January 21, 2014
Brooklyn, NY: Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal leads Patronal Feast of
St. John the Baptist Church
On
Monday, January 20, the feast of the Synaxis of the Forerunner and
Baptist of the Lord John, parishioners of
St. John the Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY celebrated their
patronal feast day. With the blessing of the First Hierarch of the
Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Gabriel, Archbishop of Montreal
& Canada, celebrated the Divine Liturgy.
Co-serving with His Eminence were: Archpriest Alexander Belya
(parish rector and New York City dean), Archimandrite Alexander
(Belya; rector of St. Matrona Church in Miami, FL), diocesan
secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov, Archpriest George Kallaur
(rector of the Church of our Lady "Unexpected Joy" on Staten Island,
NY), Archpriest Boris Oparin (rector of St. Joasaph of Belgorod
Church in Brooklyn), Archpriest Boris Slootsky (cleric of St.
George’s Church in Howell, NJ), Priest Alexandre Antchoutine (rector
of Holy Virgin Intercession Church in Glen Cove, NY), Priest
Constantine Gavrilkin (cleric of Holy New Martyrs Church in
Brooklyn), Priest Vladimir Kaydanov (cleric of St. George’s Church
in Howell), and Deacons: Nathan Mousselli (cleric of the Synodal
Cathedral of the Sign in New York City), Petr Utkin (parish cleric),
Michael Wengrin (diocesan treasurer and cleric of St. George’s
Church), Vladimir Barros (cleric of Intercession Church in Glen
Cove), and Dionysius Lvov (cleric of the Synodal Cathedral).
Upon completion of the Liturgy, Archbishop Gabriel greeted the
rector and all of the parishioners on the occasion of the patronal
feast, saying, in part:
"This
church was founded in the knowledge that tens of thousands of
citizens from the former Soviet states reside here, and are in need
of spiritual nourishment. For what is now your fourth year, you,
dear Fr. Alexander, have been fulfilling your service in Brooklyn,
and the fruits of your pastoral labors are clearly visible before us
on the faces of your parishioners. I wish you God’s aid in
multiplying this parish, that the Lord might help you attract new
people and always remain a united spiritual family. The Apostle Paul
teaches us that we must ‘bear one another’s burdens’ (Galatians
6:2). If you will help one another and, most importantly, help the
parish, then the Lord will never leave you and your parish will
grow."
On behalf of the
New York
City Deanery, Fr. Serge Lukianov greeted Fr. Alexander and the
parishioners, noting that all of the rectors of the Brooklyn and
Staten Island parishes were present for the patronal feast:
"We greet and congratulate our dean, and wish you, dear Father,
patience, wisdom, and spiritual and physical strengths, so that you
might continue your service in the vineyard of Christ. May God grant
that under your leadership our New York churches might continue to
flourish."
In turn, Fr. Alexander thanked Archbishop Gabriel for his
Archpastoral visit, and for his holy prayers during the Liturgy:
"Today’s feast is a special feast not only for our church, but for
the whole universe, because John the Baptist summoned all to
repentance. He called all to know the Truth, and the Truth is the
Lord Jesus Christ Himself. There is no greater joy for man than to
know the Truth – to know Christ. St. John the Baptist helped people
find this joy, and we believe that today he helps us, as well, and
prays for us before the Throne of God. For this reason, we are
overjoyed that you came to us, dear Vladyka, because you are
well-known in Brooklyn. You blessed the opening of the first
churches here, and to this day we can feel your prayers."
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