On Saturday, February 26th, Meatfare Sunday, His Holiness, IRINEJ, Patriarch of Serbia was greeted in festive fashion by Archbishop Alypy, Bishop Peter and a large group of visiting clergy. His Holiness prayed at the vigil service at which the children's choir of the parish school also sang. At the end of vespers, the children went up to receive a blessing from the Patriarch and were given small commemorative icons of the Mother of God. At the conclusion of matins, there was a light dinner at which there was the opportunity for brotherly interaction with the Patriarch.
The purpose of the Patriarchal visit to Chicago was the commemoration of Metropolitan Christopher who resposed six months ago and to visit the local Serbian faithful.