September 4, 2013
Novo-Diveevo: Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes led Patronal Feast Day in Dormition Convent

On Wednesday, August 28, the feast day of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, the clergy and monastics of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY, celebrated the convent’s patronal feast day. With the blessing of the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, the Divine Liturgy in Holy Dormition Church was celebrated by the Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk.

Prior to the start of Liturgy, an akathist to the Mother of God was served, followed by the lesser blessing of the water. Elder convent cleric Archpriest Alexander Fedorowski and monastery clergy met Archbishop Justinian in procession to the peal of bells.

At Liturgy, His Eminence was co-served by Fr. Alexander, Archpriest George Roschin (Representative of the World Russian People’s Council at the UN), Hieromonk Arseny (Manko; cleric of St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City), and Protodeacon Sergei Arlievsky (convent cleric). Also praying in church were Archpriest Gleb Wleskoff (monastery cleric), Archpriest Eugene Goncharenko (cleric of St. Nicholas Cathedral), and the sisterhood of Dormition Convent, led by Abbess Irene.

In his sermon, the Archbishop spoke about the importance of honoring the Mother of God and explained how we must strive to imitate her especially when dealing with the various difficulties and temptations in life. His Eminence also noted the prayerful atmosphere during the service and equated it to a family gathering of brothers and sisters in Christ. He thanked Fr. Alexander for his warm hospitality and for the opportunity to serve within the prayer-filled walls of the historic monastery. He then congratulated the Abbess Irene and all the sisters with their patronal feast day and wished them God’s help in their monastic struggles.

A procession was held around the church and the service concluded with many years etc. Interaction between the clergy and pilgrims continued at a brotherly luncheon.

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