Following the 46^th Annual Diocesan Assembly, His Grace, Bishop TIKHON remained in Bethelehem to celebrate the patronal feast of the parish. Together with the rector, Fr. David Mahaffey, he served Great Vespers on Saturday evening and the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning, together with Archpriest Theodore Orzolek and Protodeacon Peter Skoog.

During the Divine Liturgy, His Grace presented the Jeweled Cross award (a gift from the parish and it’s organizations) to Fr. David for his years of dedicated service to Christ and His Holy Church. Fr. David is the newly elected Dean of the Philadelphia Deanery and has served several parishes in our Diocese and has offered his talents as auditor for the central administration and for the diocese. He also continues to teach at St Tikhon’s Seminary and at the Deacon’s Program at St Stephen’s Cathedral in Philadelphia. His Grace also awarded Fr. Timothy Hasenecz the right to wear the Kamilavka. Fr. Timothy is attached to St Nicholas Church and is presently serving as a full-time hospital chaplain, focusing on hospice care. His grace also tonsured the reader Geoffrey during the hours before the Divine Liturgy. May God grant them all many years.