Русская
Версия
March
30, 2011
Mahopac,
NY:
The
Sacrament
of
Holy
Unction
in
the
New
Kursk
Root
Hermitage
On
Sunday, March 20, 2011, the Sacrament of Holy Unction was performed
at the Hermitage of Our Lady of Kursk in Mahopac, NY. The parish was
blessed by the presence of the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the
Mother of God, which arrived early with His Grace Jerome, Bishop of
Manhattan.
His Grace was co-served at Liturgy by parish clergy: rector
Archpriest Victor Tseshkovsky and Protodeacon Dimitri Temidis. Over
35 people received the Holy Gifts. In his homily, Bishop Jerome
spoke of spiritual indifference and of excessive ardor, warning us
of both extremes and calling upon all to follow tradition and
Orthodoxy and to pass them on to our children. After the service,
everyone was invited to a light lunch organized by the sisterhood in
the bright and spacious new dining room. There was a break of about
two hours prior to the scheduled start of the Sacrament of Holy
Unction. People socialized, many took the opportunity to read the
newly-published first two issues of the Novo-Korennoy Parish
Newsletter dedicated to the parish and its restoration work, with
photographs. The newsletter includes the first chapter of the
history of the Kursk Root Icon, starting with its discovery outside
of Kursk in 1295, as well as a short history of the founding of the
Hermitage, starting with the arrival of Bishop Seraphim (Ivanov) –
later Archbishop of Chicago and Detroit – over 60 years ago in 1950.
The wonderworking Icon was present the entire time in the dining
hall, with many taking the opportunity to venerate and pray before
it.
In addition to Bishop Jerome and Father Victor, Archpriests Ilya
Gorsky, Theodore Shevzov, and Alexander Donchenko, and Priest Dmitri
Don, Protodeacons Dimitri Temidis and Serge Arlievsky, and Deacon
Vladimir Oleynik had all arrived for the Sacrament by 2:00 pm. Over
120 people participated in the service, after which the clergy and
all participants were invited to stay for a meal. People remained
for quite some time, enjoying a cup of tea and conversations, not
parting until late. The children took advantage of the beautiful
weather and played outdoors. That evening, the faithful gathered to
escort the holy Icon and Bishop Jerome as they departed with
Protodeacon Dimitri. It was uplifting to feel the spiritual support
and to see such a great number of people praying in the New Kursk
Root Hermitage.
Republication of
materials must include a reference to:
"Eastern American Diocese
www.eadiocese.org."
Media Office of the Eastern American
Diocese
