On Monday morning, May 26, a monumental occasion in the life of Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg Church in Methuen, MA took place. Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York arrived to officiate the great consecration of the church and celebrate Divine Liturgy on the newly sanctified altar.

On May 25, the Sunday of the Blind Man, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada celebrated Divine Liturgy and tonsured Seraphim Barnes to the rank of reader. The newly tonsured Reader Seraphim is assigned to Holy Archangels Mission in Limestone, ME.

On Sunday evening, All-Night Vigil was served outside the iconostasis, as is appointed on the eve of a consecration. As the sun glistened behind the trees surrounding the countryside church early Monday morning, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad was greeted at the main doors of the church by the parish warden and entered the temple.

Serving alongside His Eminence were Archbishop Gabriel and Eastern American Diocese vicar Bishop Luke of Syracuse, as well as local clergy:

• Archpriest Alexis Duncan (rector of Nativity of the Mother of God Church in Albany, NY)
• Archpriest Michael Crowley (parish rector)
• Archpriest Brendan Crowley (rector of St. Nicholas Church in Enfield, CT)
• Archpriest Victor Boldewskul (rector of Holy Epiphany Church in Roslindale, MA)
• Archpriest Constantine Semyanko (rector of Holy Presentation Church in Stratford, CT)
• Priest Stephen Kaznica (rector of Holy New Martyrs of Russia Church in Norwich, CT)
• Priest Alexei Klar (parish cleric)
• Priest Peter James (cleric of St. John the Russian Church in Ipswich, MA)
• Hieromonk Peter (Karakozoff; cleric of the Western American Diocese)
• Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky (cleric of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City)
• Protodeacon Michael Soloviev (cleric of Nativity of the Mother of God Church)
• Protodeacon Alexander Jarostchuk (cleric of Holy Epiphany Church)
• Protodeacon Victor Ganson (cleric of Holy Epiphany Church)
• Protodeacon Nikifor Franklin (cleric of Nativity of the Mother of God Church)
• Protodeacon Michael Pavuk (cleric of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY)
• Protodeacon Alexander Doohovskoy (parish cleric)
• Protodeacon Alexey Pnev (cleric of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY)
• Deacon Nicolas Ilyin (cleric of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY)
• Deacon Dimitry Doohovskoy (parish cleric)
• Deacon John Sarantakis (parish cleric)
• Deacon Christopher Kimball (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Memorial Church in Richmond, ME), and
• Deacon Stephen Prokopienko (cleric of Holy Protection Church in Rochester, NY).

At the conclusion of the Great Consecration, a procession was held with the relics of the saints that were then encased in the parish’s antimension.

At the Little Entrance, for his dedicated service to the Holy Church and labors in the parish, Fr. Alexei Klar was awarded the right to wear the kamilavka.

Singing masterfully at Liturgy was the parish choir under the direction of Laryssa Doohovskoy.

The church was filled to capacity, mostly with families of many young children. Those who could not fit in the church were able to pray outdoors on the parish grounds with the help of loudspeakers.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas congratulated the clergy and parishioners with the auspicious occasion in the life of their parish. He explained that the various relics encased in the newly consecrated altar are those of the Holy Hieroconfessor Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow & All Russia, Hieromartyr Macarius of Kiev, and the Holy Nun-Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth.

A sumptuous banquet for all attendees was held outside on the grounds by the parish sisterhood, accented by many congratulatory addresses.