Very soon the faithful of the DFW Metroplex will be honored with a visit by His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, and   locum tenens  of the Diocese of the South.   His Beatitude will be in Dallas and Ft. Worth from   Friday, May 8  through   Monday  morning,   May 11.     Near the end of his stay the Metropolitan will visit St. Barbara's in Ft. Worth from approximately 5 pm to 9 pm, Sunday night, May 10.   No service is scheduled for that evening.   However, His Beatitude will gather with Deanery clergy from   5 to 6 pm  at our parish.   A reception and "meet and greet" with the faithful of St. Barbara's and other local Churches will follow at approximately 6:15 pm.

      The theme for the   May 10  reception will be " A Texas Welcome" with barbeque as the main course being provided.   We are in need, however, of thematic accompaniments and desserts   from our parishioners, as well as other meats.   A sign-up sheet is located in the hall to indicate what people might bring.   Everyone's help will be appreciated with food preparations, serving, greeting and clean up afterwards.    Please contact Matushka Christine, Zach and Tiera Lueth, Tracie DeBolt or Fr. Basil with questions or for more information.   Those people bringing food please arrive early so that food can be placed in decorative dishes and situated on the appropriate tables.       

      The visit of His Beatitude to St. Barbara's is a historic occasion for our community, so please mark your calendars for this important event.   A more detailed   itinerary of the Metropolitan's visit follows.

      Although Liturgy will be celebrated as usual at St. Barbara's on   Sunday, May 10, we encourage our parishioners to worship at St. Seraphim's that weekend on both   Saturday  and   Sunday, particularly for the two Hierarchical Liturgies and Ordination.    On   Sunday, May 3,   I will meet with the youth of our parish during the Fellowship Hour to discuss the importance of the Metropolitan's visit.   Parents and interested adults are welcome to join us if they like, as we speak about specifics regarding the visit of an Orthodox Hierarch.   In addition people are encouraged to help prepare for the Metropolitan's visit by joining us   on Saturday  morning,   May 9, at 10:30 am, for a thorough cleaning of the Church and hall.

Friday, May 8   (at St. Seraphim Cathedral):

Morning and afternoon meetings of Diocesan Deans with His Beatitude, as well as with Archpriest John Jillions and Melanie Ringa.   Vespers will be celebrated at the Cathedral at   6 pm, followed by a Dean's Dinner with the Metropolitan starting at   7:30 pm.

Saturday May 9  (at St. Seraphim Cathedral):

9:15 am  Greeting of Metropolitan at the Cathedral

9:30 am  Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with Diaconal Ordination ( Church Cleaning at St. Barbara's at 10:30 am.)

Festal Lunch with Metropolitan

Great Vespers   5:00 PM

Dinner to follow

                                                                                                                           

Sunday Morning, May 10   (at St. Seraphim Cathedral):

9:15 am   Greeting of the Metropolitan at the Cathedral

9:30  Hierarchical Divine Liturgy

Coffee Hour

Meeting of the faithful with the Metropolitan

Lunch with Metropolitan

Sunday Evening, May 10   (at St. Barbara's in Ft. Worth):

Dallas Deanery Clergy Dinner with Metropolitan   5:00 pm  in Ft Worth.

Texas reception and "meet and greet" to follow at approximately   6 pm.