Leavetaking of Dormition in Calhan

On the weekend of August 23-24, 2014, His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin, along with Andrew Smith, our diocesan administrator, traveled to the Eastern plains of Colorado to celebrate the leavetaking of the Dormition at St. Mary’s Holy Dormition Orthodox Church in Calhan, Colorado.

On Saturday, August 23, His Eminence celebrated liturgy at St. Tikhon’s Chapel with Fr. Anthony Karbo of Holy Theophany in Colorado Springs, Fr Simeon Johnson of St. Mary’s in Calhan, and Fr Alexander Vallens of St. Tikhon’s mission in Parker, as well as Deacons Panayiotis Tekosis of Holy Theophany and Antony Dyl of Holy Transfiguration. At the conclusion of the beautiful liturgy, His Eminence blessed the Iconostasis in St. Tikhon’s chapel. This completed the restoration of the original temple after a tragic fire gutted the building in 2000.

After Liturgy, His Eminence and the visiting clergy and laity from the Rocky Mountain deanery gathered in the parish hall and were treated to a luncheon by the Rose-Marie Society.

The next morning, His Eminence presided at a beautiful Hierarchical Liturgy and was treated to a fine meal provided by the young people of the parish before he and Andrew made their journey back to San Francisco.