In the evening, a solemn welcome was arranged at the New Gračanica Monastery for the most venerable Abbot of the Holy and Imperial Lavra of Hilandar, Archimandrite Metodije (Marković), who was accompanied by hieromonk Arsenije.
After welcoming him, a vigil was served, led by Archimandrite Metodije with the concelebration of the clergy and monastics of our Diocese.
After the vigil, the akathist was read before the Three Handed icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, Trojerucisa, which was brought by the abbot of Hilandar back in 2010 with the blessing of His Eminence archbishop of New Gracanica and Chicago and metropolitan of Midwestern America Longin.
At the end of the vigil and Akathist to icon of the Mother of God of the Three Hands, Metropolitan Longin greeted the Most Venerable Archimandrie Metodije, thanked him for his visit, reminded the faithful about the importance of monasticism for the Church, and invited all those present to come to the parish of Saint Basil of Ostrog in Lake Forest for a lecture with the abbot .
The gathered faithful were filled with immense gratitude to God for this blessed meeting. On this occasion, all present were anointed with oil and received a blessing from the abbot and a small icon of the Mother of God of the Three Hands from abbot Metodije.
The service ended in a spirit of brotherly love and prayerful peace, with joint thanksgiving to the Lord and the Most Holy Mother of God, the Protectress of the Hilandar Monastery, and the entirety Holy Mountain Athos and the Serbian land.
