May 13, 2015
Howell, NJ: Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates Liturgy in St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral

On May 10, the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York celebrated the Divine Liturgy in St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral in Howell, NJ. The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad was co-served by Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov (pastor emeritus of the cathedral), Archpriest Serge Lukianov (cathedral dean), Archpriest Rafael Melendez (Albanian Orthodox Church), Archpriest Boris Slootsky and Priest Seraphim Chemodakov (cathedral clerics), Hieromonk Tikhon (Gayfudinov; secretary to the First Hierarch), and Protodeacon Leonid Roschko and Deacon Paul Drozdowski (cathedral clerics).

Prior to the Liturgy, His Eminence ordained Reader Andrew Temple a subdeacon, and awarded Reader Felipe Oliveira the right to wear the orarion. Both are assigned to the cathedral.

Upon completion of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion addressed the faithful with a sermon on the theme of the feast – the conversation between the Savior and the Samaritan woman named Photini (in Russian, Svetlana) at Jacob’s Well in Samaria. The circumstances of this interaction are peculiar for several reasons. First, Christ is speaking with a woman, at a time when Jewish lawgivers instructed not to converse with women in public. Second, the Savior’s interlocutor was a Samaritan – a representative of a tribe hated by the "clean" Jews to such an extent that even touching a Samaritan was considered a defilement. And, finally, this woman was a sinner, having had five husbands before carrying on an impure relationship with yet another man. But it was namely to this woman, this pagan and fornicator, that Christ, the Knower of hearts, came and to whom He saw fit to offer "living water." Moreover, Jesus revealed to the Samaritan woman that He was the Messiah, God’s Anointed. Seeing the woman’s simplicity, the Savior turned her thoughts away from plain water, which quenches physical thirst, to the living water of the grace of the Holy Spirit, which He offered to the woman for her salvation.

The Metropolitan wished for all of the faithful a pure heart and a clean soul ready for repentance, and called on them to thank the Lord for the opportunity to drink this unfailing living water.

Fr. Serge Lukianov introduced Subdeacon Andrew and Reader Felipe to the clergy and parishioners; they will both continue their service at the cathedral, though in the near future, God willing, Subdeacon Andrew will be assigned to Christ the Savior Church in Wayne, WV.

Metropolitan Hilarion congratulated all of the namesday celebrants namds Photini and Svetlana, as well as all of the mothers, on the occasion of the American Mother’s Day holiday. During the kissing of the cross, roses were presented to all of the mothers.

The men prepared a delicious brunch for the women in the cathedral hall, during which parishioners had an opportunity to interact with Metropolitan Hilarion, the clergy, and each other.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese