April 13, 2014
Flushing, NY: Metropolitan Hilarion leads Patronal Feast Day of Holy Annunciation Church

On Monday, April 7, the great feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York led the patronal feast day of Holy Annunciation Church in Flushing, NY. As reported by the official website of the New York City Deanery, His Eminence was co-served by New York City dean Archpriest Alexander Belya, Archimandrite Maximos (Weimar; abbot of Holy Cross Brotherhood in East Setauket, NY), Archpriest Ioann Lageza (UOC-MP), parish rector Priest Ion Arama, Priest Ion Radu, Protodeacon Nicholas Mokhoff (cleric of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City), Deacon Vladimir Barros (cleric of Holy Virgin Intercession Church in Glen Cove, NY), and parish Deacon Serguei Mikhailov.

At the Little Entrance, for his zealous and faithful service to the Holy Church, Fr. Serguei Mikhailov was awarded the double orarion.

Upon completion of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion delivered a sermon to the faithful in which he reminded worshippers of the significance of the feast day, and called on the faithful children of Christ’s Church to live their lives according to the example set by the Mother of God.

Finishing his sermon, Metropolitan Hilarion addressed Fr. Nicholas Mokhoff on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of his ordination to the diaconate. Fr. Nicholas was found worthy of the clerical calling on April 7, 1974, the very day of the feast of the Annunciation. With warm and sincere words, the Metropolitan wished Fr. Nicholas God’s aid and many years of service to the Holy Church. For his longtime and worthy service, His Eminence awarded the Protodeacon a Hierarchal Gramota.

The dean, Fr. Alexander Belya, addressed his own kind words to the Protodeacon, wishing him spiritual and bodily strength, and to continue serving the Orthodox Church with zeal for many and blessed years.

Fr. Alexander also thanked Archpriest Alexandre Antchoutine (rector of Holy Virgin Intercession Church, present and praying in church) for his labors in nourishing the parishioners of Holy Annunciation Church after the repose of his father-in-law – longtime rector Archpriest Alexey Ohotin.

On this radiant feast, many of the faithful communed of Christ’s Holy Gifts. The feast day concluded with a delicious lenten luncheon, during which the clergy and parishioners continued their interaction.

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