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On April 23, 2023 His Eminence Archbishop Daniel, Archbishop of Chicago and the Diocese of the Midwest, made his first archpastoral visit to Sant Nicholas of Myra parish, McHenry, IL, which was recently received and erected as a parish in the diocese, focusing on outreach to Ukrainian Orthodox Christians in the area.
During his visit, His Eminence presided at the celebration of the hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Concelebrating with His Eminence were Archpriest Volodymyr Kovalchuk, on loan to the OCA from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), Archpriest Tarasiy Maxim, Priest Leonty Naidzions (ROCOR), and Deacon Paul Garklavs. His Eminence addressed the parish during his visit, extending a warm welcome to the community. His Eminence offered words of encouragement, commending their good work, and read a letter of greeting from His Eminence Metropolitan Melety of the UOC. Following the Divine Liturgy, everyone enjoyed a festive meal.
Saint Nicholas was established in 2020 as a mission of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. The community is mainly of immigrants from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy. The Saint Nicholas of Myra community officially petitioned Archbishop Daniel earlier this year to join the Diocese of the Midwest, a request granted with their hierarch’s blessing.
