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November 4, 2010
New York, NY: The First Hierarch’s Namesday
was celebrated in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign

mh1.jpg (73774 bytes)On Tuesday the 2nd and Wednesday the 3rd of November, the namesday of His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, was celebrated in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

His Eminence was co-served by Archbishop Jonathan of Tulchin and Bratslav, Bishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, Their Graces, Eastern American Diocesan vicar bishops George of Mayfield and Jerome of Manhattan, and a multitude of clergy from across the diocese and from other Local Churches, who came to prayerfully congratulate the First Hierarch on his saint’s day.

Present at the triumphal Liturgy was the myrrh-streaming Hawaiian-Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. An especial splendor was lent to the divine services by the singing of the Synodal choir under the direction of P. Fekula and Reader Isaac Lambertsen.

Upon completion of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Jonathan greeted the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad. Noting the special spiritual ties between Metropolitan Hilarion and the holy places of Ukraine – His Eminence’s ancestral homeland – Archbishop Jonathan expressed his joy at the concelebration of the Divine Liturgy that had taken place that day, as well as at the reestablishment of unity within the Russian Orthodox Church that had taken place in 2007, saying the following:

You now lead the martyric Church Abroad far from your homeland, far from the Pochaev Lavra and the Lavra of the Kiev Caves, here in the American land. You are a living bridge between Kievan Rus and the Rus here now in America. During your recent visit to the Patriarchal See of Moscow, when you concelebrated with our Primate, His Holiness, Patriarch Kyrill, millions of eyes saw you, both in person and via mass media, and the heart of every Russian beat in unison with yours. There was no longer that same discord, for, on account of your predecessor of blessed repose, the Russian Orthodox Church has freely and easily begun to breathe with both lungs. We are all united in brotherhood at the altar of the Lord. Every partition, every obstacle, has fallen away, and now, looking back, we can only wonder at what kept us apart one from another for so long.

Archbishop Jonathan then presented His Eminence with a panagia from the Pochaev Lavra and prayer rope from Mount Athos.

His Grace Gabriel, Bishop of Montreal and Canada, read aloud a greeting from Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany, First Deputy of the President of the Synod of Bishops.

On behalf of the Eastern American Diocese, diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov greeted Metropolitan, and presented the First Hierarch with a new bishop’s staff on behalf of the parishes, clergy, and faithful children of the diocese. Addressing His Eminence, Fr. Serge said:

Your Eminence! On this joyous day for our entire diocese, we greet and congratulate Your Eminence on the occasion of your namesday. We send up thanksgiving to the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, for sending us such an exceptional archpastor who has united our diocese in the spirit brotherly love. You have embodied the very essence of the good pastor, and your fatherly love for your flock knows no bounds.

As we prayed together at today’s Divine Liturgy we felt the prayerful presence of all your spiritual children. From every corner of our diocese, from Maine to Florida, prayers are being offered to the Lord that He grant you spiritual and physical strength to continue carrying the heavy cross of the First Hierarch.

Though there are many clergymen who could not be here today, they are all fervently praying for Your Eminence on this joyous occasion. Please accept this bishop’s staff on behalf of all the faithful children of the diocese. As our spiritual father and shepherd, we hope that Your Eminence will remember us, your spiritual children, every time you use it.

A bountiful luncheon was then served in the Synodal hall in honor of the First Hierarch, at which many came forward with congratulatory greetings.

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Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese