New Antimins

We visited Holy Incarnation Orthodox Church this last Sunday. Bishop JOHN was visiting so it was really nice to be there with his grace. Bishop JOHN asked Father to put out on the icon stand the new antimins that had just arrived. New antimins were made for our new Metropolitan JOSEPH and it is kept on the altar and normally only venerated by the priests or bishop. However Bishop JOHN as a "one day only deal" let the faithful venerate the antimins which contains a relic of St. Raphael of Brooklyn. We felt really lucky to be there for such a blessing!

At the meal after Liturgy Bishop JOHN opened the floor to anyone who wanted to ask his grace a question. We had a very interesting discussion centering around Orthodoxy in America and how monasteries could be started in our country (I don't think the Antiochians have many monasteries if at all...). It was all very thought-provoking!