On December 10, 2025, the feast day of the Icon of the Mother of God "The Sign," Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, the temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God—a metochion of the Monastery of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki in Spokane, Washington.
Concelebrating with His Grace were the rector of the metochion, Hieromonk Tikhon (Pashkov), Priest Dionysius Butt, and Deacon Oleg Serebryanov. Despite it being a weekday, news of the archpastor's visit drew many parishioners and guests from other Orthodox parishes in the area.
During the Liturgy, following his ordination as a reader and subdeacon, Bishop Matthew ordained the metochion's novice, Seraphim Assink, to the diaconate.
After the service, the archpastor addressed those gathered with a sermon, wishing them a blessed Fast in preparation for the coming Feast of the Nativity of Christ. His Grace gratefully acknowledged the pastoral labors of the rector and clergy of the metochion and wished God's help and success in service to the newly ordained Deacon Seraphim.
Fellowship between the archpastor and the parishioners continued at a fraternal meal. Following this, His Grace reviewed the progress of construction on the parish house. Upon completion of all renovation work on the center, which began last year, the church premises currently used for the Sunday school and trapeza will be repurposed to expand the temple space, accommodating the growing number of parishioners in recent years.
