October 18, 2016
Atlanta, GA: Clergy Conference begins at St. Mary of Egypt Church

On Tuesday, October 18, on the feast of the Synaxis of the Hierarchs of Moscow, clergy and matushkas from across the Eastern American Diocese gathered at St. Mary of Egypt Church in Atlanta, GA for the official start of the autumnal diocesan clergy conference. At 11:00 AM, participants greeted two wonderworking icons of the Mother of God – the Kursk Root Icon and the "Softener of Evil Hearts" – in the presence of which the conference will be held. In the church, diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov served a moleben before the beginning of any good work. Praying at the moleben were the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, as well as Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen; former primate of the Orthodox Church in America) and His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan.

After the moleben, the First Hierarch greeted the participants, wishing them a successful and productive visit. His Eminence especially greeted the two speakers: Archpriest Nicholas Artemoff (Diocese of Germany) and Deacon Mark Barna (OCA), and expressed his gratitude to parish rector Archpriest John Townsend and the local committee for their work in organizing the conference and their hospitality.

Bishop Nicholas addressed those gathered with a brief report on the recent travels of the Kursk Root Icon to Russia, specifically to Saransk and Mordovia.

Then, toward 12:00 noon, lunch was served, after which the conference program began.

The autumnal clergy conference is being held October 18-20.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese