On Saturday, December 27 and Sunday, December 28, Archbishop Gabriel visited the St. Vladimir parish in Ann Arbor, Michigan. His Eminence led the Vigil on Saturday evening and was joined by:

Archpriest Gregory Joyce, Rector of St. Vladimir Parish

Archpriest Mikhail Volzhansky, Rector of Dormition Cathedral in Ferndale, Michigan

Priest Colin Bower, Cleric of St. Vladimir Parish

Protodeacon Alexander Kichakov, Cleric of Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in Des Plaines, Illinois

Protodeacon Joseph Appling, Cleric of the Serbian Church

Deacon Dimitry Kashchenko, Cleric of St. Vladimir Parish

Deacon Mikhail Moibenko, Cleric of St. Vladimir Parish

Deacon Alexey Wilson, Cleric of Dormition Cathedral in Ferndale, Michigan

The choir sang beautifully under the direction of Julia Easson at Vigil, and at the Liturgy the next morning. Following the Vigil a meal was held at the home of the recently reposed parish Assistant Starosta, Konstantin Poplavsky for Archbishop Gabriel, the clergy, the choir, and parish council members.

On Sunday morning Archbishop Gabriel was met by the peal of the parish bells. Parish children greeted him with the traditional bread and salt. At the Hours Aleaksandr Belyarchik, parishioner of St. Nicholas parish in McKinney, Texas, was tonsured a Reader and ordained a Subdeacon. Following the Great Entrance, Deacon Mikhail Moibenko was ordained a Priest. Following the consecration of the Gifts, Subdeacon Aleksander was ordained a Deacon. The aforementioned clergymen, with the exception of Fr. Volzhansky, served the Divine Liturgy with His Eminence.

Following the Divine Liturgy, at which the parish church was full to overflowing, with the vast majority of the parishioners partaking of the Holy Mysteries, Archbishop Gabriel congratulated the newly-ordained. Long time parish Head Sister Ksenia Nikulshina was awarded a diocesan thanksgiving gramota for her many years of zealous service. The parish sisterhood offered a generous lenten meal to all. Following the parish meal, the newly-ordained returned to the parish church to begin their liturgical service with Archbishop Gabriel and several of the more experienced clergymen present to offer support and guidance. On the next day Priest Mikhail and Deacon Aleksandr served their first Divine Liturgy.

Pictures by Natasha Joyce:

https://stvladimirchurch.smugmug.com/2025/Sunday-December-28-2025