Pan-Orthodox Unction Service

On Monday 12 December 2005, new calendar, the Orthodox parishes in Baltimore assembled for the annual Unction Service. This service is held annual on the eve of the feast of St. Spiridon. Each year it is in a different parish.

This year St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church in Hunt Valley was the host parish. We had ten priests serving: Fr. Constantine Morales, Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation; Fr. Theodore Boback, St. Andrew Orthodox Church (OCA); Fr. Louis Nopos, St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church; Fr. Peter Thornburg, Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation; Fr. Theodorus, St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church; Fr. Gregory Mathewes-Green, Holy Cross Antiochian Orthodox Church; Fr. Ray Valentia, St. Mathew Orthodox Church; Fr. Duane Johnson, St. Mathew Orthodox Church, and Fr. Stephen, St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church. We also had one deacon, Fr. Mark O'dell, Holy Cross Antiochian Orthodox Church, and the two altar srevers Zachary O'dell of St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church and Reader Michael Bishop of Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church.

Since I was serving on the altar and also because it was impossible to get a decent photograph, I did not take any photographs during the service. All the photographs taken were after the service.

As we do for most Pan-Orthodox services, there was a wonderful reception. The food was lenten, but still very tasty.

I also took advantage of the opportunity to visit with some people whom I do not see very often. At the table I met Christina, a young woman who is a linguistic majors at the University of Maryland at Baltimore County. I had an opportunity to spend some time with Greg and Kelly Kalaur and their beautiful children. Finally I got a picture of the Mukai family. I recall that they had me over for Christmas dinner several years ago and I had a great time at their house. I still remember the twins when they were four years old. It is really a pleasure to see them now much older and so well mannered. Peggy was the church school coordinator when I was teaching at my last parish.

The whole service was heavenly. I've said several times that when I am serving at Holy Cross often I do not know whether I am in heaven or on earth. Some times the only way that I know that I'm actually on earth is that some affliction bothers me.

Meanwhile, I invite you to enjoy some of the pictures which I took.