December 11, 2012
New York City: ROCOR’s First Hierarch led the Patronal Feast Day of
the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign
On
Monday, December 10, the patronal feast day of the Kursk Root Icon
of the Mother of God of the Sign was celebrated in the Synodal
Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. Divine services were led by
the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence
Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York. The First
Hierarch was co-served by Archbishop Mark of Berlin & Germany,
Archbishop Kyrill of Western America & San Francisco, Archbishop
Justinian of Naro-Fominsk, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes
in the USA, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, Eastern
American Diocesan vicar Bishop George of Mayfield, and a multitude
of clergy from every corner of the Russian Diaspora. Eastern
American Diocesan vicar Bishop Jerome of Manhattan was also present
at the service.
The Liturgy was held in the presence of the wonder-working Kursk
Root Icon of the Mother of God, the Protectress of the Russian
Diaspora. The triumphal singing of the Synodal choir, under the
direction of P.A. Fekula, facilitated the prayerful and festal mood
of all of the clergy and worshipers present.
Upon completion of the Liturgy, the archpastors and clergy performed
a short moleben before the wonder-working Icon of the Mother of God,
after which the Primate of the Russian Church Abroad greeted
concelebrating clergy and the faithful. For his dedicated labors on
behalf of the Synodal Cathedral, warden Prince Vladimir K. Galitzine
was awarded the Synodal Order of the Sign, 1st Class. The First
Hierarch also awarded Synodal assistant Adam Krotov a Synodal
gramota.
The sisterhood prepared a bountiful luncheon in the Synodal hall,
during which festal speeches and congratulatory greetings were
pronounced. During the luncheon, Metropolitan Hilarion was
congratulated on the 28th anniversary of his hierarchal
consecration. Below is a greeting to the Metropolitan from the vicar
bishops and members of the Diocesan Council of the Eastern American
Diocese:
Your Eminence,
Most Reverend Master, bless!
On behalf of the
members of the Diocesan Council, and all of the clergy and faithful
children of the Eastern American Diocese, accept our sincerest
congratulations on the 28th anniversary of your elevttion to the
episcopacy.
Over the past 28
years, you have labored tirelessly for the benefit of your flock,
fervently praying for their salvation. First the faithful of the
Eastern American Diocese, then of the Australian, and eventually of
the entire Church Abroad have come to know you as a loving pastor
and spiritual father. We are grateful to the Almighty for such a
wise and humble Hierarch.
We wish, Your
Eminence, that the Lord God fortify you spiritually and physically
for your ongoing labor of service as First Hierarch in the vineyard
of Christ.
Bishop Jerome was then greeted on the occasion of the fourth
anniversary of his consecration to the episcopacy. Below is a
greeting to His Grace from the First Hierarch:
Your Grace,
Dear Brother in the Lord,
On this joyous day for
our Diocese, we send Your Grace our heartfelt congratulations on the
fourth anniversary of your episcopal consecration. By the Mercy of
God, you have faithfully carried out your archpastoral duties by
selflessly giving yourself entirely over to the flock in service of
Christ’s Holy Church. Your diligent service in the Synodal Cathedral
of the Church Abroad and Archpastoral care of the many parishes you
take the time and effort to visit have led the faithful to recognize
you as a discerning and loving shepherd.
May the Lord grant you
many years of health and renewed spiritual strength to continue
carrying your weighty archpastoral cross.
Photos by George Konyev - Media Office of the Eastern American
Diocese
Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese
