August 8, 2021: First Services in Marquette

By Fr. Gregory Joyce, Dean of Michigan.

With the blessing of Archbishop Peter a new mission has been established in Marquette, Michigan.

Marquette is the largest metropolitan area in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and is home to Northern Michigan University. The new mission is named in honor of Righteous Jacob of Alaska. Although this great missionary is little known in ROCOR, his incredible exploits in the face of the most difficult conditions during the time of the Russian Mission in Alaska make him a very fitting patron for the new community.

At the Sts. Sergius & Herman of Valaam Monastey in Houghton, Michigan (about 100 miles from Marquette) on August 7 and 8 the service to St. Jacob was combined with the Sunday cycle and served in full.

On Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. the faithful in Marquette gathered at a rented room at Northern Michigan University to serve the moleben “Before the Beginning of Any Good Work” and hear a word of instruction from the Dean of Michigan Parishes, Fr. Gregory Joyce.

Fr. Gregory conveyed Archbishop Peter’s blessing on the new community and encouraged the community to make the Divine Services the center of their parish life, and to entreat the prayers of St. Jacob before the Throne of the Lord for the success of their efforts. Fr. Gregory was assisted with the moleben by Deacon Jesse Rimshas, who will be the mission coordinator.

Following the moleben an ice cream social was held where the new parish family was able to get to know each other a bit better and discuss plans for their future weekly gatherings.