The Miami Cathedral celebrated the 10th anniversary of its consecration on the feast day of its heavenly patroness

November 22, the day of commemoration of the Holy Righteous Matrona of Moscow, is the patronal feast of the cathedral. This year the parish marked two joyful milestones: 14 years since the opening of the new church building and 10 years since its solemn consecration.

The festive All-Night Vigil on the eve and the Divine Liturgy on the day itself were celebrated by the vicar of the Slavic Vicariate and rector of the cathedral, 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, rector of the Church of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco in Jacksonville, Florida;
− Hegumen Tikhon Gayfudinov,
– Archpriest Vasily Babych, rector of the Church of the Life-Giving Spring in Hot Springs, Arkansas;
– Archpriest Maxim Pliskov and Priest Ivan Zeikan, clergymen of the Miami cathedral.

A many parishioners gathered under the cathedral’s dome to pray together with the clergy, to partake of the Holy Mysteries, and to ask the intercession of Blessed Matrona, the great ascetic and heavenly protectress of the parish.

Thanks to the labors of the sisterhood, the cathedral was magnificently adorned with fresh flower arrangements for the feast. Following tradition, a moleben was served before the icon and relics of Saint Matrona.

At the conclusion of the services, Archimandrite Alexander addressed the faithful with an inspiring sermon and congratulated everyone on the patronal feast:

“Saint Matrona teaches us how we ought to relate to God throughout our lives — to entrust ourselves entirely to His holy will and providence. The saint said, ‘Come to me as to one living.’ Today we truly feel that she is here with us and is praying for each one of us. May her example and her bold intercession before the Lord strengthen our faith and help us walk the path of God’s commandments with joy.”

Congratulating the parish on the 10th anniversary of the cathedral’s consecration, Father Alexander noted with joy that many who had been present at that historic event ten years ago were praying at the service that day — including Protopresbyter Olexander Belya, Archpriest Ivan Voloshchuk, and numerous parishioners who remember what the church looked like a decade ago and how, by God’s grace and with the prayers of Saint Matrona, it has been transformed through the common labors of the entire community.

Archimandrite Alexander sincerely thanked the clergy, altar servers, choir, readers, volunteers, and especially the sisterhood, whose care always keeps the cathedral beautifully adorned, reminding all that each person fulfills his or her own service to the glory of God, and together we glorify the Lord. He also expressed deep gratitude to all donors and everyone who supports the life and ministry of the cathedral.