Metropolitan Herman to preside at Consecration of Archimandrite Irineu to the Episcopacy

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, will preside at the consecration of Archimandrite Irineu [Duvlea] to the episcopacy at Saint George Cathedral here November 1-2, 2002.

Archimandrite Irineu was nominated Auxiliary Bishop of the OCA’s Romanian Orthodox Episcopate by clergy and lay delegates to the annual Church Congress, held at diocesan headquarters in Grass Lake, MI in early July 2002. His nomination was subsequently forwarded to the Holy Synod of Bishops, which canonically elected him to the episcopacy at a special session held during the 13th All-American Council at the end of July.

Among the consecrating hierarchs will be His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate and other members of the Holy Synod of Bishops.

The consecration weekend will begin at Saint George Cathedral, 18405 West Nine Mile Road, Southfield, MI on Friday evening, November 1, with the celebration of a Memorial Service for the late Bishop Policarp and the late Archbishop Valerian, who had guided the Episcopate during its early years. Vespers will be celebrated followed by the Proclamation of Archimandrite Irineu’s election and his Declaration of Acceptance. The evening will conclude with a reception in the cathedral’s cultural center.

On Saturday, November 2, Matins will be celebrated at the cathedral at 8:00 a.m. Metropolitan Herman, Archbishop Nathaniel, and the other co-consecrators will enter the cathedral at 9:00 a.m. The presentation of Bishop-elect Irineu, his Profession of Faith, and the consecration Divine Liturgy will follow.

On Sunday, November 3, His Grace Bishop Irineu will celebrate his first Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at Sts Peter & Paul Church in Dearborn Hts MI, followed by a parish dinner.

The consecration banquet will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Saint John Armenian Cultural Center, 22001 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, MI, after which Great Vespers will be celebrated at the Descent of the Holy Spirit Church, 31500 Ryan Road, Warren, MI at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday evening.

Banquet tickets may be purchased in advance from the ROEA Consecration Committee, PO Box 308, Grass Lake, MI 49240-0309; 517/522-4800. Deadline for purchasing tickets is October 15. A special consecration booklet also will be published to commemorate the consecration. Information about the donors’ list may be obtained by contacting the Consecration Committee at the aforementioned address and/or telephone number.