May 9, 2012
Howell, NJ: Bishop George celebrated his Namesday and led the Patronal Feast Day of St. George’s Church

On Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th of May, on the feast of the Holy Great-Martyr and Trophy-Bearer George, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop George of Mayfield, celebrated his namesday and led the divine services in honor of the patronal feast day of St. George’s Church in Howell, NJ.

On Saturday evening, His Grace led the All-Night Vigil, co-served by rector Archpriest Serge Lukianov, Hieromonk Eutychius (Dovganyuk), Priest Leonid Goferman (rector of Holy Virgin Protection Church in New Brunswick, NJ), Priest Serge Ledkovsky (deputy rector of St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ), Priest Jonah Campbell (rector of Christ the Savior Church in Wayne, WV), parish Deacon Leonid Roschko, and Deacon Paul Drozdowski (cleric of St. Vladimir Memorial Church).

The following morning, before the start of Divine Liturgy, the clergy, along with the parish choir and a detachment of Cossacks (both members of the local Kuban Cossack Voisko, and visiting representatives of the Cossack Congress in America), processed to the neighboring Cossack hall, where they triumphally greeted their Vicar Bishop. Bishop George celebrated the Liturgy, co-served by New Jersey Dean Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov, Archpriest Paul Shafran (pastor emeritus of St. Vladimir Church in Trenton, NJ), the rector, parish cleric Archpriest Boris Oparin, Priest Alexey Bocharnikov (rector of St. Nicholas Church in Chester, PA), Fr. Serge Ledkovsky, Fr. Jonah Campbell, and the above-mentioned deacons, as well as Deacons Seraphim Komleski and Steven Barker (clerics of St. Elizabeth the New-Martyr Church in Rocky Hill, NJ). Also praying in church was Archdeacon Eugene Burbelo. A multitude of the faithful was communed from two chalices.

Upon completion of the Liturgy, a short festal moleben to St. George was held, followed by a procession. The deacons then proclaimed the Polychronion for all of the namesday celebrants, with the Hierarch at their head, and all the parish clergy. On behalf of ROCOR’s First Hierarch, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, Fr. Serge read aloud a congratulatory greeting to Bishop George on the occasion of his namesday. On behalf of the loving spiritual children of the Eastern American Diocese, His Grace was presented with a large icon of the Holy Trinity with a commemorative plaque. In turn, Bishop George congratulated Fr. Serge and all of the parishioners with their patronal feast day, thanking all of them for their words of congratulations and for their invitation to share in the feast. Then, on behalf of Metropolitan Hilarion, Bishop George presented parishioners Vitaly E. Konofolsky and Viktor G. Karcha with diocesan gramotas for their selfless service to Christ’s Holy Church.

After the kissing of the Cross, a luncheon was held in the Cossack hall, during which many congratulatory words were spoken. At the luncheon, on behalf of the Orthodox Business Association, Igor K. Popov presented His Grace with several gifts on the occasion of his namesday.


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