October 13, 2012
Nyack, NY: The Second Day of the Joint Pastoral Conference Concluded

On Friday, October 12, the second day of the joint pastoral conference of clergy of the Eastern American Diocese and the Moscow Patriarchate, dedicated to the fifth anniversary of the Reunification of the Russian Church, began with a moleben to St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco in Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY.

After breakfast, Archpriest Artemy Vladimirov, renowned Moscow cleric and homilist, delivered a lecture entitled "Five Pillars of Pastoral Care."

Deacon Ephraim Willmarth then delivered a presentation on behalf of Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville, NY, and spoke about the seminary’s work and plans for its future development.

After lunch, Archimandrite Irinei (Steenberg; cleric of the Western American Diocese) delivered a lecture on the Sacrament of Confession entitled "Confession: The Path to Renewal of the Heart," and took questions from conference participants.

Fr. Artemy Vladimirov delivered a second lecture, entitled "Humanity in the Moral Character of the Modern Pastor," after which a panel discussion was held between Fr. Irinei, Fr. Artemy, Archpriest George Kallaur (rector of the Church of our Lady "Unexpected Joy" on Staten Island, NY), and Priest Jason Vass (rector of Holy Trinity MP Church in Baltimore, MD). The priests took questions from conference participants relating to parish life and how to educate people unfamiliar with church traditions. A separate discussion was held for matushkas in the parish school.

That evening, participants departed for Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo," where Metropolitan Hilarion led the All-Night Vigil, in the presence of the myrrh-streaming Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. More about the Vigil service can be read her.

After the Vigil, conference participants returned to Nyack for dinner, during which texts were approved for an address to His Holiness, Patriarch Kyrill, and a message to the God-loving Orthodox flock, both of which bore witness to the work being done at the conference. On behalf of Metropolitan Hilarion and the Right Reverent Vicar Bishops, gramotas were then presented to the parish sisterhood and to the parish itself, in recognition of their hospitality and all of the work done in conjunction with organizing the conference in Nyack. Parish rector Archpriest George Larin was also presented with a framed memorial copy of the conference poster.

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