[Medford, NJ] - The faithful of the Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross in Medford, New Jersey, gathered on Tuesday, July 1, to celebrate a historic milestone in the life of their parish as His Eminence Archbishop Michael ordained John Carpenter to the Holy Diaconate during the Divine Liturgy.

At the beginning of the service, the parish rector, Archpriest John Shimchick, welcomed His Eminence with the words, "We have been waiting over fifty years for this day—and for you." His greeting reflected the joy of a parish that, after more than five decades of faithful ministry, witnessed the ordination of one of its own to the Holy Diaconate.

A recent graduate of St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary, Deacon John is the first member of Holy Cross Parish to answer the call to ordained ministry and prepare for service in the Church. After completing his undergraduate studies as a piano major, he pursued a career as an opera singer, performing primarily throughout Europe. Upon returning to the United States, he taught music in an inner-city school before discerning a vocation to ordained ministry and enrolling at St. Tikhon's Seminary.

Over the past year, Deacon John married his wife, Brenna, and together they recently welcomed the birth of their daughter, Lucy, making this season of their lives one of abundant blessings both for their family and for the Church.

Concelebrating the Divine Liturgy with Archbishop Michael were, Archpriest John Shimchick, rector of the Holy Cross parish, Priest Luke Carpenter, father of the newly ordained deacon; Archpriest Victor Gorodenchuk, rector of St. Stephen Orthodox Cathedral in Philadelphia, where Deacon John completed his summer parish internship; Deacon Timothy Skuby of the Diocese of New England; and the Archbishop's staff: Subdeacons Mark Federoff, Andrew Karlgut, and Zachary Parisi.

God willing, Deacon John's ordination to the Holy Priesthood is scheduled to take place on the Feast of Theophany, January 6, 2027, at Holy Cross Orthodox Church in Medford.

May God grant Deacon John, Brenna, and their daughter Lucy many blessed years as they begin this new chapter of faithful service to Christ and His Holy Church.