December 27, 2016
Flushing, NY: Metropolitan Hilarion performs Consecration of New Altar Table & Iconostasis in Holy Annunciation Church

This year, Holy Annunciation Church in Flushing, NY marked the 65th anniversary of its founding. The parish of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos was founded in 1951 in the Corona neighborhood of Queens. In 1970, a new church building was purchased on 147th Street using funds raised by the parish, where divine services are performed to this day. Throughout the years of its existence, the parish has been led by highly experienced and fatherly pastors who demonstrated great fidelity to the Holy Orthodox Church, including one of the senior-most cleric of the Eastern American Diocese, Archpriest Alexey Ohotin, who reposed in 2013.

On Saturday, December 17, the feast day of the Holy Great-Martyress Barbara, Holy Annunciation Church’s new altar table was consecrated and its table of oblation and iconostasis blessed. Leading the consecration and celebrating Divine Liturgy was Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad. His Eminence was co-served by Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, Archpriest Mark Burachek (rector of Our Lady of Kazan Church in Newark, NJ), George Zelenin (rector of St. Michael’s Cathedral in Paterson, NJ), and Alexandre Antchoutine (dean of Long Island & the Hudson Valley), parish rector Priest Ion Arama, Hieromonk Elevferiy (Skiba; dean of Inexhaustible Chalice Church in Brooklyn, NY), and Protodeacons Eugene Kallaur (cleric of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY), Vadim Gan, and Dionysius Lvov (clerics of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City).

At the Little Entrance, for his many labors carried out in the parish, Fr. Ion was elevated to the rank of archpriest.

Upon completion of the divine service, Metropolitan Hilarion wished the clergy and parishioners God’s unfailing aid, and awarded diocesan gramotas to those who had dedicated particular time and effort on behalf of the parish. It should be noted that the members of the parish sisterhood, led by Matushka Victoria Arama, worked very diligently in gathering funds for obtaining and installing the new iconostasis, altar table, and table of oblation.

The parish sisterhood then invited the clergy and faithful to a traditional luncheon, during which gratitude was expressed to the rector and all those who labored on construction and repairs in the church.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese