January 16, 2012
New York, NY: A Nativity Reception was held at the Russian
Federation Consulate
On
Thursday, January 12, an official Nativity Reception was held at the
Russian Federation Consulate in New York, on behalf of Consul
General Andrey K. Yushmanov and the Administrator of the Patriarchal
Parishes in the USA, Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk.
As reported by the
official
site of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, representatives of
several embassies took part in the reception, as did hierarchs of
the Local Orthodox Churches in the U.S., among them the head of the
Greek Archdiocese, Archbishop Demetrios, the First Hierarch of the
Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America &
New York, Bishop Jerome of Manhattan, and the vicar for the
Administrator of the Bulgarian Patriarchate parishes in the USA,
Canada, and Australia, Bishop Daniel of Dragovitia. Also present
were clerics of the Greek, American, ROCOR, and Bulgarian
jurisdictions represented in the U.S. who play a critical role in
social and cultural organizations in America.
Greeting his guests with the Nativity, A.K. Yushmanov wished all
those present happiness and good fortune, noting that this holiday
"is dear to many people around the world because it bears hope for a
bright future and symbolizes love, mutual understanding, and trust."
In his speech, Archbishop Justinian noted the special circumstances
surrounding the celebration of the Nativity in the Church: "People
in the Church know that every great feast day has its forefeast and
its afterfeast. One day is insufficient to fully appreciate and
worthily experience the triumph of the Orthodox faith. In this
sense, the interaction between Orthodox Churches who celebrate
according to both the old and new calendars is very important. Those
who celebrate according to the new calendar remind the Old
Calendarists that the Nativity draws nigh. When the Nativity is held
on the old calendar, the New Calendarists can continue their
celebration of Christ’s Nativity alongside us. And together we all
witness to the world the joy of the Newborn God-Child Christ."
As the senior hierarch present, Archbishop Demetrios blessed the
start of the meal, and expressed his thanks to the Consul General
for his hospitality and the opportunity to interact with one another
during these holy days.
Republication of materials must include a reference to:
"Eastern American Diocese www.eadiocese.org."
Media
Office of the Eastern American Diocese
