August 6, 2013
Sea Cliff, NY: The Patronal Feast Day marked the Opening of the 60th
Anniversary Celebrations of St. Seraphim Memorial Church
On
Thursday, August 1, the feast day of St. Seraphim, Wonderworker of
Sarov, the
St.
Seraphim Church, Memorial to the Re-Establishment of Unity in the
Russian Church, drew many people despite it being a work day,
with great spiritual enthusiasm and familiarity, to divine services.
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by parish rector Archpriest
Serafim Gan (chancellor of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian
Church Abroad and secretary of the First Hierarch), co-served by
Archpriest Andrei Sommer (senior priest of the Synodal Cathedral of
the Sign in New York City and Vice President of the Synodal Youth
Department), Archpriest George Kallaur (rector of the Church of our
Lady "Unexpected Joy" in Staten Island, NY), Archpriest Yaroslav
Belikow (spiritual counselor of SGPA scout camp and rector of St.
John the Wonderworker Church in Framingham, MA), Archriest Zoran
Radovic (rector of St. George Serbian Church in Elizabeth, NI),
Priest Alexandre Antchoutine (rector of Holy Virgin Intercession
Church in Glen Cove, NY), Synodal Protodeacon Nicholas Mokhoff, and
local Protodeacons Paul Wolkow and Eugene Kallaur.
On Wednesday evening, July 31, before the All-Night Vigil was served
with an akathist to St. Seraphim, the clergy, parishioners, and
other worshipers greeted the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the
Mother of God, accompanied by its guardian, Priest Nicholas
Olhovsky. At the end of the service, a reception was hosted in the
rectory for all those in attendance that evening.
The
deepest moments of the following morning’s Divine Liturgy occurred
during the greeting of the myrrh-streaming Hawaiian Icon of the
Mother of God, the singing of the Cherubic Hymn composed by
Musicescu, and the Paschal Irmoi by Vedel before Holy Communion, as
well as a profound sermon by Fr. Yaroslav. A multitude of the
faithful communed from two chalices.
After a moleben and procession of the cross around the celebrant
church, a special prayer to the parish's patron saint was read,
after which the protodeacons intoned the customary Polychronion.
Venerating the Hawaiian Icon and that of St. Seraphim, which
contains a portion of his relics, festal participants were anointed
with oil from the wonderworking icon, after which they proceeded to
the parish refectory, where the sisterhood, headed by Elizabeth
Mikheev, offered a splendid repast in honor of the parish's holiday,
at which many warm, heartfelt words were spoken. Joining the
aforementioned clergymen was Archpriest Alexander Krassovsky (rector
of Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Santa Rosa, CA), who also shared
edifying words of congratulation.
The parish website includes the schedule of upcoming celebrations,
dedicated to this year’s 60th anniversary celebrations of St.
Seraphim Memorial Church.
Photos: www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws
Official website of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of
Russia
www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws
