JORDANVILLE: June 19, 2008
The Feast Days of Holy Trinity Monastery Are Celebrated 

On Saturday, June 14, 2008, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion was ceremoniously greeted at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY. His Eminence brought the Kursk-Root Icon of the Most-Holy Mother of God with him. 
 
Four hieromonks, 2 protopriests and 5 deacons conducted all-night vigil on the eve of the Pentecost. Worshiping at the service were not only the local population but people from all over New York and New Jersey, many of whom went to confession in preparation for receiving the Holy Mysteries of Christ. 
 
The following day, in the monastery's tradition, two Divine Liturgies were served—an early one in the lower St Job Church and the later one in Holy Trinity Cathedral, at which Metropolitan Hilarion officiated. Archimandrites Luke and George concelebrated with Vladyka, who on the eve had heard the confessions of the monastic brethren and pilgrims. 
 
During the ambo prayer, His Eminence granted the abbot's staff to the newly-elected head of Holy Trinity Monastery, Archimandrite Luke (Murianka) and in his greeting, wished him strength for his new obedience, that he be a patient father to the monks and that he tend to all the worshipers of the monastery, guided by the wisdom of the Holy Fathers of two thousand years. 
 
At the end of divine services, the traditional trapeza with the famed Jordanville borshch was offered. As in years past, and in memory of Metropolitan Laurus of blessed memory, Protodeacon Victor Lochmatow organized a reception at the "skete" of the late First Hierarch for the monastery's residence and pilgrims. Everyone was then invited to visit the new exhibition at the Museum of Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary, which included gifts presented to Vladyka Laurus during his trips to Russia. 

The next day, the feast day of the Holy Spirit, Metropolitan Hilarion officiated at Divine Liturgy. During the minor entrance, His Eminence awarded the ornamented cross to Protopriest Michael Boikov, the Secretary of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and gave Deacon Nicholas Olhovsky, the cell-attendant of the late Metropolitan Laurus, the double orarion. After the Cherubic Hymn, Deacon Alexei Diuka of the Diocese of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand, was ordained to the priesthood.

Before the kissing of the cross, His Eminence presented a gramata [decree of blessing] to Fr Victor, which read as follows:

"From a report to the Most Reverend members of the Synod of Bishops, we learned of your many years of service to the Holy Church of Christ, which you have carried out for over 50 years at Holy Trinity Monastery and under His Eminence Vladyka Laurus of blessed memory. With love, humility, piety, meekness and filial devotion you served the Lord, His Eminence Vladyka and the monastic brethren. Emulating Metropolitan Laurus, you always strove to provide consolation to the seminarians who, as they began their studies, would miss their homes, with a kind word and with fatherly care. You spent many years alongside His Eminence, caring for him in earnest, protecting and supporting him in every way. Holding a high regard for your contributions and the great task of preserving and disseminating Russian Orthodoxy in the diaspora, we express to you our profound thanks, calling God's blessings upon you, and imparting you with this Gramata, duly signed by us and bearing the Synodal seal, applied in New York on June 1/14, 2008."