It is a great day in the life in any parish when one of their own is elevated to Holy Orders, and even more so when one of those is ordained to the rank of presbyter, to the Holy Priesthood.
On Sunday, February 20, 2022, a small group from ASONA, including Fr. John, Dcn. Joseph, and Mka Deborah Peck, travelled to participate in the ordination of Dcn Michael Vallecillo to the Priesthood at Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco, the resting place of the relics of St. John Maximovitch. Fr. Michael will be assigned to St. Herman’s parish in Show Low, AZ.
Here is the link to the video of the entire service (the ordination begins at 1:23:00).
Here is the link to the video starting with the ordination (at 1:23:00)
To Fr. Michael, Mka Georgia, and their entire family – AXIOS! Enjoy these photos, some of them are positively iconic.
- The Hierarchical Liturgy begins
- Getting the Archbishop’s blessing
- Fr. John waiting for his turn
- The ordination begins
- The ordinand is turned towards the people “Command!”
- Approaching the altar
- Kneeling before the Archbishop
- The procession around the altar begins
- A final prostration
- The moment of ordination
- The Archbishop proclaims “Axios!”
- Everyone sings “Axios!”
- Dcn Joseph is everywhere
- The newly ordained priest Michael
- …you will be held to account for it at the Second Coming!
- In the Altar Sanctuary
- Receiving instruction from Archpriest Peter
- Dcn Joseph and Priest Michael
- Reciting the Pre-Communion prayer
- The new priest distributes the Body and Blood of Christ
- More Communion
- The prayer before the Ambo
- The final address of Archbishop Kyrill on this glorious occasion
- Fr Michael and Mka Georgia