Русская
Версия
August
10,
2011
Beltsville,
MD:
The
Tenth
Anniversary
of
Holy
Apostles
Church
On
Tuesday the 12th and Wednesday the 13th of July, the parish
celebrated the 10th anniversary of the founding of Holy Apostles
Church in Beltsville, MD.
Divine Services were celebrated on the actual parish feast day, the
Synaxis of the Twelve Holy Apostles. The first divine services had
been held on the same dates 10 years earlier, July 12-13, 2001. For
the first year of the mission, the parish met in the little house in
the woods where Fr. George grew up. His mother reposed in June of
2001, and Fr. George’s family gladly allowed the new mission to meet
there without paying rent. After the first year, the mission parish
moved to an office park in Beltsville, where they have been meeting
for nine years.
At the Divine Liturgy on July 13, the parish welcomed two visiting
clergy, Priest Robert Miclean (cleric of the Annapolis Orthodox
Mission, OCA), and Deacon Michael Bishop (cleric of Holy
Trinity Church, MP) in Baltimore, MD). Fr. George noted that when
the parish was founded 10 years ago, it would have been impossible
for clergy from these different jurisdictions to serve together. He
spoke of how our Orthodox family has expanded in unexpected and
wonderful ways since the reunification of the Russian Church in
2007.
Continuing the festal celebration, Holy Apostles was vouchsafed a
great blessing of grace in a three day visitation from the
myrrh-streaming Hawaiian-Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. While the
holy icon was in the Maryland from Saturday the 16th
through Monday the 18th of July, it visited four other parishes in
the Baltimore-Washington area.
The weekend celebration of the parish feast occurred on the day of
the commemoration of the Holy Royal Martyrs of Russia and was led by
His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Jerome of
Manhattan.
The small church was full of people – about 70 were present in
worship, including clergy from neighboring Orthodox churches and
visitors from out of town. The holy icon of the Mother of God was in
the midst of the church and the people, gracing all those present
with the "aroma of the sweet fragrance of Christ" (from the Akathist
to the Mother of God) during the divine services.
After
the Liturgy, Bishop Jerome presented two gramotas, one to Fr. George
and one to the whole parish. The first gramota was presented to
Archpriest George, for "planting the seeds of an Orthodox community
in Beltsville," and for his music work, "working tirelessly to bring
the beauty and splendor of the Russian Orthodox services to the
English-speaking faithful," bringing "spiritual joy and comfort not
only to your loving parishioners but to many others across the
diocese and the world." The second gramota, presented to the rector,
clergy, and parishioners of Holy Apostles, said, "When our Savior
spoke to His disciples – the patrons of your holy church, He said,
‘Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’
For the past ten years, you have heeded these words and your parish
has been a shining beacon of Holy Orthodoxy to all those living in
the central Maryland area…" Both gramotas were signed by
Metropolitan Hilarion and Bishop Jerome, and imprinted with the
diocesan seal in the God-preserved city of Beltsville, Maryland, on
July 17, 2011.
After the Divine Liturgy, the Hawaiian-Iveron Icon was brought to
the beautiful historic St. Joseph’s chapel and then a festal potluck
celebration was held at the rectory.
The next day, Reader Nectarios brought the holy Icon back to Holy
Apostles one more time, on Monday morning, July 18, for a memorial
service (panihida) for Matushka Deborah Johnson’s father, John, who
reposed on July 18, 2006. After the panihida, a light breakfast was
served and those present listened to stories told by Nectarios about
the wondrous works of God, wrought through His holy Mother and Her
grace-filled myrrh-streaming icon. Matushka Deborah also shared the
story of her father’s miraculous conversion to the Orthodox faith at
the age of 81. The people said goodbye to Reader Nectarios and the
Icon, and Father George drove him to the airport for his flight home
to Hawaii.
On the way to the airport, Nectarios shared his thoughts with
Fr. George about the future of the parish, filling him with
hope. Father George said, "In spite of our sins, God has granted
the parish of Holy Apostles to go on for these ten years.
Because of His great mercy in this gift, we rejoice in heart;
words are inadequate to express the depth of our joy. However,
we must put in words our thanks to Him for those who have been
brought to the Faith and have grown in the Spirit in this
mission parish. I ask for God’s blessing upon our little flock,
those who have not given up the struggle for the sake of Christ.
May the Lord bless their holy struggles and their perseverance
in carrying the missionary cross. May the Lord bless them for
their love of His holy Church. The Lord and His holy Mother have
given us clear tokens of what lies in store for our little
parish. According to His will, may we all live to see the future
of Holy Apostles fulfilled. As He has granted us great mercy up
to now, we are sure that this outpouring will continue, as He
has shown in the literal outpouring from His most pure Mother in
her holy wonder-working icon." Click
here for a photo-report of the feast and
here for a photo-report by Marina Cavanaugh.
Media
Office of the Eastern American Diocese
