WHEATON, IL [DOM Communications] – On the weekend of August 08 and 09, His Eminence Archbishop Paul made an archpastoral visit to the community of St. Joseph Orthodox Church in Wheaton, IL, for the celebration of the Glorification of St Herman of Alaska. During the Little Entrance of the Divine Liturgy, the Rector of St. Joseph Church, Archpriest Joseph Kopka, was awarded the Palitza in recognition of twenty years of priestly ordination. Fr. Joseph has served the parish, both as deacon and priest, for almost thirty years. Protodeacon John Coleman was awarded the kamilavka for twenty five years of faithful service to the Wheaton community.
In his sermon, His Eminence exhorted the faithful to imitate the life of St. Herman as framed by the feast’s Old Testament readings: “to use faith as a shield against tribulations, to be continually steadfast, keeping our eyes on our salvation.”
Following the divine services, the Archbishop was greeted by the additional parish clergy, Priest Jonathan Lincoln, Deacon Lawrence Dugoni, Deacon Jerzy Pietrowski, and the faithful in attendance.
