July 23, 2009
Columbia, SC: Metropolitan Hilarion Visits the Parish of St. Elizabeth the New Martyr

columbia.lg.jpg (43978 bytes)On July 16-18, Metropolitan Hilarion visited the mission parish of St. Elizabeth the New Martyr in Columbia, South Carolina. Arriving first in Charleston, Vladika lunched with Fr. Anastasy Yatrelis, rector of Sts. Cyril & Methodius parish in Summerville, SC, and Fr. Mark Mancuso, rector of St Elizabeth’s in Columbia. The Metropolitan then drove with Fr. Mark to Columbia, and later met over supper with the parish council and spouses, in the rural home of Fr. Columba Wilson, deacon of St Elizabeth’s.

On the morning of the 17th, Vladika Hilarion enjoyed an authentic Southern breakfast with Fr. Mark, Matushka Anne, their daughter, Rose Marie, Fr. Columba, and Vladika’s cell attendant, Denis Lvov. After breakfast, Vladika was given a private tour of South Carolina’s historic State House and the Confederate Relic Room-Museum. He later served the Vigil for the feast, followed by a dinner with all the clergy.

On Saturday the 18th, Metropolitan Hilarion served the Divine Liturgy with Fr. Mark, Deacon Columba, as well as seven priests and three deacons from the Southern Deanery of the Diocese of Eastern America, the OCA, Jerusalem Patriarchate, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (MP). The services were well attended, with nearly 100 faithful assembling in the small storefront church. During the Liturgy, two chalices were used to commune the many who partook of the Holy Mysteries.

At the end of the Liturgy, to honor their dedication and service to the parish, gramatas were awarded to the parish’s starosta, Mr. Paul Witt, the treasurer, Mr. Joshua Shaw, and the deacon’s wife, Matushka Danielle Wilson. Metropolitan Hilarion preached an inspirational sermon about the life of St. Elizabeth the New Martyr, calling upon the faithful to use her heroic life as a model in their daily struggle to live a life in Christ.

After Saturday’s Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion, along with the clergy and the faithful, enjoyed a luncheon prepared by the Sisterhood at the parish hall of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in downtown Columbia. The young children of St Elizabeth’s presented Vladika with a book of colorings prepared in honor of his visit. Upon his leaving, all of the faithful thanked Metropolitan Hilarion for honoring them with his presence on this joyous Feast, and expressed their hope to see him again in the future.

Photo-report of the feast.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese