On Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th of May, the Sunday of the Samaritan Women, the divine services in St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, DC were led by Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada. This was his first visit to the American capital since the St. Herman Youth Conference held there in December 2016.

The principal purpose of Archbishop Gabriel’s visit was to lead the sacrament of Holy Matrimony of young parishioner Katherine Healy, who has worked tirelessly in assisting with the organization of various youth conferences.

On Saturday evening, Archbishop Gabriel led the combined Church Slavonic & English All-Night Vigil (normally, the Washington parish has separate services served entirely in both languages). His Eminence was co-served by parish rector Archpriest Victor Potapov, Archpriest Paul Ivanov (rector of Holy Myrrhbearers Church in Brooklyn, NY), Priests John Johnson, Alexander Resnikoff, and Damian Dantinne (parish clerics), Priest Serge Ledkovsky (deputy rector of St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ), Priest Seraphim Wing (rector of St. Nicholas Church in Edinboro, PA), Protodeacons Leonid Mickle and Patrick Mitchell, and Deacons John Dean and Gregory Trubetskoy (parish clerics).

Singing at the All-Night Vigil were the two cathedral choirs under the direction of Paula Genis and Reader Konstantine Ogora.

On Sunday morning, May 6, His Eminence was greeted at the doors of the cathedral with bread and salt by parish warden Dimitry M. Zaretsky, who always receives distinguished guests with welcoming words.

At the Sunday Divine Liturgy, His Eminence was co-served by all of the above-mentioned clergy. A majority of the faithful received Holy Mysteries of Christ, communed from four chalices.

At the conclusion of Liturgy, Archbishop Gabriel delivered a wonderful sermon, dedicated to the encounter of the Lord with the Samaritan woman. A video of the sermon can be viewed here.

After the service, a festal luncheon was organized by the cathedral sisterhood in the parish hall.

Photogallery:

https://fb.com/116010031753911/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1855216387833258