February 16, 2013
Stratford, CT: Metropolitan Hilarion led the Patronal Feast Day of Holy Presentation Church

On Thursday the 14th and Friday the 15th of February, on the great feast of the Meeting of the Lord, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, paid an Archpastoral visit to Stratford, CT to lead the patronal feast day of the Church of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple.

His Eminence led the All-Night Vigil, co-served by parish rector Archpriest Andrei Semyanko, Archpriest George Lardas (rector of the neighboring St. Nicholas Church in Stratford), Archpriest Brendan Crowley (rector of St. Nicholas Church in Springfield, MA), parish cleric Priest Constantine Semyanko, and Deacon George Temidis (cleric of the Nativity of the Mother of God Church at the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY).

The following morning, the Metropolitan celebrated the Divine Liturgy, co-served by Fr. Andrei, Archpriest Theodore Shevzov (cleric of the neighboring St. Nicholas Church), Fr. George Lardas, Fr. Constantine, and Protodeacon Sergei Arlievsky (cleric of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY). During the Little Entrance, Metropolitan Hilarion elevated Fr. Constantine to the rank of archpriest.

Upon completion of the Liturgy, after the Prayer behind the Ambo, and in accordance with ancient Christian tradition, His Eminence blessed the candles. After his sermon, he then read aloud an address by His Holiness, Patriarch Kyrill, to Orthodox youth worldwide.

Photos courtesy of Susan Lukianov

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese