2009 Orthodox Education Day
True to tradition, it rained on Orthodox Education Day, Saturday 3 October 2009. This day is always the first Saturday in October and if you have never attended, I recommend that you make a point of attending as soon as possible.
The other day to consider is the annual pilgrimage at St. Tikhon's Monastery and Seminary. I try to make it to both if I can.
I rode up in a van full of people from Holy Cross Church, including the priest. In an e-mail to us Tim, the driver, said that we will not be there in time for the Liturgy and as a joke I replied that if we were Western Rite, we could have a Solumn High Mass in the van on the way since we had a priest, deacon, subdeacon, and altar server. We could get together a choir easily enough, even if it were just Zanaida.
This year I was blessed to see two very dear friends, Bishop Seraphim and Fr. John Cassar. I've known both since my seminary days. His Grace was a tremendous help to me in my seminary days when I went on a retreat with a group of old calendar Greeks. We got into a discussion about baptism and I consulted Bishop Seraphim. He happened to be in the bookstore and I approached him. He is very much down to earth and a wonderful man.
During our conversation he suggested that I go over and see the icon display and, "out of episcopal obedience," I did. You can see them on this page.
Fr. John and I were classmates and we became very close friends. I actually met him through his wife Florence and their cute little daughter Christine who is not engaged to get married. My, how fast they grow up! When she was about four, I once asked her if I could steal Nicholas and she said, "No." I said, "Why not?" She answered as only a four-year old could: "Because he's my brother."
Ivan, Doanh, and Garth, all from Holy Cross
Ted Besil and Dr. David Ford
Fr. John Cassar
Fr. Basil Summer
Unfortunately I did have an opportunity to speak with Mrs.Arlene Kallaur.
That's Joy in the background.
On the right is the new Bishop Melchideck of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania.
Krissy and Subdeacon Robert McLean. Subdeacon Robert is going down on one knee in December. Αχιος. Αχιος. Αχιος.
Metropolitan Jonh of OCA and Bishop Peter of ROCOR
Dr. Mary Ford
Karen Jermyn was a schoolmate of mine at the seminary and she then joined the staff of the seminary.
Dr Peter Bouteneff and one of the monks from New Skete
New Skete monk
Daughter Kira and Fr. Eric Tosi
Fr. Eric Tosi on the right
Ms. Ann Zinzel is over 80 years old and she still gets around. God bless her dear heart!
Yuri is in charge of housekeeping. His wife and I were classmates and good friends.
One of Fr. John's wonderful children.
Protodeacn Kirill Sokolov
On the right is Bruce Lawrence from Holy Cross Church in Linthicum MD.
I'm glad to see that Bob still comes to Education Day. I wish that Anthony, Fr. John Cassar's father-in-law, could had come also.
Fr. Gregory and Matushka Deborah Belonik
Fr. Alexander Rentel and Ms. Ann Zinzel
Helen and Doanh shortly before we left
Joy
Joy and I enjoyed watching this swan.
Yuri
I forgot to change the white light settings after Wednesday's function.
We had a short prayer service before starting the trip.
Trhee deacons are consuming the chalices.
Dr. Al Rossi and Fr. John Cassar
Fr. ERic Tosi on the right
Fr. Gregory Matthewes-Green, Fr. Ted Boback, and Fr. Yaroslav Sudick
Doanh and Garth
Indian food was great.
Sophia and one of her brothers
Fr. John Cassar and his daughter Elizabeth
Another of Fr. John's children
Two of Fr. John's children
Deacon Michael and Bishop Seraphim
This little girl was too cute not to photograph.
I don't know her name, but she is known to several from Holy Cross Church.
Ted Besil, business manager of the seminary
Ted Besil and Fr. Basil Summer
West Point cadet from Romania, Fr. Joseph Frawley, and his matushka Irene
Subdeacon Robert McLean and Metropolitan Jonah
Fr Yaroslav Sudick and Krissey
Fr Michael Dahulich, bishop elect for New York-New Jersey, Αχιος. Αχιος. Αχιος.
Bishop Peter, Metropolitan Jonah, Fr. John Nehrebecki, and Bishop Seraphim
Fr. John Nehrebecki and Ethiopian deacon
Drs. David and Mary Ford's daughter and her best friend
Dr. Mary Ford, Bishop Melchidezk, and Dr. David Ford
Dr. John Barnett
Here start the icon display.
I had to ask her to allow me to photograph since she was so cute. She gladly obliged.
Subdeacon Robert McLean is talking with a visitor.
Robin(?) wanted her picture taken wtih Subdeacon Robert and I was more than willing to do it. She is not only a beautiful woman, but a very, very delightful one.
Book signing
Yuri
A woman is reading to two cute little girls in the bookstore.
Three Hierarch chapel
Matushka Nancy Rentel was also a schoolmate of mine along with her husband. One of her children is in this photo.
Another son of Fr. Alex and matushka Nancy Rentel
Their daughter
Matushka Nancy took these photos of our group from Holy Cross Church in Linthicum.
Scnes on the way home from the van
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