With the blessing of the ruling hierarch of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese, Metropolitan Gregory, Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers, March 1, 2026, was solemnly celebrated at St. John the Baptist Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church. Presiding at the service was Archbishop Michael, whose presence reflected the strong bonds of cooperation and brotherhood among the Orthodox jurisdictions of the region.

Clergy from multiple Orthodox traditions gathered in prayer at the conclusion of the first week of Great Lent, offering a visible witness to the unity of the Church. The homily was delivered by Fr. Paul Abernathy, founder of the Neighborhood Resilience Project in Pittsburgh. In a powerful reflection, Fr. Paul reminded the faithful that the Triumph of Orthodoxy is not merely the historical restoration of holy icons, but the ongoing restoration of the image of God in every human person. The true victory of Orthodoxy, he emphasized, is lived whenever Christ’s image is honored in the poor, the suffering, and even in one’s enemies.

The liturgical responses were led by the Spirit of Orthodoxy Choir, under the inspired direction of Stratos J. Mandalakis. Their beautifully blended voices, resonant and prayerful, clothed the service in sacred harmony, lifting hearts heavenward and allowing the theology of the feast to be not only proclaimed, but sung. Through ancient melodies rendered in many languages and music traditions, the choir’s offering became itself an icon of unity — many voices breathing as one.

Following the service, clergy and faithful participated in the traditional procession with icons. Children and adults alike held sacred images of Christ, the Theotokos, and the saints, proclaiming with visible conviction that the Word truly became flesh and that matter has been sanctified by the Incarnation.

At the conclusion of the procession, the faithful solemnly proclaimed the Synodikon of Orthodoxy:

As the prophets beheld,
As the Apostles have taught,
As the Church has received,
As the teachers have dogmatized,
As the universe has agreed,
As grace has illumined,
As truth has revealed,
As falsehood has been dispelled,
As wisdom has presented,
As Christ has triumphed:
This we believe,
This we declare,
This we preach:
Christ our true God, and His saints we honor in words, in writings, in thoughts, in sacrifices, in temples, in icons — on the one hand bowing down and worshipping Christ as God and Master, on the other hand honoring the saints as true servants of the Master of all, and offering to them due veneration.
This is the faith of the Apostles!
This is the faith of the Fathers!
This is the faith of the Orthodox!
This is the faith that has established the Universe!

The rector of the host parish, Very Rev. Fr. Michael T. Chendorain, himself a former altar server of Archbishop Michael, expressed heartfelt gratitude to His Eminence for presiding and to the clergy who traveled from across many Orthodox jurisdictions to participate. His words reflected both personal appreciation and the deeper unity manifested in this pan-Orthodox gathering. Fr. Michael invited everyone present to a Lenten dinner generously provided by the parishioners of St. John's Church.

The celebration in Perth Amboy stood as a living testimony that the Triumph of Orthodoxy is not confined to history, but is embodied in the Church today — in her worship, in her proclamation, in her music, and in her calling to restore the image of Christ in every human person.