On December 10, 2025, the feast of the Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign," Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States & Canada, celebrated Divine Liturgy Our Lady of Kazan Church, a metochion of the Monastery of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki, in Spokane, WA.
His Grace was co-served by rector, Hieromonk Tikhon (Pashkov), Priest Dionysius Butte, and Deacon Oleg Serebryanov. Despite it being a workday, news of the bishop's visit drew a large crowd of parishioners and guests from other Orthodox parishes to the area.
During the Liturgy, Bishop Matthew ordained Seraphim Assink, a novice at the metochion, to the rank of deacon, after ordaining him first as a reader and subdeacon.
Following the service, the archpastor addressed the congregation with a sermon and wished them a blessed fasting period, which prepares us for the Nativity of Christ. His Grace expressed gratitude for the pastoral labors of the rector and clergy of the metochion and wished God's help and success in his service to the Church of Christ to the newly ordained Deacon Seraphim.
The Archpastor's interaction with the parishioners continued over a fraternal meal, after which Vladyka inspected the progress of the parish house.
Following the completion of all the improvement work, which begun in the house last year, the church premises, currently occupied by the Sunday school and refectory, will be used to expand the church space due to the increase in parishioners in recent years.
