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May 22, 2011
Beltsville, MD: Archpastoral Visit of Metropolitan Hilarion to Holy Apostles Church

On Saturday the 21st and Sunday the 22nd of May, on the 5th Sunday of Pascha and the feast of the Translation of the Relics of St. Nicholas, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, performed an archpastoral visit to Holy Apostles Church in Beltsville, MD, to lead the divine services and celebrate the Divine Liturgy for the first time in the parish.

The parish currently worships in a rented 1200 sq. ft. space in an office park in Beltsville near the University of Maryland. The parish welcomed many guests, including Archpriest John Townsend (rector of St. Mary of Egypt Church in Atlanta, GA), Archpriest Vladimir Danylevich (retired OCA cleric), Deacon Michael Bishop (cleric of Holy Trinity Church in Baltimore, MD), and Deacon John Dean (cleric of St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, DC).

His Eminence was co-served by the above-mentioned clerics, as well as parish clerics: rector Archpriest George Johnson and Deacon Damian Dantinne.

During the Divine Liturgy, the Metropolitan ordained Reader Christopher Johnson a subdeacon and then a deacon.

In his homily, His Eminence greeted the reverend fathers, brothers and sisters on "this most holy, radiant, and joy-filled day, for today the Church has woven for us a divinely fragrant spiritual bouquet of commemorations of various events and saints. We give thanks to our Lord for His great mercy." Addressing the newly ordained Fr. Christopher, the First Hierarch said, "At the latter part of the Divine Liturgy, we experienced a great joy in the celebration of your ordination to the diaconate. I sincerely congratulate you, your matushka Dorothy, your parents, and the parishioners of this holy church with this great joy, the imparting of God’s Holy Spirit upon you, to serve the Holy Church as a deacon. May God grant you His many blessings: love for the beauty of His house, as it is said in the prayers, patience, compassionate love for those who come to the church, so that you will always serve God in purity, with great faith, and unto the salvation of your soul." The Metropolitan’s blessing was particularly meaningful for Fr. Christopher, because in the weeks prior to his ordination, he had given much thought to the words from the priest’s prayer before the ambo, "Sanctify them that love the beauty of Thy house."

The polychronion was intoned for His Eminence, the clergy, and the newly ordained Fr. Christopher, who stood between his spiritual father, Fr. John Townsend, and the priest who baptized him when he was seven years old, Fr. Vladimir Danylevich.

Upon completion of the Divine Liturgy, Fr. George Johnson escorted the First Hierarch along with a group of parishioners and guests to the historic brick church on two acres of land that had been donated to the parish. St. Joseph’s Chapel is a cemetery church, and is listed on the National Historic Register. The two-acre parcel of land is located in Beltsville, in an idyllic, peaceful spot on a hill, next to a cemetery. The land is dotted with beautiful old walnut, cedar, and holly trees. The church and land were given by the Christian Brothers to Holy Apostles’ Mission parish as an outright gift on June 3, 2009.

While strolling the scenic grounds of the chapel, His Eminence gave a short interview:

"This is one of the old churches of the Washington area, from 1880, and it’s been given to the parish of the Holy Apostles in Beltsville for their usage. But it requires about a million dollars or more of funds to restore it to proper usage as a church. So we appeal to people, Orthodox Christians, friends, lovers of history, to support this most worthy endeavor to restore this building as a proper church. It is in a beautiful setting, and it would be very conducive to very peaceful spiritual church life for the parish of the Holy Apostles. So, may God bless everyone who will contribute funds to the restoration of this church."

The Metropolitan’s visit was concluded with a festal potluck reception at the rectory. As the parish does not yet have a parish hall, many festal celebrations are held at the rectory. The Metropolitan stayed with the Johnsons and especially liked Fr. George and Matushka Deborah’s little pug dog, Chester. In fact, when the Metropolitan first arrived, Chester, who normally greets strangers with excited activity, was quite mellow and acted as if the Metropolitan was an old friend.

Father George said, of Vladika’s visit, “We take heart from his blessing for the literal building up of the parish. He was here to bless the effort to pray for the gift of the new property in 2008. His prayers for us have been felt since, and are capped by the ordination, showing his care and love for our family, our parish family, and our future. As the Holy Apostle Paul says, ‘We have not many fathers.’ I rejoice that among the fathers in the Faith who have been our companions and enlighteners in our Christian walk we may count our dear Metropolitan. He made me a reader, a subdeacon, deacon and priest. He has ordained my son so that the future life of Holy Apostles is being provided for. God is wondrous in his gifts to us.”

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