On Friday, April 24, an evening in honor of the Holy Hierarch Raphael (Hawaweeny) of Brooklyn was held at St. John the Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY.

Leading the service of a moleben and akathist to St. Raphael was His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad. His Eminence was co-served by Bishop Jerome, Archpriest Alexander Belya (parish rector and dean of New York City), Archpriest Thomas Zain (vicar-general and dean of St. Nicholas Antiochian Cathedral in Brooklyn), Archpriest George Kallaur (rector of "Unexpected Joy" Church on Staten Island, NY), Archpriest Mark Burachek (rector of Our Lady of Kazan Church in Newark, NJ), Hieromonk Photius (Oulanov; cleric of Holy Virgin Intercession Church in Glen Cove, NY), Hieromonk Tikhon (Gayfudinov; cell attendant to the Metropolitan), Deacon Petr Utkin (parish cleric), and Deacon George Temidis (member of the Diocesan Council).

Upon completion of the akathist, Metropolitan Hilarion delivered a sermon on the life of the holy hierarch, whose episcopal consecration was performed by St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow. He spoke about his many positive virtues and great accomplishments in shepherding the Orthodox faithful in America at the turn of the last century. With the blessing of Metropolitan Joseph, primate of the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America, a piece of the relics of St. Raphael was given to the church.

Fr. Photius then delivered a lecture on the life of St. Raphael, touching on the many challenges and problems faced in managing the multiethnic American mission and caring for its flock. Following the lecture, the clergy attended dinner at a local restaurant, and their interaction continued late into the night.

On May 3, the Sunday of the Paralytic, Metropolitan Hilarion celebrated Liturgy in St. John the Baptist Church. His Eminence was co-served by Fr. Alexander Belya, Archimandrite Ioann (Modzalevsky; cleric of the Moscow Diocese), Priest Konstantin Gavrilkin (parish cleric), Frs. Photius (Oulanov) and Tikhon (Gayfudinov), Protodeacons Vadim Gan (cleric of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City) and Daniel Puchkov (cleric of the Moscow Diocese), and Fr. Petr Utkin. Fr Tikhon delivered a sermon to parishioners on the Gospel story of the paralytic, calling on the faithful to put their hope in Christ the Savior in every one of life’s circumstances.

That day, many communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries at the divine service.