His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, Locum Tenens of the Diocese of Chicago & Mid-America, visited the Diocesan Cathedral of the Protection of the Mother of God for the feast of the Theophany of the Lord. His Eminence presided at the Vigil on the eve of the feast, at which the following clergymen also took part:

Archpriest Gregory Joyce, Diocesan Secretary

Archpriest Valery Vovkovskii, Cathedral Dean

Priest Antony Alekseyenko, Cathedral Cleric

Priest Leonty Naidzions, Cathedral Cleric

Protodeacon Alexander Kichakov, Cathedral Cleric

Deacon Maxim Sopiga, Cathedral Cleric

Deacon Nikolaj Chemski, Cathedral Cleric

Deacon Vladimir Pyrozhenko, St. Vladimir Church, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Deacon Dimitriy Kashchenko, St. Vladimir Church, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Deacon Roman Tsakhniv, Cathedral Cleric

During the First Hour His Eminence blessed the following young men to wear the cassock in preparation for their tonsures on the next morning:

Jacob Doll

Hubert Gates

Daniel Simpson

Matthew Swiggum

Archbishop Gabriel was met at the main doors of the cathedral on the morning of the feast of the Theophany by the clergymen listed above. After the 90th Psalm at the Sixth Hour, His Eminence tonsured the four gentlemen who had been blessed to wear the cassock the evening previously as Readers. Then all but Reader Jacob Doll were ordained as Subdeacons.

During the Divine Liturgy, at which the Cathedral Choir sang beautifully under the direction of Dr. Michael Gill, two ordinations took place. After the Great Entrance, Deacon Vladimir Pyrozhenko was ordained a priest to serve at the St. Vladimir parish in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After the consecration of the Holy Gifts, Subdeacon Matthew Swiggum was ordained a deacon to serve at the St. John parish in Portage, Wisconsin.

Holy Communion took place from four chalices and the vast majority of those present received the Gifts. Following the Divine Liturgy, the Great Blessing of the Waters took place inside the cathedral. His Eminence then congratulated all with the Great Feast, and especially noted those who had been tonsured and ordained on this day, wishing them God’s Grace in their service to the Holy Church.

Following the Divine Liturgy the Cathedral Sisterhood offered a fellowship meal for all in attendance at which the feast begun the temple continued in the parish hall well into the cold January afternoon.

photos - Liubov Kichakov (Diocesan Photographer) and Natasha Joyce