Chronicle
of the Visit of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church
Outside of Russia to the Western European and German Dioceses
During the Week of the Myrrh-bearing Women, Metropolitan Laurus
officiated at divine liturgy in Syracuse, where the Sisterhood
was celebrating their heavenly protectresses. The First Hierarch
was accompanied by the Kursk-Root Icon, called “the Sign.”
At the end of liturgy, the Metropolitan gave a sermon, which
was followed by a moleben and a then a trapeza luncheon, during
which Vladyka Laurus announced that he is departing for Western
Europe and Germany, where a regular session of the Synod of
Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia was
scheduled. Then His Eminence the First Hierarch, along with
his Protodeacon and cell-attendant, left for the airport, where,
together with the Kursk-Root Icon, they flew to Munich.
With God’ help, the First Hierarch arrived in Munich on
Monday, 12 May at 10 a.m. The Protectress and the First Hierarch
were greeted by His Grace Bishop Agapit of Stuttgart, and His
Grace Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan, who had arrived an hour earlier
from France. The Miracle-working Icon, Vladyka Metropolitan
and his escorts were taken to the Cathedral of The New Martyrs
and Confessors of Russia, where the Sisterhood prepared lunch.
It was decided to begin the Synod Session at 5 p.m. By that
time the members of the Synod of Bishops and other invited archpastors
arrived at the cathedral.
The Synod Sessions were attended by Metropolitan Laurus, Archbishop
Mark, Bishop Kyrill, Bishop Ambroise, Bishop Gabriel, Bishop
Michael and Bishop Agapit. The sessions continued over the course
of four days, where important issues regarding the life of our
Church were discussed.
On Saturday, 17 May, Metropolitan Laurus prayed at liturgy at
the men’s monastery of St. Job of Pochaev in Obermenzing,
near Munich. After the monastic trapeza, the First Hierarch
inspected the monastery, the monastic printshop and candle factory.
On Saturday evening and Sunday, His Eminence the First Hierarch
officiated at the services at the Munich Cathedral along with
His Eminence Archbishop Mark and Their Graces Bishops Michael
and Agapit. After the service, Archbishop Mark thanked the First
Hierarch for his visit to the Cathedral.
At 3 p.m. on Sunday, Vladyka Laurus left for Brussels. There
he was greeted by his escorts, Protodeacon Victor Lokhmatov
and cell-attendant Reader Nicholas Olhovsky. Vladyka came to
the Memorial Church of St. Job the Great-Sufferer during polyeleos.
Bishop Ambroise officiated at the service, and joyfully greeted
the First Hierarch. By the end of matins, Bishop Michael arrived.
The following day, on Monday, the Church’s feast day, the
archpastors celebrated divine liturgy together, at which the
rector, Priest Evgenii was awarded the gold cross for his earnest
service at the Memorial Church. After the service, Vladyka Ambroise
noted in his speech that he was elated to host the visit of
Metropolitan Laurus, and that despite all difficulties, he and
his flock preserve and will always preserve their loyalty to
the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Following that
was the trapeza luncheon.
On Tuesday, the Metropolitan, along with Bishop Michael, arrived
at Lesna Convent, where he prayed at vespers and matins on the
eve of Mid-Pentecost. After liturgy, Vladyka Laurus spoke with
the Superior of the Convent, Abbess Makrina and the retired
Archbishop Seraphim (Dulgoff); during the conversation, the
Abbess and Archbishop Seraphim thanked Metropolitan Laurus for
his visit to the Western European Diocese and the Convent, and
a series of important matters were discussed as well.
On the Translation of the Relics of St. Nicholas, Metropolitan
Laurus and Bishop Michael served all-night vigil and liturgy
at Lesna Convent. The monastic choir sang prayerfully; Nun Ekaterina
bore the Metropolitan’s staff--she had done the same at
one time for St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco.
After the end of the trapeze, Abbess Makrina once again warmly
thanked the First Hierarch and invited him to again visit the
Convent. It was already late in the evening when Metropolitan
Laurus returned to Munich and, after a brief rest, departed
for his native Slovakia.
While traveling through Austria, Metropolitan Laurus visited
Salzburg, where the secretary of the Austrian Deanery, Theodora
Bogalin, greeted him. She showed Vladyka Metropolitan the Church
of the Protection of the Most-Holy Mother of God and told him
of the life of the parish.
That evening, Metropolitan Laurus arrived in Brno. On Saturday
morning he visited Bratislava, where he viewed the new Orthodox
church. On that very day, Slovakia held great divine celebrations
in memory of SS. Cyrill and Methodius, the teachers and illuminators
of the Slovenes. On Sunday, Metropolitan Laurus met with his
relatives in the city of Presov.
On Monday, 26 May, Vladyka Laurus visited his native town of
Ladomirovo. There, Vladyka served a pannikhida over the grave
of his mother, and then a pannikhida at the monastic cemetery
of St. Job of Pochaev, where he commemorated his first spiritual
teachers.
Metropolitan Laurus recounted in detail the establishment of
this convent, then of the move to Jordanville, and also recalled
how he served as altar boy for the first time and held the staff
of Metropolitan Anastassy of blessed memory, the second First
Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. That
evening, Metropolitan Laurus visited the church in Stropkov.
The following day, Vladyka, along with his escorts and brother,
crossed the border of Western Ukraine on an unofficial visit.
Metropolitan Laurus visited the holy sites, including Pochaev
Lavra.
On Saturday, 31 May, and Sunday, 1 June, the First Hierarch,
as promised, served at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Stuttgart,
where he was joined by Bishop Agapit and Priest Ilia Limberger
along with Protodeacons Victor Lokhmatov and Georg Kobro. In
his sermon, Vladyka Metropolitan gave an inspired word on the
miracle of the man blind from birth, pointing out that the Lord,
our of love, sometimes sends us ailments not for our sins, but
so that God’s mercy can be rained upon us, as it was with
this blind man. The blind man not only began to see physically,
but with his spiritual eyes as well. Vladyka Agapit expressed
his gratitude that the Metropolitan fulfilled his promise to
visit the Stuttgart church, despite that fact that he had been
traveling for three weeks all across Europe.
On Monday, 2 June, the First Hierarch again visited the Munich
monastery, where a farewell trapeza was organized. By the mercy
of God, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus returned to his home
monastery in Jordanville on 3 June, and officiated at the service
on the Ascension, and on the Pentecost, served
at the feast day of the Monastery. This year, many clergymen
arrived for this holiday, including priests from Australia,
California and Eastern states, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
Among the worshipers were many families with children and youth.
Glory to God for all!
Photos by Reader Nicholas Olhovsky |
|
to
see more click on pictures
|
In
Germany
|
In
Brussels
|
In
Lesna Convent
|
In
Austria, Slovakia and Pochaev
|
|
