BATH, PA [DOEPA COMMUNICATIONS]
From April 3-12, 2026, Holy Week and the Radiant Feast of Feasts, Great and Holy Pascha, His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania traveled throughout the Diocese, leading the faithful in prayerful celebration of these sacred days. His Eminence was accompanied by Alexander Koropsak, a Diocesan Seminarian at St. Vladimir's Theological Seminary in Yonkers, NY.
His archpastoral visitations began on the eve of Lazarus Saturday, April 3, at St. Mark’s Church in Wrightstown, PA, where His Eminence presided at Vespers, followed by the Divine Liturgy on Lazarus Saturday morning. That same weekend, he continued to St. Herman of Alaska Church in Gradyville, PA, for Palm Sunday, the Entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem, Vespers and the festal Divine Liturgy, gathering the faithful as the Church entered into the solemn services of Holy Week. On the evening of Palm Sunday, Archbishop Mark traveled to St. Michael the Archangel Church in Wilmington, DE, where he presided at Bridegroom Matins. He remained there for the Presanctified Divine Liturgy on Great and Holy Monday morning, before traveling to Holy Assumption Church in Philadelphia, PA, to serve Bridegroom Matins that evening.
On Great and Holy Tuesday, His Eminence celebrated the Vesperal Divine Liturgy for the Old-Calendar Feast of the Annunciation at the Theotokos of the Life-Giving Spring Mission in Philadelphia, PA. That evening, he presided at Bridegroom Matins at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Philadelphia, PA. The following day, Great and Holy Wednesday, he returned to the Cathedral for the Presanctified Divine Liturgy in the morning and later traveled to Holy Trinity Church in Pottstown, PA, where he presided at the Mystery of Holy Unction.
The services of Great and Holy Thursday were celebrated at Holy Apostles Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, where Archbishop Mark served the Vesperal Divine Liturgy, commemorating the institution of the Holy Eucharist. That evening, he traveled to Christ the Saviour Church in Harrisburg, PA, for the reading of the Twelve Passion Gospels. On Great and Holy Friday, His Eminence presided at the Royal Hours in the morning at Christ the Saviour Church in Harrisburg, PA. He then traveled to Holy Ascension Church in Frackville, PA, where he served Burial Vespers in the afternoon and Matins with Lamentations in the evening, accompanying the faithful in prayerful remembrance of the Lord’s burial.
On Great and Holy Saturday morning, April 11, Archbishop Mark celebrated the Vesperal Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Church in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Prior to the Vesperal Divine Liturgy, His Eminence tonsured Constantine Rosencrans as a Reader. May God grant him many years!
That evening, at Holy Annunciation Church in Berwick, PA, His Eminence led the Paschal Vigil, proclaiming the Resurrection of Christ and ushering in the joy of Holy Pascha. The celebration continued the following morning with Agape Vespers at Holy Annunciation Church in Berwick, PA, where the Gospel was proclaimed in multiple languages as a witness to the universality of the Resurrection. Throughout these sacred days, Archbishop Mark’s presence among the clergy and faithful served as a visible sign of the unity of the Diocese and a source of spiritual encouragement. Traveling across Pennsylvania and Delaware, His Eminence brought the light of Christ’s Passion and Resurrection to each parish community, strengthening the faithful in their journey from the Cross to the empty Tomb.
On behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Mark, the Diocesan Media Office expresses its sincere gratitude to Alexander Koropsak for his dedicated service in driving His Eminence throughout Holy Week and Pascha, as well as for capturing photographs of these sacred celebrations.
Photo credit: Alexander Koropsak, Timothy Galloway (St. Stephen’s Cathedral), Elijah Hojnicki (Holy Apostles Church), and others
CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!
Issued by the Diocesan Media Office
