06/03/2026
“Oh, yesterday came suddenly.”
(Yesterday, by the Beatles)
It is almost impossible to fully fathom, but today marks my thirtieth anniversary as priest, shepherd, and pastor of Holy Archangel Micheal Orthodox Church. It seems ages since my wife and I and our four small children arrived to take charge of this parish on the “Day of the Holy Spirit” (the day following Pentecost) in 1996, yet it also strikes me odd that it almost seems as if it only happened yesterday, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…” (1st Cor. 15:52)
As I wax nostalgic upon this momentous event, I immediately turn to God and thank Him for allowing me the opportunity to serve and lead such a wonderful community of believers. And knowing that no priest is greater than those he ministers to and serves, you have made my pastorate excel through the tremendous love, warmth, trust, and respect you have shown me over these thirty years. We have worked well together, you and I, in a symbiotic, synergistic relationship with common and decisive goals unto the glory of God.
There is a Russian proverb which states, “You cannot truly know someone until you’ve eaten a pound of salt together.” The implication being, relationships are wrought and forged through spending time together eating; an act that involves sharing food and drink but also requires heartfelt conversation and fellowship. Obviously, in the countless meals, banquets, and receptions we have shared, we have come to know one another quite well. Thus, upon any priest’s arrival to a new parish, at first, he simply views his flock as parishioners. Yet over time, this platonic relationship transforms into his ministering to those parishioners as to friends. However, given enough time and love, those same parishioners become viewed as intimate family members and relatives; not with a shared bloodline, but by sharing the “Blood of Christ” through Holy Communion.
Still, I realize in all humility that this solemn occasion is both a milestone and a type of “millstone,” in the fact that I can look back upon all the wonderful, positive spiritual growth that has come about within these past three decades, but also a millstone in acknowledging the many personal faults and failures in my priestly ministry (i.e. having not ministered successfully to those in need, not having brought certain lost sheep back into the fold, and all that which I could have potentially accomplished in the Name of God, but did not).
On an interesting aside, during this elapsed time I have performed 537 Funerals; 224 Baptisms; 50 Chrismations; and 102 Weddings. I have preached well over 2,000 sermons; written and posted almost daily on Church Chat and Facebook; led hundreds of Adult Education Classes; given numerous Lectures, both in and outside our parish; written over 300 articles for our monthly Archangel; published 1,560 weekly bulletins; as well as having served almost 2,100 liturgies and making approximately 9,000 visitations to homes, hospitals, and nursing facilities.
Yet despite these numerical figures and statistics, I have been so honored to be part of your lives, ministering to each of you in your time of necessity. We have been through a great deal together, much like any marriage. We have suffered together, cried together, laughed and rejoiced together, given, received, and been charitable together; mourned our losses and celebrated our victories; but most importantly, we have faithfully worshipped together: offering our gifts and thanksgiving to God and receiving from Him the Holy Eucharist. Ultimately, this is the one thing that binds us together as a parish family: Communing together from the Chalice to be together in eternal Communion with God.
May our Lord continue to bestow His rich and merciful blessings upon us and keep us and show us the light of His continence all the days of our lives.
Very Rev. Fr. John Memorich
![“And when [the Holy Spirit] has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment…” (John 16...](https://img3.prayers1.com/385/263/1416468363852630.jpg)
