№: 06.59.13
June 5/18, 2013
Hieromartyr Dorotheus, Bishop of Tyre
A DIRECTIVE
to all Clerics of the Eastern American Diocese
On
July 26-28, the feast of the Holy Great Prince Vladimir, an
All-Diocesan Celebration in honor of the 1025th anniversary of the
Baptism of Rus’ and the 75th anniversary of St. Vladimir Memorial
Church will be held in Jackson, NJ.
We strongly urge all
of our clergy and parishes to participate in this joyous celebration
as a testament of our unity and love for Christ.
Clergy should bring their
own white vestments. We appeal to all parish rectors who are
able to cancel services on the weekend of July 27-28, to not only
come to Jackson alone, but to encourage your parishioners to come,
as well. Parish choristers are invited to join in a combined choir
of singers from all across America, who will sing the divine
services in Slavonic and English. Sisterhoods are encouraged to
contact the St. Olga’s Sisterhood in Jackson to assist in any way
they can with such a large-scale celebration. The faithful are
invited to bring their personal icons to carry in the grand
procession after the Divine Liturgy on July 28th. Parish wardens are
cordially asked to organize for the transportation of their parish’s
gonfalons, so that they, too, can be used in the grand procession.
Detailed information about the celebration is available on our
diocesan website here.
Enclosed you will find a copy of our appeal to all the clergy and
faithful of the Eastern American Diocese in connection with the
1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’. Parish rectors are
instructed to read this appeal from the ambo on the Great Feast of
Pentecost or the Sunday of All Saints. Parishes that publish their
own newsletters are asked to include a copy of the appeal in their
next issue (digital copies can be obtained on the diocesan website
here).
If your parish does not have a newsletter, please post the enclosed
copy of the appeal in a visible place in your church or parish hall.
Finally, please inform diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov
if you are able to attend.
The Baptism of Rus’ 1,025 years ago was an event which reverberated
through the centuries, touching all of our lives. Let us take this
opportunity to thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, acting
through His saint, the Holy Prince Vladimir, for bringing the
Russian people – and, by extension, all of us – to the Light of
Truth.
+HILARION
Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York
First Hierarch of the Russian
Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese
