The great feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord is always one of the favorites of the faithful. The blessing of the first fruits makes such an imprint – especially on the youth. But even more important is the spiritual significance of the feast. The Lord transfigured on Mount Tabor in order to prepare His disciples for His impending passion. And when the faithful gather in the churches on this day they hear in the Divine Services, the Scriptures, and in the instructional words of the sermon about this great and important event and how it applies to our lives Orthodox Christians.

At the Diocesan Cathedral of the Protection of the Mother of God in Des Plaines, IL His Eminence Archbishop Peter presided at the Divine Services for the feast. On the eve of the feast Archbishop Peter led the Vigil. At the Divine Liturgy on the day of the feast itself His Eminence was the main celebrant, provided the sermon, and blessed the first fruits at the conclusion of the Liturgy. At the small entrance the following clerics received awards:

Priest Sergei Sveshnikov: Archpriest

Priest Daniel Franzen: Nabedrenik

Both were awarded for their sincere service to the Holy Church. Following the consecration of the Holy Gifts, Subdeacon Micah Chisholm was ordained a Deacon for service at the St. Sebastian Mission in Traverse City, Michigan. The following clerics participated in the Divine Services along with Archbishop Peter:

Archpriest Gregory Joyce, Dean of Michigan ROCOR Parishes

Archpriest Tarasiy Maximtsev, Cleric of the Diocesan Cathedral

Archpriest Valery Vovkovskii, Cleric of the Diocesan Cathedral

Archpriest Sergei Sveshnikov, Cleric of the St. John Parish in Portage, Wisconsin

Priest Leonty Naidzions, Cleric of the Diocesan Cathedral Priest Daniel Franzen, Cleric of the Diocesan Cathedral

Protodeacon Alexander Kichakov, Cleric of the Diocesan Cathedral

Deacon Nikolai Lochmatow, Cleric of the Diocesan

Cathedral Archpriest Andre Papkov, continuing his recovery from a stroke in September of 2019, partook of Holy Communion in the altar.

Due to the pandemic there was no festal meal after the Liturgy, but nonetheless, the faithful happily received their blessed baskets of fruit and are looking forward to the upcoming great feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God.