On Saturday, February 2/15, two ordinations of seminarians took place on the Great Feast of The Meeting of Our Lord in the Temple.

Following the Cherubic Hymn, Deacon John Rosner, a 1^st year CTS student who was ordained to the Holy Diaconate several days earlier on the Feast of the 3 Hierarchs by His Eminence, Archbishop Gabriel, was ordained today to the Holy Priesthood by His Grace, Bishop Luke of Syracuse. After spending 2 weeks in Jordanville, serving the cycle of the daily services, Fr. John will return home to Canada to serve as the rector of Dormition of the Holy Theotokos Parish in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.

Prior to the Lord’s Prayer, 3^rd Year BTh student Subdeacon Noah Reeves was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by His Grace, Bishop Luke. Fr. Deacon Noah will continue to serve in the monastery while he completes his studies in the seminary.

We ask that your prayers be added to ours, that the Lord our God may bestow strength upon Priest John, his wife, Matushka Mary, and their five children Elizabeth (15), Peter (14), Genevieve (13), Tikhon (3), and Ksenia (10 months), as he enters into this high level of service as a presbyter in Christ’s Holy Vineyard.

We also ask that your prayers be added to ours for Deacon Noah, his wife, Matushka Anna, and their daughter Alexandra (1); that he successfully completes his studies in the seminary and will thereafter go forth to serve the Holy Orthodox Church with continued hard work and dedication.

AXIOS to Priest John and Deacon Noah!