On Soul Saturday, March 10, 2018, one seminary alumnus was ordained to the priesthood, and another became rector at the same parish, St. Basil Mission in Wilmington, North Carolina.
ORDINATION OF DEACON ANDREW CANNON
Alumnus Deacon Andrew Cannon was ordained to the Holy Priesthood at St. Basil Mission by the hand of His Eminence, the Most Reverend Alexander, archbishop of Dallas, the South and the Bulgarian Diocese of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). His Eminence, himself an alumnus (’73), appointed Priest Andrew as the mission’s assistant pastor.
After the ordination, His Eminence also blessed Saint Basil Cemetery before a banquet held in honor of the newly ordained.
Fr. Andrew Cannon graduated from St. Vladimir’s Seminary with a Master of Arts Degree (M.A.) in 2016. Before attending St. Vladimir’s, Fr. Andrew studied Classics at Furman University and worked as a consultant at the university’s Writing & Media Lab. Prior to ordination, Fr. Andrew had been serving as deacon and pastoral assistant at St. Basil.
Read a powerful reflection Fr. Andrew and his wife, Matushka Melissa, wrote during their time at seminary here.
PRIEST PETER ROBICHAU NAMED RECTOR
At the conclusion of Saturday’s Divine Liturgy, His Eminence presented the parishioners of St. Basil Mission with a plaque, elevating St. Basil from mission status to full parish status, and naming Alumnus Priest Peter Robichau as the parish's first rector.
Fr. Peter graduated from St. Vladimir’s Seminary in 2010, and was assigned as St. Basil’s first resident Priest-in-Charge in June of that year. In his diaconal ministry, from June 25, 2006 until his enrollment at St. Vladimir’s in the fall of 2007, Fr. Peter served as local charities coordinator at Holy Apostles Church, (OCA), West Columbia, South Carolina —heading up parish involvement in local interfaith outreach endeavors. He further represented Holy Apostles Church to the area's primary non-profit charity as a member of the Board of Directors. He holds an undergraduate degree in Biblical Studies from Columbia International University in Columbia, SC.
Other St. Vladimir’s Seminary alumni participated in the Divine Liturgy and ordination Saturday, including Archpriest Marcus Burch (’97), chancellor of the Diocese of the South, Archpriest Thomas Moore ('98), Dean of the Carolinas Deanery, Priest John Parker (’04, ‘18), and Priest Patrick Pulley (’16). Approximately 150 faithful attended the service.
View photos of Saturday’s Divine Liturgy and ordination
