Archpastoral Visit to Philadelphia

“And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” 2 Cor. 11:28

Notwithstanding His many obligations, our Father and Hierarch Kyr Irinej found time to celebrate the second Sunday of the Great and Holy Lent (Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas) with His flock at St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church in Philadelphia, PA.

Upon entry into church, His Grace was greeted by Ksenija Jankovic and Andjelia Djordjic. Assisting His Grace in the celebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy were Protopresbyter Milorad Orlic, Episcopal Deacon Darko Tripkovic and Deacon Bojan Gligorijevic of St. Nicholas Parish in Harrisburg, PA. Andjelia Djordjic read the Epistle in Serbian and Sophia Schiavio in English. Cantors Radovan Micic, Toma Pavasovic, Zeljko Lukic and Ilija Lackovic chanted the Liturgical replies. 

In His edifying homily, His Grace drew attention to the fact that, in the early Church, this Sunday was the commemoration of the Feast of Our Lord’s Transfiguration, wherein He reveals Himself as true God and true man - His divinity revealed (as far as the disciples could bear), without His humanity being annulled, but also transfigured.

The Orthodox teaching of salvation as deification is affirmed in our celebration of the first Sunday of Great Lent, the Sunday of Orthodoxy. In contrast to western art, where illumination is dependent on external light, Orthodox iconography witnesses that the illumination proceeds from us internally, as witnessed by St. Paul: “…it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…” (Gal.2:20). It is St. Gregory Palamas who teaches us how this is possible - by living the words of the Psalmist David: “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Ps. 46:10).

It is precisely the purpose of the Great and Holy Lent to enable us to realize this. Whereas contemporary society emphasizes indulgence, Lent teaches us abstinence; society surrounds us with constant sound - 24-hour television, the internet, our cellphones. Indeed, not only are most people unable to bear silence, they are fearful of it. Great Lent teaches us to “…go into your room and shut the door.” The satiated  person, the person constantly surrounded by sounds, is unable to establish the continuous communion of love with God that results in their deification. Only that person that realizes that their hunger cannot be satisfied “…by bread alone…” (Mt. 4:4), and who eliminates the sounds of distraction so to hear God in “…a still small voice.” (1 Kings 19:12), enjoys the salvation realized by the saints as witnessed to us by their icons.

Following Divine Liturgy, a sumptuous, albeit lenten luncheon was prepared for all by the diligent ladies of our Circle of Serbian Sisters. 

Later that afternoon, at the invitation of His Eminence Archbishop Mark, Bishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania (Orthodox Church in America – OCA), His Grace Kyr Irinej, along with His Grace Kyr Alexis, Bishop of Sitka and Alaska (OCA) celebrated the Akathist of the Icon of the Mother of God of Sitka at St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church (OCA) in Glen Mills, PA. In gratitude for His Grace, Kyr Irinej, taking the time to concelebrate the Akathist, Archpriest John Perich, parish priest of St. Herman’s church, presented His Grace with the pectoral cross that was worn by the Venerable Sebastian (Dabovich) of Jackson.