FLORIDA. In Jacksonville prayerfully celebrated the 15th anniversary of St. John’s Church.

Jacksonville is the first city in Florida that welcomes travelers arriving from the northern states. In 2010 a mission was founded here that eventually grew into a church consecrated in honor of St. John (Maximovich), Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco — an outstanding figure of 20th-century Orthodox emigration.

On November 23, the parish of St. John’s Church marked the 15th anniversary of the church’s consecration. At the invitation of the rector, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the vicar of the Slavic Vicariate of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Archimandrite Alexander (Belya), Bishop-elect of Nicopolis. He was co-served by:

– Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Olexander Belya, rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Forerunner in Brooklyn, New York;
– Archpriest Ivan Voloshchuk, St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco’s parish rector;
– Hegumen Tikhon Gayfudinov;
– Archpriest Vasyl Babych, Rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring” in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Following the Liturgy, the clergy and parishioners made a procession around the church while the Holy Gospel was read.

Archimandrite Alexander reminded us in his sermon of what today’s Gospel reading teaches us, namely that it is not enough for a believer to know the Holy Scriptures, but more importantly to follow them. This is very important for salvation, which, like everything else in life, believers cannot achieve without God—without Him, we cannot find support and comfort in anything or anyone.

Congratulating the rector and parishioners on this memorable anniversary, Father Alexander thanked Father John for his labors in beautifying the church, where many holy objects and relics have been gathered for the prayerful needs of the faithful, and for his special veneration of the great ascetic of faith and piety, St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco. As a gift in memory of his visit and the celebration of the Liturgy, the vicar presented the parish with an embroidered eiliton (antimension cover), which will henceforth be kept on the holy altar table.

The celebration concluded with a festive meal prepared for all participants by the parish sisterhood.