September 7, 2010
Albany, NY: Metropolitan Hilarion led the Great Consecration of the
Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God
On
Sunday the 5th and Monday the 6th of September, the First Hierarch of
the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of
Eastern America and New York, led the festal divine services on the
occasion of the Great Consecration of the Church
of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Albany, NY.
Construction
on the church began in September 2004, with the blessing of the
ever-memorable First Hierarch of ROCOR, His Eminence, Metropolitan
Laurus, who also performed the Lesser Consecration in September 2005.
The church is currently being frescoed by Archpriest Theodore Jurewicz.
On
Monday morning, the First Hierarch performed the Great Consecration of
the church, followed by the Divine Liturgy. His Eminence was co-served
by Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk and Their Graces, Bishops
Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, Peter of Cleveland, George of
Mayfield, and Jerome of Manhattan, as well as a multitude
of clergy from across America. The All-Night Vigil was adorned with the
singing of the diocesan youth choir, while the Liturgy was sung by the
parish choir. The
Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, the Protectress of the Russian
Diaspora, was also present in church.
During
the Small Entrance, in accordance with the resolution of the ROCOR
Synod of Bishops, Metropolitan Hilarion bestowed awards upon several
clerics of the Eastern American Diocese:
For
his dedicated 50-year service to God’s Church and the construction of the new
church, Archpriest Wsewolod Drobot (rector of the Nativity of the
Mother of God Church) was awarded the right to wear the second
cross.
For
his dedicated 30-year service to God’s Church, Archpriest Michael
Fritz (cleric of the Nativity of the Mother of God Church) was
awarded the right to wear the epigonation (palitsa).
For
his dedicated service to God’s Church and his labors caring for
the souls of his flock, Priest Brendan Crowley (rector of St.
Nicholas Church in Springfield, CT) was awarded the right to wear
the gold pectoral cross.
Protodeacon
Nicholas Drobot (cleric of the Church of the Holy New Martyrs and
Confessors of Russia in Norwich, CT) was awarded the right to wear
the kamilavka.
Metropolitan
Hilarion also ordained Deacon Andrei Rudenko to the priesthood.
Upon
completion of the Liturgy, the First Hierarch addressed the gathered
faithful and congratulated them on the joyous occasion of the Great
Consecration of their church. His Eminence also thanked the rector and
all those who labored on the construction of this marvelous church.
