March 31, 2016
Howell, NJ: Lenten Retreat for Eastern American Diocesan Clergy
Concludes
On
Wednesday, March 30, the Lenten Retreat for clergy and matushkas of
the Eastern American Diocese concluded with the Liturgy of the
Presanctified Gifts. The retreat had taken place under the aegis of
the myrrh-streaming Icon of the Mother of God "Softener of Evil
Hearts." In the morning, the clergy gathered at St. Alexander Nevsky
Diocesan Cathedral. Greeting the First Hierarch of the Russian
Church Abroad, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York,
the cathedral’s pastor emeritus, Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov,
noted that, "All of us gathered here are brothers. But we need a
father, and today we greet you wholeheartedly as our father."
At
Liturgy, His Eminence was co-served by Eastern American Diocesan
vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, and
over 60 concelebrating clergy. At the Little Entrance,
Metropolitan Hilarion bestowed awards on 16
diocesan clerics.
Addressing
the faithful with a sermon and words of lenten instruction was the
guest of the pastoral retreat from the Western American Diocese –
Archimandrite Irenei (Steenberg), abbot of the Monastery of St.
Silouan the Athonite in Sonora, CA.
On the eve of and during the service, the faithful confessed their
sins, and upon completion of the Liturgy, lenten retreat
participants, parishioners, and guests communed of Christ’s Holy
Mysteries.
Addressing the hierarchs, clergy, and guests, diocesan secretary
Archpriest Serge Lukianov thanked everyone for their participation,
shared prayer, and brotherly support, and expressed joy and
gratitude to the Savior for the opportunity to hold the retreat
under the protection of the Icon of the Mother of God "Softener of
Evil Hearts" for a second year in a row.
Metropolitan
Hilarion prayerfully commemorated those who have departed for the
next life: longtime rector of Joy of All Who Sorrow Church in
Philadelphia, PA Archimandrite Athanasy (Mastalski), Priest Gregoire
Legouté (cleric of the Haitian Mission), and Matushka Hannah Romeo
(wife of Priest Demetrio Romeo, rector of St. Luke the Blessed
Surgeon Mission in Coconut Creek, FL), and asked the brother-clergy
not to forget them in their prayers. Diocesan clergy joined chorus
to sing "Memory Eternal" to the departed. With love and in memory of
his matushka, Fr. Demetrio was presented a copy of the
myrrh-streaming Hawaiian-Iveron Icon of the Mother of God.
Metropolitan Hilarion blessed all those present with the cross,
while Bishop Nicholas anointed them with holy myrrh from the icon of
the Most Holy Theotokos.
Concluding the pastoral retreat, a group photograph was taken of all
of the participants. They then proceeded to the church hall for a
farewell luncheon, during which it was announced that the next
pastoral conference will be held in October in Atlanta, GA.
Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese
