May 9, 2014
Howell, NJ: Bishop George of Mayfield celebrates Namesday & Patronal Feast of St. George’s Church

On Monday the 5th and Tuesday the 6th of May, St. George’s Church in Howell, NJ marked its patronal feast day. Many clergy, parishioners, and faithful from churches in Brooklyn, Greater New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia came to honor the memory of the Holy Great-Martyr and Trophy-Bearer George. The celebrations were led by His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop George of Mayfield. At the All-Night Vigil on May 5, in accordance with parish tradition, the Litiya was served with a procession around the church; at the divine services, special prayers were offered up for peace in the Ukrainian land – the home of many of the church’s clergy and parishioners.

On Tuesday, May 6, Bishop George celebrated the Divine Liturgy, co-served by:

-          Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov (dean of New Jersey);

-       Archmandrite Nicholas (Olhovsky: elected Bishop of Manhattan);

-          Archpriest Alexander Belya (dean of New York City);

-          Archpriest Serge Lukianov (secretary of the Eastern American Diocese; parish rector);

-          Archpriest Boris Oparin (rector of St. Joasaph of Belgorod Church in Brooklyn, NY);

-          Archpriest Paul Shafran (pastor emeritus of Holy Dormition Church in Trenton, NJ);

-          Hieromonk Alexander (Frizzell; dean of Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV);

-          Archpriest Petr Kunitsky (cleric of Holy New Martyrs of Russia Church in Brooklyn);

-          Archpriest Ioann Lageza (UOC-MP cleric);

-          Archpriest Boris Slootsky (parish cleric);

-          Priest Ion Arama (rector of Holy Annunciation Church in Flushing, NY);

-          Priest Seraphim Chemodakov (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell);

-          Priest Serge Ledkovsky (deputy rector of St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ);

-          Priest Jonah Campbell (rector of Christ the Savior Church in Wayne, WV);

-          Priest Konstantin Gavrilkin (cleric of Holy New Martyrs of Russia Church in Brooklyn);

-          Priest Valery Sukholobov (rector of Joy of All Who Sorrow Church in Philadelphia, PA);

-          Protodeacon Leonid Roschko and Deacon Michael Wengrin (parish clerics).

At the Divine Liturgy, the clergy especially commemorated His Grace, Bishop George, who was celebrating his namesday; the Cossacks, founders and builders of the church; the atamans, clergy celebrating their feast day, serving clergy, and all those honoring their patron saint – Georges, bearers of the name of the glorious Great-Martyr and Trophy-Bearer. On this triumphal day, many of the parishioners partook of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

New Jersey dean and rector of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov congratulated Bishop George on the occasion of his saint’s day and made special note that Bishop George is the only hierarch of his name in the Russian Church Abroad, and with each visit to the parish "brings with him symphonia, which translated from the Greek means ‘harmony,’ or ‘accord.’ It is this very symphonia or balance that we see and perceive when he comes to our parish as a representative of the monastery; and we, laypeople, white clergy, greet him with joy, trying to draw from that monastic spirit. From the parish, we strive to share with His Grace our pastoral and parish unity, a feeling of joy and responsibility before the Lord God for the souls of men…" "You always bring with you tranquility, at a time when we, in our time, have difficulty humbling ourselves and our quick tempers," said Fr. Valery. "You always bring with you a sense of moderation, order, humility, and peace."

On behalf of the parish, rector Archpriest Serge Lukianov also congratulated Bishop George and presented His Grace with a Hierarchal Service Book, masterfully embroidered with a golden covering by a parishioner of Holy New Martyrs & Confessor of Russia Church in Brooklyn.

Fr. Serge sincerely thanked his brother clergy for their joint prayer on the parish’s feast day, and invited the clergy and faithful to a luncheon lovingly prepared by the parish sisterhood in the Cossack Hall. Before the start of lunch, guests were able to acquaint themselves with the Cossack Museum.

In an interview with the Eastern American Diocesan Media Office, Fr. Valery noted the significance of the rebirth of St. George’s Church and the labors of its rector, Fr. Serge, in the spiritual life of Cossacks and Russians living in this region of New Jersey: "This church was reborn practically from nothing, when there were even thoughts of closing it down. Over the years, under Fr. Serge’s energetic leadership, a parish community has been established, the church has obtained several precious icons and relics revered both in Russia and in the Russian Diaspora, the church property has been put in order, and overall parish life as resumed."

During the festal luncheon, Valery Annenko, representative of the Russian Commission for Cossack Affairs, congratulated parish clergy and parishioners on the feast day of St. George the Trophy-Bearer, and awarded the Cossack Cross to Kuban Cossack Voisko Ataman Alexander Pewnew and Fr. Serge.

Republication of materials must include a reference to: 
"Eastern American Diocese www.eadiocese.org."

 

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese