The Holy Trinity Church in Oxnard, California, celebrated its parish Feast Day on the Sunday of Pentecost. His Eminence, Archbishop Chrysostomos, His Grace, Bishop Auxentios, Archimandrite Akakios, and Hierodeacon Father Nectarios, from the St. Gregory Palamas Monastery in Etna, CA, concelebrated the Divine Liturgy and Pentecost Vespers with Father James Thornton, a much-revered retired Priest who serves the parish on an occasional basis, assisted by a group of acolytes from the parish. (Click here to see more photographs of the festivities.)

    The services took on a particularly catholic quality, appropriate to the Feast of Pentecost, since they were conducted in Greek, English, Slavonic, and Romanian. A group of the choir members of the  Convent of St. Elizabeth the Grand Duchess in Etna, CA, also travelled to the parish for the Feast Day, where they chanted the responses beautifully and with an especial grace that greatly moved those present.

    Following the Liturgy, a very nice agape meal was served in the Church hall. During the meal, Peter Avisov, the son of the indefatigable warden of the parish, Mr. Michael Avisov, and his wife Vivian, presented Archbishop Chrysostomos, Bishop Auxentios, and Archimandrite Akakios with beautiful gold medals on behalf of the parish, in appreciation for their service to the community, by providing it with spiritual oversight and guidance. In response, Archbishop Chrysostomos thanked the parish and its founders, warden, and faithful for their kindness and for their fidelity to the traditions of the Orthodox Faith, which are so much under threat in modern society.