On Wednesday, December 13, the parish of St. Andrew Naval Cathedral in Philadelphia, PA marked its patronal feast day.

Cathedral rector Archpriest Mark Shinn celebrated Divine Liturgy, co-served by Archpriests Serge Lukianov (rector of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ), Luka Novakovic (rector of St. Michael the Archangel Church in Philadelphia), Ljubo Milosevic (rector of Holy Trinity Church in Vineland, NJ), and Valery Sukholobov (rector of Joy of All Who Sorrow Church in Philadelphia), Priest Alexander Tsygankov and Deacon Eugene Iotov (cathedral clerics), Priest Anatoliy Revitskyy (cleric of Holy Protection Skete in Buena, NJ), and Protodeacon Paul Drozdowski (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral), as well as clergy from the Serbian, Romanian, and American (Albanian Archdiocese) Churches in the USA.

A multitude of the faithful gathered to honor the memory of the church’s Heavenly patron, many of whom communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

The clergy served a short moleben before the icon of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called.

Upon completion of the service, Fr. Mark congratulated the clergy and parishioners with the patronal feast, thanked the visiting clergy for their participation in the festal divine services, and delivered a sermon on the life of the Apostle Andrew. Fr. Mark and Fr. Serge noted the importance of cooperation between the clergy of the Russian Church Abroad, the Moscow Patriarchate, and the other Orthodox Churches in America.

On behalf of the parish of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Fr. Serge presented Fr. Mark a palitsa with a icon of the Holy Apostle Andrew.

A festal luncheon was then served in the church hall, loving prepared by the cathedral sisterhood, during which fraternal interaction between the clergy and faithful continued.