On Sunday, March 31, the clergy and Faithful of the Harrisburg gathered at Holy Apostles Church in Mechanicsburg for a Pan-Orthodox Lenten Vespers marking both the 3rd Sunday of the Great Fast, the Veneration of the Holy Cross, and the feast of the Repose of St. Innocent of Moscow. We had 11 priests (and a deacon!) with over a hundred faithful gathered for the evening. We especially thank Fr. Matthew Joyner for offering the sermon. A Lenten meal was offered following the service.
 
It was decided by the clergy in the Frackville Deanery a few years ago (because of the noticeable decline in service participation in other areas of the deanery) to focus on doing some Lenten services locally with area churches, rather that the widespread deanery.  The Harrisburg area has 4 Orthodox Churches (2 OCA, 1 GOA, and 1 Serbian). We visit each other’s parishes during the Sundays of the Great Fast. It is a wonderful tradition with full churches, edifying sermons, and wonderful Pan-Orthodox fellowship.