March 29, 2012 Howell, NJ: Bishop
Jerome celebrated the Liturgy in St. George’s Church, sung by the
Diocesan Youth Choir
This past weekend at
St. George’s Church in
Howell, NJ was punctuated by three important events: the visit of
the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora, the wonderworking Kursk
Root Icon of the Mother of God, the leading of the divine services
by His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Jerome of
Manhattan, and singing by the Diocesan Youth Choir.
On Saturday, March 24, on the eve of the
Sunday of St. John Climacus, several members of the Diocesan Youth
Choir gathered in Howell, NJ to attend discussions and sing at the
divine services together, in the presence of the Hierarch and the
Kursk Icon.
Upon completion of the Liturgy for the Departed on Saturday morning,
a spiritually instructive discussion on leading a healthy Christian
spiritual life was held with the youth by Archpriest John Moses
(rector of All Saints of North America Church in Middlebrook, VA).
The Diocesan Media Office recorded the discussion and the
question-and-answer session following it (the video will be
published in the near future).
Prior to the All-Night Vigil, the youth and
faithful triumphally greeted the Kursk Icon, which arrived at the
parish accompanied by its guardian, Protodeacon Nicholas Olhovsky.
The Vigil was led by rector Archpriest Serge Lukianov, co-served by
Archpriest Paul Shafran (pastor emeritus of St. Vladimir Church in
Trenton, NJ), Fr. John, Fr. Nicholas, and parish Deacon Leonid
Roschko. The service was marvelously adorned by the singing of the
youth choir, which sang pieces in English and Slavonic under the
direction of Alexander Cooley.
The following morning, Bishop Jerome
celebrated the Divine Liturgy, co-served by the above-mentioned
clergy (with the exception of Fr. Paul), as well as parish cleric
Archpriest Boris Oparin and Hieromonk Eutychius (Dovganyuk), who
accompanied the Hierarch.Also praying in church was Archdeacon
Eugene Burbelo. During the Small Entrance, for his 20-year service
to Christ’s Holy Church and with the blessing of His Eminence,
Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of ROCOR, Fr. Boris was
awarded the right to wear the palitsa. Virtually everyone present
communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries, and the clergy communed the
faithful from two chalices.
Upon completion of the Liturgy, Fr. Serge
greeted His Grace, expressing his filial gratitude for the
archpastoral visit. On behalf of the parish, the rector then
presented Bishop Jerome with an icon of the Tsar-Martyr St.
Nicholas, in honor of their joint prayer and the hierarchal visit.
Also presented with icons were Fr. Boris (in honor of the 20th
anniversary of his ordination), Fr. Nicholas (in gratitude for his
labors traveling with the Kursk Icon), and Alexander Cooley (in
gratitude for his work with the Diocesan Youth Choir).
A video of the Liturgy sung by the Youth
Choir is available to our readers below:
Republication of materials must include a reference to:
"Eastern American Diocesewww.eadiocese.org."
