His Grace, Bishop Michael, visited Saint John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Rochester NY on June 15-16.  On Wednesday evening he joined the parish rector, Father Ken James Stavrevsky, in celebrating the Akathist “Glory to God for All Things” as faithful of the parish gathered along with several neighbors from the area surrounding the Church. Invitations had been distributed to the parish neighbors welcoming them to the celebration and social reception following. The next day (Thursday), His Grace traveled to Saint Lucy’s Farm in Naples NY to bless the animals, fields, and homes of the Johnson and Heise families.

Invitations to attend the Akathist service on Wednesday evening were printed and distributed to parishioners so they could extend a welcome and invitation to their neighbors, coworkers, classmates, and friends.  A copy of the invitation is viewable by clicking here. Parish warden and diaconal formation program student, Sean McNulty, personally delivered invitations to neighbors living near the Church.  In all, over 60 invitations were made.  During the social reception following the service, Bishop Michael delivered an informal talk on “Pentecost: The Birthday of the Church.”

On Thursday afternoon and evening, His Grace was greeted at Saint Lucy’s Farm in Naples NY (about 45 minutes south of the parish near the southern shore of Canandaigua Lake).  The farm is owned and operated by parishioners: Subdeacon Bradley Peter, Elizabeth, and Celeste Johnson; Jeremy, Alia, Felicia, Noah, and Elliotte Heise. The blessings of the Johnson and Heise homes, the sheep, the newborn lambs, the goats, the chickens, the horse, the oxen, the dogs, the cats, various “critters,” the fields, and a special location in the woods where a future chapel is to be constructed, were spectacular!

Robed in the liturgical vestments of the episcopacy, Bishop Michael borrowed a large and well-worn pair of muck boots to navigate the hilly terrain.  With holy water and brush in hand, there was an obvious mission on the bishop’s mind: every animal would be “personally” blessed along with the fields upon which they tread. Walking and sprinkling holy water for nearly an hour, His Grace seemed to be in his Archpastoral glory bringing grace and blessings under the sunny blue skies and surrounded by every glorious shade of summer green in this beautiful setting.

Elizabeth Johnson, who is the well-known author of Orthodox children’s books (most recently, “And Then Nicholas Sang: The Story of the Trisagion Hymn” ) said, “There are so many images and memories of the day! I think one of my favorites, however, was watching the bishop pulling on a pair of Brad’s muck boots -- there is a wonderful analogy to be found in the image of vestments combined with muck boots. Surely there is a magazine article or homily in there somewhere! And there is no doubt that it has launched another children’s story -- one about house blessings to help children understand both the importance and the significance of them.  I think it will be titled, “Bishops, Boots and Blessings!”

The Johnson and Heise families prepared a wonderful meal enjoyed by all who witnessed the blessings, rejoiced in the beauty of the day and farm, and were thankful to be in the presence of their spiritual shepherd and beloved bishop.