August 5, 2012
Sea Cliff, NY: Metropolitan Hilarion led the Patronal Feast of St.
Seraphim Memorial Church to the Re-Establishment of Unity in the
Russian Church
On
Wednesday, August 1, on the feast of the Finding of the Relics of
St. Seraphim of Sarov, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church
Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New
York, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in
St. Seraphim’s Church in Sea
Cliff, NY, on the occasion of the parish’s patronal feast. His
Eminence was co-served by His Grace John, Bishop of Caracas, and His
Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop George of Mayfield, as
well as local and visiting clergy.
Having completed a three-month visit to the German and Western
American Dioceses, the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother
of God returned to the Eastern American Diocese, and was brought to
Sea Cliff by her guardian, Protodeacon Nicholas Olhovsky.
During the Liturgy, the First Hierarch ordained Protodeacon Nicholas
to the priesthood. Upon completion of the Liturgy, a moleben was
served to the Most Holy Thetotokos and St. Seraphim before the
wonderworking image, after which the new iconostasis was blessed.
In accordance with the resolution of the Synod of Bishops of the
Russian Church Abroad of June 14, 2012, St. Seraphim’s Church
received the status of a Memorial Church to the restoration of the
fullness of brotherly communion and unity within the Russian
Orthodox Church. The church’s frescoes are to be dedicated to the
entire 1000-year path of the Russian Orthodox Church, from the
Christianization of Russia to the signing of the Act of Canonical
Communion. Work continues on the frescoes. Metropolitan Hilarion
presented a special gramota to the parish confirming its new status:
To the rector, clergy, parishioners, and faithful of St. Seraphim’s
Church in Sea Cliff, New York.
St. Seraphim’s Church in Sea Cliff, New York, in accordance with the
resolution of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad and
the proposal of the standing committee on issues relating to the
strengthening of Church unity, is hereby confirmed as a memorial
church to the re-establishment of the fullness of brotherly
communion within the Russian Orthodox Church. May this church with
its unique iconography, which is being gradually completed with the
help of good people, become an eternal witness to our Orthodoxy and
our Russian identity, that they both might grow and flourish
indivisible in future generations of Russians abroad! May this
church become a place of prayerful commemoration of those who served
the cause of Church unity and all those who preserved and grew our
spiritual treasurers and Holy Russian ideals in the difficult
circumstances of the Diaspora!
In witness to this, we grant you this Gramota, duly signed and
imprinted with the Synodal seal in the God-preserved city of New
York on August 1, 2012.
+Hilarion Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York,
President of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad.
Upon completion of the service, the deacons intoned the Polychronion
for the hierarchs, parishioners, and all those celebrating their
namesdays, while the sisterhood offered a bountiful luncheon in the
parish hall.
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