On Saturday morning, September 23, 2023, members of the Parish Charity Committee, clergy and church choir of St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church (Glen Mills / Gradyville, PA) accompanied the bishops to Nemours/Dupont Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, DE, where a Service of Thanksgiving was held for the health of the children of the hospital in the special hospital chapel. His Eminence, Archbishop Mark gave a very poignant homily on the importance of charitable giving and prayers not only for the many children, but also the parents and caregivers who constantly work to help in their healing and care.  Several members of the hospital community attended the service and all processed to the receiving area where hundreds of new toys, crafts, books and other useful items were brought through the generosity of St. Herman parishioners. His Eminence Archbishop was deeply touched by this manifestation of love and care for all those who are in need of God’s mercy and help.
After the visit to Nemours the Hierarchs were taken on a tour of Winterthur Museum in New Castle County, Delaware, a stunning mansion featuring the most significant collection of American decorative arts in the world, encompassed in the museum (former Dupont home), gardens and valuable library. Following this, the hierarchs and members of the charity committee visited the home of Father John’s daughter where Matushka Eugenia Perich hosted a luncheon for all present.
Later, the hierarchs were driven to the Church in anticipation of the arrival of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and his entourage from Washington D.C.  His Eminence Archbishop Mark remarked in his welcome at the conclusion of the Great Vespers service that this was most likely the first official visit of His Beatitude to his former Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania since his election, to which he hoped would be the first of many future visits to the Diocese.
Following the beautiful and inspiring Great Vespers and Litiya service, all were again invited into the Church Memorial Hall to break bread together and share fellowship. 
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