ДОСТОЙНИЙ!

Іподиякон Андрій Ватрич Отримав Дияконське Рукоположення

в День Початку 48-го навчального року Свято-Софіївської Семінарії

On September 16^th, as the Orthodox Church celebrates Deaconess Phoebe, the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA gathered in the Three Holy Hierarchs Chapel of the Saint Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Seminary to celebrate the opening of the new seminary academic year, as well as to ordain one of their own into the Deaconate of the Church.

The tiny chapel began to fill as the seminarians gathered in the corner preparing to chant directed by Subdeacon Roman Marchyshak, and local clergy emerged from the altar in their golden vestments.  As the seminarians chanted the Hours, the faithful crowded around the periphery of the chapel, having venerated the holy icons, lit candles, and raised prayers to the Lord.  As 10 a.m. approached, Subdeacon Andriy Akulenko, holding a korovaj (round bread) and Seminarian Bohdan Bodnar, holding flowers, moved up towards the entrance of the chapel to greet their hierarch.  Ukrainians offer bread and salt (хліб-сіль) to guests as a sign of deep respect, hospitality, unity, and goodwill.