November 10-12, 2007: Bishop THOMAS Visits York, Pa., Parish

During his visit to St. John Chrysostom Orthodox Church on Saturday evening, Sayedna THOMAS tonsured Stephen Coleson as a reader at the Great Vespers service. Assisting Very Reverend Fr. Peter Pier, pastor of St. John Chrysostom, were Very Reverend Fr. Gregory Matthewes-Green of Holy Cross Church in Linthicum, Maryland, Very Reverend Fr. Nicholas Alford, of St. Gregory the Great, Washington D. C., Fr. Elias Yelovich, of the Mission of St. James in Westminster, Maryland, and Fr. Andrew Tsikitas of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in York, Pennsylvania.

On Sunday, His Grace celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy assisted by Fr. Peter, Fr. Nicholas, and Very Reverend Fr. Daniel Ressetar, retired pastor of Christ the Savior OCA Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. During the Liturgy, Bishop THOMAS ordained Deacon Patrick Cardine to the Holy Priesthood and Subdeacon Jerome Atherholt to the Holy Diaconate. Following  Divine Liturgy, Mark Strategos was inducted into the Order of St.Ignatius by Bishop THOMAS.

Father Patrick has been assigned to the Mission of St. Patrick in Warrenton, VA.  Deacon Jerome has been assigned to the Church of St. John Chrysostom in York, Pennsylvania.