On Saturday April 13, the clergy of the Boston and Washington deaneries gathered at the Church of the Ascension of our Lord in Elizabeth, New Jersey.  The clergy travelled from near and far, ranging from Maine to Virginia.  The day began with the Matins service, served with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Irinej, by Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Zoran Radovic of St. George Church of Elizabeth, NJ. Confessions of clergy members in attendance were heard concurrently by the Rev. Syngelos Nektarije (Tesanovic) of Lorain, Ohio. 

Following Matins, His Grace presided over the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, concelebrated by Deans Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Aleksandar Vlajkovic (Boston) and Protopresbyter Dr. Vasilije Vranic (Washington), and deacons Bojan Gligorevic (St. Nicholas, Steelton-Oberlin, PA) and our diocesan deacon Darko Tripkovic. Assistance in the altar was ably provided by Reader John Buffalini, diocesan treasurer, and seminarian Mihailo Vlajkovic from St. Vladimir’s Seminary. Likewise, seminarian Mihail Golic led the chanters of consisting of visiting clergy.

His Grace’s homily spoke of life, death, and life eternal in the Risen Lord, and centered on how we pass through death and enter Paradise, as Christ promised the crucified thief who confessed Him as Lord. “We understand Paradise as being in the presence of Him, Who is light, fire, and love – all attributes of life. Wherein those who are departed are remembered by singing Memory Eternal, committing the person we remember, not only to our memory but also place them, as the object of our love, in the memory of Christ, which is a living and eternal memory”.

Upon the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the clergy gathered for photographs and proceeded to the church dining room for Lenten hospitality provided by the faithful of the Holy Ascension Church community.  The small group of dedicated volunteers led by Parish Council President Dusan Grujic and hostess Dragica Obradovic with her small yet adept army of Kolo sisters with full hearts, gracefully and diligently served the visitors and local parishioners in attendance.