August 4, 2010
Sea Cliff, NY: Metropolitan Hilarion led the divine services in St.
Seraphim Church on the occasion of the patronal feast day
On
August 1, the feast day of St. Seraphim of Sarov the Wonder-worker,
His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York,
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia,
celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St.
Seraphim Church in Sea Cliff, NY. He was joined by Archpriest
George Larin (rector of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY),
Archpriest Michael Boikov (cleric of the Diocese of Australia and New
Zealand), Archpriest Serafim Gan, Synodal Chancellor, Personal
Secretary of the First Hierarch and Rector of St. Seraphim Church,
Priest Alexandre Antchoutine (rector of the neighboring Intercession
Church in Glen Cove, NY), along with Protodeacon Joseph Jarostchuk
(cleric of St. John of Kronstadt Memorial Church in Utica, NY),
Protodeacon Paul Wolkow (parish cleric), and Protodeacon Vadim Gan
(cleric of Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in Chicago, IL), Deacon
Nicholas Olhovsky (cleric of Holy Trinity Monastery), and Deacon
Eugene Kallaur (parish cleric), Hierodeacon Anatoly (Zilin; cleric of
Holy Trinity Monastery), and Deacon Nikolaj Kostur (cleric of New Gračanica
Serbian Monastery in Chicago, IL). Joining them for the moleben and a
procession of the cross were Archpriest Alexei Ohotin, Dean of the
First Deanery of the Eastern American Diocese, Archpriest Andrei
Sommer (Senior Priest of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign), and
Igumen Nestor from St. Petersburg, Russia’s northern capital.
At
the beginning of divine services, His Eminence ordained longtime St.
Seraphim altar boy Ivan Makarov a reader. During the Small Entrance of
Divine Liturgy, His Eminence awarded the palitsa to Fr. Serafim.
Especially
impressive during this Liturgy was the singing of the Cherubic Hymn by
Muzicescu, A Mercy of Peace by Sokolov and the paschal songs during
the vesting of the Primate and before Communion. After the singing of
May the Name of the Lord, Vladyka Hilarion read a sermon of greeting
and edification (see: www.stseraphimschurch.org).
After
the moleben and procession of the cross around the memorial church,
His Eminence consecrated the interior fresco in the altar. This fresco
series will depict the many centuries of history of the Russian
Orthodox Church and the reestablishment of her divinely-directed unity
and fullness of brotherly communion in May 2007.
At
the end of divine services, the Primate of the Russian Church Abroad,
on behalf of Archbishop Herman of Kursk and Rylsk, awarded Archpriest
Serafim the Diocesan Medal of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of
God, First Order, for heading the organizing committee that brought
that icon to Russia. He then awarded gramatas from the President of
the Synod of Bishops to the newly-ordained Reader Ivan Makarov and to
Parish Treasurer I.G. Kwartiroff. This medal had earlier been awarded
by Archbishop Herman to His Eminence, Archbishop Mark of Berlin and
Germany, and other members of the organizing committee: Priest
Alexandre and Deacon Nicholas, Assistant to the Chancellor of the
Synod of Bishops.
After
the kissing of the cross, the Parish Sisterhood hosted a splendid
reception in honor of the parish feast day, during which many warm
speeches and greetings were made.
Afterwards,
His Eminence Vladyka Hilarion visited Archpriest Leonid Kishkovsky,
rector of the Kazan Mother of God Church in Sea Cliff of the Orthodox
Church in America.
The
following morning, the feast day of Prophet Elijah and Holy Martyr
Athanasius, Abbot of Brest, a "Liturgy for the Benefactors"
was celebrated at St. Seraphim Church. Commemorated at this service
were "all reposed rectors, builders, benefactors, adorners,
parishioners, and worshipers of this holy church," as well as the
newly reposed father of the parish rector on the ninth day of his
death, which had occurred on July 25.
During
these celebrations, the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, the
Protectress of the Russian Diaspora, was in the church. St. Seraphim
of Sarov, the parish’s heavenly intercessor, had as a youth been
miraculously healed after praying before the icon.
During
these services, George Selinsky, at one time the official photographer
of Metropolitan Laurus of blessed memory during his official visits,
organized live streaming online video of the celebrations at St
Seraphim Church.
www.stseraphimschurch.org
