December 12, 2011
"What can be greater than this?" The Clergy’s Perspective on Serving in Miami

The Winter Pastoral Conference, a significant event for diocesan clergy, was held December 6-8 in Miami, FL. The clergy gather to discussion various spiritual and administrative issues, listen to lectures, and spend their time in indispensible brotherly interaction. But the most important element of the pastoral conferences is the joint prayer of their participants, including hierarchs and laity, at the divine services and especially, in the words of Bishop George of Mayfield, at the Divine Liturgy.

"The Eucharist is the center of the Orthodox faith. When the hierarchs and clergy stand together at the Holy Table and jointly commune of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ, it bestows a particular blessing and is the source of particular spiritual strength. What can be greater than this?"

During the conference, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated on the last day, when those present celebrated the namesday of the Primate of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion.

Those who concelebrated with the First Hierarch noted the special, prayerful spirit present at the divine services. Archimandrite Meletios (Webber), cleric of the Orthodox Church in America and rector of St. John of Shanghai & San Francisco Monastery in Manton, CA, noted: "Coming together with another part of the Orthodox Church at the Divine Liturgy is a meeting of the Church, not just a group of people with interesting ideas or ethnic inclinations. Standing at the Holy Table with the clergy of the Eastern American Diocese, led by the Metropolitan, was a surprising moment, the fond memory of which I intend to preserve."

Among the serving clergy were may clerics for whom this was a first opportunity to serve in Miami. One of them was Bishop Jerome of Manhattan.

"It is very joyful for me to visit this place and serve for the first time as a bishop," he said. "The last time I was here was in 1974, when I was a cell attendant for Archbishop Nikon (Rklitsky). Archbishop Nikon loved visiting Miami, and took active part in the establishment and life of this holy church. Thanks to the prayerful atmosphere of the divine services, his spirit can still be felt here. In this church, His Eminence is still with us."

In the words of diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov, conference participants recalled Archbishop Nikon not only because he spent much time in Miami, but because they saw much in common between Archbishop Nikon and Metropolitan Hilarion.

"The pastoral love and support that the Metropolitan generously gives his clergy makes him a worthy successor to Archbishop Nikon. We especially felt this during the Divine Liturgy. I think all of the conference participants – both clergy and their spouses – could feel His Eminence’s pastoral love and warm care, which gave the conference an especially peaceful feeling."

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese