Consecration of St. Paul Orthodox Church in Emmaus, PA

 

The Consecration of St. Paul’s Church,

Emmaus, PA

 

With great happiness and joy in his heart, His Grace Bishop THOMAS of Pittsburgh led St. Paul’s Orthodox Church in

Emmaus, PA on October 14-16 in the consecration of the church. At 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 15, 2005, Bishop THOMAS held Vespers in front of over 50 members of the congregation, guests, and clergy. His Grace announced to those attending that “A great day will be the establishment and consecration of Saint Paul ’s.” Also, Sayedna THOMAS explained, “Tomorrow morning the saints will be written on the walls, and the Chrism of the Holy Spirit will be placed on the walls.” Among those participating in Vespers were Fr. Theodore Mikovich, pastor of St. Paul’s, and Fr. John Oliver, an Assistant Priest of St. Philip’s in Souderton, PA.

 

            At 8 a.m. Sunday morning, much anticipation filled

St. Paul ’s Orthodox Church as Bishop THOMAS began Matins. The clergy included Fr. Theodore Mikovich, Deacon Thomas Underwood, Deacon Gabriel Rochelle, Subdeacon Joseph Kochan, Subdeacon Matthew Kochan, Subdeacon Edward Stellato, and Seminarian Paul Jungwirth.

 

            After songs of praise, Bishop THOMAS initiated the Order of Consecration of Saint Paul’s as His Grace and the fully vested clergy stood before the altar. The church was filled to capacity. The holy relics of St. Paul,

St. Joseph , St. Anna, St. John Cassian, and St. Theodore The General were carried to the Holy Table by the Very Rev. Fr. John Kahle. Bishop THOMAS and the attending clergy reverenced the church’s relics before sealing them in the Holy Table.

 

            Next, two attending clergy helped Bishop THOMAS don his Savano (an apron-like vestment). Sayedna THOMAS reverently washed the Holy Table with warm water and rose water. Following the washing, the Holy Table was anointed with Holy Chrism and vested in a newly anointed white linen cloth and then a gold linen covering. Also, the Holy Gospel, Tabernacle, Crucifix, and Candlesticks were anointed by His Grace and then placed upon the Holy Table. The final Order was accomplished when Bishop THOMAS anointed the walls of

St. Paul ’s with Holy Chrism with the sign of the cross.

 

            At the conclusion of the consecration service, Bishop THOMAS ordained three members of the parish, Joseph Kochan, his son Matthew Kochan, and Edward Stellato, as subdeacons. Then the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy began. In his sermon during the Divine Liturgy, Sayedna THOMAS carefully explained, “During the consecration of St. Paul’s, we placed names of the members of this church along side the names of the saints inside the Holy Table that we sealed because people of the church are called to be saints.” At the conclusion of the Hierarchical Divine liturgy, Bishop THOMAS inducted two members of the parish, Edward Stellato and Gladys Wiles, into the Order of St. Ignatius of

Antioch . Giving the final blessing was The Very Rev. Fr. John Kahle, leader of the community in the very beginning.

 

            An informal banquet was held at the Holiday Inn in

Fogelsville, PA , after the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Fr. Theodore Mikovich thanked the banquet goers for their continual support of their church. Then, he introduced the main speaker, Bishop THOMAS, who touched on the meaning of the newly consecrated church and thanked the parishioners of St. Paul for their gracious reception given to him. His Grace urged them to continue their efforts in making St. Paul the church that it is.