Orthodox hierarchs unite for pan-Orthodox Vespers in Chicago

On the eve of the first Sunday of Lent, the Greek Orthodox Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Chicago became a beacon of living faith and Orthodox unity. Faithful from across the metropolitan area, along with their clergy and hierarchs, gathered to venerate the holy icons and participate in a Pan-Orthodox Vespers service celebrating the Triumph of Orthodoxy.

Seven Orthodox Bishops
Seven Orthodox hierarchs attended the service:

• Metropolitan Nathanael of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago,
• Metropolitan Nicolae of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of the Americas,
• Archbishop Daniel of Chicago and the Midwest (Orthodox Church in America – OCA),
• Bishop Ioan Casian of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada,
• Bishop Timotheos of Hexamilion (Greek Metropolis of Chicago),
• Bishop Seraphim of Kostajnica (Serbian Orthodox Metropolis of Midwestern America),
• Bishop Alexei of Sitka and Alaska (OCA).

A Unified Witness of Faith
More than 40 priests from various Orthodox jurisdictions reverently carried the holy icons, proclaiming in unison the Orthodox Creed and reaffirming the declaration of the Seventh Ecumenical Council of 787:

“As the Prophets have spoken, as the Apostles have taught, as the Church has received, as the Fathers have dogmatized, as the whole of Christianity has agreed, as grace has shone forth, as truth has been revealed… thus we speak, thus we proclaim: This is the faith of the Apostles, this is the faith of the Fathers, this is the faith of the Orthodox.”

A Message of Patience and Hope
The homily was delivered by Bishop Alexei of Sitka and Alaska, who emphasised that to share in this triumph, Christians must cultivate two essential virtues: patience and hope. He underscored the importance of holy patience in all trials and the unwavering hope that God will not abandon His faithful but will lead them to victory.

This service stood as a powerful testament to the unity and strength of Orthodox faith, reminding all present of the sacrifices of the saints and martyrs who defended the truth of the Church, according to the website of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of the Americas.

Photographs: Assumption Panagia Greek Orthodox Church

Source: basilica.ro