EASTERN AMERICAN DIOCESE: July 25, 2013
Metropolitan Hilarion Performs the Great Consecration of St Olga’s Church

As reported on the official website of the Eastern American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, onWednesday, July 24, 2013, the feast day of St Olga, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York visited St Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ. After the greeting of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora, the rite of the Great Consecration of St Olga Church, underneath St Vladimir Church,was performed, followed by the Divine Liturgy.

His Eminence was joined by His Grace Bishop Meletiy of Khotin, Vicar of the Diocese of Chernovtsy and Bukovina of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church; His Grace Bishop Jerome (Shaw, retired); and by New Jersey Dean Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov; Diocesan Secretary Protopriest Serge Lukianov; the Memorial Church’s Deputy Rector Priest Serge Ledkovsky, and guest clergy. During the communion of the clergy, Bishop Meletiy delivered the sermon.

At the end of the Liturgy, in gratitude and recognition for their manifest labors on behalf of the St Vladimir’s community, Metropolitan Hilarion awarded diocesan gramatas to Reader James Stormes, Matushka Tamara Kizenko (widow of former rector Mitred Protopriest Boris Kizenko), former warden Eugene Plishevsky, and Serge Kavetsky. The polychronion was then intoned for the hierarchs, clergy, and parishioners of St Vladimir Memorial Church.

We offer our readers photographs from the official website of the Eastern American Diocese. Celebrations of the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia will continue until Sunday, July 28, when the fullness of the Russian Orthodox Church will commemorate Holy Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, the “godfather” of historic Rus.