July 5, 2013
Framingham, MA: Bishop Jerome led the patronal feast day in St. John
the Wonderworker Church
On
Friday, June 29, the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of
God arrived at
St. John the Wonderworker Church. The All-Night Vigil was led by
His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Jerome of
Manhattan.
Clergy came from far away to pray to this saint of our times: New
England Dean Archpriest George Larin, Archpriest Brendan Crowley
(rector of St. Nicholas Church in Springfield, MA), Priest Nicholas
Olhovsky (guardian of the Kursk Root Icon), Priest Kevin Kalish
(rector of Holy New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia Church in
Norwich, CT), and Deacon Alexander Doohovskoy (cleric of St. Xenia
Church in Methuen, MA).
The choir sang wonderfully under the direction of the parish choir
director Olga France, creating a prayerful mood of spiritual
solemnity.
After the Vigil, the sisterhood arranged a dinner in the parish hall
in honor of Bishop Jerome, who was celebrating his namesday. Deacon
Alexander Kurenkov intoned the Polychronion for His Grace, which the
assembled clergy sang.
On Saturday morning, June 29, the youngest parishioners greeted the
Bishop with flowers. Arkady Gurevich, member of the parish Council,
welcomed the Hierarch with the traditional bread and salt.
The Divine Liturgy was also attended by Archpriest Michael Crowley
(rector of St. Xenia Church) and Archpriest Victor Boldewskul
(rector of Holy Epiphany Church in Boston). As the saying goes, "The
more, the merrier" ‒ it was difficult to move around in the small
altar, but the Liturgy went quietly and prayerfully in the spirit of
brotherly love.
Larissa Filipenko, the parish’s second choir director, led the
chorus beautifully in what was undoubtedly a rare service for this
small parish. The reverent singing inspired the clergy and the
congregation, who were able to pray to St John despite the heat.
After the Liturgy, the Sisterhood hosted a festal meal in the parish
hall of a neighboring Protestant community. Parish rector Archpriest
Yaroslav Belikow brought the wonderworking icon from the church, and
after prayer, Bishop Jerome blessed the food and drink.
Father
Yaroslav thanked Bishop Jerome for being attentive needs of the
small parish in Framingham and involving himself in its spiritual
life. The rector also thanked the clergy who had come from afar to
prayerfully share in the celebration. It was the first time serving
in this parish for the dean, Fr. George, for whom praying to St.
John is especially joyful: in his youth, he was an altar boy in
Shanghai, where St. John was the bishop. Fr. Victor, rector of the
Holy Epiphany Church, also served here for the first time, and Fr.
Yaroslav welcomed him warmly. From the time of the founding of St.
John’s parish Fr. Nicholas often came to serve as a deacon. Now he
celebrated the Divine Liturgy here for first time. Unfortunately,
Fr. Michael could not stay, because he needed to return to his
parish to prepare for their annual "Lilac Nights" event, which was
moved from Friday to Sunday in honor of the feast of St. John.
Finally, Fr. Yaroslav greeted Fr. Kevin, also serving at St. John’s
Church the first time.
Much appreciation was expressed for the sisterhood, which, led by
head sister Tatiana Bobrovskaya arranged a wonderful meal. Vladimir
Lebedinsky laboriously prepared the main dishes.
The patronal feast, which demonstrated Church unity in action,
passed in a prayerful and brotherly spirit.
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"Eastern American Diocese www.eadiocese.org."
