At the Spiritual Center of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Memorial Church, the faithful gathered in prayer, gratitude, and joy to celebrate a triple and deeply meaningful occasion in the life of Metropolitan Antony - his Name Day on the feast of Venerable Anthony the Great, his 79th birthday, and the 13th anniversary of his enthronement as Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA.

Before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy, the faithful were prayerfully invited to venerate the holy relics of Saint Anthony the Great, solemnly brought forth for veneration. This sacred moment set the spiritual tone for the celebration, reminding all present that the Church is built not merely upon institutions, but upon holiness, ascetic struggle, and lives wholly offered to God.

The Orthodox veneration of relics is a confession of faith in the Resurrection - an affirmation that the grace of the Holy Spirit dwells even in the physical remains of those who became temples of God. Saint Anthony, the great father of monasticism and the desert ascetic par excellence, teaches every generation that reliance on God alone is the path to true freedom. It is this very spirit of trust, humility, and unwavering prayer that has profoundly shaped the pastoral ministry of Metropolitan Antony, whose heavenly patron he bears.

The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Metropolitan Antony, who was prayerfully joined at the Holy Altar by Archbishop Daniel and twenty-five priests from parishes across New Jersey, New York, and the greater Philadelphia region - gathered to honor their spiritual father and chief shepherd.

The Gospel proclamation was followed by a sermon delivered by Protopresbyter Stephen Hutnick, Treasurer of the Consistory of the UOC of the USA. With warmth and spiritual depth, he reflected on Metropolitan Antony’s ministry as both hierarch and administrator - one marked not by control, but by trust in divine providence.

“A true shepherd,” Father Stephen noted, “is not one who believes he carries the Church upon his shoulders, but one who entrusts every step to God, knowing that Christ Himself is the Head of the Church. Metropolitan Antony has taught us, by example, that fidelity, patience, and prayer are the strongest foundations of leadership.”

His words resonated deeply with clergy and faithful alike, underscoring the Metropolitan’s quiet strength, fatherly wisdom, and unwavering reliance on God’s will.

The liturgical responses were beautifully chanted by the choir of seminarians from St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary, joined by clergy and faithful, under the direction of their instructor Fr. Roman Marchyshak. Their prayerful singing lifted hearts heavenward, offering a living testimony that the future of the Church is being formed in faith, obedience, and love for sacred tradition.

Following the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the pastor of St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Memorial Church, Very Rev. Fr. Vasyl Pasakas, warmly greeted Metropolitan Antony, presenting him with a bouquet of flowers and thanking him for thirteen years of faithful leadership as Metropolitan - an example of steadfast service in Christ’s Holy Vineyard.

In response, Metropolitan Antony offered words of heartfelt gratitude to the hierarchs, clergy, seminarians, and faithful who gathered to pray with him: “Everything that we are, and everything that we do, belongs to God. If there is any good in my ministry, it is because of the prayers of the faithful, the dedication of the clergy, and the mercy of the Lord, who strengthens us in our weakness.”

His words reflected the humility of a shepherd who understands his ministry not as personal achievement, but as a shared journey of faith.

After the liturgical celebration, the faithful gathered once again - this time in the Pokrova Social Hall of the Spiritual Center - for a festive luncheon lovingly prepared by Chef Volodymyr Morozovskyi and his dedicated team. Clergy, seminarians, and faithful continued the celebration in an atmosphere of joy and familial warmth.

A special cultural presentation followed, introduced by Archbishop Daniel, who presented Seminarian Reader Marian Meleshko. Through song, he honored Metropolitan Antony, culminating in a moving final piece titled “Mother”, dedicated to the Metropolitan’s mother Dorothy of blessed memory - a moment that touched hearts deeply and reminded all present of the sacred roots from which every vocation grows.

The celebration concluded with joy, gratitude, and prayer - offered in honor of a hierarch who has faithfully carried the cross of leadership with humility, wisdom, and unwavering trust in God.

As the Church honored Metropolitan Antony on the feast of his heavenly patron, she also reaffirmed a timeless truth: the strength of the Church lies in holiness, prayer, and faithful shepherds who walk before their flock in the spirit of the saints.

May the Lord, through the prayers of Venerable Anthony the Great, grant His Eminence Metropolitan Antony many blessed years - strengthened in body, enlightened in spirit, and upheld by the love of the faithful whom he serves.