Concelebrating the Vesperal Divine Liturgy with His Beatitude were His Eminence Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West, His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania, His Eminence Archbishop Melchisedek of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania, His Eminence Archbishop Michael of New York and New York and New Jersey, His Eminence Archbishop Daniel of Chicago and the Midwest, His Grace Bishop Nikodhim of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese, His Grace Bishop Benedict of Hartford and New England, His Grace Bishop Andrei of Cleveland and Administrator of the Romanian Episcopate, and His Grace Bishop Gerasim of Fort Worth and Auxiliary to the the Diocese of the South.
Concelebrating priests included Archpriest Alexander Rentel, OCA Chancellor, Archimandrite Sergius (Bowyer), Archpriest John Parker, Dean of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino, OCA Secretary, and other monastery, seminary, and visiting clergy.
During the Great Entrance, Fr. Alexander Rentel carried the alabaster flask containing the historic chrism while the jars containing the newly confected chrism were carried by the other concelebrating priests. Following the Anaphora, His Beatitude consecrated the chrism.
Following the Vesperal Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude addressed those assembled, noting that the Holy Chrism is “a sign of the fullness of the unity of Christ that abides among and within the Churches through the presence of the Holy Spirit.” He offered his gratitude for offering their time and energy to take part in the rite and greeted those present.
