July 24, 2013
Jackson, NJ: Metropolitan Hilarion performed the Great Consecration
of St. Olga’s Church
In
2013, the Eastern American Diocese commemorates the
75th anniversary of the founding of
St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ. The church was
founded in 1938, with the laying of the cornerstone taking place in
1940. Throughout the long years, during which the majestic Memorial
Church was being built, the divine serves were held in the
relatively humble lower church named in honor of the Holy
Equal-of-the-Apostles Grand Princess Olga – foremother of the
Russian princes and the first among them to accept Orthodoxy. This
year, in honor of the Memorial Church’s jubilee, as well as the
1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia, the First Hierarch of
the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, gave
his blessing to perform the Great Consecration of the lower church.
On Tuesday the 23rd and Wednesday the 24th of July, on the very
feast day of St. Olga, Metropolitan Hilarion visited Jackson and led
the divine services (Metropolitan Hilarion is also the rector of the
Memorial Church.) On Wednesday morning, after the greeting of the
Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God – Protectress of the Russian
Diaspora – the rite of the Great Consecration was performed,
followed by the Divine Liturgy.
At
the Liturgy, His Eminence was co-served by His Grace Meletiy, Bishop
of Khotin, vicar of the Diocese of Chernovtsy & Bukovina of the
Ukrainian Orthodox Church, by His Grace, Bishop Jerome (Shaw;
retired), and by New Jersey dean Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov,
diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov, the Memorial Church’s
deputy rector Priest Serge Ledkovsky, and
guest clergy. During the
communion of the clergy, Bishop Meletiy delivered the sermon.
At the end of the Liturgy, in gratitude and recognition for their
manifest labors on behalf of the St. Vladimir’s community,
Metropolitan Hilarion awarded diocesan Gramotas to Reader James
Stormes, Mat. Tamara Kizenko (widow of former rector Archpriest
Boris Kizenko), former warden Eugene Plyshevsky, and Serge Kavetsky.
The Polychronion was then intoned for the hierarchs, clergy, and
parishioners of St. Vladimir Memorial Church.
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