August
29, 2009
Novo-Diveevo, NY:
Metropolitan Hilarion officiated at the Divine Liturgy in the Convent
of the Dormition
On Friday, August
28, the great feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, the sisters
and faithful of the Convent of the Dormition at Novo-Diveevo
celebrated their patronal feast day. The day began with an akathist
to the Mother of God and a Lesser Blessing of Water. Following this, a
procession of clergy and choir members went to the Metropolitan’s
Cottage to greet the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church
Abroad, Metropolitan Hilarion. To the peal of bells, the Metropolitan
entered the church of St. Seraphim where pilgrims had been gathering
all morning. His Eminence officiated at the Divine Liturgy, co-served
by monastery clergy Mitred Archpriest Alexander Fedorowski,
Mitred Archpriest Gleb Wleskoff, and Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky, as
well as Deacon Dimitri Temidis. Abbess Irina and the sisters of the
convent prayed at the divine service. Despite feast’s falling on a
weekday, the church was filled with a multitude of faithful, of whom
over 70 communed from the Holy Chalice. Upon completion of the Liturgy
and notwithstanding a light rain, a procession commenced from the main
church to the convent rectory, where a moleben was served in the
Dormition Chapel, where daily services are held before a unique
portrait-icon of St. Seraphim, which was painted during his lifetime.
After the procession, a luncheon was offered to all of the pilgrims
and parishioners.
Rejoice, O Joyful
One, Who in Thy Dormition hast not forsaken us!
