Русская Версия

September 8, 2010
New York, NY: Bishop Jerome took part in the 15th Anniversary Celebrations of Archbishop Justinian’s Episcopal Consecration

As reported by the official website of the Patriarchal Parishes in America, on Sunday, September 5, the 15th Anniversary of the Episcopal Consecration of His Eminence Justinian, Archbishop of Naro-Fominsk, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, was celebrated in St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York. Archbishop Justinian led the Divine Liturgy, co-served by His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan Vicar Bishop Jerome of Manhattan, and cathedral clergy.

Many of the faithful attended the Sunday Liturgy in order to venerate wonder-working, myrrh-streaming icon of the Mother of God, called the "Softener of Evil Hearts," which had been brought to New York from Moscow. During the Communion of the Clergy and with the blessing of Archbishop Justinian, the wonder-working icon’s custodian, Sergei Fomin, addressed the parishioners, telling them about miracles that had occurred due to prayers offered before the myrrh-streaming icon. Toward the end of the Liturgy, the hierarchs and clergy performed a moleben before the wonder-working image.

Upon completion of the Liturgy, Igumen Joseph (Kryukov), Secretary to the Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, read aloud a congratulatory letter from His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, to Archbishop Justinian on the occasion of the 15th Anniversary of his Episcopal Consecration. On behalf of the clergy and parishioners of St. Nicholas Cathedral and for their prayerful commemoration, Fr. Joseph presented His Eminence with material for vestments. Bishop Jerome of Manhattan also addressed Archbishop Justinian with a congratulatory word.

Archbishop Justinian expressed his gratitude to His Holiness the Patriarch, to all of the clergy, and to parishioners for their kind wishes on the occasion of the 15th Anniversary of his Episcopal Consecration. He replied in part, "Here, on the American continent, more than anywhere else, I can feel acutely that all of us, regardless of where we serve God and the Church, are members of one Orthodox family. From the first days of my service here in fulfillment of my obedience, assigned to me by the hierarchy of our Russian Orthodox Church, I have felt your prayers, your kindness, and your love. And it was namely this that helped me to feel at home here. Believe me when I say that this hierarch’s heart is capable of sincerely loving you, the clergy and parishioners of the Russian Orthodox Church in the USA, just as my spiritual children in Transnistria, where I was fated to serve almost 15 years, remain dear to me."

Over the course of the day, the clergy performed molebens before the wonder-working icon, to which worshipers from across New York and other cities came until evening.

Website of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA/Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese