May 13, 2015
Brooklyn, NY: Metropolitan Hilarion & Bishop Nicholas celebrate Liturgy in Holy Myrrhbearers Church

On Saturday, May 9, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women in Brooklyn, NY. His Eminence was co-served by Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, vicar of the Eastern American Diocese, Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov (pastor emeritus of St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral in Howell, NJ), Archimandrite Gerasimos (Makris; rector of Holy Cross Greek Church in Brooklyn), Archpriest Serge Lukianov (diocesan secretary), Archpriest Paul Ivanov (parish rector), Priest Serge Ledkovsky (deputy rector of St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ), Priest Spyridon Nursia (rector of Nativity of the Mother of God Georgian Church in Brooklyn), Hieromonk Tikhon (Gayfudinov; secretary to the First Hierarch), and Protodeacons Vadim Gan (cleric of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City) and Eugene Kallaur (cleric of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY). Singing the divine service was a mixed choir of clergy and choristers of the Synod of Bishops choir, under the direction of Peter Fekula.

Both parishioners and faithful from local parishes in various jurisdictions gathered for the triumphal hierarchal divine service. It was a joy to see many children in church. That day, many communed of Christs Holy Mysteries.

On May 9, the 70th anniversary of the defeat of fascism in World War II, the deacon intoned "Memory Eternal" at the conclusion of the service for those who had perished in the years of the Great Patriotic War.

The new church in honor of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women is located on the first floor of a building on Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn. In order to turn the old pharmacy into an Orthodox church, a great deal of prayer, work, and time was needed. Parishioners needed to install new plumbing, air conditioners, and much added woodwork. For all of their work in adorning the church, diocesan gramotas were awarded to the rector, Fr. Paul Ivanov, and his assistants: Andrey V. Miloserdov, Grigory A. Ismagilov, Mamuka Ochigava, Vasily V. Fanta, and Oleg A. Sheipak. Metropolitan Hilarion presented the church laborers and benefactors their hierarchal gramotas, sincerely congratulating them and wishing them God’s aid.

Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan thanked the Metropolitan for the opportunity to concelebrate with him in the church, and reminded the gathered clergy and faithful that the first Hierarchal Divine Liturgy in the church was celebrated in February of this year, when it was still covered in scaffolding and much renovation was still in progress. On the eve of Great Lent, Vespers and the Rite of Forgiveness was served in the church, and three weeks later, on the Sunday of the Cross, the lesser blessing of the church was performed, followed by the Sacrament of Holy Unction. From that time, regular services have been held there.

"This was a good and God-pleasing beginning for this parish," said Bishop Nicholas, reminding those gathered that, "Without forgiveness there can be no repentance, and without repentance, we cannot even think about becoming close to Christ." His Grace wished that the faithful might always remember that, "a good beginning is to forgive one another, repent for our sins, and ask God’s forgiveness; and if the Lord vouchsafes this to us, then we, like our Heavenly patronesses – the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women – will hear the glad tidings from the Savior: I am the Risen Lord! I am with you." His Grace congratulated Fr. Paul and all of the parishioners, expressing his joy that the church is being adorned not only with icons, but with prayers, as well. Bishop Nicholas presented the rector with an icon of the Holy Hierarch John of Shanghai, the 20th anniversary of whose glorification the Church Abroad marked last year, and proposed placing it on the church building’s façade, that it might preserve this house of prayer, its parishioners, and all of the city’s inhabitants.

On behalf of the neighboring Holy New Martyrs of Russia Church, and of St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral in Howell – Fr. Serge Lukianov congratulated the rector and parishioners. Fr. Serge wished that the Lord God might visit every single parishioner with His Divine Light, and expressed his hope that God’s people will continue to support this holy place long into the future, as well. Stating his joy that the brotherly Orthodox family of the Russian Church Abroad in Brooklyn is being strengthened, he presented the rector with chalice covers, and other necessities for a new church.

Fr. Paul thanked the hierarchs and clergy for their joint celebration of the Liturgy, and shared details of the reconstruction and adornment of the church. The rector noted the ease felt while the complicated and painstaking work was accomplished, and thanked all of his co-laborers in Christ’s vineyard, stating his hope in God’s further aid and the intercessions of the church’s Heavenly patronesses.

Upon completion of the service, a brotherly luncheon was prepared for the clergy and the parish’s benefactors and laborers.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese