Washington,
DC: The Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God visited St. Nicholas
Cathedral
December
31,
2009
On
Tuesday, December 29, the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God visited
St. Nicholas Cathedral (OCA) in the American capital. The icon was
accompanied by His Grace, Bishop George of Mayfield, and the rector of
St. John the Baptist Cathedral and member of the Diocesan Council,
Archpriest Victor Potapov.
Beltsville,
MD: The Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God visited Holy Apostles
Church
December
31,
2009
On
Sunday, December 27, the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God visited
Holy Apostles Church in Beltsville, MD. The church is currently located
in a rented storefront while major renovations continue in the new
church. On June 3, 2009, through the Lord’s mercy, the parishioners of
Holy Apostles witnessed a pure miracle in the wondrous gift which was
given to us: a beautiful brick country church situated on two acres of
land in Beltsville.
Baltimore,
MD: The Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God visited Holy
Transfiguration Church
December
31,
2009
On
Sunday, December 27, the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God visited
Holy Transfiguration Church in Baltimore, MD. The icon was greeted by
rector Priest Ion Barbus, who triumphantly carried the icon into the
church, blessing the assembled faithful with it. The moleben with
akathist was led by diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov,
co-served by Fr. Ion and Priest John Vass in the presence of a crowd of
worshipers.
Washington,
DC: Alexey T. Zacharin was elected Head Scoutmaster of St. George
Pathfinders of America
December
30, 2009
On Saturday, December 26, upon
completion of the All-Night Vigil in St. John the Baptist Cathedral, the
Kursk Root Icon visited the home of Alexey T. and Marina I. Zacharin,
where a moleben was served before the wonder-working icon, relating to
the recent election of Alexey Zacharin to the post of Head Scoutmaster
of St. George Pathfinders of America (SGPA).
Washington,
DC: The Kursk Root Icon visited St. John the
Baptist Cathedral
December
29, 2009
On Saturday, December 26, the Kursk Root
Icon of the Mother of God arrived from Holy Cross Monastery with
diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov to St. John the Baptist
Cathedral in Washington, DC. The icon was triumphantly greeted by the
rector, Mitred Archpriest Victor Potapov (member of the Diocesan
Council) and cathedral clergy, as well as His Eminence Anthony,
Archbishop of Krasnoyarsk and Yeniseisk and His Grace George, Bishop of
Mayfield.
The
Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God visited Holy Cross Monastery
December
26, 2009
On
Thursday, December 24, on the eve of the feast of Sts. Spyridon of
Tremithus and Herman of Alaska, the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God
arrived at Holy Cross Monastery in the rolling hills of West Virginia,
near the town of Wayne. Upon greeting the wonder-working icon, His
Grace, Bishop George of Mayfield, abbot of the monastery, exclaimed,
"And whence it this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come
to me?" (Luke 1:43).
Middlebrook,
VA: The Kursk Root Icon visited the All Saints of North America Church
December
24, 2009
On
Thursday, December 24, the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God visited
All Saints of North America Church in the town of Middlebrook, Virginia.
In the words of the ever-memorable Archbishop Nikon (Rklitsky):
"The snowy plain stretches out expansively, and in the midst of it,
as little oases, numerous well-to-do farms dot the landscape with their
tall silos." In the midst of these farms, a remarkable Orthodox
church sits, occupying an old building, once a Lutheran church, founded
in 1882.
Mebane,
NC: The Kursk Root Icon visited Holy Trinity Church
December
23, 2009
On Wednesday, December 23, the
Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God visited Holy Trinity Church in
Mebane, NC. The community of Holy Trinity Church was founded in 1991,
and has for many years lacked a church building. By God's mercy, the
parishioners were able to obtain land and an old furniture factory,
which is currently undergoing major renovations to convert it to a
beautiful Orthodox church.
Charlotte,
NC: The Kursk Root Icon visited the Church of the Reigning Mother of God
December 23, 2009
On Wednesday, December 23, the
Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign" visited the
Church of the Reigning Mother of God in Charlotte, NC, where a Divine
Liturgy was served. Prior to the Liturgy, the faithful triumphantly
greeted the icon with a procession, leading it from the parish house to
the church. The Church is currently located in a former garage, which
was recently remodeled to form a very cozy chapel.
New
York, NY: Bishop Jerome celebrated the Divine Liturgy in St. Nicholas
Patriarchal Cathedral
December 23, 2009
With the blessing of His
Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, on December 19, the
feast day of St. Nicholas the Wonder-worker, His Grace Jerome, Bishop of
Manhattan, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in St. Nicholas Patriarchal
Cathedral, on the occasion of its patronal feast day. His Grace was
co-served by clergy of the Church Abroad, the Moscow Patriarchate, and
the Orthodox Church in America.
Fletcher,
NC: The Kursk Root Icon visited St. Nicholas Church
December
23, 2009
On Tuesday, December 22,
the feast of the Conception by the Righteous St. Anna of the Most Holy
Theotokos, the Kursk Root Icon visted St. Nicholas Church in Fletcher,
NC. The icon was triumphantly greeted in front of the church by a
procession, and the moleben with akathist began at once, led by diocesan
secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov, co-served by rector Priest Onouphry
Keith, Archpriest Mark Burcha, Archpriest Demetrios Iliou, Priest
Nikolay Miletkov, and diocesan treasurer Priest Jonah Campbell.
Cayce,
SC: The Kursk Root Icon visited St. Elizabeth the New Martyr Church
December
22, 2009
On
Tuesday, December 22, the day of the Conception of the Most Holy
Theotokos by the Righteous St. Anna, the Kursk Root Icon visited St.
Elizabeth the New Martyr Church in Cayce, near Columbia, capital of
South Carolina. The icon was greeted in front of the church by a
procession, and the parish children threw flower petals in the icon’s
path.
Charleston,
South Carolina:
The Kursk
Root Icon
arrived in
the South
December
21, 2009
On
Sunday, December
20, the Kursk
Root Icon arrived in the South, flying in to Charleston, SC on an
evening flight. This city, named in honor of King Charles II of England,
sits on a homonymous harbor, at the other end of which is located the
famous Fort Sumter, whose shelling in 1861 marked the beginning of the
American Civil War.
Red
Bank, NJ: Bishop George led the Divine Services in St. Nicholas Church
on the occasion of its Patronal Feast Day
December
19, 2009
On December 19, the feast day
of St. Nicholas, Wonderworker of Myra in Lycia, His Grace, Bishop George
of Mayfield, led the divine services in St.
Nicholas Church in Red Bank, NJ, on the occasion of the
parish’s patronal feast day. On Friday, December 18, the eve of the
feast, parishioners and other faithful festively greeted the
wonder-working Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God and His Grace with a
procession prior to the start of the All-Night Vigil.
Boston,
MA: Archimandrite Joasaph, Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in
Jerusalem, reposed in the Lord
December
18, 2009
Archimandrite Joasaph (McLellan), Head of the
Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, who had been undergoing
treatment in a Boston hospital, quietly and peacefully passed away this
morning. Father Joasaph was born Francis McLellan, Jr. in Boston on
January 24, 1962. His parents are Francis (James) McLellan, Sr. and
Polina B. (Runi) McLellan. Archimandrite Joasaph attended school in
Boston, including Roxbury Latin, graduated from Commonwealth School, and
received his baccalaureate in Theology at Holy Trinity Monastery in
Jordanville, NY.
Decree
on the convocation of a Diocesan Pastoral Conference at St. John the
Baptist Cathedral in Mayfield, Pennsylvania
December
17, 2009
To all Eastern American Diocesan clergy and spouses. A
diocesan pastoral conference and Lenten retreat has been summoned in
Mayfield, PA at St. John the Baptist Cathedral on March 1-3, 2010. The
presence of all diocesan clergy is mandatory and all matushkas are
invited to participate. Each parish is responsible for reimbursing its
clerics and their spouses for their traveling, accommodation, and
registration expenses.
Howell,
NJ: A New Booklet has been Published on the Kursk Root Icon of the
Mother of God
December 17, 2009
A
new booklet has been published on the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of
God – a publication of the Eastern American Diocese. The booklet is
being published with the blessing of Metropolitan Hilarion in connection
with the current visitation by this wonder-working icon of the parishes
in our diocese. Included in the contents of the book are: a history of
the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, photographs of the historic
return of the icon to Russia, and a general akathist to the Most Holy
Theotokos.
Howell, NJ:
An Announcement from the Diocesan Office
December 17, 2009
The Eastern American diocesan
administration is faced with a multitude of complicated questions
relating to the immigration status and visa application of
clerics. We are in need of people familiar with United
States immigration procedure, as applies to citizens of the
CIS.
Rocky
Hill, NJ: The Kursk Root Icon visited St. Elizabeth the New Martyr
Church
December
15, 2009
On
Tuesday, December 15, the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God visited
St. Elizabeth the New Martyr Church in Rocky Hill, NJ, for an evening
moleben with akathist. The church was filled literally to the brim
with the faithful, as parishioners from neighboring churches came to
join in prayer.
Boston, MA: Holy Trinity Seminary Choir visits the Church of the Holy Epiphany
December
15, 2009
With the blessing of Archimandrite Luke, the Holy Trinity Seminary Choir made its first visit of the 2009-2010 school year. By the invitation of Priest Victor Boldewskul, the choir returned to the Holy Epiphany Parish in Roslindale, Massachusetts on December 5-6 to sing the Vigil and Liturgy.
Paterson,
NJ: The Kursk Root Icon visited St. Michael’s Cathedral
December
14, 2009
On
Monday, December 14, the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God visited
St. Michael’s Cathedral in Paterson, NJ, for an evening moleben with
akathist. The parish was founded by Archpriest Julian Olhovsky in
1950; the faithful spent the first few years of this Orthodox
community’s existence in a temporary church built in a former pet
store.
Millville,
NJ: The Kursk Root Icon visited St. Nicholas Church
December
13, 2009
On
Sunday evening, December 13, the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God
departed the God-preserved city of Philadelphia, departing for
Millville, NJ to St. Nicholas Church. The icon was greeted by rector
Priest Nikolai Manduke, Deacon Jonathon Yerkes, and a group of
parishioners, who had gathered to pray to the Heavenly Queen.
Philadelphia: The Kursk Root Icon visited St. Andrew’s Cathedral
on its patronal feast day
December
13, 2009
On
Sunday, December 13, the feast day of the Holy Apostle St. Andrew the
First-Called, the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God visited St.
Andrew’s Cathedral in Philadelphia, PA. The cathedral was
consecrated by then-Bishop Tikhon (Bellavin, future Patriarch of
Moscow and all Russia) in 1902. Amongst its first parishioners was a
group of émigré officers who took part in the construction in
Philadelphia of the famous Imperial Russian Cruiser Varyag, as well as
the Battleship Retvizan.
Philadelphia: The Kursk Root Icon visited Our
Lady Joy of All Who Sorrow Church
December 12, 2009
On Saturday, December 12, the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God
visited the Church of Our Lady, Joy of all who Sorrow (Philadelphia,
PA). The icon was accompanied by the diocesan secretary, Archpriest
Serge Lukianov, and diocesan media office staffers. The rector,
Archimandrite Athanasy (Mastalsky), greeted the icon alongside the
faithful, after which they also greeted His Grace, Bishop Jerome of
Manhattan, who had arrived in Philadephia on an archpastoral visit.
Fort Myers, FL: The Diocesan Council is organizing volunteers help build a trapeza in St. Nicholas Monastery
December
11, 2009
With the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, the Diocesan Council is planning to send teams of volunteers to St. Nicholas Monastery, located in Fort Myers, Florida, as part of a program called Volunteers in Mission
(VIM).
New
York, NY: The Patronal Feast Day of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign
December
10, 2009
On
Thursday, December 10, on the feast of the Icon of the Mother of God
"of the Sign," the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign celebrated
its patronal feast day in the presence of the Kursk Root Icon of the
Mother of God. The Divine Liturgy was led by His Grace, Bishop Gabriel
of Montreal, co-served by Their Graces, Bishops Peter of Cleveland and
Jerome of Manhattan.
25th
Anniversary of the Hierarchal Ordination of Metropolitan Hilarion,
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
December
10, 2009
Today
marks the 25th anniversary of the hierarchal ordination of His
Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York, First
Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. The
ordination was performed by the ever-memorable Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky)
in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign on December 10, 1984. On behalf
of all the faithful of the Eastern American Diocese, the following
congratulatory letter was sent to His Eminence by the Diocesan
Council.
Youth of the Russian Church Abroad Will Participate In a St
Petersburg Symposium
December
9, 2009
With
the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow and All Russia
and His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian
Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, registration has commenced for
youth of the Church Abroad age 18 and over wishing to participate in a
youth symposium to be hosted in St Petersburg, Russia, together with
local youth.
Announcement
from the Eastern American Diocesan Music Commission
December 8, 2009
At the last meeting of the Eastern
American Diocesan Council, Diocesan Music Commission chairwoman Elizabeth A.
Ledkovsky presented the findings of a survey of diocesan choristers and
choir directors. The principal conclusions are that increased
opportunities for learning and collaboration are in great demand.
The First Anniversary of the Death of
Patriarch Alexey II
December
6, 2009
Saturday,
December 5th, was the first anniversary of the passing of
His ever-memorable Holiness, Alexey
II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. His Grace, Bishop George of
Mayfield, published a statement in connection with this anniversary,
which read, in part:
“His Holiness, Patriarch Alexey II, devoted
his whole life to the service of Christ’s Holy Church, especially
the suffering Russian Church. He ascended to the Patriarchal throne on
the eve of the collapse of the Soviet Union, in a very difficult time
for the Church."
Hierarchal
Divine Services on the Feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the
Temple
December
5, 2009
On Friday, December 4, the Orthodox Church
celebrates the great feast day of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos
into the Temple. "On this day we celebrate the genesis of the
Kingdom of Grace, that grace which enters the world through the entry
into the Temple of the three year-old Child, the elect of God" (Archb.
Nikon (Rklitsky), 1973). On this great feast, the vicar bishops of the
Eastern American Diocese led divine services in West Virginia and New
York.
Millville, NJ: Bishop Jerome celebrated the Divine Liturgy in St.
Nicholas Church
December
3, 2009
On
Thursday, December 3, the day of remembrance of the holy priest-martyr
St. Vladimir (Medveduk), His Grace Jerome, Bishop of Manhattan,
celebrated the Divine Liturgy in St. Nicholas Church in Millville, NJ.
The parish rector Fr. Nikolai Manduke is the grandson of the brother of
Priest-Martyr Archpriest Vladimir, who was shot by the Communists in
Butovo on December 3rd, 1937.
