Our diocesan parish in Ann Arbor, Michigan celebrates its Second Pascha, their patronal feast day, on July 15/28 annually: the feast of the Holy Equal to the Apostles Great Prince Vladimir. This year, Vigil on the eve of the feast was led by the parish Rector, Archpriest Gregory Joyce. Also participating in the Vigil were parish clergymen Priest Colin Bower, Priest Vladimir Pyrozhenko, and Deacon Dmitriy Kashchenko. They were joined by guests Archpriest Andrey Bazilevich, Priest Dmitri Mihaliov, Protodeacon Ioann Feloniuk and Protodeacon Joseph Appling.

The choir sang beautifully on this day and on the feast itself under the direction of the parish Choir Director, Julia Easson.

On the morning of the feast day itself, before the meeting of the bishop, Priest Colin Bower performed the Lesser Blessing of Water before the Divine Liturgy.

At 9:00 a.m. Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, Locum Tenens of the Diocese of Chicago & Mid-America, was met by the parish children with bread and salt to the peal of the parish bells. New Starosta, Brendan Hayden, welcomed the bishop to the parish and received his blessing.

After being vested in the midst of the parish church, during the 6th Hour Archbishop Gabriel tonsured parishioner Thaddeus Harmon as a Reader.

In addition to Archbishop Gabriel, the following clergymen participated in the Divine Liturgy this day:

Archpriest Gregory Joyce (Rector, St. Vladimir Parish)

Archpriest Andrey Bazilevich (Diocesan Clergyman)

Priest Gabriel Bilas (Rector, St. Mary Magdalene Parish (OCA), Fenton, Michigan)

Hieromonk Raphael (Tadros, Rector, St. George Parish, Michigan City, Indiana)

Priest Thomas Sprunger (Rector, St. Paisius Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana)

Priest Colin Bower (Clergyman, St. Vladimir Parish)

Priest Vladimir Pyrozhenko (Clergyman, St. Vladimir Parish - celebrating his name’s day)

Priest Dmitri Mihaliov (Clergyman, St. Ambrose Mission, St. Ignace, Michigan)

Protodeacon Alexander Kichakov (Holy Virgin Protection Diocesan Cathedral, Chicago, Illinois)

Protodeacon Joseph Appling (St. George Serbian Church, Monroe, Michigan)

Deacon David Shepherd (St. Jonah Church, Spring, Texas)

Deacon Dimitriy Kashchenko (Clergyman, St. Vladimir Parish)

Following the Divine Liturgy, at which more than 100 of those present partook of the Holy Mysteries from three chalices, the traditional Cross Procession with the holy water blessed earlier was held. After the Cross Procession and the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy three parishioners were recognized with Diocesan Gramotas: Newly-Retired Starosta Jack (Alexei) Mitchell, Alexandra Pyrozhenko (Church School Coordinator for many years), and Irene Melabiotis (Head Teacher of the parish’s Ann Arbor Orthodox Classical Academy). Fr. Gregory was also recognized with a Synodal Gramota for his 30 years of service as a priest. After the awarding of gramotas and the intoning of many years, all present enjoyed a meal in the parish school’s hall in honor of Archbishop Gabriel prepared with love by the parish’s St. Ksenia Sisterhood.

Following the meal Archbishop Gabriel was given a tour of the parish property, including the newly-completed school and cemetery. He then visited the long-time parish council member Dr. Konstantin Poplavsky in the hospital, who is recovering from a recent stroke.

Pictures of the day can be found at this link: https://stvladimirchurch.smugmug.com/2025/Monday-July-28-2025