On the crisp, cold morning of Sunday, December 3, 2023, the children of our parish, with flowers in hand, excitedly lined up to await His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony, who had come to join us in the celebration of our Patron Saint, St. Andrew, the first-called. As Metropolitan Anthony ascended the steps to the entrance of our Cathedral, he was greeted with an exceptionally beautiful and creative ‘kalach’ that had been baked that morning by Luba Dudra.  As Tamara Woroby presented it to him, with welcoming words on behalf of all parishioners, Metropolitan Anthony then blessed Father Volodymyr and the altar boys as they awaited him at the entrance. Accompanied by a Deacon and Seminarians, all proceeded towards the altar while Choir Director Alina Stovbun led the choir, beautifully singing exquisite liturgical music.

Following the Divine Liturgy, everyone was invited to the beautifully decorated Parish Hall, where the Sisterhood, under the leadership of our Pani-matka Marta, had once again -as in years past – prepared a most elegant dinner. It seems that every year we comment on how delicious the meal was, but it also seems that every year, the food becomes even more delicious, from copious plates of appetizers and starters, through gourmet fish entrees, and all the way to scrumptious desserts.

A highlight of St Andrew Feast Day each year, is that Metropolitan presents two major parish awards. This year, the first award - Parishioner of the Year - went to two people: the dynamic duo of Tonia Dec and Natela Hosseini, who tirelessly and always with a smile, manage the Church Deli and Food Store. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Hanja Cherniak, our financial controller since 1997, who has not only meticulously oversees parish finances, but stays involved in numerous parish and humanitarian committees.

While there was definitely a festive air during our Feast Day, at the same time, everyone in the room could not disperse thoughts about the cloud that  remains over our beloved Ukraine. Mention of the fact that Ukraine will overcome the brutal invasion by Russia was included in each of the messages that were extended - on behalf of the Embassy of Ukraine, the government of Ukraine, as well as our sister parish, St. Michael’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Baltimore.  There was also a long round of applause, in admiration of, and with gratitude to three Ukrainian veterans who were present, all amputees receiving medical treatment in the Washington area.

This year’s Parish Feast Day Celebration included sweet musical interludes -when our parish children, under the direction of Solomia Pidkivka, sang during the Liturgy, and at the dinner when six-year-old Diana Perepelytsia, accompanied by her mother Olya on the bandura, entertained us with her outgoing personality. These uplifting moments, offered by the youngest members of our parish, reminded us that there is always a hopeful future, and it is filled with love and unity.