BISHOP THOMAS CELEBRATES THE FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION WITH ST. MARY CHURCH, CHAMBERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA

Bishop THOMAS made his annual visitation to St. Mary Church, Chambersburg, the weekend of August 5-6, when he celebrated the Feast of the Transfiguration with the gathered faithful of the congregation.

The festivities began with the service of Great Vespers, concelebrated by the pastor, Fr. Theodore Pulcini, and the Assistant Pastor, Fr. Elias Yelovich, assisted by Deacon John Shumski of St. John Chrysostom Church, York.  The service was sung congregationally, led by the parish cantors, and included the festal Litiya and Artoclasia, as well as the anointing with oil (Mirovanija).  At the conclusion of the service, Bishop THOMAS noted that the Transfiguration is a feast of transformation and challenges every believer to undergo the kind of transformation that the life in Christ makes possible.

The next morning, Bishop THOMAS celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, assisted by Frs. Theodore and Elias, as well as the parish’s four subdeacons.  At the conclusion of the Liturgy, grapes and other summer fruits, brought by the faithful, were blessed.  The congregation then went in procession to the churchyard to bless the site of the new parish cemetery.  Afterwards, all gathered in the church hall for a coffee hour in celebration of the Feast and the Bishop’s visit.

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