ATLANTA, GA: April 27, 2021
Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan visits St Mary of Egypt Church in Georgia

On April 17-18, 2021, the Sunday of Venerable Mary of Egypt, St Mary of Egypt Church in Roswell (Atlanta), GA, celebrated its patronal feast. His Grace Eastern American Diocesan Vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan arrived on Friday evening, April 16, to officiate the divine services. Clergy and faithful from across the Deanery of Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi came to celebrate with the parish.

At Divine Liturgy on Saturday, April 17, the Laudation of the Most Holy Theotokos, Bishop Nicholas tonsured seven readers: for St Mary’s: Isaac Weaver, Joshua Bowden, Matthew Campbell, Alexander Shaw, Andrew Fraley, and Zachary Angel, and for Christ the Savior Mission in Chattanooga: Vasilios Montgomery. Concelebrating with His Grace were:

Archimandrite John (Townsend; parish Rector)

Archpriest Dimitri Oselinsky (parish cleric)

Archpriest Mark Tyson (rector of Holy Prophet Elijah Mission in Pigeon Forge, TN)

Hieromonk Alexander (Lisnichuk; parish cleric)

Priest Eugene Antonov (Rector of Joy of All Who Sorrow Church in Cumming, GA)

Priest Daniel Iliev (parish cleric)

Priest Mikhail Beliakov (parish cleric)

Priest Elias Crowder (Rector of St. Martin of Tours Mission in Montgomery, AL)

Priest Isaac Atalla (Rector of Christ the Savor Mission)

Deacon Anton Kouznetsov (cleric of Joy of All Who Sorrow Church)

Deacon Peter Epstein (parish cleric) and

Deacon Andrew Merritt (cleric of St Martin of Tours Mission).

On Sunday morning, the diocesan vicar celebrated Divine Liturgy, co-served by the above-mentioned clergy, with the exception of Frs. Eugene Antonov, Isaac Atalla, and Anton Kouznetsov.

After the Eucharistic canon, Bishop Nicholas ordained Deacon Andrew Merritt to the priesthood, and after the Great Entrance, ordained Subdeacon Steven Sellers to the diaconate. Fr. Andrew hopes to serve in a mission in northern Maine, and Fr. Steven will serve as a deacon at St Martin’s.

After the service, a bountiful Lenten luncheon was served in the parish hall.