The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Orthodox Church in
Masontown, Pennsylvania, several years ago, celebrated a joyous occasion that established a new, international ministry of
Orthodox Witness, Healing and Hope. (To learn how you may participate, see section below.) This joyous
occasion was the consecration of a new shrine under the Heavenly patronage
of Holy Panteleimon All-Merciful Healer and Great Martyr of Christ.
The shrine was blessed by the Most Rev. KYRILL, Archbishop of Pittsburgh, Western
Pennsylvania and the Bulgarian Diocese. His Eminence was assisted by
the Rev. Fr. Rumen Stoychev, priest of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin
Mary parish, by the Rev. Fr. Vitaly Dudkin, priest of Holy Trinity Church
(Masontown’s sister parish in New Salem, PA) and by Fr. Deacon John Oleynik.
Subdeacon Anthony Miralles and George Gapen, who was admitted to minor orders
during the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, functioned in assigned capacities.
A banquet for visiting clergy, parishioners and honored guests concluded the
festivities.
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The
Shrine Ministry
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.
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