May 9, 2012 Howell, NJ: Bishop
George celebrated his Namesday and led the Patronal Feast Day of St.
George’s Church
On Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th of
May, on the feast of the Holy Great-Martyr and Trophy-Bearer George,
His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop George of
Mayfield, celebrated his namesday and led the divine services in
honor of the patronal feast day of
St. George’s Church in Howell,
NJ.
On Saturday evening, His Grace led the
All-Night Vigil, co-served by rector Archpriest Serge Lukianov,
Hieromonk Eutychius (Dovganyuk), Priest Leonid Goferman (rector of
Holy Virgin Protection Church in New Brunswick, NJ), Priest Serge
Ledkovsky (deputy rector of St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson,
NJ), Priest Jonah Campbell (rector of Christ the Savior Church in
Wayne, WV), parish Deacon Leonid Roschko, and Deacon Paul Drozdowski
(cleric of St. Vladimir Memorial Church).
The following morning, before the start of
Divine Liturgy, the clergy, along with the parish choir and a
detachment of Cossacks (both members of the local Kuban Cossack
Voisko, and visiting representatives of the Cossack Congress in
America), processed to the neighboring Cossack hall, where they
triumphally greeted their Vicar Bishop. Bishop George celebrated the
Liturgy, co-served by New Jersey Dean Protopresbyter Valery
Lukianov, Archpriest Paul Shafran (pastor emeritus of St. Vladimir
Church in Trenton, NJ), the rector, parish cleric Archpriest Boris
Oparin, Priest Alexey Bocharnikov (rector of St. Nicholas Church in
Chester, PA), Fr. Serge Ledkovsky, Fr. Jonah Campbell, and the
above-mentioned deacons, as well as Deacons Seraphim Komleski and
Steven Barker (clerics of St. Elizabeth the New-Martyr Church in
Rocky Hill, NJ). Also praying in church was Archdeacon Eugene
Burbelo. A multitude of the faithful was communed from two chalices.
Upon completion of the Liturgy, a short
festal moleben to St. George was held, followed by a procession. The
deacons then proclaimed the Polychronion for all of the namesday
celebrants, with the Hierarch at their head, and all the parish
clergy. On behalf of ROCOR’s First Hierarch, His Eminence,
Metropolitan Hilarion, Fr. Serge read aloud a congratulatory
greeting to Bishop George on the occasion of his namesday. On behalf
of the loving spiritual children of the Eastern American Diocese,
His Grace was presented with a large icon of the Holy Trinity with a
commemorative plaque. In turn, Bishop George congratulated Fr. Serge
and all of the parishioners with their patronal feast day, thanking
all of them for their words of congratulations and for their
invitation to share in the feast. Then, on behalf of Metropolitan
Hilarion, Bishop George presented parishioners Vitaly E. Konofolsky
and Viktor G. Karcha with diocesan gramotas for their selfless
service to Christ’s Holy Church.
After the kissing of the Cross, a luncheon
was held in the Cossack hall, during which many congratulatory words
were spoken. At the luncheon, on behalf of the Orthodox Business
Association, Igor K. Popov presented His Grace with several gifts on
the occasion of his namesday.
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