On Saturday, May 16, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, took part in the graduation ceremony of the parish Russian School at St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral in Howell (Lakewood), NJ.

The Russian School was founded in 1941. Over the years, hundreds of Russian-speaking students have studied here, among whom today are several priests and one bishop. Today’s students receive an education in the Law of God, Russian Language, History, Geography, and Literature, as well as Drawing and Journalism (a first this year) for the upperclassmen. Throughout the course of the school year, students prepare for various events, including the Nativity Yolka.

That morning, everyone gathered for a moleben in the cathedral, served by the school’s principal, Archpriest Serge Lukianov (cathedral dean), after which the clergy, teachers, and students proceeded to the parish hall. The graduation ceremony began with the singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and the anthem of the Russian Empire, "God Save the Tsar!" Students then sang and recited various Paschal hymns poems.

Greeting those gathered, Fr. Serge said, in part: "It is as though only yesterday we were gathering in the cathedral the start the new school year, and now the end of the school year has come upon us and we bid farewell to Russian School for the summer. You have learned much this year, but the most important thing that we strove to give to you is a love for God and a Russian spirit, so that here, far from Russia, you might not forget your Faith and your mother tongue."

For their dedication to the school, the principal thanked the administrator, teachers, inspector, and kitchen staff, who prepared hot lunches for the children throughout the year.

Awards were presented to honor roll students and to those with 100% attendance throughout the year. Metropolitan Hilarion presented icons to those on the honor roll: Vladimir Mackanic, Irina Ragulin, Anastasia Samets, Gabriel Chemodakov, Katrina Birkeland, Elizabeth Kireev, Matthew Ameline, Andrew Molenhoff, John Welsh, Alexey Darenkov, Maria Volsky, and Alexander Mackanic.

In his greeting, Metropolitan Hilarion expressed his joy at the opportunity to be present with the Russian School’s students and teachers on the important occasion of the end of the school year. His Eminence recalled his own experience teaching Law of God in the parish school of St. Alexander Nevsky Church in Sydney, Australia. One student at that school was the future Fr. Seraphim Chemodakov, a priest at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and teacher at the school here. The Metropolitan wished all of the students success in their further studies, underscoring the importance of children having an opportunity to study Russian language, literature, and history and, most importantly, their Orthodox Faith. Metropolitan Hilarion thanked the parents who helped at the school throughout the year, wishing them strength and calling on them to continue this good work.

At the end of the ceremony, the students received their report cards for the year, after which all were invited to a graduation picnic with refreshments and games organized for them by the teachers and parents. During the picnic, students and teachers had an opportunity to interact more cordially with the First Hierarch, who also took the time to participate in some of the games with the children.