Русская Версия

September 9, 2010
St. Petersburg, FL: Metropolitan Hilarion led the Great Consecration of St. Andrew’s Church

From Tuesday August 31 to Wednesday September 1, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York, performed an archpastoral visit to St. Petersburg, FL. The purpose of the visit was the Great Consecration of the newly constructed Church of St. Andrew Stratelates.

The new church was built in record time. In 2008, an empty lot was bought. In early 2009, construction began. And starting in January 2010, when His Grace Gabriel, Bishop of Montreal and Canada, transferred the altar table from the old church, regular services have been conducted. The church was fully completed by the time of the Great Consecration. The church is frescoed both inside and out, adorned with icons, stained-glass windows, and reliefs, and crowned with five cupolas. The adjoining refectory is also frescoed and contains a fully equipped modern kitchen. The church property is surrounded by a fence, and houses a parking lot with lovely concrete pavement. Planted around the church all the way to the fence are palm trees, other trees and bushes, and flowers, nourished by an irrigation system. At the entrance to the church property is a large shield, on whose marble plaque is a large sign: "St. Andrew's Russian Orthodox Church."

Alongside Metropolitan Hilarion, two hierarchs participated in the divine services, as well: Their Graces, Bishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, and retired Bishop Victor, formerly of Podolsk, who in the 1990’s served as vicar to His Holiness, the Patriarch of Moscow.

As the altar table had already undergone Lesser Consecration, it was possible to perform the Great Consecration on the church’s patronal feast day.

On the evening prior, before the All-Night Vigil, Metropolitan Hilarion served a panihida for all the reposed laborers and parishioners of the community. Bishop Gabriel emerged for the litiya, and for the Polyeleos all three hierarchs emerged, fully vested. Bishop Victor concluded the Vigil.

The following day, before the Divine Liturgy, the rite of the Great Consecration was performed. The rite was carried out by the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Metropolitan Hilarion. Bishop Victor sprinkled the church with holy water, while Bishop Gabriel anointed the walls of the church with holy myrrh. Metropolitan Hilarion then carried the holy relics around the church and placed them in the consecrated antimins.

Before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion tonsured parishioner Igor Tarasov a reader, then ordaining him a subdeacon. The servant of God Igor is a member of the church council and holds a doctorate from the University of South Florida. He works for one of the engineering companies in Tampa and is simultaneously studying at Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville.

During the Small Entrance, Metropolitan Hilarion awarded church rector Archpriest Igor Chitikov the right to wear the palitsa and jeweled cross.

After the Great Entrance, Metropolitan Hilarion ordained Deacon Steven Webb to the priesthood. Fr. Steven will help nourish the flock of one of our churches in Virginia. His spiritual father, Priest Onouphry Keith, was also present at the divine services.

The Liturgy was given an extra air of festivity due to the fact that five deacons took part therein: Protodeacon Vasily Milonow, Deacon Eugene Kallaur, Deacon Steven Webb, Deacon Ivan Voloshchuk, and Deacon Leo Opie.

The hierarchs were especially impressed with the highly professional preparation of the choir, directed by parish choir conductor Vladislav Markov, and the neat organization of the altar-servers under the leadership of Subdeacon Nicholas Petrov.

After the procession around the church, Metropolitan Hilarion congratulated worshipers with their patronal feast day and the newly consecrated church. His Eminence presented church warden Konstantin Khechinov a gramota from the Synod of Bishops to the Parish of St. Andrew Stratelates, and also awarded the Synodal Order of the Sign 2nd Class to Alexander Alexandrov for helping to finance construction and his generous donations to the church. His Eminence also awarded gramatas from the First Hierarch to Samuel Miller and Berne Markstedt for their substantial donations.

After the Divine Liturgy, tables were set in the refectory. The sisterhood prepared a delicious Lenten luncheon. Despite it being a weekday, many worshipers gathered in the church, and there was not one empty seat at lunch.

www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese