The feast of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love, and their mother Sophia falls on September 17/30 each year. This year at the mission in the northern suburbs of Chicago named after these martyrs from the early second century of the Christian Age, the feast started a little bit early with the blessing of the new land the mission has purchased by Bishop Spyridon, and the traditional subsequent placing of the cross on the newly blessed land. The blessing took place on September 13/26.

On the feast day itself His Grace Bishop Spyridon led the Divine Liturgy along with Archpriest Gregory Joyce (Dean of Illinois parishes) and Archpriest Vasily Bidzilya (serving priest of the mission). The dreary rainy day was brightened considerably by the liturgy, at which the vast majority of those present partook of the Holy Mysteries. Following the Divine Service the faithful and the clergy gathered at a local restaurant just steps away from the new land (the mission is presently serving in a rented space a few miles from the land) for a festal meal.