On Monday, July 10, the eve of the feast of Venerable Sergius & Herman of Valaam (July 11 n.s.), Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY celebrated its own feast, the tonsure of Riassophore Monk John (Weeks) to the Lesser Schema and Novice Stephen (Manduke) to the Riassa. This grace-filled event took place just as the Holy Church is finishing the Apostles’ Fast. For the elder fathers of the monastery brotherhood, this event was not only a joy as they see their ranks replenished and strengthened, but also a reminder of their own vows and – very importantly – a witness to the many pilgrims who perhaps for the first time were able to observe such a commitment to Christ. 

On Sunday, July 16, upon completion of the Divine Liturgy, the abbot of Holy Protection Male Skete in Buena, NJ, Hieromonk Tikhon (Gayfudinov), went in procession – joined by parishioners bearing banners – to the adjacent cemetery, where they blessed the votive Cross."The Cross was erected in the 1970s, but since the church underwent a 20-year period without a standing parish, the Cross fell into a sorrowful state," said Fr. Tikhon. "The Cross was cleaned, and new plaster applied. One feels joy when he sees the difference: what was and what it became."

On Wednesday, July 12, the feast of the Holy Supreme Leaders of the Apostles Peter & Paul, after Divine Liturgy, a panihida was served at the gravesite of the ever-memorable Archbishop Andrew (Rymarenko) of Rockland, vicar of the Eastern American Diocese, on the 39th anniversary of his repose. Archbishop Andrew was the founder of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY. The panihida was served by the dean of the monastery’s St. Seraphim Cathedral, Archpriest Alexander Fedorowski.

On Wednesday, August 9 the brethren of Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV will celebrate the feast of their beloved Heavenly patron, the Holy Great-Martyr and Healer Panteleimon. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a festal moleben will be served, in thanksgiving to the holy martyr and in order to beseech his continued aid and protection throughout the coming year.

On Saturday, July 8, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, began a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Russia. The pilgrimage was organized in conjunction with the centennial of the beginning of the godless persecution and the decennial of the Reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church with the Russian Church Abroad. Upon his arrival in Moscow, His Eminence prayed in Cathedral of Christ the Savior before the relics of the Holy Hierarch and Wonderworker Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, which after its time in the Russian capital will soon depart for St. Petersburg. Joined by a delegation, the Metropolitan also visited Holy Protection Monastery, where he venerated the relics of Blessed Matrona of Moscow.

The main Orthodox church in the Dominican Republic is the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (Misión de Nuestra Sra. Madre de Dios de Kazan), located in the town of Sosúa. Its rector graduated university and converted to Orthodoxy in Russia, and now ministers to Russians in the Caribbean Basin. Of course, the accommodations could hardly be called a church, but the local Orthodox faithful find them suitable enough. The parish was founded in 2008, and in October of the same year, during his visit to Costa Rica, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, ordained Rafael Martinez Gonzalez to the priesthood.

At the invitation of Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco & Western American, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, vicar of the Eastern American Diocese, took part in the celebrations in honor of the feast day of the Holy Hierarch John, Wonderworker of Shanghai & San Francisco. This year, the celebrations began on Friday, June 30, and continued on Saturday, July 1. In 1994, at the glorification of the Holy Hierarch John, the Council of the Russian Church Abroad adopted a resolution to hold the celebrations in honor of the saint on the nearest Saturday to the day of his repose – Saturday, July 2, 1966.

On Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th of July, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan visited the Diocesan Center in Howell, NJ, for the celebrations in honor of the patronal feast day of Our Lady of Tikhvin Church. The church was built 81 years ago, and originally – before the construction of the new cathedral – had been consecrated in honor of the Holy Right-Believing Great Prince Alexander Nevsky.

On Friday, July 7, the feast of the Nativity of the Holy Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist of the Lord John, St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Mayfield, PA celebrated its patronal feast day. Celebrating Divine Liturgy on Friday morning was His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan...

When "Yura" started kindergarten, he knew only three phrases in English, which was not rare for the families of Russian émigrés, who tried to delay the assimilation of their children. Even today, you will find Americans who speak flawless Russian. Long Island was home to one of the many post-WWII Russian communities which pooled their money one penny at a time to build their own modest churches in neighborhoods with large mansions, among which are St. Seraphim and Holy Intercession Churches.

After the ROCOR Council of Bishops completed its work in Munich, His Grace George, Bishop of Canberra (vicar of the Diocese of Australia & New Zealand) paid an archpastoral visit to the Eastern American Diocese. On Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th of June, Bishop George led the divine services in New York City’s Synodal Cathedral of the Sign, co-served by Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan. Later that week, His Grace traveled to Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV, of which he had served as abbot from the time of his episcopal consecration in 2008 until his reassignment to Australia in 2014. 

It was with a certain sadness that the people of the church began to disassemble the old iconostasis, which had preceded the people of the church like the Holy Cross on their wanderings since the parish joined the Russian Church Abroad twenty years ago. It preceded them to two warehouses and then to the present church building and was, like the cloud and the pillar of fire in the wilderness, an inspiration and a protection from the Lord and His saints to the congregation.

On Sunday, July 2, the feast of the Holy Apostles Jude, brother of the Lord, and the repose of the Holy Hierarch John, Wonderworker of Shanghai & San Francisco, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, celebrated Divine Liturgy in New York City’s Synodal Cathedral of the Sign. 

On June 30 & July 1, 2016 – in honor of the feast day of the Holy Hierarch John, Wonderworker of Shanghai & San Francisco – Sts. Cyril & Athanasius Institute for Orthodox Studies held a symposium on "Saint John & His Legacy," where several lectures were read by the holy hierarch’s spiritual children.

The week of June 19-23 marked the tenth anniversary of summer camp for children, aged 4-16, at St. Mary of Egypt Church in Roswell (Atlanta), GA. This year, over 20 children participated in the study of worship in church and private prayer. The mornings, beginning with prayers at 9:30 AM, were filled with study about prayer, taught by the teachers and priests of the church

On Saturday the 17th and Sunday the 18th of June, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York paid an archpastoral visit to the Church of the Holy Great-Martyrs Theodore Tyro & Theodore Stratelates in Buffalo, NY. The visit was scheduled for the diaconal ordination of Subdeacon George Hammond, as well as to coincide with nearest Sunday to the feast of the Transfer of the Relics of St. Theodore Stratelates, the parish’s patronal feast day.

On Sunday, June 25, 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. His Eminence was co-served by Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan...

On Saturday, June 24, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, visited Holy Protection Male Skete in Buena, NJ, and celebrated Divine Liturgy there. For the spiritual solace of the faithful, Metropolitan Hilarion brought with him a reliquary containing relics of particularly venerated saints: the Holy Hierarchs Nicholas of Myra in Lycia and Spyridon of Trimythous, Venerable Sergius of Radonezh and Seraphim of Sarov, the Holy Great-Martyr & Healer Panteleimon, and others. 

With the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, Archimandrite Maximos (Weimar) of the Brotherhood of the Holy Cross announced that the Brotherhood will be leaving its current location to establish the Brotherhood of the Holy Hieromartyr Dionysios the Areopagite. The Brotherhood recently faced a difficult decision; by choosing to remain within the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and under the omophorion of Metropolitan Hilarion, a change of residence is now necessary.

On June 3-6, Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY celebrated Pentecost weekend. The cathedral was festively decorated with freshly-cut saplings, some tall enough to reach the base of the dome. This very strikingly manifests the Church’s concept of recapitulation, as the entire universe has been transfigured through Christ and brought within the purview of the Church through the power of the Holy Spirit, Who gives life to all.

On Saturday the 3rd and Sunday the 4th of June, the great feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles – Pentecost, Holy Trinity Church in Vineland, NJ celebrated its patronal feast day. The divine services Saturday evening and Sunday morning were led by parish rector Archpriest Liubo Milosevich...

Dean of Students Abbot Cyprian (Alexandrou) explains: "The current kitchen the students had was a small room, very cramped and not practical. We have broken down the wall adjoining the old kitchen to make the space larger and accommodate a larger fridge, larger counter space, an oven that the students did not have before and an area where they can sit comfortably.

On Tuesday, June 6, the third day of the feast of Holy Pentecost, a group of pilgrims comprised of 70 parishioners of St. John the Forerunner Cathedral in Brooklyn, NY visited Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY, roughly 30 miles from Manhattan.

Upon completion of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad, His Grace George, Bishop of Canberra (vicar of the Diocese of Australia & New Zealand) visited New York City. On Saturday, June 17, Bishop George and His Grace Nicholas, Bishop of Manhattan (vicar of the Eastern American Diocese) prayed together at the All-Night Vigil in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City, and together led the Polyeleos, while Bishop George served the remainder of the Vigil. Upon completion of the service, dinner was served.

Eight years ago, the Russian Church Abroad established the Sunday of All Saints as the Day of Orthodox Youth. Traditionally, the divine services on this feast are sung by a youth choir. This year, on Saturday. June 10, the eve of the feast of All Saints, the male choir of St. Prince Vladimir Youth Association sang the All-Night Vigil in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. 

On Saturday, May 27, the parish Russian School at St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral in Howell, NJ held its graduation ceremony. That day, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan visited the Diocesan Center and took part in the celebrations.

We, the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, gathered for a Council of Bishops in the God-preserved city of Munich during the celebration of the Pentecost, in the blessed presence of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign." 

On Friday the 9th and Saturday the 10th of June, His Eminence, Metropolitan Jonah, led the All-Night Vigil and celebrated Divine Liturgy in St. John the Russian Church in Ipswich, MA. The services were held in honor of the 40th anniversary of the parish’s founding, as well as of the ordination of its rector, Archpriest Spyridon Schneider.

On Saturday, June 10, students and teachers at St. John of Kronstadt Parish School at Holy Myrrhbearers Church in Brooklyn, NY marked the end of another school year. After a thanksgiving moleben, the graduation ceremony took place, during which twenty-eight children aged 4-13 received their report cards, notes of thanks, and commemorative gifts.

Archpriest Serafim Gan, personal secretary of the present First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, and of his predecessor, His Eminence, Metropolitan Laurus, never suspected the role he was to play in the process of reestablishing the lost unity within the Russian Church.... His interview from 2010 is republished in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion.

Holy Apostles Church in Beltsville, MD, has recently undergone $40,000 repairs and repainting. This work was made possible only through donations and historic presentation grants. But, on the night of April 19 last, vandals sprayed the exterior of the chapel with orange paint and, thus, spoiled the historic brickwork. 

On Sunday, May 14, a celebratory reception in honor of distinguished artist and sculptor Mikhail L. Zviagin was held at the Synodal Headquarters of the Russian Church Abroad in New York City. Through the Northern Cross Society, the sculptor presented ROCOR with a bronze bust of Alexander Pushkin.

Beloved in the Lord Metropolitan Hilarion, Eminent Archpastors! I sincere greet all of you, the hierarchs of the Russian Diaspora, who have gathered in Munich to convene a Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. It is significant that your gathering is held on the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion, an event of great historic breadth, which put an end to the long division of the Russian nation incurred by the tragic troubles in our Fatherland 100 years ago.

On Sunday, June 4, the great feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit – Pentecost, the parish community of Holy Trinity Church in Mebane, NC celebrated its patronal feast day. The divine service, which was led by parish rector Abbot Gabriel (Kvasnikov), concluded with a procession around the church.

On Saturday the 20th and Sunday the 21st of May, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, paid an archpastoral visit to Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church in Summerville, SC. The visit was scheduled for the priestly ordination of Deacon Daniel Gregoire, as well as to coincide with nearest Sunday to the feast of the holy Equals-of-the-Apostles Cyril & Methodius, Teachers of the Slavs, the parish’s patronal feast day.

On Friday, May 26, Archpriest Victor Potapov (member of the Diocesan Council, rector of St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, DC) delivered a talk on the life and legacy of the Holy Hierarch John of Shanghai & San Francisco at a conference at Moscow’s Sretensky Monastery...

This year, the clergy and parishioners of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY came together to design and build a new reliquary, needed to contain all of the individual relics of the holy saints that had been donated throughout the life of the parish.

Another school year at Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY has been successfully completed, and on Sunday, May 28, the seminary celebrated its 69th Annual Commencement with a Thanksgiving Moleben, commencement exercises, and a reception.

At the invitation of the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev & All Ukraine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York has been visiting Ukraine. On Saturday, May 27, the feast day of Venerable Nikita the Recluse, Bishop of Novgorod, Metropolitan Hilarion celebrated Divine Liturgy in Annunciation Church in the Far Caves of the Kiev Caves Lavra.

On Thursday, May 25, the great feast of the Ascension of the Lord, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York took part in the great consecration of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ and the Holy New Martyrs & Confessors of the Russian Church in Moscow’s Sretensky Stavropegial Monastery, led by His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow & All Russia. 

On May 21, the Sunday of the Blind Man, His Grace, Bishop Jerome, paid an archpastoral visit to St. Nicholas Church in Poughkeepsie, NY, where he celebrated Divine Liturgy. After the greeting of the archpastor by the parish warden and rector – Archpriest Alexander Donchenko – Liturgy began. 

On Wednesday, May 24, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan celebrated Divine Liturgy for the feast of the Leavetaking of Pascha in St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral in Howell, NJ.

On Tuesday, May 23, the feast day of the Holy Apostle Simon the Zealot, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan visited the Eastern American Diocesan Center in Howell, NJ, and celebrated Divine Liturgy in Our Lady of Tikhvin Church.

On Monday, May 15, the Russian Mt. Athos Institute’s archeographical group – headed by its director, V.I. Pirogov, and academic director, D.V. Zubov – visited arrived in the United States. Deacon Andrei Psarev, professor at Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY, assisted the delegation in its work.

Last Decem­ber, on the win­ter feast of the Holy Hierarch Nicholas, Holy Trin­i­ty Monastery launched a new web­site as a con­tin­u­a­tion of the 66-year lega­cy of its Eng­lish-lan­guage jour­nal, Ortho­dox Life. Now, a day after the great hierarch’s sum­mer feast, the editors have issued a new appeal asking for readers’ sup­port