November 8, 2016
Glen Cove, NY: Holy Intercession Church celebrates 65th Patronal Feast Day

On Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th of October, the major feast of the Protection of the Mother of God, Holy Intercession Church in Glen Cove, NY celebrated its patronal feast day. This year, the celebration was a special one, as the parish was marking the 65th anniversary of its founding (on November 26, 1951, the ever-memorable Anastassy (Gribanovsky), second First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, founded the parish).

The parish celebrations began on Thursday evening with the serving of the All-Night Vigil. In the presence of a large gathering of the faithful, the Vigil was led by Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, co-served by parish clergy: rector Archpriest Alexandre Antchoutine, Abbot Photius (Oulanov), and Deacon Vladimir Barros, as well as Hieromonk Tikhon (Gayfudinov; rector of Holy Protection Skete in Buena, NJ), Protodeacons Paul Wolkow, Eugene Kallaur (clerics of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY), and Serge Arlievsky (cleric of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY). After the service, all were invited to a fraternal supper in the parish hall.

The following morning, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York. His Eminence was co-served by the above-mentioned priests and deacons (excepting Protodeacon Serge), as well as:

- Archpriest Mark Burachek (rector of Our Lady of Kazan Church in Newark, NJ)
- Archpriest George Zelenin (rector of St. Michael’s Church in Paterson, NJ)
- Priest Ion Arama (rector of Holy Annunciation Church in Flushing, NY)
- Priest George Temidis (cleric of Nativity of the Mother of God Church at the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY)
- Hieromonk Silouan (Justiniano; cleric of Holy Cross Brotherhood in East Setauket, NY)
- Protodeacon Dionysius Lvov (cleric of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City), and
- Hierodeacon Dionysios (Hatcher; cleric of Holy Cross Brotherhood in East Setauket).

Praying and communing in the altar was Protopresbyter Leonid Kishkovsky (rector of neighboring Our Lady of Kazan Church in Sea Cliff).

At the Little Entrance, Deacon Vladimir Barros was awarded the right to wear the double orarion for his dedicated service to the Holy Church.

Hymning the divine services was a mixed choir of parishioners and guests, under the direction of Peter and Adrian Fekula.

Upon completion of the Liturgy, parish rector Fr. Alexandre thanked the Metropolitan for his archpastoral visit and prayers, and presented him with an icon of the Holy Hieromartyr Vladimir (Chetverin) of Mordovia with a piece of the martyr’s relics. On the eve of the feast, an identical icon had been presented to Bishop Nicholas.

Metropolitan Hilarion then awarded Synodal gramotas to several parishioners for their longtime service to the parish. Awarded were: Matushka Tamara Ohotin, Gabriel G. & Olga D. Temidis, Maria A. Jordan, Vladimir I. & Valentina S. Mikhailichenko, Andrew I. & Irina F. Wolkow, and Ludmila A. Fekula.

The protodeacon then intoned the Polychronion to the clergy and all of the parishioners, and after Liturgy all were invited to a festal luncheon.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese