His Grace Bishop Andrei Officiates Great Vespers for the Feast of the Holy Transfiguration at Saint Polycarp of Smyrna Parish in Naples, Florida

NAPLES, FL – August 5, 2026 – With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Nathaniel, His Grace Bishop Andrei of Cleveland continued his pastoral visit to the Romanian Orthodox parishes of Florida during the Dormition Fast, traveling on Wednesday, August 5, to Saint Polycarp of Smyrna Romanian Orthodox Parish in Naples, Florida, where he officiated the Great Vespers for the Feast of the Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord.

Assisting His Grace at the service were the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Gabriel Alexe, and Rev. Hdn. Benedict Oancea.

In his homily, His Grace reflected on the profound theological significance of the Feast of the Holy Transfiguration, describing it as the revelation of Christ’s divine glory. He explained that the Transfiguration took place forty days before the Lord’s Passion, while forty days from this feast the Church celebrates the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. This liturgical connection reminds the faithful that the glory of Christ’s divinity and the mystery of His saving Passion cannot be separated.

His Grace noted that before His Passion, Christ foretold His suffering and death to His disciples. He then took Peter, James, and John up Mount Tabor, where He…