110th Anniversary of St. Michael’s, Pueblo

by Father Zechariah Lynch

The sixth hour just finished. Eight priests of the Rocky Mountain deanery, along with guest speaker Achimandrite Irenei, one deacon, and four subdeacons file out of the Sanctuary towards the back of the church to await His Eminence Archbishop Benjamin. A shy and nervous youngster of the parish awaits His Eminence in the open doors of the church with a bouquet. The church is small but lovingly built over 89 years ago. It may even have the world’s smallest Narthex. The original church was destroyed in a massive flood in 1921, and the impoverished congregation at that time scraped all their funds together to rebuild – St. Michael’s Orthodox church in Pueblo, Colorado. On November 8th, the Feast of the Archangel Michael and all the Heavenly Hosts, the community celebrated its 110th Feast Day.

In the not so distant past of 1903 St. Tikhon received a large group of hardworking Uniate Slavs back into the fold of Holy Orthodoxy.
As His Eminence ascends the stairs leading up to the church the choir begins to sing and a full Hierarchical Divine Liturgy commences. In the rather packed little Sanctuary the Rocky Mountain deanery clergy gather around their Archpastor and the boundlessness of Christ Jesus’ Holy Body and Blood, the one thing needful. As the Psalmist says, “Behold, what is so good, or what is so fine, but for brethren to dwell in unity”

Services were offered; meals were served; fellowship was enjoyed. A general festive feeling was warmly lighting the air. In honor of their 110th Feast Day the parish highlighted the New-Hieromartyr Pavel of Russia, who was the grandfather of a now reposed parishioner, offering a brief booklet of his life to worshipers.

It has been a long time since the church in Pueblo played host to such a number of clergy. They traveled from various parts of Colorado, and one from as far as Montana, to not only celebrate with the community of St. Michael, but to also gather as a clergy brotherhood
and deanery. The deanery gathering centered on two wonderful talks by Archimandrite Irenei, The Orthodox Priest and the Love of God and The Priest and His Confession. Archmandrite Irenei is a very articulate speaker who has a rich spiritual upbringing and a obvious value for the traditional Orthodox Christian way of life. At both talks thoughtful and candid discussion took place. They provided a forum in which to ruminate and dialogue on various aspects of priestly ministry and the personal life of a priest – his struggles and victories. The talks and meetings spanned from Thursday evening, November 7th to Friday, November 8th. The deanery has been developing and implementing a vision to make deanery meetings not simply “business”, but a time of spiritual encouragement and nourishment. Archbishop Benjamin was present at the Friday meeting to offer insight and address various questions of the gathered clergy.

The Feast Day celebrations and meetings seemed to be of substantial spiritual benefit for clergy and people. The community of St. Michael’s was greatly encouraged and blessed to receive such wonderful support on their Feast Day from the deanery and the Diocese. Holy Archangel Michael pray to God for us!