October 11, 2012
Nyack, NY: The Eastern American Diocesan Assembly concluded

 

In the second half of the day on Wednesday, October 10, the Eastern American Diocesan Assembly concluded its work. Having listened to an address by His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, delegates were presented a list of statistics relating to life in the Eastern American Diocese. In his presentation, diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov presented facts and figures regarding the number of new, closed, and transferred diocesan parishes, missions, and monasteries, and information about the ruling hierarchs and clergy. Fr. Serge thanked Metropolitan Hilarion for his Archpastoral direction, counsel, and blessing for large diocesan projects, all of which His Eminence does while engaging affairs outside of the United States, as ruling bishop of the Australia & New Zealand Diocese and other nations where ROCOR parishes are to be found.

 

Fr. Serge noted that, thanks to the two vicar bishops, Hierarchal Liturgies are served for almost every patronal feast day, as the bishops visit parishes from Maine in the north to Florida in the south.

 

The delegates were informed that the Diocese also suffered losses over the three and a half years since the last diocesan assembly: seven clergymen reposed in the Lord (Archimandrite Flor (Vanko), Archpriest Boris Kizenko, Archpriest Philip Petrovsky, Archpriest Laurence Girard, Priest Seraphim Scheidler, Priest Rodion Aragon, and Priest Sergei Sokolov), as did four matushkas (Mat. Anastasia Gun, Mat. Raisa Mocharsky, Mat. Elizabeth Olhovsky, Mat. Maria Chekavksy). The delegates honored their memory and sang "Memory Eternal."

 

Subdeacon Michael Wengrin then presented a financial report and diocesan budget for 2013. The report was followed by a lively debate and discussion on issues relating to parish dues, improving the financial situation of clergy and diocesan staff, and supporting the monasteries. Delegates agreed, however, that generous support of the Church will allow for the financial support and realization of a multitude of diocesan programs. The diocesan budget was approved unanimously.

 

Diocesan Media Office director Reader Peter Lukianov delivered a report on the Media Office’s work, explaining the diverse programs and projects that were able to be realized over the past three and a half years, from the diocesan website, to the Pastoral Resources Program, to expanded collaboration with the Russian Orthodox TV Station "Soyuz," and the continued work on videos relating to Orthodox in America.

 

Reader Peter sincerely thanked Metropolitan Hilarion and the diocesan vicars for their support of the diocesan media office, for the opportunity to participate in diocesan life, and being able not only on the diocesan level, but also to viewers and readers flung far beyond the confines of the Diocese, to share stories of the spiritual labors, love, and humility that we see in our parishes and monastic communities. By directive of the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, for his tireless work, Reader Peter Lukianov was awarded a Synodal Gramota.

 

Archpriest George Zelenin presented a report on the work of the diocesan spiritual court, proposing the creation of a legal defense fund for the parishes.

 

Archpriest Alexis Duncan (rector of the Nativity of the Mother of God Church in Albany, NY), spoke about the trip taken by a youth group to Tikhvin, a suburb of St. Petersburg, to help restore the cathedral church of the convent there. Fr. Alexis appealed to the delegates to financially support another group of 25 young people to travel to Tikhvin for further restoration work next year. The new missionary project by the Eastern American Diocese received the title "Tikhvin."

 

The election was then held by secret ballot for members of the Diocesan Council, Spiritual Court, and Auditing Committee.

 

His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion offered a closing statement. The Metropolitan thanked everyone for their labors, and called upon those present to continue to support the Church in deed, which would allow for the realization of further and more diverse projects aimed at the spiritual growth of the diocese’s members and new parishioners.

 

The Diocesan Assembly concluded in Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack with the serving of Vespers and Matins.

 

Toward the end of the Assembly in Nyack, clergy of the Moscow Patriarchal parishes began to arrive, ready to participate in the joint Pastoral Conference of the Eastern American Diocese and the Moscow Patriarchate, dedicated to the fifth anniversary of the restoration of unity in the Russian Orthodox Church.

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

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese