The shrine, intended for individual meditation, is unassuming. Upon entering one is surrounded by nine large Icons written directly on the concrete covered walls. The iconographic focus of the shrine is the Great Deesis which dominates the 70 square feet which is the eastern wall. Deesis means "prayer" and refers to Icons in which the Mother of God, St. John the Forerunner and (perhaps) additional Saints are shown interceding before the reigning Christ. In this example, the clouds of the natural order have been parted and Christ is seen enthroned in the golden light of Heaven. His left hand supports the Book of the Holy Gospels open to the text "Come Unto Me" while with His right hand He blesses all who approach. The Most Holy, Immaculate and Ever-Virgin Mary, Birthgiver of God and Mother of those baptized into Him, prays for those who call upon Her Son, for those who invoke her clemency and for parishioners of, and visitors to, the nearby church sacred to Her nativity. St John is "the Forerunner," because he prepared contemporaries for Christ's public ministry by preaching repentance; because, after his martyrdom, he prepared the dead for the imminent descent of Christ and because in Heaven he prays that we might join him and so serve as your forerunner and mine. Vigil lamps and an improvised hanging lamp are generally available for pilgrims who might, nevertheless, do well to bring there own. The hanging lamp, which accommodates a conventional 7 day, glass encased candle hangs before the Shrine's patron who is shown holding a long handled spoon and a chest of medications.

          As images of other carefully chosen Saints were added to the walls, prayer was continually offered in behalf of whomever might seek their God-inspired intervention. Overhead, exposed rafters are covered with holy intentions, with the first names of supplicants and those (living and dead) dear to them. Petitions and thanksgivings hang here too--silent testimonies to faith, to the unity of the Church on earth and in Heaven and evidence of the conviction that nothing in this life, or in the next, is beyond the love and power of God.

         This is a Shrine for all including those often despised, feared, neglected or considered unworthy as well as the sick, the dying and those who wish to offer thanksgiving. Here those deemed unworthy of burial in consecrated ground, sexual minorities, victims of aids, suicides, apostates, those who have no one on earth to pray for them, the souls of aborted infants, the executed, prisoners military and civil, the mentally ill and you and all who are self-designated but Heavenly-recognized members of the St Panteleimon's Shrine Fellowship are regardless of your location, station or need. Even if the physical Shrine ceases to exist it can remain a spiritual focus by which we can and should pray for one another.

          There are no dues, visitors are still welcome at what has become a discouragingly unkempt site, it is best to bring your own vigils and is most likely inappropriate to send offerings. The founder has found it spiritually necessary to affiliate with another parish, but continues to pray for the Shrine and members of the Fellowship daily. . Non-Orthodox membership in this invisible fellowship is encouraged. A mother whose son was killed by a drunk driver was told by fellow Methodists that she must not pray for her son's soul---through the Fellowship, members from every continent pray for his soul and hers (she has recently reposed) though they have never heard their names. Names and or requests will continue to be added to the long ago filled rafters where a second layer of slips of paper has begun. Please do not accompany such requests with an offering. While a member of the parish the founder sent handwritten notes to all who requested prayers. That is no longer likely. Assuming the rector's cooperation, the founder will resume the addition of names and requests to add to the rafters so long as that is physically possible.

         May God use the Shrine, the Fellowship and us to His to glory and the healing of His People.

        Requests may be sent to:
        George Gapen, Shrine Founder
        404 North Main Street
        Masontown, PA. 15461

        Again, please no monetary gifts for the Shrine---until and unless some spiritual/physical intervention occurs the Founder is limiting candles to tea-lights placed in an aquarium (to shield them from moving air) at Christ's feet.