On Wednesday, January 8, 2025, the Cleveland Deanery celebrated The Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God at New Marcha Monastery in Richfield, Ohio, His Grace Bishop Irinej of Washington-New York and Eastern America celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, joined by the clergy of the Cleveland Deanery: Protopresbyter Dragan Goronjic, Dean, Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Dragan Zaric, Protopresbyters Dragoslav Kosic and Milan Pajic, and Presbyter-Economos Bosko Stojanovic; assisted by Deacon Daniel August.

Prayerfully joining in the Liturgy was Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Rade Merick, Episcopal Depity. Responses were inspiringly rendered by the Monastery singers and under the direction of Dr. Nikola Resanovic. Readers Maksim Damljanovic and Luka Parojcic assisted in chanting and reading.

During the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, in his homily, Bishop Irinej spoke of the deep and profound meaning of this liturgical celebration, by contrasting the brightness and purity of the birth of Christ to the shedding of blood of the 14,000 Innocents of Bethlehem in fulfillment of the prophecies of old, and how we need to go beyond our mere human understanding of such events to seeing with the eye of our hearts, God’s providence in all.

The Agape Meal, traditional Orthodox Christian hospitality, considered a primary virtue, most especially in monastic communities, was prepared by Sister Anastasia (Gousis), Novice Milunka (Pejoska), together with friends of the Monastery.