Met. Saba Celebrates Theophany Across Kentucky and Ohio

Photo: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North American/Facebook

ENGLEWOOD, NJ — Met. Saba of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese marked the Feast of Theophany with a series of archpastoral visits to parishes in Kentucky and Ohio from Jan. 2–6, 2026, celebrating worship, milestones, and community life.

The visit began at St. Michael Church in Louisville, Kentucky, where Metropolitan Saba presided at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, elevating the pastor, Fr. Lucas Rice, to the rank of archpriest and ordaining Mark (Theron) Mathis to the holy diaconate. In his homily, he emphasized humility and trust in God as essential to the Christian life.

He then traveled to St. James Church in Loveland, Ohio, where he met with youth, young adults, and parish leaders, led prayers for the civil New Year, and cut the traditional Vasilopita. Met. Saba also elevated Fr. Nabil Fino to archpriest and joined the community in ceremonially burning the church’s mortgage, marking a moment of thanksgiving and renewal.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Met. Saba declared that the "century of evangelization has begun" for Orthodoxy in America. 

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