On the Great Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple His Eminence, Archbishop Peter of Chicago & Mid-America, led the Divine Services in the Diocesan Cathedral of the Protection of the Theotokos in Des Plaines, Illinois.

Serving with His Eminence at the Vigil and the Divine Liturgy were the following clergymen:

Archpriest Gregory Joyce, Diocesan Secretary

Archpriest Tarasiy Maximtsev, Cleric of the Diocesan Cathedral

Archpriest Valery Vovkovskiii, Cleric of the Diocesan Cathedral

Archpriest Sergii Alekseev, Rector of St. Basil the Great Parish, St. Louis, Missouri

Priest Leonty Naidzions, Cleric of the Diocesan Cathedral

Protodeacon Alexander Kichakov, Cleric of the Diocesan Cathedral

Deacon Nikolai Lochmatow, Cleric of the Diocesan Cathedral

Deacon Thomas Nichols, Cleric of St. Basil the Great Parish, St. Louis, Missouri

Praying in the altar during the Divine Services was Archpriest Martin Swanson, Rector Emeritus of St. Basil the Great Parish, St. Louis, Missouri.

The cathedral choir sang beautifully and prayerfully under the direction of Dr. Michael Gill. Following the Great Entrance at the Divine Liturgy Deacon Thomas Nichols was ordained a priest for service at St. Basil the Great Parish in St. Louis, Missouri.

Fr. Sergii Alekseev gave the sermon with the blessing of Archbishop Peter before the communing of the faithful.

Following the Divine Liturgy His Eminence thanked the gathered clergy for participating in the Divine Services and congratulated the newly-ordained Priest Thomas on his ordination, wishing him God’s help in the carrying out of his pastoral duties.