On the evening of September 5, 2026, as part of his visit to the Central States Deanery, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh—interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada—visited the Church of St. Andrew the First-Called in East Lansing, MI.
Prior to the service, the hierarch held a working meeting with members of the parish council and the rector, Priest Vasily Gross. Also participating in the meeting were Priest Mark Rashkov, Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, and Priest Joshua Genig, Dean of the Central States Deanery.
Following the meeting, Bishop Matthew celebrated Great Vespers, concelebrated by deanery. During the service, the Bishop tonsured altar servers Ezekiel Gross and Silouan Besinger as readers.
At the Little Entrance, in recognition of their diligent, long-standing service to the Holy Church, the hierarch awarded the rector, Priest Vasily, the right to wear the gold pectoral cross, and parish cleric, Deacon Andrew Shauver, the right to wear the double orarion.
At the conclusion of the service, Bishop Matthew warmly greeted the clergy and the many parishioners, expressing his gratitude for maintaining the parish’s liturgical and community life at a high level. As a blessing to all those present, the Bishop distributed small icons of the Most Holy Theotokos and Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Fellowship among the hierarch, clergy, and parishioners continued over dinner in the parish refectory.
