On February 15, Meatfare Sunday and the great feast of the Meeting of the Lord, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, celebrated Divine Liturgy in the main cathedral of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY. Concelebrating with the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad were Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada, Bishop Luke of Syracuse (monastery abbot), Bishop Spyridon of Toronto, and a large number of diocesan and monastery clergy. 

The hierarchs, clergy, and faithful greeted His Eminence, after which he was vested and the Hours read. Upon conclusion of the Sixth Hour, Archimandrite Michael (Crowley; dean of New England and Bishop-elect of Boston) was brought before the bishops to declare his confession and oath of fidelity to the Holy Orthodox Faith: to strictly observe the canons of the Holy Apostles, the Ecumenical and Local Councils, and the canons of the Holy Fathers, to preserve Church traditions and statutes, to maintain ecclesiastical peace, to obey Church authorities, and to govern his flock in the fear of God.

Liturgy then began. The monastery and seminary choir sang beautifully under the direction of Deacon Nicholas Kotar. To the joy of the faithful, the services were held under the aegis of the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora – the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God.

At the Trisagion, Fr. Michael, flanked by his brother archimandrites, was brought up to the altar, wherein the Metropolitan and bishops performed his hierarchal consecration at Bishop of Boston, vicar of the Eastern American Diocese. The bishops participating in the episcopal consecration held the Gospel with their left hands, placing their right hands on the head of the one being ordained. In the Bible, the laying on of hands is an ancient custom of conveying divine blessing and grace. The apostles also distributed the gifts of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands.

The church was filled to capacity with faithful. It was especially touching to see many pilgrims from St. Xenia Church in Methuen – of which Bishop Michael is the rector – to be present for the consecration of their beloved pastor to the episcopate. Many members of the Crowley family in attendance, including all five of Bishop Michael’s daughters and sons-in-law (including Priest Alexei Klar, cleric of St. Xenia Church), seventeen grandchildren, and his brother, Archpriest Brendan Crowley (rector of St. Nicholas Church in Enfield, CT). It was also significant that the date marked the 24th anniversary of the repose of Bishop Michael’s predecessor in the See of Boston, Bishop Mitrophan (Znosko-Borovsky; +2002).

During the communion of the clergy, Archimandrite Theophylact (Clapper-DeWell) delivered a sermon on the feast, as well as on the Sunday of the Dread Judgement, which will serve for each one of us as our own meeting with the Lord.

Virtually all those present communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas addressed those present, calling on the faithful to pray for the Church and to support Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary. He thanked Bishop Luke for the hospitality shown to all who had come for both consecrations over the past week. In turn, the diocesan vicar thanked the Metropolitan for his prayers, congratulating him in advance on the occasion of his namesday. The archdeacon then intoned the Polychronion for the First Hierarch.

The Metropolitan then addressed Bishop Michael, speaking on the meaning of episcopal service and asking him to remember his predecessor bishops (text provided below). His Eminence then presented the newly consecrated bishop with the hierarchal staff as a symbol of episcopal authority. Bishop Michael blessed the clergy and numerous faithful.

After the service, a luncheon was served for all in the monastery refectory and seminary hall.

Speaking briefly on the significance of the events that had taken place, Fr. Brendan noted, "These things that have happened were not just beyond our expectations, but something Bishop Michael and I could not have imagined when we were received into the Orthodox Church. We were received into ROCOR so cordially; there was always this concern on the part of others, that they would not know how to deal with us, because we were Americans. But we were received so warmly. We were nurtured in many respects just by friendliness, and whenever we needed anything, we had a number of mentors: Archpriests Roman Lukianov, Boris Kizenko, Vsevolod Drobot, and Andrei Semyanko of blessed memory, Archpriests Elias Gorsky and Constantine Semyanko.

"His Grace and I have always great fidelity to any organization we are a part of, a natural thing for us that we probably received from our upbringing. But the love we were shown in the Russian Church Abroad, and the trust we have been shown, including this new archpastoral calling, have truly been something we never could have foreseen. Glory to God!"

Address of Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, upon presenting the Hierarchal Staff to Bishop Michael of Boston

Your Grace, Bishop Michael, beloved brother in the Lord!

Beneath the vaulted domes of this holy cathedral, which is dedicated to the Holy Trinity and much beloved by the clergy and all Orthodox people of the Russian Diaspora, before God’s altar you have received particular grace, which has made you a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

I greet you with the words spoken during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy – “Christ is in our midst,” and call on you to always retain the memory of these sacred and important minutes of your life.

Henceforth, all of your cares, aspirations, worries and joys, feasts and workdays, will be intertwined with your episcopal service.

Having over the course of many years headed a large Christian community, which you converted to Orthodoxy, you acquired Heavenly wisdom, patience with humility, fervor in your labors, and eminent industriousness.

For almost a quarter of a century, you have served in the Church of Blessed Xenia of Saint Petersburg in Methuen, and for ten years you have led the New England Deanery of the Eastern American Diocese.

Throughout these years, you have experienced a multitude of joys, both spiritual and familial, but your heart has also endured sorrows, both personal and pastoral.

Meditating on the service that stands before you, it can even today be said with certainty that it will not be easy. Is it easy to bear responsibility for hundreds and thousands of human souls? From your pastoral experience you already know how difficult this is.

Your service will furthermore be difficult because today, the people expect from the clergy, especially from the bishops, not only the fulfilment of the Holy Sacraments and the divine services, wise teachings and kind words, but also decisive answers in resolution of many problems, tangible deeds, compassion that is sincere and not merely formal, and a living participation in their lives and fates.

Striving to fulfill all things in the best manner, remember one, perhaps most important, thing: do all things with love, for without it all works lose their meaning. Evaluate your works according to the words of the Apostle Paul: “Though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing” (I Cor. 13:2).

Only an archpastor with a loving heart can reconcile enemies, feed the hungry, see to the destitute, the forgotten, the abandoned, and the lonely. Love cannot be replaced by eloquent words, nor by a comely appearance, nor by any promises or good intentions.

And let not the difficulties that stand in the path of every man who bears witness to Christ’s Truth trouble you. Fortify yourself with ceaseless prayer, remembering the words of the Lord, spoken to the Apostle Paul: “My strength is made perfect in weakness” (II Cor. 12:9). Fear not to stand firmly and boldly against all things that might in any measure whatsoever interfere with the work of salvation of the flock entrusted to you.

There is one more very important archpastoral obligation that you must be reminded of today: that is dedication in serving the Russian Church Abroad. In addition to missionary labors among the American people, in which you have obtained deep and profound experience, you will now have to work together lovingly with the clergy and parishioners of ethnic communities. Show patience, discretion, and prudence in your interactions with them. Help them to preserve the liturgical language and traditions of the Church Abroad, set down by our forebears – the hierarchs who survived persecutions, wars, and exile, who maintained fidelity to the Russian Church, awaited her rebirth with hope, and fervently honored her martyrs and confessors. Such were your predecessors in the See of Boston – Their Graces, Constantine (Essensky) and Mitrophan (Znosko-Borovsky), who by their tears, sweat, and prayers watered the field now entrusted to you. Such were Metropolitans Vitaly, Laurus, and Hilarion, whose wise counsels you employed as a parish priest.

Cherish their memory, preserve their precepts and legacy, unite yourself to their spirit, pray for them and ask their prayerful intercession in your labors. And I ask for your prayers on behalf of my unworthiness, as well.

May God’s grace-filled aid, the protecting veil of the Most Holy Theotokos, and the prayerful intercession of the Holy Hierarch Michael, first Metropolitan of Kiev, accompany you always, and fortify and strengthen you all the days of your life.

And now receive this hierarchal staff as a sign of God’s might, as a symbol of responsibility for the people and succession from your forebears, as a support in your service; ascend the cathedra and bless the people who have prayerfully taken part in your episcopal consecration. Go and lead your flock with love unto their salvation and yours. May God’s almighty aid be with you always. Amen.