Bishop Irinej visits Holy Ascension Parish in Elizabeth

On Thursday, June 10, 2021, the Great Feast of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, His Grace Bishop Irinej of Eastern America celebrated the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in the parish church of the Holy Ascension in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Concelebrating with His Grace were Very Reverend Protopresbyter Aleksa Micich, parish priest, and Protodeacon Milos Zdralic.  

In his homily, His Grace Bishop Irinej addressed the faithful that had gathered by stating that the feast of the Ascension is the fulfillment of the Feasts of the Nativity, Theophany, Transfiguration, Great and Holy Friday, and the Feast of Feasts, Pascha. For Christ, Who was incarnate in the flesh, bodily ascended so that we, too, who are born in the flesh, could overcome death in Him and live with Christ in the Kingdom of God. Therefore, the Ascension of Christ unites heaven and earth.    

The faithful gathered around His Grace to witness and partake of the blessing of the Slava gifts of Wheat – Koljivo, wine, and Festal Bread – Slavski kolach, and to partake in the turning of the bread together.    

After the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, the faithful gathered around their hierarch and together shared a well-prepared meal in celebration of the Slava.

Source: easterndiocese.org