November 6, 2014
Sea Cliff, NY: Bishop John of Naro-Fominsk leads 50th Anniversary Celebrations in Honor of St. John of Kronstadt’s Glorification in St. Seraphim Memorial Church

On Saturday, November 1, with the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, churches across the Russian Church Abroad held divine services in honor of the 50th anniversary of the glorification of the Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt by the ROCOR Sobor of Bishops (November 1, 1964). At the invitation of parish rector Archpriest Serafim Gan, His Grace John, Bishop of Naro-Fominsk, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, visited St. Seraphim Memorial Church to the Restoration of Unity in the Russian Orthodox Church in Sea Cliff, NY, and celebrated the Divine Liturgy, co-served by clerics of the Eastern American Diocese and the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA.

As reported on the official site of the Patriarchal Parishes, available for veneration by the faithful was a kamilavka belonging to St. John of Kronstadt, which had been given to one of Fr. Serafim Gan’s forebears many years ago and is kept in his family.

The Divine Liturgy was sung by the St. Petersburg Men’s Ensemble under the direction of Kiril Sokolov.

After Holy Communion, Bishop John and the clergy served a short moleben to St. John before his icon and kamilavka. Afterwards, His Grace delivered a sermon dedicated to the saint’s memory and legacy.

Upon conclusion of the service, parish rector Fr. Serafim thanked Bishop John for his visit and in memory of the occasion presented him with a set of liturgical aërs and a commemorative book dedicated to the 60th Anniversary of St. Seraphim Memorial Church. In response, His Grace warmly thanked the rector for his invitation to come and celebrate the Liturgy in that marvelous church, and wished him God’s aid and the intercessions of St. John of Kronstadt in his pastoral service, as well as in Fr. Serafim’s administrative work as secretary to the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad.

The interaction of clergy and parishioners continued at a brotherly luncheon, prepared by St. Seraphim’s parish sisterhood, and during which the St. Petersburg Men’s Ensemble preformed a Russian folk music concert.

Later in the day, at the invitation of parish rector Archpriest Alexandre Antchoutine, Bishop John visited the neighboring Holy Intercession Church in Glen Gove. Fr. Alexandre acquainted His Grace with the church’s history and holy relics, as well as with the work of the parish’s Sunday school.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese