WILKES-BARRE, PA [DOEPA]
On Thursday, May 7, 2026, Holy Trinity Church in Wilkes-Barre, PA, welcomed clergy and faithful from across the region for a Pan-Orthodox celebration honoring the feast of the Repose of Saint Alexis Toth, Confessor and Defender of Orthodoxy in America.
The celebration brought together Orthodox Christians from throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania in prayerful remembrance of Saint Alexis, whose missionary labors and steadfast witness played a foundational role in the growth of Orthodoxy in North America. Among the clergy serving for the feast were Archpriest Innocent Neal, Rector of Holy Trinity Church and Dean of the Wilkes-Barre Deanery; Priest Paul Witek, Rector of All Saints Church in Olyphant, PA, and Academic Dean at St. Tikhon's Theological Seminary; Priest Nicholas Newman, Rector of St. Mary's Antiochian Church in Wilkes-Barre, PA; Priest Michael Azar, cleric of St. George's Carpatho-Russian Church in Taylor, PA; seminarians of St. Tikhon’s Theological Seminary Priest Pedro Sarsama, Priest Seraphim Crossman, Priest Evan Ashmore, and Deacon Eugene Schreder; together with Protodeacon Sergei Kapral, cleric of Holy Trinity Church. The responses were prayerfully directed by Paula Holoviak.
During the Divine Liturgy, Archpriest Innocent Neal offered a homily reflecting on the life, witness, and missionary zeal of Saint Alexis, encouraging the faithful to remain steadfast in the Orthodox Faith and to continue the work of evangelism and faithful Christian witness in the modern world.
Many of the faithful present received the Holy Eucharist.
At the conclusion of the services, Priest Paul Witek addressed the faithful regarding the continued partnership between Holy Trinity Church and St. Tikhon’s Theological Seminary through the seminary visitation program. Father Paul spoke about sending seminarians to the parish throughout the fall and winter months and expressed his sincere gratitude for the warm reception, generosity, and hospitality consistently shown to both himself and the seminarians by the parish community. He also noted that he and the seminarians look forward to continuing and strengthening the program in the future.
Following the services, the parish hosted a gathering for all in attendance, offering an opportunity for fellowship and continued celebration of the feast.
Photo credit: Reader Jalen Buchinski and Nicholas Masser
O Holy Father Alexis, pray unto God for us!
Issued by the Diocesan Media Office
