Orthodox christians marked the historic celebration of the Restoration of Icons

An historic gathering took place at Saint Stevan's Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Alhambra this Sunday, February 21, 2010. For the third consecutive year, the Canonical Orthodox Christian Bishops on the West Coast con-celebrated the Divine Liturgy on the first Sunday of Great Lent. This year, the event was hosted by the Right Reverend Bishop Maxim, Bishop of the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America at the See of the Diocese, Saint Stevan's Cathedral in Alhambra.

The highlight of the day was the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great (4th c.) and the Procession of Holy Icons, concelebrated by His Eminence, Metropolitan Gerasimos, His Grace, Bishop Joseph, His Grace, Bishop Maxim, and His Grace, Bishop Benjamin at 10am with clergy and hundreds of faithful from throughout Southern California. A fellowship luncheon followed. Concurrently, a Pan-Orthodox Young Adult Conference and a Youth Rally provided spiritual enrichment opportunities for all ages! The event also highlighted some of the charitable ministries of the Orthodox Charities and the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians United to Serve (FOCUS). The children and teens prepared "Haiti Relief Health Kits" which will be donated through IOCC for their relief operations in Haiti following the devastating earthquakes.

Source: Western Diocese