May 8, 2013
Howell, NJ: Metropolitan Hilarion led the Patronal Feast Day of St.
George’s Church
On
Monday, May 6, on the feast of the Holy Great-Martyr and
Trophy-Bearer George, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church
Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New
York, paid an Archpastoral visit to Howell, NJ and led the divine
services in honor of the patronal feast day ofSt.
George’s Church.
This year, St. George’s Day fell on the day
after Pascha, Bright Monday, which meant that Paschal Vespers and
Matins were served on Sunday instead of the All-Night Vigil. Parish
rector Archpriest Serge Lukianov led the services on Sunday
afternoon, co-served by parish clerics: Priest Boris Slootsky,
Protodeacon Leonid Roschko, and Deacon Michael Wengrin.
The following morning, before the start of
Divine Liturgy, the serving clergy and choir processed to the
neighboring Cossack hall, where they triumphally greeted their
Primate. Metropolitan Hilarion celebrated the Liturgy, co-served by
the rector, Archpriest Paul Shafran (pastor emeritus of St. Vladimir
Church in Trenton, NJ), Archpriest George Kallaur (rector of
Unexpected Joy Church in Staten Island, NY), parish clerics
Archpriest Boris Oparin and Priest Boris Slootsky, Priest Serge
Ledkovsky (deputy rector of St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson,
NJ), Priest Dmitri Don (rector of Sts. Cosmas & Damian Church in
Passaic, NJ), Fr. Leonid Roschko, Protodeacon Vladimir Oliynyk
(cleric of Sts. Cosmas & Damian Church), Deacon Paul Drozdowski
(cleric of St. Vladimir Memorial Church), Deacon George Temidis
(cleric of the Nativity of the Mother of God Church at the New Kursk
Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY), Hierodeacon Tikhon (Gayfudinov;
cleric of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City,
accompanying His Eminence), and Fr. Michael Wengrin.
During the Little Entrance, for over 16
years of clerical service, Fr. Boris Slootsky was elevated to the
rank of archpriest. Upon completion of the Liturgy, a short festal
moleben to St. George was held, followed by a procession. New Jersey
Dean Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov arrived to greet the faithful
with the joyous feast. In his sermon, Metropolitan Hilarion greeted
the faithful with the dual feast:
"Our
earthly Pascha is a reflection of the Kingdom of God – the Eternal
Pascha, where all of the righteous ceaselessly glorify the Lord God,
and where is unending that Godly service, which is never too weighty
or burdensome, but full of joy, because there, in the Kingdom of
Heaven, we have direct interaction with the Lord God. And the Holy
Great-Martyr George… by his martyric death ever glorifies the Lord
and prays for us sinners."
In turn, Fr. Serge greeted the First
Hierarch, thanking him for his unending Archpastoral love and
support. The Metropolitan then presented diocesan Gramotas: to
Matushka Tatiana Petrovsky, for her many years of service to St.
George’s Church and the Diocese alongside her ever-memorable husband
Archpriest Philip Petrovsky; and to parishioners: Matushka
Marguerita Roschko, the parish treasurer, for her many years of
selfless service; and Lydia Zemlanicky and Eugene & Vera Grigorovich
for their moral and financial support of the parish in trying times.
The deacons then proclaimed the Polychronion for all of the namesday
celebrants, Gramota recipients, and parishioners.
After the kissing of the Cross, the
Metropolitan blessed the annual Pascha egg hunt for the children. A
luncheon was then held in the Cossack hall, during which many
congratulatory words were spoken.
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