September 29, 2011
Albany, NY: Bishop Jerome celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the
Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God
On
Sunday, September 25, on the Leave-Taking of the Nativity of the
Most Holy Theotokos, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar
Bishop Jerome of Manhattan, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the
Church
of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Albany, the state
capital of New York. His Grace was co-served by parish rector
Archpriest Wsewolod Drobot, Archpriest Nicholas Tkatschow (rector of
the Church of the Entrance into the Temple of the Holy Virgin in
Syracuse, NY), Archpriest Michael Fritz (parish cleric), Hieromonk
Theophylact (Clapper-DeWell; cleric of Holy Trinity Monastery in
Jordanville), Priest Andrei Rudenko (parish cleric), Protodeacon
Joseph Jarostchuk (cleric of St. John of Kronstadt Church in Utica,
NY), Protodeacon Michael Soloviev (parish cleric), and Deacon Nathan
Mousselli (cleric of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign).
That same day, the parish celebrated the 50th anniversary of the
ordination of their rector, Fr. Wsewolod. Fr. Wsewolod was ordained
a priest on September 27, 1961, and one year later was assigned
rector of the Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God. During
his 49 years as rector of the parish, Fr. Wsewolod oversaw the
construction of a beautiful new church and the expansion of the
parish community. In greeting Bishop Jerome, Fr. Wsewolod thanked
His Grace for his visit and noted that this was the first hierarchal
Liturgy since the Great Consecration.
The Liturgy was served in Slavonic and English, in the presence of a
multitude of worshipers. Upon completion of the Liturgy, His Grace
delivered a sermon in English and Russian on the Epistle and Gospel
readings: "So then death worketh in us, but life in you" (II Cor.
4:12). That is, here St. Paul commemorated his own (and the other
apostles’) mortality as men, while those who hear him see the Church
as something that will last until the Second Coming of Christ, and
eternally in heaven. This is bolstered by the words of the Savior,
"I will build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against her." Eternal life for us is encapsulated in belonging and
being faithful to Christ’s Body, rejecting all schisms, heresies,
and false teachings.
The English sermon was on the words of the Gospel, "Blessed are they
that hear the Word of God, and keep it!" It remains for us to pay
attention to the Holy Scriptures, which we heard in church and read
at home, and also to the "oral tradition" which is handed down to us
in the Orthodox Church. We gain much from our teachers, who have
taught us the Word of God, the Word of Truth, especially spiritual
fathers such as Fr. Wsewolod, who has led this parish for almost
half a century, thus providing continuity in the spiritual life and
growth of the church. Keeping the saving precepts that we have
received from our teachers, from Christ and the Apostles down to our
teachers of the present day, we must be firm in our commitment to
the Faith that has been revealed to us.
The Liturgy concluded with a moleben and procession around the
church, and a delightful dinner lovingly prepared by the Sisterhood.
In honor of Fr. Wsewolod’s anniversary, the sisterhood prepared
several cakes. The day ended with many joyous toasts and, after the
final prayer, some music performed by parishioners.
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