On Saturday, May 21, 2011, Archimandrite Zacchaeus, Representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Moscow Patriarchate, while visiting Germany for three days with the blessing of His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH of All America and Canada concelebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy led by His Eminence, Archbishop FEOFAN of Berlin and Germany at St John the Forerunner Russian Orthodox Church in Schweinfurt, Germany.
Also concelebrating the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with Archbishop FEOFAN were: Archpriest Peter Stepanov, the Rector of St Xenia of Petersburg parish in Nurnberg, and Dean of the Russian Orthodox Parishes in Bavaria; Igumen Michael (Dandar), Rector of St John the Forerunner Church in Schweinfurt; clergy of the Moscow Patriarchate; Church of the Czech lands and Slovakia; the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
Following the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, Archbishop FEOFAN congratulated the parish rector, Igumen Michael (Dandar) on the occasion of his 40th Anniversary of Ordination to the Holy Priesthood. Likewise, the concelebrating clergy also congratulated their host and friend on this important landmark in his priestly ministry.
According to the parish custom, the faithful were anointed with holy oil from Jerusalem at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. This act was performed by Archimandrite Zacchaeus, with the blessing of Archbishop FEOFAN of Berlin and Germany. After all were anointed, Archbishop FEOFAN led a festal cross procession around the church with the singing of the Paschal Canon and Troparion. Afterwards, all were treated to a festal meal in the parish courtyard where brotherly conversation continued.
In addition to the celebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, Father Zacchaeus also had the chance to visit Orthodox Parishes in Bavaria, escorted by is host for the three day visit, Archpriest Peter Stepanov.
