July 19, 2013
Metropolitan Hilarion visited the scout camp at St. George Pathfinders’ "Tsarskoe Selo" Chapter

On Saturday, July 13, St. George Pathfinders of America summer scout camp, "Tsarskoe Selo" Chapter (Northville, NY), marked the "Day of Remembrance of the Fallen Faithful" (Russian: DPV).

The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, led the All-Night Vigil in St. George’s Chapel, co-served by the camp’s spiritual father, Archpriest Serge Lukianov, Protodeacon Nicholas Lukianov (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Lakewood, NJ), and Hierodeacon Tikhon (Gayfudinov; cleric of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign).

After the Vigil and dinner, the DPV ceremony continued as planned in the open air on the camp’s parade grounds. The ceremony began with opening remarks by the Head Scoutmaster, Natalia Konon, followed by the presentation of the color guard, which included the chapter’s standard, flanked by the American and Russian flags. After the recitation of the twelve points of the Scout Law, each one accompanied by the lighting of a torch, the roll call of all those present in formation was performed, and – according to old army tradition – the roll call of the "faithful" was performed. This roll call includes fallen members of the Organization and, from before its inception, those members of the Russian scouting movement at large, starting with the Holy Prince-Martyr Alexis. At the end of roll call, Fr. Serge performed a Litiy for all departed scouts. After the ceremony, everyone proceeded to the traditional somber bonfire.

The following morning, the scouts stood in formation before the chapel to greet Metropolitan Hilarion. During the greeting of the First Hierarch, the scouts threw flower petals in the path of their spiritual father (On May 1, 2010, at the request of then-Head Scoutmaster Alexey T. Zacharin, Metropolitan Hilarion accepted the responsibility of Spiritual Advisor to SGPA’s Chapters Outside Russia). SGPA's Head Scoutmaster Natalia Konon and Eastern American Division Director Scoutmaster Tatiana Zacharin-Geringer greeted His Eminence with bread and salt, followed by Fr. Serge, who thanked the Metropolitan for his Archpastoral visit. The First Hierarch celebrated the Divine Liturgy, co-served by the above-mentioned clergy. About 100 scouts and counselors communed from two chalices.

Upon completion of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion blessed the new open-air mess hall and blessed the presentation of gramotas to all those who took part in the construction project.

After breakfast, the raising of the flags was held on the parade grounds with the participation of the First Hierarch, followed by the changing of the weekly counselors. With the blessing of Metropolitan Hilarion and according to his own request, Fr. Serge was relieved of his duty as spiritual counselor for "Tsarskoe Selo" Chapter; the post was then assigned to longtime scout Archpriest Yaroslav Belikow (rector of St. John the Wonderworker Church in Framingham, MA). On behalf of Tsarskoe Selo, Fr. Serge was presented with a wooden engraved gramota thanking him for his thirteen years as the chapter’s spiritual counselor.

Chapter Director Scoutmaster Nicholas Pokrovsky thanked His Eminence for his Archpastoral visit and the spiritual instruction given to his spiritual children.

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