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!

  Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese