On Sunday, May 10, 2015, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon spent an evening with parishioners and friends of Saint Barbara Church, Ft. Worth, TX. His visit came at the end of a long weekend of hierarchical services and meetings at Saint Seraphim Cathedral, Dallas, TX.
Archpriest Basil Zebrun, Rector of Saint Barbara Church, and the faithful also were pleased to welcome the following OCA, Diocesan and Deanery clergy: Archimandrite Gerasim, Administrator of the Diocese of the South; Archpriest Marcus Burch, Diocesan Chancellor; Archpriest Thomas Moore, Dean of the Carolinas Deanery; Archpriest John Anderson, Saint Seraphim Cathedral, Dallas, TX; Archpriest Justin Frederick, Saint Maximus Church, Denton, TX; Priest Photius Avant, Saint Sava Church, Plano/Allen, TX; Priest David Bozeman, Saint Nectarios Church, Waxahachie, TX; Protodeacon Joseph Matusiak, Secretary to the Metropolitan; Deacon Gregory Norris, Saint Seraphim Cathedral, Dallas, TX; and Subdeacon Roman Ostash, Assistant to the Metropolitan.
The evening began at 5:00 p.m. with the arrival of Metropolitan Tikhon, who was greeted in the customary manner with a bouquet of flowers, bread and salt, and the cross while the choir sang “The Angel Cried.” The clergy then retired into the parish library for a meeting with Metropolitan Tikhon, who addressed the priests and deacons as the new diocesan Locum Tenens and answered questions on OCA, diocesan and deanery matters.
Immediately after the clergy meeting, Metropolitan Tikhon blessed the food prepared for the main reception, at which some 115 persons were in attendance—despite the heavy storms that had descended upon the DFW Metroplex. Visitors from neighboring parishes and missions were among the faithful gathered.
During the reception, Metropolitan Tikhon offered words of greeting and fielded questions on a wide variety of topics.
Following the closing prayer and blessing, many attendees stayed for individual, family and group photos with Metropolitan Tikhon.
“A particularly delightful moment was experienced when His Beatitude took time to explain the meaning of the bishop’s walking staff to three very inquisitive children,” said Father Basil. “They seemed intensely fascinated as the Metropolitan revealed to them the secret of traveling with an Episcopal staff, by unscrewing and thus dividing it into three distinct sections!”
The theme for the evening’s banquet was “A Texas Welcome.” The servers, kitchen crew, greeters and organizers made everyone feel welcome. The western theme decorations, from cowboy boot toothpick holders to the saddle, bluebonnet apron and Lone Star floral arrangements, provided a most appropriate atmosphere. The menu was quite diverse, yet unmistakably “Texan.”
“Despite the weather, spirits were high,” said Father Basil. “It was Pascha all over again!”
