On Sunday, March 9, at 6:30 PM, an immense crowd of Orthodox faithful from across Southern California gathered at St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church in Irvine, California, to celebrate the Sunday of Orthodoxy, a significant feast in the liturgical cycle dedicated to the restoration of icons and the triumph of Orthodox faith in the 8th and 9th centuries.

The event centered on a pan-Orthodox Vespers service, bringing together five hierarchs from the West Coast. His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos hosted the gathering, joined by Bishop Anthony (Antiochian Orthodox Church), Bishop Maxim (Serbian Orthodox Church), Archbishop Benjamin (Orthodox Church in America, Diocese of San Francisco and the West), and Bishop Ioan (Ecumenical Patriarchate).

During the Vespers, Bishop Anthony offered a homily, reflecting on the theological significance of the Sunday of Orthodoxy and the role of icons in Orthodox worship. At the conclusion of the service, Archbishop Benjamin received special recognition from all the hierarchs, who expressed their gratitude for his decades-long service to the Church and his unwavering dedication to Orthodox unity.

More than 50 clergy and a multitude of faithful participated in the service, which featured a procession of icons accompanied by the voices of a pan-Orthodox choir. Following the service, attendees shared fellowship at a Lenten reception, exchanging greetings and reflections on the significance of this annual gathering.

This celebration continues the rich tradition of pan-Orthodox unity in Southern California, affirming the shared faith and heritage of Orthodox Christians across jurisdictions.