April 10, 2013
Wayne, WV: The Southern Clergy Retreat concluded with the Hierarchal
Presanctified Liturgy
Wednesday,
April 10, marked the final dayof
the
Southern Lenten Retreat
for clergy of the Eastern American Diocese and the Patriarchal
Parishes in the USA at
Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV. The retreat concluded with
the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, led by the First Hierarch of
the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, in
neighboring Christ the Savior Church. The First Hierarch was
concelebrated by His Grace, Bishop George, and retreat participants,
while the Liturgy was sung by the monastery choir.
During the Sixth Hour, James Latimer (parishioner of St. Nicholas
Church in Fletcher, NC) was tonsured a reader. During the Little
Entrance, Archpriest George Johnson (rector of Holy Apostles Church
in Beltsville, MD) was awarded the palitsa; Priest Gabriel Weller
(cleric of Holy Myrrhbearers Church in Harrisonburg, MD), the purple
skufia; and Priests Matthew Smith (cleric of Holy Protection Chapel
in Chattanooga, TN) and Eugene Antonov (rector of "Joy of All Who
Sorrow" Church in Atlanta, GA), the nabedrennik.
In
his closing remarks at the conclusion of the Liturgy, Metropolitan
Hilarion thanked Bishop George, abbot of Holy Cross Monastery, and
the brotherhood for their hospitality, as well as rector Priest
Jonah Campbell and parishioners. His Eminence congratulated the
newly awarded priests and added, "I want to congratulate everyone
with this beautiful and grace-filled day, when we were able to
celebrate the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts together in this
Church of Christ the Savior. I would like to thank all those who
toiled earnestly for the successful organization and completion of
this Lenten Retreat. We have all been enriched by our experiences
during the last three days, and I hope that we will remain
spiritually uplifted as we return to our homes and parishes. May God
bless and protect all of you!"
In turn, Bishop George thanked the Metropolitan for coming to West
Virginia and leading the retreat, and for the Archpastoral love he
has shown to his clergy. A luncheon as then held in the parish hall,
and on that note, the retreat drew to a close.
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