March 23, 2013
Howell, NJ: The Feast of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste in St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

On Saturday, March 23, the namesday of New Jersey dean and cathedral rector Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov, the Eastern American Diocese’s senior-most cleric, was celebrated at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ. This year, the feast of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste was carried over to the 23rd, as it coincided with the first week of Great Lent.

Father Valery celebrated the Divine Liturgy, co-served by diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov, Priest Boris Slootsky (cleric of neighboring St. George’s Church in Howell), Priest Leonid Goferman (rector of Holy Virgin Protection Church in New Brunswick, NJ), parish cleric Priest Seraphim Chemodakov, Priest Vadim Arefiev (rector of the Church of our Lady "The Inexhaustible Chalice" in Brooklyn, NY), Priest Serge Ledkovsky (deputy rector of St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ), Protodeacon Leonid Roschko (cleric of St. George’s Church), Deacon Paul Drozdowski (cleric of St. Vladimir Memorial Church), and Deacon Michael Wengrin (cleric of St. George’s Church). Also praying in church was Archdeacon Eugene Burbelo.

Upon completion of the Liturgy, a moleben was served to the Holy Martyrs of Sebaste and the Holy Great Martyr Theodore Tyro, whose feast this year coincides with that of the Forty Martyrs. The blessing of the "larks" was then performed. According to Wikipedia (Russian), "Today, according to the folk calendar, winter ends and spring begins – day and night are of equal lengths (the equinox). It is celebrated on [March 9/22]. The so-called "larks" are baked pastries in the shape of birds or the sun, prepared on this day… Russians once held the widespread belief that it was on this very day that the larks would fly north, bringing spring with them. ‘March 9 is named for the sandpiper. On this day the ‘migrating’ lark is said to fly north. Some fly north even earlier, but they are not migrating, and they fly north and freeze.’”

Fr. Valery delivered a sermon on the importance of bringing up the youth with a spirit of a warrior’s courage and a willingness to die for Christ, as did the Forty Martyrs. The protodeacon intoned the Polychronion for all those celebrating their namesday, and on behalf of his loving brother clergy, Fr. Serge congratulated Fr. Valery on the occasion of his namesday, presenting him with a copy of the myrrh-streaming Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. In turn, Fr. Valery thanked his fellow clergy for their participation in the divine services, after which a bountiful luncheon, prepared by the parish sisterhood, was held in the parish hall.

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