CHICAGO, IL [DOM Communications] – The feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God was celebrated with great joy at the Diocesan Cathedral, Holy Trinity, on Tuesday, September 8th. His Eminence Archbishop Paul presided over the festal liturgy and ordained Deacon Philip Maikkula to the holy priesthood. The faithful of the cathedral were joined by parishioners of St. Makarios Mission as they gathered in prayer to receive their new priest.
The bells of the cathedral rang festively as Archbishop Paul was greeted by clergy and processed to the Holy Doors for Entrance Prayers, and was then vested in the center of the cathedral surrounded by his spiritual children. Priest Alexander Koranda, Cathedral Dean, Archpriest Elijah Muller, Rector of St. Cyril and St. Methodius, Milwaukee, WI, and cathedral Protodeacon, Thomas Keith all served with His Eminence.
Following the gospel reading, the Archbishop began his sermon by expressing his joy to be able to celebrate this beautiful feast of the Mother of God, and to be able to ordain Deacon Philip for the St. Makarios Mission on the Southside of Chicago.
The choir, lead by Reader Yury Orlov, sang the Cherubim Hymn and Fr. Phililp preformed his last duties as a deacon of the Church by censing the holy icons and the faithful. He was then taken by the protodeacon and brought before the Holy Doors and the Mystery of Ordination to the Priesthood began. Following the reading of the ordination prayers, Archbishop Paul vested the newly ordained priest in priestly vestments as the faithful cried out “Axios.”
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Paul greeted Fr. Philip and his family encouraging mutual support and obedience to one another. The St. Makarios Mission hosted an outdoor meal for all of those gathered in honor of the feast, and the ordination of their new spiritual father.
Photo Credit: Michael Uhr
