January 30, 2012
New York, NY: Archbishop Justinian’s Birthday was celebrated in St.
Nicholas Cathedral
On
Saturday, January 28, on the feast of the venerable Sts. Paul of
Thebes and John Calabytes, His Eminence Justinian, Archbishop of
Naro-Fominsk, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA,
celebrated the Divine Liturgy in New York’s St. Nicholas Patriarchal
Cathedral.
His Eminence was so-served by Eastern American Diocesan secretary
Archpriest Serge Lukianov, as well as clerics from throughout the
Russian Church in the U.S.
Upon completion of the divine service, the Archpastor delivered a
sermon in which he spoke of the lives and ascetical feats of the
venerable Sts. Paul of Thebes and John Calabytes: "Their vitae bear
witness to the fact that the lives of these people were, in human
terms, quite dramatic. It was never as though everything went
smoothly; as with each of us, they had their times of doubt and
temptation. But they were as soldiers on the field of battle, they
stood ready to oppose the enemy’s temptations, and they achieved
salvation: St. Paul in the desert into which he fled, and St. John
beneath the windows of his parents’ home. Their labors, their
example, call us to reject despondency and fear when, for one reason
or another, we are forced to retreat in our spiritual lives, that we
might quickly remember our calling and hold fast, not retreating
further or abandoning our struggle."
His Eminence also thanked those who came to the cathedral to
congratulated him on his birthday, which took place on that day. On
behalf of the clergy and laity of the Patriarchal Parishes in the
USA, Episcopal Council member Archpriest Emil Minkovich
congratulated Archbishop Justinian, while Archpriest Serge Lukianov
spoke on behalf of the clergy of the Eastern American Diocese, then
presenting the His Eminence with an icon of our Savior "Not Made by
Hands."
The brotherly interaction continued at the festal luncheon,
during which a brief business meeting was held, discussing
preparations for joint divine services between clerics of the
Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and ROCOR’s Eastern American Diocese
on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, as well as at the joint pastoral
conference for clerics of the Moscow Patriarchate and ROCOR, slated
for June, celebrating the fifth anniversary of the signing of the
Act of Canonical Unity with the Russian Orthodox Church.
The following day, at the invitation of Archbishop Justinian, the
First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion,
Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, celebrated the Divine
Liturgy in St. Nicholas Cathedral.
After the Liturgy, ROCOR’s First Hierarch congratulated Archbishop
Justinian with his recent birthday, wishing him fortitude in his
archpastoral service in the United States. In turn, Archbishop
Justinian thanked the Metropolitan for his kind words of greeting,
noting that "service alongside such a wise archpastoral and kind
person as the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad is a sure
bulwark and support in the service of the Holy Mother Church." In
honor of the concelebration of the Liturgy, Archbishop Justinian
presented Metropolitan Hilarion with amber crosses for his cowl,
fashioned by craftsmen from amber dealers "Valerio 888."
From materials provided by the official site of the Patriarchal
Parishes in the USA
