Cancun, January 24, 2020
Photo: ruschurchusa.org
The Orthodox faithful of Cancun had much to celebrate on January 19.
In addition to the great feast of the Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the community also celebrated the Baptism of Dmitry Sukharov, a Latvian man who was released from prison just a week prior thanks to the intervention of the St. John Give Hope Foundation in Brooklyn, as OrthoChristian reported.
Moreover, the St. Nicholas parish community also marked its first anniversary, reports the site of the Russian Orthodox Church in the U.S.
One year ago, the Orthodox residents of Cancun asked His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow to bless their intention to organize a parish. The Patriarch instructed His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary manager of the Patriarchal Parishes in the U.S., to assist in organizing regular Divine services and to explore the possibility of opening a parish.
Over the past year, Fr. Kyrill Chakon, the rector of the Church of the Holy Protection in Mexico, has repeatedly visited the faithful in Cancun and celebrated the Divine Liturgy and other services in a church provided by the local Catholic bishop.
The first Orthodox Liturgy in the history of Cancun was celebrated on May 1.
Photo: ruschurchusa.org
On the feast of Theophany this year, the community was visited by the head of the chancellery of the Patriarchal Parishes, Fr. Mark Rashkov, who celebrated the Divine Liturgy and the Great Blessing of the Waters, and baptized the aforementioned Dmitry.
Following the service, Fr. Mark greeted all those present and conveyed the blessing and good wishes of Bp. Matthew. He also presented Fr. Kyrill with a Patriarchal jubilee medal in memory of the 100th anniversary of the restoration of the Patriarchate in the Russian Church.
The celebration continued with coffee hour, where Fr. Mark answered the parishioners’ questions and discussed practical issues for the further organization of the parish.
