On November 2, 2025, the warm embrace of Florida’s sunshine welcomed a truly blessed celebration, as the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God Ukrainian Orthodox community in Dover, Florida - nestled amid the region’s famous strawberry fields - marked four decades of faith, prayer, and growth. Once founded as a monastic community dedicated to the Protection of the Mother of God, this sacred place has blossomed into a vibrant parish, drawing faithful souls from many cultures, languages, and backgrounds, all united by their love for Christ and devotion to the Holy Theotokos.

This day of joy was made especially memorable by the presence of His Eminence Metropolitan Antony and His Eminence Archbishop Daniel of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, who traveled to this spiritual oasis to lead the anniversary celebration. With the blessing of the Council of Bishops, the hierarchs prayerfully uplifted and strengthened the flock, offering gratitude to God for forty remarkable years of ministry.

The celebration began with a solemn procession from the parish rectory to the temple. Youth rang joyful bells and carried candles, proclaiming the blessing of this hierarchical visit and the living faith of the parish. As the hierarchs approached, they were greeted by two young girls who presented flowers in love and respect.

Representing the parish family, Parish Council President Ellen Flynn, Vice President Paula Karagounis, Secretary Stephan Blanc, Treasurer Josef Adamiak, and Financial Secretary Natalie Brennan, together with ministry leaders, welcomed the hierarchs with the traditional offering of beautifully decorated bread and salt, lovingly prepared by Barbara Johnson.

The church temple itself - clean, prayerful, and dignified - reflected decades of devotion, thanks in great part to the tireless dedication of sacristan Paul Tomachesky, who has lovingly served for many years.

Very Rev. Fr. Harry Linsinbigler, the devoted shepherd of this flock for over twenty years, together with Fr. Frederick, greeted the hierarchs with heartfelt words. They recalled the rich spiritual history of this sacred place, including the blessed memory that Archbishop Daniel himself received monastic tonsure here - forever tying his spiritual life to this holy ground.

Among the clergy and faithful serving were Deacon Brian Delp, Subdeacons Peter Flynn and Matthew Winters, and altar servers Eric, Vladislav, Vincent, and Jonathan. Surrounding them were dozens of children and faithful, their joyful bells proclaiming that this day was one of grace, memory, and hope.

As the Divine Liturgy unfolded, the church was filled with prayer, incense, and sacred hymns, rising like incense to heaven. The faithful - young and old - approached the Holy Chalice in unity, bearing witness to the living Body of Christ present in their midst.

During the proclamation of the Holy Gospel, the Word of God touched hearts, and Metropolitan Antony delivered a deeply emotional and spiritually rich homily on the Parable of the Sower. He reflected eloquently on the seeds scattered over four decades on this blessed soil of Dover, Florida - soil warmed by sunlight, watered by tears of prayer, and sanctified by countless Eucharistic celebrations.

Metropolitan stated: “Today we celebrate a sacred milestone – forty years since the founding of this holy parish of the Protection of the Mother of God, a spiritual garden planted by faith, watered by tears, and nourished by the grace of the Holy Spirit. It is most fitting that the Gospel reading appointed for this Sunday is the Parable of the Sower, for it beautifully mirrors the story of your parish – Its struggles, its growth, and its fruits in the Lord.

Our Lord begins the parable simply: “A Sower went out to sow his seed.” (Luke 8:5)

That Sower, brothers and sisters, is none other than Christ Himself. He sows the seed of His divine Word into the soil of the human heart. As St. John Chrysostom teaches, “Christ does not cease to sow, even when He knows that some will not receive. For He sows not only for the harvest, but to show His love for all mankind.”

The Word of God is given freely – not selectively. The Lord casts it far and wide, across every field and furrow, trusting that even in the least likely places, the seed may yet take root and bear fruit. So too, when this parish was founded forty years ago, it was an act of faith – a handful of faithful souls daring to believe that God’s Word would take root here in Dover, Florida.”

“The Word of God was the seed planted in the soil of DOVER forty years ago. And look how it has grown! From a small community to a strong family of faith, bearing fruit in worship, in charity, in education and in love.

When we look at the history of this parish, we see the Sower’s hands working through the hearts and labor of many faithful servants.

At the beginning was the founding priest, Father Anastasi (Starcevic) – who reposed in our Lord on 10 Oct 2003 – 22 years ago, who came with a vision – not merely to build walls, but to build souls. He, at his own personal cost, and those with him, established a small monastic community with this parish attached to it – a living reminder that prayer is the heartbeat of the Church. We remember him today with love and gratitude. His seed has borne fruit that even he could not have imagined.

We also give thanks for the faithful who helped plant and nurture this parish – the founders who offered their time, their strength, their faith and their very lives to establish this vineyard of the Lord. Some are still with us today; others have gone to their eternal reward. For both, we give thanks, for as St. Paul reminds us, “One plants, another waters, but God gives the growth” (1 Cor. 3:6). May God grant eternal rest to those who have fallen asleep and many years to those who continue to labor in His vineyard.

For the past two decades, Father Harry Linsinbigler has faithfully tended this garden. Like a wise farmer, he has sowed and watered, pruned and nourished – always with patience and love. His steady hand and compassionate heart have ensured that the seed continues to bear fruit in this generation and the next…

Beloved brothers and sisters, this anniversary is not merely a time to look back, but also to look forward. The Sower continues to sow. Christ is still casting His Word into our hearts – every time we hear the Gospel, every time we approach the Holy Chalice, every time we show love to one another.

But the question remains: what kind of soil will we be?  Will we allow the Word to be trampled by indifference, to wither by neglect or to be choked by worldly cares? Or will we cultivate our hearts through prayer, confession, fasting and works of love, so that the seed may bring forth “fruit a hundredfold”?

St. John of Damascus once said, “The heart is the field of God; if it is not tilled, it will grow thorns. But if cultivated with tears and repentance, it will bear fruit that will never fade.”

Let this be our commitment on this 40th anniversary – to become good soil, ready to receive the Word and to let it transform us, our families and our community.

And we must never forget that this parish is placed under the Protection of the Mother of God – the Pokrova. She is the gentle protector who spreads her veil over us, as she did over the faithful of Kyiv in the tenth century and at many other times in Ukrainian and world history. She intercedes for us, she prays for us and she teaches us to say, as she did, “Let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

May her holy Protection continue to cover this parish family – YOU – my dear sisters and brothers, along with Fr. Harry as your Spiritual Father, for many, many years to come.

As we celebrate this 40th anniversary, let us rejoice in all that God has done and all that He will yet do through YOU. The Sower has been faithful. The seed has taken root. The harvest is plentiful.

May the Lord continue to bless this holy parish with hearts of good soil – hearts that receive His Word with joy, nurture it with faith and bear fruit that will last unto eternity.

Through the prayers of the Holy Mother of God and of all the saints, may this parish in Dover, FL, flourish for generations to come — a living garden of grace, a testament to faith and a radiant beacon of Christ’s love.

...Here, forty years ago, the divine seed of the Orthodox faith was planted. Under the protective veil of the Mother of God, it took root, grew, and continues to bear spiritual fruit - souls drawn to the love of Christ, lives transformed, and hearts strengthened by prayer.

This sacred harvest continues through the tireless pastoral witness of Fr. Harry Linsinbigler, together with his beloved wife Carrie and their children, who serve not only parishioners of Ukrainian heritage but faithful from many walks of life - Americans, Greeks, Georgians, Slavs, Middle Eastern Christians, Central and South Americans, and seekers discovering Orthodoxy for the first time. The Parish of the Protection of the Theotokos has truly become a spiritual family, where the doors of the Church are open wide and the love of Christ embraces all."

Following the Divine Liturgy, the entire community joyfully processed to the parish hall for a festive luncheon. In an atmosphere of warmth and fellowship, faithful embraced, laughed, shared memories, and offered words of gratitude for the Church that has been their spiritual home.

Children once again approached the hierarchs, presenting flowers with innocence and joy, while the faithful respectfully came forward to receive archpastoral blessings. Conversations flowed easily; hearts were full, and the radiant peace of Christ filled the hall.

As this blessed anniversary day came to a close, one could feel the invisible mantle of the Mother of God enveloping the community - strengthening, guiding, and inspiring.

With grateful hearts, the parish looks to the next decade with renewed zeal. The dream of celebrating the 50th Golden Jubilee in 2035 shines brightly on the horizon. With God’s help - and through continued prayer, service, and love - the faithful of Dover, Florida, will continue to sow the seeds of the Gospel and gather the harvest for Christ.

May the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos continue to cover this parish with her holy veil. May this community remain a beacon of Orthodox witness in sunny Florida, shining brightly amid strawberry fields and suburban neighborhoods, calling all to come and see, to taste and believe, to be embraced by the boundless love of God.

Many blessed years to the Protection of the Mother of God Parish in Dover, Florida!

May the Lord grant them strength, unity, and joy for many years to come!