August 21, 2015
New York City: On Feast of Lord’s Transfiguration, Metropolitan Hilarion leads Services in Synodal Cathedral

On Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th of August, the great feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York led the divine services in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. His Eminence was co-served by the cathedral’s senior priest, Archpriest Andrei Sommer, and cathedral clergy: Archpriest Vasiliy Raskovskiy, Hieromonk Eutychius (Dovganyuk), Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff, and Deacons Nazari Fataliev and Dionysius Lvov, as well as Deacon Michael Wengrin (treasurer of the ROCOR Synod of Bishops). At Liturgy, His Eminence presented clerical awards: Archpriest Vasiliy Raskovskiy was awarded the palitsa, while Deacon Dionysius Lvov was awarded the double orarion.

Upon completion of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion congratulated those present with the feast, and addressed the faithful with a sermon, in which he addressed the meaning of the feast of the Lord’s Transfiguration: "Forty days before His Passion, the Lord ascended the mountain to pray, and by His Transfiguration showed His disciples Peter, James, and John the Heavenly spiritual glory that follows temporal sufferings, fortifying the disciples in the knowledge that He was voluntarily taking upon Himself the sins of the world, suffering voluntarily out of His love for man. In the Lord’s Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, His face shone like the sun and His clothes became white as light. The disciples were also surrounded by the Divine light. The Lord showed them both His Divine glory and the glory of the Heavenly Kingdom, which awaits the faithful who follow the Lord’s commandments and are spiritually reborn." Metropolitan Hilarion reminded the faithful of the words spoken by Venerable Seraphim of Sarov in his talks with Motovilov, when he spoke about the goal of the Christian life – the acquisition of the Holy Spirit, Who sanctifies and gives new life to man, making him a subject of the Kingdom of God. "Here begins our life in the age to come," said Metropolitan Hilarion. "The Lord bestows much grace upon us when we collaborate with Christ while still here on earth."

The Metropolitan then blessed the fruits, vegetables, and other foods that parishioners had brought to the church in accordance with festal tradition, so that, having had their food blessed, they might share it with their neighbors.

The cathedral sisterhood prepared a festal luncheon, during which the clergy and parishioners congratulated Deacon Nazari Fataliev with the first anniversary of his service in the cathedral. They also commemorated the newly departed Princess Elena N. Wolkonsky, a longtime parishioner of the cathedral, who for many years had organized benevolent concerts to benefit the Synodal mansion.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese