November 17, 2012
Passaic, NJ: Metropolitan Hilarion led the Patronal Feast Day of Sts. Cosmas & Damian Church

On Wednesday, November 14, on the feast day of the Holy Unmercenaries Sts. Cosmas & Damian, parishioners in Passaic, NJ celebrated the patronal feast day of Sts. Cosmas & Damian Church. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York. His Eminence was co-served by Archpriest Victor Tseshkovsky (rector of the Nativity of the Mother of God Church at the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY), diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov, Archpriest Mark Burachek (rector of Our Lady of Kazan Church in Newark, NY), Abbot Cornelius (Apukhtin), Archpriest George Zelenin (rector of St. Michael the Archangel Church in Paterson, NJ), Priest Boris Slootsky (rector of the Church of the Mother of God in Mays Landing, NJ), Priest Seraphim Chemodakov (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ), parish rector Dmitri Don, Priest Alexei Oulanov (cleric of Holy Virgin Intercession Church in Glen Cove, NY), and parish Deacon Vladimir Oliynyk.

During the Little Entrance, the Metropolitan elevated Fr. Vladimir to the rank of protodeacon.

Upon completion of the Liturgy, the clergy performed a short moleben before the icon of Sts. Cosmas & Damian. Greeting the gathered faithful, Metropolitan Hilarion warmly congratulated the rector and parishioners on the occasion of the patronal feast day, and wished them God’s abundant aid, through the prayers of the Holy Unmercenaries. On behalf of the parishioners of the Mother of God Church in Mays Landing, Fr. Boris Slootsky presented the parish a special gift – relics of 24 saints of the Kiev Caves Lavra. In turn, Fr. Dmitri thanked the Metropolitan for his Archpastoral prayers and warm words of greeting to the parish.

The parish sisterhood held a wonderful luncheon, during which were offered many words of congratulation.

Republication of materials must include a reference to: 
"Eastern American Diocese www.eadiocese.org."

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese