April 3, 2012
Howell, NJ: The Rite of Holy Unction in St. George’s Church

On Sunday, April 4, local clergy performed the rite of Holy Unction in St. George’s Church in Howell, NJ. Holy Unction is a sacrament that, by blessing the believer’s body with oil, calls down God’s grace, healing one’s physical and spiritual infirmities. The performance of the sacrament was led by rector Archpriest Serge Lukianov, co-served by Archpriest Paul Shafran (pastor emeritus of St. Vladimir Church in Trenton, NJ), parish cleric Archpriest Boris Oparin, Priest Nilus Lerro (dean of students at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, PA), Priest Leonid Goferman (rector of Holy Virgin Protection Church in New Brunswick, NJ), Priest Seraphim Chemodakov (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Lakewood, NJ), Priest Valery Sukholobov (rector of the Church of our Lady, "Joy of All Who Sorrow," in Philadelphia, PA), and parish Deacon Leonid Roschko.

Upon completion of the rite, Fr. Serge greeted Sergey Georgievich Kulisha, longtime parishioner of "Joy of All Who Sorrow" Church in Philadelphia, congratulating him on his birthday. On March 31, Sergey Georgievich turned 106, and he is one of the senior-most  members of the Eastern American Diocese. On behalf of Metropolitan Hilarion, Fr. Serge presented him with an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, wishing him God’s aid in his future struggles.

In turn, Sergey Georgievich thanked Fr. Serge and asked to relay his greetings to Metropolitan Hilarion. He thanked God for granting him such a long and prosperous life, which he was able to spend primarily in the Church. He explained that the only way to live is within the Holy Church, because a life in the Church is a life with Christ. Sergey Georgievich recalled a sermon of Patriarch Alexey II, who spoke with difficulties and fear in one’s life. His Holiness also quoted St. Gregory the Theologian, who said, "There is nothing at all we should fear but to fear something more than God"

"These words have brought me comfort, and they are the words that I have tried to live by," said Sergey Georgievich.

After singing Polychronion to the servant of God Sergey, the faithful were anointed with Holy Oil.

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