Paschal Sermon of Bishop Matthias of the Diocese of the Midwest

Christ is Risen!

By way of explaining his opening remarks, we had a severe thunderstorm roll in just in time for the procession, which, of course, had to be modified.

Axios! Axios! Axios!

This weekend Archimandrite Matthias was consecrated Bishop of Chicago and the Midwest.  From an external perspective the consecration services went off without a hitch.  Behind the scenes a very loyal subdeacon had to save the day by returning to Holy Trinity Cathedral to pick up a trikiri & dikiri to bring back to Christ the Savior Church so the consecration liturgy could begin.  Then, it all went off without a hitch.

So, here are some photos from the weekend's events!

Profession of Faith and Vespers on Friday Night

Fr. Matthias being presented to the gathered bishops

"Hazing" by blessed water

The Holy Synod of the OCA

Consecration Saturday Morning

(This was a packed service and nearly impossible to see. These photos are courtesy of  my husband.)

 The Installation (and Dinner) on Sunday

The faithful gathering

The Holy Synod lining up

Arrival of Metropolitan Jonah

Vesting of the Metropolitan

Subdeaconal Ordination of Reader Gregory

Little Entrance

The Choir

The Epistle Reading

The Gospel Reading

The Great Entrance

Deaconal Ordination of Subdeacon Gregory

Communion of the Faithful

First Litany of Deacon Gregory

Presentation of flowers to Metropolitan Jonah and Bishop Matthias
by members of the Sisterhood of Saints Martha and Mary

Someone had a long day!

If you'd like to see even more pictures, email me and I'll send you a Picasa link.