On Saturday, August 1, the feast of the Uncovering of the Relics of Venerable Seraphim, Wonderworker of Sarov, the eponymous parish in Sea Cliff, NY, celebrated its patronal feast day.

On the eve, before the All-Night Vigil, a lesser blessing of water was served along with an akathist to St. Seraphim before an antique icon containing a particle of his holy relics. Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York officiated the Vigil. Serving alongside the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad was parish rector Archpriest Serafim Gan, with Protodeacons Paul Wolkow and Eugene Kallaur, in the presence of the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign."

Following the service, His Eminence greeted the assembled parishioners, wishing them a joyful and prayerful celebration of their patronal feast. The rector and his wife then offered refreshments in the parish house, where the First Hierarch, clergy, and parishioners enjoyed some fellowship.

The next day, His Eminence celebrated Divine Liturgy, co-served by the rector and parish clerics, as well as visiting clergy: Archimandrite Gabriel (Pigarev; dean of Holy New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia Church in Brooklyn, NY), Archpriest Alexandre Antchoutine (dean of New York City & Long Island), and Priest Victor Ganson (cleric of Holy Epiphany Church in Roslindale (Boston), MA), grandson of the church’s longtime rector, the ever-memorable Bishop Mitrophan (Znosko-Borovsky; +2002).

Glory to God, the church was filled with worshippers. The service was held under the aegis of the Kursk Root Icon. As the day before, the church choir, directed by A.S. Slobodskoy, sang beautifully and with inspiration. At the end of the service, Metropolitan Nicholas delivered a sermon on St. Seraphim as a great man of prayer, calling on the faithful to follow the example of his pious life.

It is impossible not to note with great satisfaction the exceptionally high prayerful disposition of those gathered – this was evident in the very large number of individuals who partook of Christ’s Holy Mysteries. This open prayerful fervor of parishioners and friends left an extremely gratifying impression.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy and a moleben with the reading of the prayer to St. Seraphim, His Eminence congratulated the rector of the church and other celebrants with their namesday, and then presented the church with a valuable gift – a spoon for communion the laity.

The rector of the church offered a special welcome and thanks to the Metropolitan, clergy, subdeacons and altar servers, singers, and the faithful worshippers, wishing them all a personal encounter with God in the church, to love and cherish their church, and to reverently enjoy all that it offers. He then presented His Eminence, who quietly and prayerfully celebrated the 20th anniversary of his ordination to the diaconate this year, with an icon of the Mother of God with a commemorative inscription.

The celebration concluded with a traditional and magnificent feast offered by the Sisterhood, headed by Elizabeth Mikheev. The meal took place in an atmosphere of joy and spiritual unity. Warm words of welcome words were spoken by His Eminence, the clergy, and guests. At the end of the meal, the rector, expressing gratitude to the sisterhood and benefactors, wished everyone a peaceful spirit, mutual respect, patience for one another, and brotherly love, around the possessors of which "thousands are saved," and asked the holy prayers of all.

One can be sure that all participants in this radiant celebration truly left the meal illuminated by the grace and blessing of St. Seraphim.

www.stseraphimschurch.org
Photos: Vladimir Gaberman