June 16, 2016
Brooklyn, NY: On Feast of Lord’s Ascension, First Hierarch of Russian Church Abroad leads Divine Services in St. John the Forerunner Cathedral

On Thursday, June 9, the great feast of the Lord’s Ascension, Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, paid an archpastoral visit to St. John the Forerunner Cathedral in Brooklyn, NY.

Greeting the distinguished guest, cathedral rector and New York City dean Archpriest Alexander Belya addressed Metropolitan Hilarion with a greeting.

At the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence was also co-served by Priest Vasily Kirichuk (cleric of the Ronvo Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church), Hieromonk Photius (Oulanov; cleric of Holy Virgin Intercession Church in Glen Cove, NY), and Protodeacon Ivan Bots and Deacon Rostislav Zadorozhny (parish clerics).

The Liturgy proceeded in a festal and triumphal mood, aided by the beautiful singing of the choir and the splendid serving of Metropolitan Hilarion.

Upon completion of the service, the First Hierarch addressed the faithful with an edifying word on the subject of the feast, in which he noted the importance of confession and Communion as the most important elements of the spiritual life of the believer.

Fr. Alexander thanked His Eminence, the clergy, and choir, and parishioners for their shared prayer.

After Liturgy, a festal luncheon was offered, during which the clergy and some of the laity shared their spiritual joy on the occasion of the feast.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese