December 6, 2011
Miami, FL: The Winter
Clergy Conference began at St. Vladimir’s Church
On Tuesday, December 6, on the feast of the
Holy Right-Believing Grand Prince Alexander Nevsky, clergy and their
spouses from across the Eastern American Diocese gathered at
St.
Vladimir’s Church in Miami, FL for the official start of the Winter
Clergy Conference. At 9:00 AM in the church, diocesan secretary
Archpriest Serge Lukianov served a moleben before the beginning of
any good work. Praying at the moleben were the First Hierarch of the
Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of
Eastern America & New York, as well as Their Graces, diocesan vicar
Bishops George of Mayfield and Jerome of Manhattan, and members of
the diocesan clergy.
After the moleben, the First Hierarch
greeted the participants, saying:
With great joy I would
like to greet all of you, Your Graces, reverend fathers, Matushkas,
and brothers and sisters! I greet you first with the feast of the
Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple, and on the opening of
our assembly here in the beautiful state of Florida and this
wonderful city of Miami!
Pastoral conferences
are very important for all of us, especially for the clergy, because
we learn so many new things in our pastoral labors, and we
continually need to learn more. Throughout our lives we undergo a
process of studying and learning. I want to thank Fr. Daniel
McKenzie, the rector of this parish, and his faithful and helpers
for letting us come under the protection of his patron saint, St.
Vladimir, Equal-of-the-Apostles, Enlightener of the Russian land.
Also, I would like to thank the diocesan staff for organizing the
program and doing all the work necessary to prepare this pastoral
conference. There is much work that needs to be done!
I’d also like to greet
our special guests and lecturers, Archimandrite Meletios (Webber),
who is the abbot of the monastery of St. John of Shanghai & San
Francisco, as well as Deacon Christophe Lepoutre from our own
Diocese. They are both very experienced in their fields, and will
deliver talks that will be very helpful for our pastoral work. Also,
I would like to thank the priests that have made such an important
effort to come and be present here, and I invoke upon you all of
God’s virtues and blessings, so that this pastoral conference will
be successful and you can go home and take with you new knowledge
and experience for your pastoral labors.
After the moleben and conference opening,
Fr. Serge Lukianov delivered an opening statement, followed by the
first presentation by Mr. Nicholas Chapman. Mr. Chapman is the
Managing Director of Holy Trinity Publications, and spoke about the
rich tradition of printing in defense of the faith that has long
distinguished Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, giving
participants an inside look at the publishing house’s publications
and sales operations.
Priest Gregoire Legouté and Deacon Demetrio
Romeo then spoke on the situation facing the faithful of Haiti. A
slideshow was shown, featuring photographs of church life in the
Caribbean nation. Fathers Gregoire and Demetrio answered questions
from the clergy regarding various aspects of their missionary work
there.
Archpriest John Moses (rector of All Saints
of North America Church in Middlebrook, VA) then made a presentation
about two important diocesan programs – Volunteers in Mission (VIM)
and the Pastoral Resources Program (PRP). Fr. John also spoke about
the Diocesan Library based in Middlebrook, and Fr. Serge introduced
the PRP members. Fathers Serge and John spoke together on behalf of
the Diocesan Council. Reader Peter Lukianov then delivered a
statement on diocesan Media Office (EADMO), and answered questions
relating to the EADMO’s work and ongoing projects. Media Office
workers Reader Gregory Levitsky and Mr. Michael Kazmierczak answered
further questions about the work of the Media Office, including
archiving and social media outreach.
Ms. Katherine Alderson then spoke about the
diocesan library and the various services available to all of the
faithful in the Diocese, including numerous periodicals and books on
reserve on a variety of subjects, especially those related to
pastoral work.
At 11:30 AM, conference participants paused
their work for lunch and a tour of the city.
The Winter Clergy Conference is being held
December 6-8.
Republication of materials must include a reference to:
"Eastern American Diocese www.eadiocese.org."
Media
Office of the Eastern American Diocese
