On Sunday, September 24, the feast day of Venerable Silvanus (Silouan) of Mt. Athos, Archbishop Mark of Berlin & Germany celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Kursk Root Hermitage, co-served by Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, monastery clergy, and clerics accompanying the Eastern American Diocesan vicar on his pilgrimage.

On Saturday, September 23, Divine Liturgy was served at the Kursk Root Hermitage in the presence of the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign." The service was led by Metropolitan Herman of Kursk & Rylsk, co-served by Archbishop Mark of Berlin & Germany, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan...

On Friday, September 22, a delegation of the Russian Church Aboard, led by His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, began their pilgrimage to Russia.

On September 10, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Finding of the Relics of Venerable Job of Pochaev, as well as the Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of the Far Kiev Caves. On Saturday, September 9, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan visited St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral in Howell, NJ, accompanied by Bishop Victor of Artzis, vicar of the Diocese of Odessa, who is currently traveling on pilgrimage to the U.S.

On Saturday, September 16, parishioners of St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral in Paterson, NJ, led by their rector, Archpriest George Zelenin, gathered on a property in the nearby town of Wayne, where with God’s help they hope to build a new St. Michael’s Church.

During the celebratory days of the patronal feast day of St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, and diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan visited the Diocesan Center in Howell, NJ. On Monday the 11th and Tuesday the 12th of September – the feast of the Translation of the Relics of the Holy Right-Believing Great Prince Alexander Nevsky, Metropolitan Hilarion led the All-Night Vigil and celebrated Divine Liturgy in the cathedral. Prior to the start of Vigil, the myrrh-streaming Hawaiian-Iveron Icon of the Mother of God arrived at the cathedral, and was greeted in procession by the clergy.

This year, on the feast of the Beheading of the Holy Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptizer of the Lord John, the parish of St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, DC celebrated the 68th anniversary of its founding. It was on this day, September 11, 1949, that the Holy Hierarch John of Shanghai, visiting the American capital in order to convince the American government to help his flock on the Philippine island of Tubabao, gathered a group of faithful children of the Church Abroad and in a private home celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in the new church community he had established.

From Saturday the 2nd through Monday the 4th of September, Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY held its annual pilgrimage, dedicated to the feast of Venerable Job of Pochaev. This year, divine services were led by His Eminence, Metropolitan Jonah, and His Grace, Bishop Jerome.

On Saturday, September 3, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, arrived in McKeesport to lead the centennial celebrations. More than a year of planning by the 100th Anniversary Committee and the tireless efforts of the parish council and countless parishioners and friends culminated in these joyous days.

Editor’s note: On Tuesday, September 12, 2017 at 9:30 AM, the PaTRAM Institute singers Choir, conducted by Maestro Peter Jermihov, will sing an original all-English Liturgy based on the Russian style, commissioned by the PaTRAM Institute and composed by Dr. Kurt Sander, at St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral in Howell, NJ.

On Sunday, August 27, the Forefeast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City, co-served by Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan...

On Sunday the 27th and Monday the 28th of August, the clergy and faithful of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY celebrated the great feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.

On Thursday, August 31, the feast of the Holy Martyrs Florus and Laurus and the Afterfeast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, celebrated Divine Liturgy in St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral in Howell, NJ.

On Monday, August 28, the great feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, parishioners of Holy Dormition Church in McKeesport, PA celebrated their patronal feast day.

Construction continues on Holy Transfiguration Church in Nicaragua’s Orthodox mission. The church is located in the region of Río Negro ("Black River"), 35 miles from Managua, the nation’s capital. Divine services there are performed by Hieromonk Marcos (Cantillano).

Back in 2008, my parents brought up Saint Seraphim Camp to me and I shot it down. I never spent more than one night away from home, and forcing me to go to some camp I had never heard of sounded ridiculous. Then it was 2009, and the day came for my parents to drop me off in the middle of the woods. I didn’t understand why they thought it would work out. Who sends a shy 10-year-old girl to a place where she only knows two people, neither of whom is in her group?

On Saturday, July 15, with the blessing of its rector, Archimandrite Maximos (Weimar), and of Archpriest John Townsend (dean of Georgia, Alabama & Mississippi), St. John Cassian Chapel in Bessemer, AL, hosted the other Alabama ROCOR missions in the first-ever Alabama Missions Conference.

On Sunday, August 20, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, paid an archpastoral visit to Holy Trinity Church in Mebane, NC. At Divine Liturgy, the Metropolitan was co-served by Archpriest Alexander Logunov (rector of Reigning Mother of God Church in Charlotte, NC), parish rector Abbot Gabriel (Kvasnikov)...

On Saturday, August 19, the great feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, celebrated Divine Liturgy in Holy Transfiguration Church in Baltimore, MD in honor of the parish's patronal feast day.

On Saturday, August 19, the clergy, monastics, and parishioners of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY, celebrated the great feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.

On Thursday, August 17, clergy and faithful from all dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, joined by guests from abroad, gathered in the capital of Ukraine in order to congratulate His Beatitude Onufry, Metropolitan of Kiev & All Ukraine, with the third anniversary of his election to the Kievan Metropolitan See. Among the guests were Eastern American Diocesan Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan and Archpriest Serafim Gan.

On August 1-14, His Grace Nicholas, Bishop of Manhattan, led parishioners of the Russian Church Abroad from the U.S., Canada, and Australia on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Among the pilgrims were Priest George and Matushka Elizaveta Temidis from the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY. Matushka Elizaveta is a regular contributor to the Eastern American Diocesan website, and her photographs are well known to our readers. The editors wish to express their sincerest gratitude to Matushka for sharing her photographs of the pilgrimage.

On Sunday, August 13, the eve of the feast of the Procession of the Precious Wood of the Life-Creating Cross of the Lord, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

On Monday, August 14, the feast of the Procession of the Precious Wood of the Life-Creating Cross of the Lord, after Divine Liturgy in Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, a procession was held for the blessing of water and newly harvested honey. The moleben and water blessing were led by monastery Archimandrite Luke (Murianka), joined by monastery clergy. From this day, the newly harvested honey is blessed and tasted.

On Sunday, August 13, a special celebration in honor of Abbess Moisseia (Boubnoff) was held at Holy Ascension Convent on the Mount of Olives. The day began with Divine Liturgy in the convent cathedral, celebrated by Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan. His Grace was co-served by Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky; head of the Ecclesiastical Mission of the Russian Church Abroad in Jerusalem) and clergy accompanying Bishop Nicholas on his pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

On Monday the 8th and Tuesday the 9th of August, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, paid an archpastoral visit to the Church of the Holy Great-Martyr & Healer Panteleimon in Hartford, CT. His Eminence led the All-Night Vigil and celebrated Divine Liturgy in honor of the church’s patronal feast day.

On the feast of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY was granted a special blessing: during the festal services, the brotherhood and faithful prayed before an icon of the beloved Russian saint with segments of his hair, a piece of the rock upon which he prayed, and a part of his clothing.

In the opinion of the rector and parishioners, such nature trips are a great help in strengthening the community; having withdrawn from the daily hustle and bustle, they are able to hold spiritual talks around the evening bonfire, take in the sights of nature, learn to build a campfire, and acquire various other skills needed in the wilderness.

On Tuesday the 8th and Wednesday the 9th of August, the feast of the Holy Great-Martyr & Healer Panteleimon, the brethren of Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV celebrated the memory of their Heavenly patron. Leading the divine services this year was His Grace Irenei, Bishop of Sacramento, vicar of the Western American Diocese.

On Thursday, August 10, the patronal feast day of Our Lady of Smolensk Church in Jackson’s Point, ON, Canada – which this year celebrates the 60th anniversary of the parish’s founding – the blessing of the cornerstone of a future chapel dedicated to the Holy Royal Martyrs & Passionbearers was performed.

On Wednesday, August 2, the feast day of the Holy Prophet Elijah, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, vicar of the Eastern American Diocese, arrived in Jerusalem with a large group of clergymen and laity of the Russian Church Abroad from the U.S., Canada, Australia. On Thursday, August 3, His Beatitude, Patriarch Theophilos III of the Holy City of Jerusalem & All Palestine, warmly received His Grace, after which the pilgrims proceeded to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where they venerated the Life-Giving Tomb of the Lord, Golgotha, and other holy sites.

The Eastern American Diocese has a longstanding tradition of hosting various children’s camps throughout the summer months. When we talk about summer camps, we usually think of scout camps, particularly the camps of St. George Pathfinders of America (ORUR) and the Association of Russian Explorers Outside of Russia (NORR). But over the past 25 years, a new camp in honor of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov has emerged in the Pocono Mountains. Founded in 1992 by the parishioners of Christ the Savior Church in Wilkes-Barre, PA, St. Seraphim Camp has grown to become the single largest summer camp in the Eastern American Diocese, and it shows no signs of slowing down.

On Tuesday, August 1, the feast of the Finding of the Relics of Venerable Seraphim, Wonderworker of Sarov, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada visited Holy Dormition "Novo-Diveevo" Convent in Nanuet, NY, and celebrated the festal Divine Liturgy in the convent’s St. Seraphim Cathedral.

That same day marked the feast of the Placing of the Honorable Robe of our Lord Jesus Christ in Moscow (1625). In the Cathedral of the Sign, to the right side behind the icon of the Holy Hierarch Nicholas the Wonderworker, is kept an icon with a piece of the precious robe of the Savior. This icon and the relic within were ordered and presented to the cathedral by the ever-memorable Monk Joseph (Lambertsen).

Divine services were led by Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, who himself once graduated from Holy Trinity Seminary. The solemn hierarchal service was a witness to the beauty of Orthodoxy to the many pilgrims: the youth who had participated in the monastery’s summer youth program and were departing for home, the students of the annual Summer Music School who were already one week into their program, and the hundred or so scouts of St. George Pathfinders of America, who had gathered in the monastery for their annual pilgrimage. It is interesting that the Holy Royal Martyrs brought together these various groups of people, all of whom are part of summer life at the monastery.

On Sunday, July 30, the annual St. Vladimir’s Day Celebrations were held at St. Vladimir Memorial Church to the Millennium of the Baptism of Rus’ in Jackson, NJ. On the eve of the feast, Saturday, July 29, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, led the All-Night Vigil in the church, co-served by Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, and local clergy.

On Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th of July, the feast of the Enlightener of Rus’, the Holy Equal-of-the-Apostles Great Prince Vladimir, the entire Russian Orthodox Church once more celebrated the anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’, which took place in 988 A.D. Although the celebrations in honor of this event are held on the last Sunday in July, St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ also celebrates its patronal feast day on July 28 itself. This year, divine services in the Memorial Church were led by His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan.

The below article by Ludmila Keller was published in 1987 in "Orthodox Russia" Issue #15, in anticipation of the Millennium of the Baptism of Rus’, the main celebrations of which the Russian Church Abroad held at St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ. As part of the Media Office’s ongoing efforts to highlight the history of our Diocese and the legacy of our luminary hierarchs, this article has been translated to English and is being published in anticipation of the St. Vladimir’s Day Celebrations.

The summer Mastery Class for choir conductors, led by Maestro Vladimir Gorbik and organized by the Patriarch Tikhon Russian-American Music ("PaTRAM") Institute under the direction of Alexis Lukianov, was held July 6-12 at Moscow’s Holy Trinity-St. SergiusLavraMetochionChurch. During their studies, choir conductors in the U.S., Australia, and Russia had an opportunity to receive unique knowledge and perfect their technique of conducting, as well as to meet with Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan and conduct the choir during hierarchal Liturgy, celebrated by His Grace on the feast of the Holy Leaders of the Apostles Peter & Paul.

On Tuesday, July 18, the feast of the Finding of the Relics of Venerable Sergius of Radonezh, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, led the patronal feast day of the English Mission at St. Sergius Chapel at the Synodal Headquarters in New York City. The patronal feast of the chapel itself is celebrated on October 8, while July 18 traditionally marks the patronal feast of the English Mission. For four years now, the English Mission has been nourished by Hieromonk Zosimas (Krampis).

The parish anniversary celebrations of Holy Apostles Church in Beltsville, MD were heartwarming, joyful, and spiritually fulfilling. The actual feast day on Thursday, July 13, was attended by 12 parishioners – an apostolic number – and was itself on occasion of great joy. Every attendee prepared for and received Christ’s Holy Mysteries at Liturgy. The parish choir sang to perfection, both for the actual feast and at the weekend services to follow.

The pilgrimage of Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, to the holy sites of Crimea continues. On Friday, July 21, His Eminence served a thanksgiving moleben in St. Vladimir Cathedral in Chersonesus.

On Tuesday, July 18, the feast day of the Holy Venerable Martyrs Grand Duchess Elizabeth & Nun Barbara, the sisters of St. Elizabeth Skete in Jordanville, NY celebrated their patronal feast day.