Русская
Версия
July 9, 2011
Lakewood, NJ: Metropolitan Hilarion led the Rite of Reconsecration
of the Altar Table in the Church of Our Lady of Tikhvin
On
Friday the 8th and Saturday the 9th of July, the patronal feast day
of the
Church of Our Lady of Tikhvin was celebrated in Lakewood, NJ.
The church, formerly St. Alexander Nevsky Church, was founded in
1936 by the ever-memorable Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko). In 1994,
upon completion of the newly constructed St. Alexander Nevsky
Cathedral, the church was renamed in honor of the Tikhvin Icon of
the Mother of God, and since that time parishioners have celebrated
the patronal feast day on July 9.
This year, the feast was graced by an archpastoral visit from the
First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion,
Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, who came to Lakewood to
lead the festal services and the Rite of Reconsecration of the altar
table. In
2010-2011,
the
parish
carried
out
significant
renovations
to
the
altar
of
the
historic
Tikhvin
Church.
Before the start of Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion re-blessed the
altar and the original altar table, at which St. John of Shanghai &
San Francisco had served, and at which, in 1948, by the hands of
Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko), Archbishop Tikhon (Troitsky), and
Archbishop Seraphim (Ivanov), the hierarchal consecration of
Archbishop Nikon (Rklitsky) was performed – on the very day of the
Great Consecration.
At
the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence was co-served by
local clergy of the New
Jersey Deanery.
A multitude of parishioners and faithful from neighboring parishes
gathered for the feast, so that they might raise up their prayers to
the Most Holy Theotokos. Also preserved in the church is a highly
venerated copy of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God, which once
belonged to the Holy Empress-Martyr Alexandra. (The whole history of
the icon can be found here.)
Upon completion of the Liturgy, the clergy served a moleben to the
Most Holy Theotokos. At the end of the Liturgy, the First Hierarch
greeted the rector and all of the parishioners on the momentous
occasion of the re-blessing of their historic church. After the
service, the parish sisterhood prepared a lenten luncheon in the
parish hall. O
Most
Holy
Theotokos,
save
us!
Republication of materials must include a reference to:
"Eastern American Diocese www.eadiocese.org."
Media
Office of the Eastern American Diocese
