On the third Sunday of Great Lent, Bishop Irineos made his first visit to the Mission of the Holy Entrance on North High Street in Columbus. On Saturday evening, Bp. Irineos served Great Vespers with Fr. Samuel, followed by a lenten dinner with the parishioners. The next day, the faithful gathered for the Divine Liturgy on the Sunday of the Adoration of the Holy Cross. The precious Cross was venerated just before the Divine Liturgy. At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Bp. Irineos spoke on the call to all Christians to pick up our cross and follow Christ. Following the liturgy, a memorial service was served for Abp. Porfyrios, who had reposed on Friday.

After the memorial service, the faithful gathered with Bp. Irineos for a Lenten trapeza. Fr. Samuel presented Bp. Irineos with an icon of St. Irenaeus of Lyon, with the Tropar for the saint written below in fine calligraphy.

Bp. Irineos’s homily after Liturgy is below.

After extensive planning, the Church of the Entrance of the Holy Theotokos has moved into its own lease space. The first liturgy was served on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, March 8 (February 24 OS), 2020.

The space is being slowly built out by Fr. Samuel and the faithful. A service schedule will be published shortly along with details on the location.

The North American Mission of the Genuine Orthodox Church of Greece under Metropolitan Angelos has established a new mission, the Church of the Entrance of the Holy Theotokos in the Vienna, West Virginia area. Fr. Samuel Rake has been appointed as priest in charge. Final arrangements on worship space are underway. The mission website at www.holyentrance.com is being built. Details on the opening of the mission and the worship schedule will be forthcoming.