November 20, 2014
Atlanta, GA: Metropolitan Hilarion leads Divine Services in Joy of
All Who Sorrow Church
On
Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th of November, the First Hierarch
of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion,
visited
Our
Lady "Joy of All Who Sorrow" Church in Atlanta, GA, and led the
divine services; his visit was performed in honor of the parish’s
patronal feast day, which had taken place on November 6.
Upon his arrival, His Eminence gave his blessing to begin building a
chapel dedicated to the Holy Archangel Michael at the parish
cemetery. In early 2014, the parish acquired a piece of land to use
as an Orthodox cemetery. The cemetery is now being organized
according to Orthodox traditions.
On the evening of November 8, the Metropolitan led the All-Night
Vigil, co-served by parish clergy. The following morning, the Divine
Liturgy was celebrated; concelebrating with His Eminence were
Archpriest John Townsend (rector of the neighboring St. Mary of
Egypt Church in Atlanta), parish rector Priest Eugene Antonov,
Priest Benedict Simpson (cleric of Glorious Ascension Monastery in
Resaca, GA), and parish Deacon Anton Kouznetsov, in the presence of
a multitude of praying parishioners and parish guests. The
divine
services
concluded
with
a
moleben
and
procession.
After Liturgy, a festal luncheon was served in the parish hall.
Media Office of the Eastern
American Diocese
