On the weekend of Palm Sunday, April 27-28, Archbishop Michael made his annual Archpastoral visit to Holy Apostles Parish in Lansing, NY. At Saturday evening Vespers, Vladyka shared a moving sermon on confession by St. Innocent of Alaska and Moscow, and palms and pussy willows were blessed.

On Sunday, Vladyka was greeted with flowers, using this occasion to encourage the young girls to blossom into helpers for the church. He was then welcomed with bread and salt by Senior Warden Paula Tarallo. In addition to parish clergy Fr. Joel Brady and Deacon Ivan Bazarov, Vladyka was assisted by Deacon Stephan Karlgut and a full complement of altar servers. In his sermon, Vladyka reflected on our Savior’s humility and encouraged us to focus on traveling with him to the Cross and Resurrection. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, all processed around the outside of the church with palms and willow branches. We then shared a festive meal and fellowship with our beloved Vladyka.

This article also appeared on our diocesan website.