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October 23, 2009 - 9:00 PM
Atlanta: His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion celebrated the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of the Optina Elders

Friday, October 23, the day of the memory of the Holy Elders of Optina, marked the third and final day of the Eastern American Diocesan pastoral conference. At 8:30 AM, the vicar bishops, clergy, and worshipers greeted their First Hierarch, Metropolitan Hilarion. During the reading of the hours, Reader Alexander Lisnichuk was elevated to the rank of subdeacon, while Reader Peter Narsesyan Yukin was awarded an orarion. Immediately following them, local altar servers Eugene M. Narsesyan Yukin and Samuel C. Rountree IV were tonsured readers. During the Little Entrance, His Eminence awarded several clergymen: Archpriest David Straut, the right to wear the epigonation (palitsa); Priest Seraphim Scheidler, the right to wear the nabedrennik; Priest Peter Jackson, the right to wear the kamilavkion; Deacon John Hanson, the double orarion. Finally, after the Eucharist, Subdeacon Alexander Lisnichuk was ordained to the diaconate. Virtually all of the faithful came to commune from the Holy Chalice, and the Holy Gifts were dispensed from three chalices. Upon completion of the Divine Liturgy, everyone present was invited to a delectable Lenten luncheon during which Metropolitan Hilarion presented a certificate of appreciation to the rector and parishioners of St. Mary of Egypt Church for their successful organization of the conference. Then the diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov served a thanksgiving moleben which concluded the conference. The participants, bidding one another farewell, departed for home praising and thanking the Lord.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese
Photography by Archpriest Alexis Duncan