Patriarchal Exarch of Malta was presides Patronal Feast at St. Matrona Cathedral in Miami

On March 8 — the feast day commemorating the finding of the relics of St. Matrona , the heavenly patroness of the Miami cathedral — by the blessing of Archbishop Elpidophoros the Divine Liturgy was presided over by Metropolitan Kyrillos of Krini, Patriarchal Exarch of Malta.

His Eminence was assisted by: Vicar of the Slavic Vicariate Archimandrite Alexander (Belya), Bishop-elect of Nicopolis; Rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring” in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Archpriest Vasyl Babych; Rector of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker Church in Red Bank, New Jersey, Archpriest Rostislav Zadorozhnyy; and clergy of the cathedral: Archpriests Maksim Pliskou and Ivan Zeikan.

A large number of parishioners prayed at the service, most of whom received Holy Communion, which was distributed from three chalices.

At the end of the Liturgy, a festal moleben was served before the icon and relics of St. Matrona.

After the service, Metropolitan Kyrillos addressed the faithful with a sermon dedicated to the life and exploits of St. Matrona.

Archimandrite Alexander thanked His Eminence for his archpastoral visit to the Slavic Vicariate and the Miami cathedral on the day commemorating the finding of the relics of the church’s heavenly patroness. In memory of their joint prayer, he presented the Metropolitan with a panagia on behalf of the parish. Fr. Alexander also introduced the distinguished guest to the clergy and parishioners, noting that Metropolitan Kyrillos is a well-known theologian and professor at the Theological Faculty of the University of Athens. Since 1983 he has carried out priestly ministry, and in 2008 he was consecrated as a bishop. His Eminence is fluent in several languages, which enabled him to deliver the sermon in a language understandable to most of the parishioners.

The festal hymns were beautifully performed by the cathedral choir. The service concluded with the solemn singing of “Many Years.”