October
3, 2010 Wayne, WV:
Bishop George led Celebrations on the Feast of the Exaltation of the
Cross of the Lord in Holy Cross Monastery
Every year, on the
first Sunday after the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving
Cross of the Lord, the patronal feast day is triumphally celebrated in
Holy
Cross Monastery. This year, the festivities fell on October 2-3.
Pilgrims came to the monastery both from surrounding parishes and from
afar: clerics and worshipers came from Indiana, Ohio, North Carolina,
New York, and New Jersey. Divine services were held outside in the
monastery’s Chapel of Our Lady of the Sign, and were led by the
monastery’s abbot and vicar of the Eastern American Diocese, His
Grace George, Bishop of Mayfield, co-served
by a multitude of clergy.
On Saturday,
October 2, in accordance with monastery tradition, the festivities
began with a procession from the main monastery church to the chapel.
A moleben to the Most Holy Theotokos and Holy Great Martyr and Healer
Panteleimon was then served before three holy objects: a Cross with a
piece of the True Cross, an icon of St. Panteleimon with a piece of
the great martyr’s relics, and an exact copy of the Port Arthur Icon
of the Mother of God. Before the Vigil, a bountiful supper was offered
outdoors in a large tent for all those present.
The following
morning, His Grace, Bishop George, celebrated the Divine Liturgy.
During the Small Entrance, Priest Gabriel Weller (cleric of All Saints
of North America Church in Middlebrook, VA) was awarded the right to
wear the nabedrennik. The many worshipers communed from two Chalices.
In his sermon, Bishop George spoke of the importance of denying
one’s self in the life of every Christian, especially underscoring
the ability of each one of us to help his neighbor.
After the Liturgy,
a banquet was held for the clergy and pilgrims in the local state
park. Monastery Dean Hieromonk Alexander (Frizzell) spoke, thanking
all of the participants for the very successful pilgrimage weekend
(last year, the pilgrimage was canceled due to construction projects).
In turn, Eastern American Diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov
greeted those present on behalf of the First Hierarch of ROCOR, His
Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York. Fr.
Serge noted the continuous work and activity of the monks, and called
upon all of the pilgrims to generously donate to the monastery, in
order to ensure that the salvific work of this holy place continues.
