On Monday the 23rd and Tuesday the 24th of September, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York paid an archpastoral visit to St. Xenia Church in Methuen, MA, where he led the divine services in honor of the parish’s patronal feast.

Joining His Eminence for All-Night Vigil on Monday evening were Archpriests Spyridon Schneider (rector of St. John the Russian Church in Ipswich, MA), Michael Crowley (parish rector), and Victor Boldewskul (rector of Holy Epiphany Church in Boston, MA); Abbot Tikhon (Gayfudinov; rector of Holy Protection Hermitage in Buena, NJ); Priest Constantine Desrosiers; and Deacons Alexander and Dimitri Doohovskoy and John Sarantakis (parish clerics).

Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served on Tuesday morning; concelebrating with the Metropolitan were all of the above-mentioned clergy, with the exception of Frs. Spyridon and Victor, and the addition of Archpriests Brendan Crowley (rector of St. Nicholas Church in Enfield, CT) and Dimitri Jakimowicz (rector of St. Nicholas Church in Stratford, CT) and Deacon Joseph Kimball (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Memorial Church in Richmond, ME).

During the reading of the Hours, parish Reader Robert Stauffer was blessed to wear the orarion.

Though a weekday service, the church was full of faithful parishioners and visitors, many of whom communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Addressing the gathered faithful, His Eminence spoke of the 100th anniversary of the founding of ROCOR, which will take place next year, and the heroic actions of the early émigrés, who made possible the glorification of Righteous John of Kronstadt and Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg long before anyone else.

The service concluded with a procession around the church.

The sisterhood, with the help of Nicholas Chaplain, provided a bounteous banquet under tents on the church grounds.