Mother Abbess Christophora and the monastic community of the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration in Ellwood City, PA, were delighted to welcome from the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Grace Bishop Irinej of Washington-New York and Eastern America, as guest hierarch for their Patronal Feast Day. His Grace presided at the evening vigil service on August 5, and anointed the nearly 100 pilgrims who were present for the three hour vigil, celebrated by V. Rev. Father Alexander Rentel, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America, and other visiting clergy. 

Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was held in the spacious outdoor pavilion church on the morning of August 6, the Feast of Transfiguration according to the new style calendar. Concelebrating with Bishop Irinej was His Eminence Archbishop Melchisedek of the OCA Diocese of Pittsburgh and Western PA. Two dozen priests, five deacons and numerous altar servers joyously came together for the festive Divine Liturgy, which was attended by several hundred pilgrims. Responses were offered by the sisterhood choir, under the direction of Mother Seraphima, and guest singers. 

His Grace offered a most moving and enlightening homily as he explained how all of the feasts of Christ are either realized or anticipated, and hence celebrated, in the magnificent feast of our Lord’s Transfiguration. Not only teaching by his words, spiritual examples, and theological explanations, the sisterhood and pilgrims were equally inspired by the energetic love and joy for our Lord that His Grace brought to the service, the sermon and the festive gathering. At the conclusion of the Liturgy His Grace acknowledged the memory of Mother Abbess Alexandra, foundress of the monastery, the former Princess Ileana of Romania, who was a sister of Queen Maria of Yugoslavia. 

The monastic sisterhood offers deep thanksgiving for the presence and prayers of Bishop Irinej who came to us during a very busy time on his schedule. We are grateful also for the presence of so many priests and deacons of the Serbian Diocese, as well as Sister Anastasia, of New Marcha Monastery, and diocesan pilgrims who came for this joyous feast. Finally, we thank our spiritual father and beloved hierarch, Archbishop Nathaniel, of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, for offering the invitation to Bishop Irinej to preside at the feast.