The Church’s worship provided the context in which the 19th All-American Council [AAC] of the Orthodox Church in America gathered in Saint Louis, MO July 23-27, 2018.
In addition to the celebration of Vespers, Divine Liturgies were celebrated on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. On Sunday, July 22, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops, and guest hierarchs concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with delegates to the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America’s 92nd annual National Convention and those arriving early for the AAC. On Thursday, July 26, the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy also was celebrated.
Three Akathistos Hymns—in honor of the Sitka and Tikhvin Icons of the Mother of God and the wonderworking Icon of Saint Anne—also were celebrated during the week, in addition to the opening and closing Services of Thanksgiving. Youth program participants also gathered for the celebration of evening Compline and other services.
Offerings taken at the services was earmarked for FOCUS North America’s Saint Louis site, which ministers to the city’s needy.
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Photo Credits: Victor Lutes, Fr. Gregory Safchuk, Subdeacon Roman Ostash
