday, April 26, 2022, His Grace the Right Reverend Bishop of Eastern America, Kyr Irinej, presided over the Paschal Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Lorain, Ohio. Presbyter Bojan Banovic of Holy Trinity Church in Youngstown, Ohio, and Hieromonk Nektarije (Tesanovic) of St. George Church in Lorain concelebrated with His Grace, assisted by Deacon Milan Damljanovic, as well as with the help of subdeacon Predrag Lemajic. The Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Rade Merick, Bishop’s Deputy, prayerfully attended. The service was embellished by the singing of members of the Njegos Choir of St. Sava Cathedral from Cleveland, under the direction of Mira Damljanovic.

During the Liturgy, His Grace elevated Hieromonk Nektarije into the rank of singelos. In his sermon after the elevation, Kyr Irinej recalled the obedience of Fr. Nektarije and his works at the St. George Church in Lorain, St. Mark’s Monastery in Sheffield Village, Ohio, and at the Most Holy Mother of God Monastery in Shadeland, Pennsylvania. “May this day be a blessing to you. The honor of being singelos is an honor that you share with your parishioners, as they earned it together with you. Bear it with great honor, together with them. May God bless you, keep you and multiply your talents for many, many years to come. Живео на многаја љета!”, concluded the shepherd of Eastern America. Singelos Nektarije thanked His Grace for his paternal love and kindness, which he felt being under his omophorion and for the endeavor in reviving the monastic life.

During his sermon after the Gospel, Kyr Irinej reflected on the completion of the story of Salvation which started with the preparatory weeks before Great Lent, then Great Lent, and finally, the glorious Resurrection of Christ. “The desire of mankind is to be saved, which is perfected with the free will of the Holy Mother of God, merged with God’s grace freely bestowed in His desire to save humanity and unite all in the ever-worshiping community of faith, the Holy Church,” the bishop concluded. 

Together with the faithful and the Board members of St. George Church were other dear guests: Nun Anastasia of the Holy Archangel Gabriel Monastery – New Marcha, Protinica Ana Stepanov, and Protinica Zagorka Sokolovic. Faithful, distinguished guests and clergy continued their Paschal family gathering in the St. George Church Hall, where the agape lunch was served.