First Patronal Feast for St. Justin

On June 1/14, the day after the feast of the Ascension of the Lord, St. Justin Orthodox Church held its first Divine Liturgy and its first Patronal feast, for on this day the Holy Church commemorates the Translation of the relics of Venerable Justin of Chelije. Liturgy was served by Fr. Sergii with assistance from Subdeacon Ivan Alekseev and two choir members from St. Basil the Great Church in St Louis, MO. We thank everyone who served and all who came to celebrate with us (from multiple jurisdictions).

After the Divine Liturgy, the first parish meeting was held. At the meeting, the mission rector read the greetings from Archbishop Peter and his best wishes for the success of the mission to bring many souls to Orthodox Christianity. It was very inspiring to know that, as we were serving our first Divine Liturgy, a ROCOR delegation – comprised of hierarchs and clergy (including representatives from our diocese) – was in Serbia and prayed before the relics of Venerable Justin. It was such joy to know that we our newly-born mission was remembered in those prayers.