On the Second Day of Pentecost - Monday, June 9th, 2025, His Grace our Father and Bishop Irinej of Washington-New York and Eastern America honored the community of the Holy Archangel Gabriel Monastery - New Marcha by celebrating the Divine Liturgy in commemoration of the Day of the Holy Spirit.

His Grace was joined in concelebration by Presbyter-Economos Vedran Granic of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, and assisted by Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Rade Merick, Episcopal Deputy of the Diocese of Eastern America, and Reader Maksim Damljanovic. Uplifting responses were offered by the monastery singers under the capable direction of Professor Dr. Nikola Resanovic.

Expounding on the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:10-20), His Grace delivered a though-provoking message on living an Orthodox Christian life in its fullness and called all of us to serve the One God in Trinity by allowing the Holy Spirit to direct our lives.  As such, we are summoned to be innocent like children, whose angels see the face of God, yet heeding the Pauline admonition not to be childish in our endeavors. For this reason, we must always seek out the little ones who are lost and return them with the joy of a child to the flock from which they have wandered. His Grace truly blessed our monastery family and the many who had gathered from the Cleveland Deanery and other area Orthodox Churches with his profound words and presence.

Following the Divine Liturgy, the Sisterhood of the Monastery prepared a well-laden festal luncheon in the refectory of the residence for the guests. 

With glory to God in Trinity, it was indeed a Spirit-filled Pentecost Monday.