BRIDGEVILLE, PA – On Saturday, October 3rd, the community of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Bridgeville, PA welcomed Hierarchs from the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America for the Service of Great Vespers. Attended by more than 150 faithful from the Pittsburgh-area, the Service of Great Vespers was presided over by His Grace Bishop Thomas of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.
At the conclusion of Great Vespers, the V. Rev. Fr. Jason DelVitto, Ph.D., Presiding Priest of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, welcomed the assembled Hierarchs to the parish and conveyed the fervent prayers of the clergy and faithful of Pittsburgh for a fruitful meeting of the Assembly. Bishop Thomas expressed his gratitude to Fr. Jason and the St. George community for their hospitality and noted that, “In my last visit a few days ago, someone asked me, if Bishops ever gather, and they asked me the same question I get asked all the time – about unity – I’m never worried about that because we gather together, worship together, go to the chalice together, as long as we do that, we are one Church – one Holy Catholic, Apostolic Church.”
Archbishop Elpidophoros, as Chairman of the Assembly, greeted the assembled clergy and faithful, commenting that “the convening of our Assembly of Bishops is always a marvelous opportunity to experience the wondrous diversity of Orthodox Christianity in the United States.”
The assembled Hierarchs, clergy, and faithful were invited to the community hall for a light reception and fellowship hosted by the parish community.
