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Celebrating Divine Liturgy was His Eminence Metropolitan Antony, Prime Hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and Diaspora, along with Archbishop Daniel, Ruling Hierarch of the Western Eparchy and President of the Consistory, and Archbishop Jeremiah of South America. The three hierarchs ascended the steps to the open doors of the St. Andrew Memorial Church as the bells pealed announcing their arrival. As they paused just outside the doors, those gathered within were mesmerized as the bright sun glinted off the hierarchs white vestments, making them veritably glow, like three heavenly figures who had deemed to visit mankind.
With flowers bobbing in their nervous hands, the children of the parish greeted the bishops, and then happily stepped into Metropolitan Antony’s open arms for a joyous group hug. The hierarchs were handed more flowers along with warm words of welcome from the elder of St. Andrew Memorial Church Mr. Roman and Dobrodijka Lesia, president of the parochial sisterhood, and finally by Protopresbyter Yurij Siwko, who expressed his delight at welcoming the hierarchs to the Memorial Church. As the hierarchs gladly accepted the flowers and greetings and expressed their well wishes, gratitude and blessings to the parish family, the faithful crowded around, craning their necks, and stretching out their arms to take photos.
As the hierarchs stood in the center of the nave, flanked by clergy who had arrived from nearby cities, surrounded by the faithful who had joined from near and far, the Divine Liturgy began. The choir, directed by Dr. Michael Andrec sang beautifully, their voices floating down as if from heaven to the encircle the faithful gathered below.
