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North Port, FL: Second Week of Great Lent at Our Lady of Pochaev Church

The second week of Great Lent is dedicated to the Holy Hierarch Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica, a teacher of prayer and piety, who revealed special teachings about the Divine Uncreated Light. Also especially venerated on this day are all the Venerable Fathers of the Kiev Caves, whose holy relics rest in the Far and Near Caves of the Kiev Caves Lavra.

On Saturday evening, the All-Night Vigil was held at Our Lady of Pochaev Church in North Port, FL, served by parish clergy: Hieromonk Arkadii (Polishchuk) and Deacon Alexander Khartoniuk. Rector Archimandrite Stefan (Khilchuk) and Hieromonk Paisius (Alekseevets) sang on kliros.

The resurrectional service of this day was combined with the penitential service of the Lenten Triodion and the service to all the venerable saints of the Kiev Caves. At Matins, the glorification of the saints was sung, while the stichera and canon glorified the Resurrection of Christ, the Most Holy Theotokos, and the ascetic labors of the ascetics and monks of the Lavra.

Sunday itself began in the church with the Sacrament of Confession, performed by Fr. Arkadii. Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Fr. Stefan, Priest Daniel Sobolev, and Fr. Alexander. Frs. Arkadii and Paisius sang on kliros in a mixed choir under the direction of choirmaster Natalia Klyusov.

Specially commemorated during Liturgy, at the Litany for the Departed and also at the Great Entrance, were the names of His Eminence, Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla; +2008), First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, and Schema-Archimandrite Tikhon (Baldenkov, known before the schema as Archimandrite Bogdan; +2014), the renowned spiritual father of Pochaev, who reposed 11 years ago.

After the Litany for the Departed, the rector read a special prayer of thanksgiving to God.

This Liturgy was the last service held in the old church building. The faithful prayed with special trepidation, gratitude, and love on this day, because in this place the community of at Our Lady of Pochaev Church held all the appointed services for five years, maintaining faith and loyalty to God and the Church, affirming their love, faith, and hope.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, Fr. Stefan addressed the parishioners with a sermon. On behalf of the brethren, the priest thanked everyone for their help, support, and prayers. He recalled that exactly five years ago, Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral; +2022) of Eastern America & New York, the founder and inspiration of the Our Lady of Pochaev Church, paid an archpastoral visit to the community. Fr. Stefan also wished everyone strong faith, spiritual wisdom, and patience.

After the service, a group photograph was taken for posterity, after which a luncheon was held for all.

After the short meal, the brethren and parishioners took part in the transportation of church vessels and items from the old building to the new monastery. The men carried out benches, a refrigerator, and vestments, while the women and children took down the icons and reverently placed them in cars for transportation.

Special thanks to the servant of God Sergey from Canada, who transported most of the heavy and bulky things with his large truck.

The brethren thank everyone for their help and support, and pray that the Lord blesses everyone and "gives them Heavenly things instead of earthly, eternal things instead of temporal, incorruptible things instead of corruptible" (from the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great).

Photos

North Port, FL: Second Week of Great Lent at Our Lady of Pochaev Church - 03/16/25

(23 images)


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