CORONA, NY – The Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ was celebrated with great attendance by the faithful at the eponymous church in Corona, Queens, NY, beginning with the Great Vespers service in the evening on August 5 and continuing with the Divine Liturgy on August 6. Many clergy participated in the services, including Chancellor of the Direct Archdiocesan District Fr. Elias Villis who represented His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America at the Great Vespers.

Fr. Villis thanked the members of the community, as well as the presiding priest of the community Archimandrite Fr. Chrysostom Panos, noting that “it was an honor to represent the His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros at the Great Vespers for the feast of the Transfiguration of Christ in the parish of Corona, in New York, together with the clergy of the area, in a beautiful and reverent service.”

He added that it was an evening “not only spiritually refreshing but also a proof of the strength and unity of the parish, under the leadership of presiding priest Fr. Chrysostom Panos.”

Among the many clergy at the Great Vespers were Fr. Paul Palesty and Fr. Aristidis Garinis from St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Shrine Church in Flushing, NY, Fr. John Lardas from Archangel Michael in Port Washington, Fr. Vasilios Louros from Zoodohos Peghe in the Bronx, Fr. Konstantinos Kalogridis from St. Demetrios Jamaica, and Fr. Nicolaos Paros from Holy Cross Whitestone.

On August 6, the Feast Day of the Transfiguration, the Orthros was celebrated, followed by the Archieratical Divine Liturgy, presided over by His Grace Bishop Nektarios of Diokleia, the Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Immediately after the services, the traditional blessing of the grapes followed, and as on Monday following the Great Vespers service, the community invited all those present at the Divine Liturgy to a meal in the church hall.