May
27, 2010
Vineland, NJ: Bishop Jerome led the divine services on the patronal
feast day of Holy Trinity Church
The
day of Holy Pentecost is the patronal feast day of the parishioners of
Holy
Trinity Church in Vineland, located in the southern reaches of New
Jersey.
To celebrate this
special day, Bishop Jerome of Manhattan made an archpastoral visit to
the parish, leading the All-Night Vigil service. His Grace was
co-served by two priests – rector Archpriest Liubo Milosevic and
Priest Eugene Solodky (cleric of St. Andrew’s Cathedral (MP) in
Philadelphia, PA), as well as Protodeacon Dimitri Temidis (cleric of
Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY), who arrived with His
Grace.
The cozy church was
flooded with vibrant flowers. All of the icons in the iconostasis and
some of the larger ones on the walls were very skillfully adorned with
stunningly beautiful garlands of bright white flowers and red
carnations, as well as other kinds of remarkable flowers; fragrant
flowers were also tastefully strewn about the floor. The impression
given by the extraordinarily beautiful floral décor cannot be
fittingly conveyed, and one was involuntarily reminded of an earthly
paradise.
The external beauty
of the décor wonderfully matched the harmonious, pleasant, sweet
singing of the church choir, exclusively composed of women, whose song
reminded one of the singing of some of the model convent choirs of
Holy Russia. And it was in pursuit of this goal that the choir
conductor, Vera Solodkaya, chose compositions that, while matching the
abilities of the choir, lent a prayerful mood, warmth of emotion, and
sweetness of spirit with their melodies..
Some
moments of the evening service, such as "O Gladsome Light"
and the megalynarion, were sung by the clergy and altar servers.
The
following day, the Feast of Holy Pentecost, the festive Liturgy was
celebrated. The day was warm and cloudy, but not rainy. At the
entrance to the church, His Grace was greeted in the gracious Russian
tradition, with bread, salt, and a splendid bouquet of flowers. Upon
entering the church narthex, His Grace was greeted by the clergy.
The rector
addressed His Grace with a short greeting, in which he expressed to
Bishop Jerome on behalf of himself and the faithful their sincere
appreciation and heartfelt gratitude for his archpastoral visit and
for the love shown by the good shepherd to his loving spiritual
children.
The vesting of the
bishop began, followed by the reading of the hours: the third hour in
Slavonic, the sixth – in English. After this, the festive Liturgy
was served according to the usual order. During all the litanies and
the bishop’s exclamation, "Among the first remember, O
Lord…" the name of His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of All
Russia, was invariably commemorated as a clear sign of acknowledgement
of the great and portentous unity of the Russian Church. The choir
sang as during the Vigil, just as endearingly, pleasantly, and
solemnly.
Upon
completion of the Liturgy, Bishop Jerome delivered a sermon
wherein, with simple, clear, and earnestly warm words, he painted a
picture of the festal events and paid special mind to the careful
regard for the timeless moral human values upheld in grace by the
Church, to the worldwide endeavor to guard the purity of Orthodoxy,
and to the assiduous aspirations of every man to the acquisition of
the grace of the Holy Spirit, by whose good offices alone are durable
peace and a worthy observation of Church unity, grounded in the
fullness of Orthodoxy and Christ’s love, made possible.
The vespers service
and prayers on bended knee then began. The first prayer was read by
His Grace in a clear, distinct, and moving voice. The second prayer
was read by Fr. Liubo, and the third, eloquently and emphatically by
Fr. Eugene. The festal service concluded with the singing of the
polychronion to the Church hierarchy, the serving clergy, and the
whole honorable parish.
After everything,
Bishop Jerome warmly thanked all for the cordial welcome, gave all the
faithful his archpastoral blessing, and, following the singing of
"Eis polla eti Despota" and the festive peal of the bells,
left the church for the nearby church hall, in which a festal luncheon
was waiting, prepared by zealous and active parishioners.
On the second day
of Holy Pentecost, the Day of the Holy Spirit, the festal Liturgy was
now served with the participation of local clergy. After the service,
on the occasion of the namesday of His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of
Moscow and All Russia, "Many years!" was proclaimed and sung
to the dear Celebrant.
And thus concluded
the festivities of Holy Pentecost at Holy Trinity Church in Vineland.
Translation
by the Media
Office of the Eastern American Diocese
