NEW YORK: November 9, 2021
Namesday celebrations of the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad

Schemamonk Hilarion of the Kiev Caves, the heavenly patron of the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad was commemorated in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York celebrated Divine Liturgy, co-served by hierarchs of the Russian Church Abroad and the Patriarchate of Antioch: Metropolitan Joseph of North America, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada and Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan as well as clergy: Archimandrite Jeremy (Davis; Protosyngellos of the Antiochian Archdiocese in North America), Archpriest Serafim Gan (Chancellor of the Synod of Bishops, rector of St Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY), Abbot Nicodemus (Balyasnikov; dean of St Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City), Archpriest Andrei Sommer (Dean of the Synodal Cathedral), Archpriest Michael Crowley (rector of St Xenia Church in Methuen, MA), Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur (cleric of St Seraphim Memorial Church), Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky and Deacon Nicholas Ilyin (clerics of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY), and Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin; diocesan cleric).

Also praying at the service was Archpriest Thomas Zain (Vicar General of the Antiochian Archdiocese), Archimandrite Stefan (Khilchuk; rector of Our Lady of Pochaev Church in North Port, FL), Archpriest Serge Lukianov (Dean of New Jersey), Abbot Eutychius (Dovgan; rector of St Nicholas Skete in Freehold, NJ), Archpriest Vasily Zelenyuk (rector of St Luke the Blessed Surgeon Church in Pompano Beach, FL), Archpriest Pavel Ivanov (rector of Holy Myrrhbearers Church in Brooklyn), Abbot Zosimas (Krampis; rector of St Sergius English Mission at the Synodal Headquarters), and Hieromonk Arkadii (Polishchuk; cleric of Pochaev Church in North Port). Toward the end of the service, Archpriest Alexandre Antchoutine (dean of New York City) came to congratulate the First Hierarch.

The service was held under the aegis of the wonder-working Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. The Synodal choir sang wonderfully under the direction of Vadim Gan. A multitude of parishioners who came to honor the saint and congratulate their First Hierarch communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion expressed his gratitude to all those who had gathered to pray in church. Bishop Nicholas congratulated His Eminence and remarked that the entire Diocese rejoices, glorifying the Heavenly patron of their Metropolitan, wishing him strength and fortitude for many more years to instruct the clergy and believers with kind words and his good example.

Metropolitan Hilarion was then greeted by Metropolitan Joseph, who expressed his joy on the occasion of their combined prayer at the Holy Altar and noted that, when he first met Metropolitan Hilarion many years ago, he immediately felt an affinity to him – as a man of prayer and an honest and pious person. On his namesday, His Eminence presented Metropolitan Hilarion with an icon containing pieces of the relics of the Holy Hierarchs Tikhon of Moscow and Raphael of Brooklyn, as a sign of unity between the Russian Church Abroad and the Church of Antioch.

On the occasion of the First Hierarch’s namesday, a reception was held in the cathedral hall, during which memories and heartfelt wishes were addressed to Metropolitan Hilarion.