March 11, 2013
Atlanta, GA: Diocesan Secretary visited the Church of Our Lady Joy of all Who Sorrow

With the blessing of the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov traveled to Atlanta, GA from Monday the 25th to Wednesday the 27th of February to visit the Church of our Lady, "Joy of All Who Sorrow."

The visit’s purpose was to inspect the progress of the new church building and to offer assistance to newly appointed rector Priest Eugene Antonov, Deacon Anton Kouznetsov, warden Ignaty Cherry, and the new parish council members and parishioners. Fr. Serge served a moleben before the icon of the Mother of God, "Joy of All Who Sorrow," and then conducted several meetings with clergy, warden, council, and parishioners.

As a recently ordained priest, Fr. Eugene was grateful for the assistance offered by Fr. Serge on behalf of Metropolitan Hilarion. "I truly appreciate the great work that was done during the visit and am grateful to the First Hierarch for his Archpastoral care of our parish." The parish is growing and, with the construction of a new church, there are many challenges facing the parishioners in Atlanta. Nonetheless, Fr. Eugene is optimistic that, with God’s help and the assistance of the diocesan administration, the faithful will quickly overcome them. "We are certainly working together, and look forward to achieving many important parish goals," said the new rector.

The exterior shell of the new church building is almost complete, and parishioners are grateful to anyone who wishes to help them through financial contributions or simply prayers. Donations can be made at the parish website here.

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Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese