FLORIDA. In Jacksonville, the 55th anniversary of the rector of the parish, Archpriest Ivan Voloshchuk, was celebrated with prayer

Jacksonville is the first major city in Florida encountered by travelers coming from the north. In 2010, an Orthodox mission was founded here, which later grew into a full-fledged parish and was consecrated in honor of St. John (Maximovich), Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco — one of the most prominent figures of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia in the 20th century.

On May 21, on the feast of the Ascension of the Lord and the commemoration of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, the Divine Liturgy was presided over by the Vicar of the Slavic Vicariate, Archimandrite Alexander Belya, Bishop-Elect of Nicopolis. He was concelebrated by: Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Alexander Belya, rector of the St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Brooklyn (New York), the local parish rector Archpriest Ivan Voloshchuk, and Deacon Athanasius Kartzonis.

In his sermon, Protopresbyter Alexander revealed the spiritual meaning of the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord and spoke about the edifying example of the life of the Apostle John the Theologian.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, a congratulatory address from the Vicar of the Slavic Vicariate on the occasion of his 55th birthday was read to the jubilarian — Archpriest Ivan Voloshchuk. Archimandrite Alexander thanked Fr. Ivan for his many years of labor in beautifying the church and presented him with a pectoral cross with adornments and a palitsa — an element of priestly vestments embroidered with the image of St. John of Shanghai — as a prayerful memento.

Despite it being a weekday, many parishioners and relatives gathered to congratulate their pastor.

The celebration ended with a common festive meal prepared by the parish sisterhood.