May 23, 2014
Sea Cliff, NY: 7th Anniversary of the Reestablishment of Canonical Communion within the Russian Orthodox Church celebrated at St. Seraphim Memorial Church

As reported by the official website of the Russian Church Abroad, on Saturday, May 17, the feast day of the new martyrs and confessors of Russia at Butovo, and the anniversary of the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion between the Russian Church Abroad and the Moscow Patriarchate, Divine Liturgy was celebrated at St. Seraphim Memorial Church to the Re-Establishment of Unity in the Russian Church in Sea Cliff, NY. Celebrating the Divine Liturgy was rector Archpriest Serafim Gan, co-served by Priest Nikolai Kostur of the Novo-Gracanica Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church, as well as parish Protodeacons Paul Wolkow and Eugene Kallaur. A commemorative litany was then performed at the memorial plaque dedicated to His Holiness, Patriarch Alexey II, and Metropolitan Laurus of blessed memory.

The following morning, the fifth Sunday of Holy Pascha and the anniversary of the enthronement of His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Archpriest Yaroslav Belikow celebrated the Liturgy, co-served by the rector and clergy of the memorial church. Upon conclusion of the Liturgy, Fr. Yaroslav delivered a sermon on the topic of church unity. During the luncheon that followed, the clergy and parishioners enjoyed a screening of a portion of the Russian film "Vozsoedinenie" ("Reunification").

 

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese