FEAST DAY AT NEW KURSK-ROOT HERMITAGE

On Sunday, 21 September, the day of the Nativity of the Most-Holy Mother of God, a solemn liturgy was celebrated at New Kursk-Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY, to mark its feast day. His Grace Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan, Vicar of the Eastern American Diocese, officiated at the service. Four priests concelebrated with His Grace: Protopriest Alexander Donchenko, Priest Andrei Sommer, Priest Ilya Gan and Priest Alexander Botschagow, along with Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff and Deacon Dimitri Temidis.

It was a wonderful, warm autumn day, which permitted the tradition of celebrating liturgy on this day under the open sky. Parishioners ans worshipers from other parishes were consoled by the visit of the main holy icon of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia–the Miracle-working Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, for which the Hermitage is named.

The Holy Myrrh-bearers Diocesan Womens’ Choir, under the direction of Eugenia Temidis, sang the liturgy with solemnity and emotion. Vladyka compared their singing to that of the nuns in the Holy Land.

Divine liturgy ended with a procession of the cross and a service of supplication (photo).

His Grace Bishop Gabriel granted a decree of blessing to Vyacheslav Borisovich and Olga Igorevna Maltsev for their 25 years of service for the Hermitage.

At the end of liturgy, Protopriest Wsewolod Dutikow arrived along with several pilgrims from Astoria.

All the worshipers–some 250 people–were invited to an outdoor trapeza luncheon, organized by the parishioners of New Kursk-Root Hermitage. After trapeza, Bishop Gabriel along with the clergy, the pilgrims and parishioners, visited the chapel on the pond.

Bishop Gabriel with the Womens’ Choir.

E.T.

On Sunday, 19 October, at 2 p.m., the Synodal Cathedral in New York will host a concert (part of the Synodal Church Concert series sponsored by Princess Elena Volkonsky), of the Holy Myrrh-bearers Diocesan Womens’ Choir under the direction of Eugenia Temidis. Tickets are 15 dollars.