Saint Seraphim of Sarov
Russian Orthodox Church St. Seraphim of Sarov Sea Cliff, New York, Long Island
Đóńńęŕ˙ Âĺđńč˙ The English Version

By blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus,
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad

PARISH LIFE

Please read our rector's appeal here.

 Watch live webcasts of our divine services here. Divine Liturgy begins at 10:00 am on Sundays (9:00 am during the summer) and at 9:00 am during weekdays. All-Night Vigil and other evening services begin at 6:00 pm on Saturdays and 6:30 pm on weekdays. Please see our schedule for details. We are in the New York time zone (GMT - 5).

We are now accepting online donations for our parish frescoes.

2013 Records:

On October 12th, the date of the uncovering of the incorrupt relics of St. John, Bishop of Shanghai and San Francisco, by the blessing of His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of North America and New York, first Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, our parish will hold a 60th anniversary celebration.

In St. Seraphim's Church the divine services of Passion Week and the Pascha of Christ were celebrated with solemnity and great spiritual enthusiasm. For the celebration of Pascha, the Sisterhood decorated the church and the hall, and also prepared the banquet on the night of the splendid celebration. Protodeacon Paul Wolkow, Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur and the altar-servers, headed by I. A., Makarow, also labored greatly to organize what was a joyous celebration for all. The choir, under the direction of Nicholas Miro, sang joyously, instilling the joy of Pascha in the hearts of those present. A. S. and M. O. Slobodskoy decorated the route of the night's procession with candles. Thanks to the labors of Fr. Paul and web-master G. Selinsky, our parish web site provided a simultaneous broadcast of all the services. 

At 3 A.M. on the first day of the feast, the great Paschal Vespers was served, after which a short paschal service of supplication for the health of the clergy,the warden, the benefactors, the members of the Parish Council, the Sisterhood, the singers, parishioners and attendees of St. Seraphim's Church was served; afterwards refreshments were provided in the rectory. Among the guests at this reception were not only officers and members of the parish and visitors, but clergymen and parishioners of other churches as well. The following morning, paschal Matins and the Divine Liturgy were served, after which the clergy, singers and congregation processed around the church. Later, a paschal meal was served, provided by the Sisterhood. 

See the video recordings of the divine services and the paschal celebrations in the video library

On May 4th, Great Saturday, the clergy of St. Seraphim's Parish celebrated Vespers and the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, and on the previous evening the Rite of the Burial of Christ. Our singers sang the trio "Arise, O God, and judge the earth" and the rest of the hymns of that most blessed day with considerable compunction. 

On May 3rd, Great Friday, Vespers with the bringing forth of the epitaphion, and Small Compline with the reading of the Canon of the Lamentation of the Mother of God were served. 

On May 2nd Great Thursday, the parish rector concelebrated the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great. On the evening of the same day, Matins with the reading of the Twelve Passion Gospels was celebrated. 

On May 1st, Great Wednesday, Fr. Seraphim celebrated Passion Matins with the reading of the Gospel. After the 9th Ode of the canon, as on the preceeding days of Passion Week, "Thy bridal-chamber" was sung by the rector and singers from the choir. When the service was over, the rector delivered a brief sermon on the topic of Great Thursday, when Christ established the Mystery of the Eucharist. 

On Sunday, April 28th, the feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, the rector of St. Seraphim's Church celebrated the Divine Liturgy. On the previous evening he, and Protodeacons Paul Wolkow and Eugene Kallaur, served the vigil service, which the parish choir, under the direction of Nicholas Miro, provided with solemn festal music; and the pious attended in great numbers. When the divine services were over, the rector, having given a festal greeting to the brethren, parishioners and attendees, invited all to participate in the compunctionate services of Passion Week, to ponder the final days of the life and public ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, to receive Communion frequently, and to undertake the contemplation of God, that an intense prayerful preparation for the "Feast of feasts" and the actual celebration of the Pascha of Christ, might restore our inner strength and fortify us for the further bearing of our life's cross, which leads to our personal resurrection and eternal salvation. At the veneration of the Cross, following a pre-Revolutionary tradition, a plate collection was taken up for the needs of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem. Glory to God, all the parishioners and those in attendance, opening their hearts, contributed their mite to the support of the Mission, its monsteries, churches and monastics, who find themselves living in quite complicated conditions as they maintain the holy sites of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Holy Land. On the same day, thanks to the efforts of the Sisterhood, the regularly scheduled paschal fair met with considerble success, at which a great many paschal items were sold. 

On April 27th, Lazarus Saturday, the parish rector concelebrated the Divine Liturgy, and on the previous day, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts and Matins of the feast. 

On Wednesday, April 24th, under the supervision of Elizabeth Miyehev, the general pre-paschal cleaning of the church and the preparation of palms and pussy-willows for Palm Sunday was successful and well attended. Many thanks to all who labored! 

On Sunday, April 21st, the 5th Sunday of the Great Fast and the commemoration of St. Mary of Egypt, the parish rector, with Protodeacons Pavel Wolkow and Eugene Kallaur, concelebrated the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great; the previous evening they had served the vigil. 

After the meal, the parish rector concluded his series of talks on last year's pilgrimage to the Holy Land by a group of our parishioners. The talk was dedicated to the holy places connected with the final days of the earthly life and public ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, His resurrection and ascension. 

On Saturday, April 20th, the feast of the Laudation of the All-holy Theotokos, the parish rector celebrated the Divine Liturgy. The previous evening he had served Matins with the akathist hymn to the all-pure one. At the conclusion of the divine service the glorification of the Mother of God was performed before an old copy of her Pochaev Icon. 

On Sunday, April 14th, the 4th Sunday of the Great Fast, when the Holy Church commemorates St. John of the Ladder, Abbot of Mount Sinai, the parish rector, with Protodeacons Pavel Wolkoff and Eugene Kallaur, concelebrated the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great; and on the prevous evening, the vigil service. 

On April 13th-14th, the parish bazaar, beautifully organized by the Sisterhood, headed by Elizabeth Miyehev, was held with great success. 

On Friday evening, April 12th, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts was concelebrated in Glen Cove by the clergy of St. Seraphim's Church and Holy Protection Church in Glen Cove, at which a combined male choir, consisting of singers from both parishes, took part. The "Let my prayer arise" trio was compunctionately sung by Peter Fekula, A. Falkovich and Nicholas Miro. Glory to God, the Liturgy was performed prayerfully and with great solemnity. The fellowship of the clergy, the singers and the parishioners continued after a meal set out in the nearby parish hall. See the video recording of the singing of "Let my prayer arise" that evening. 

On Sunday, April 7th, the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross and the feast of the Annunciation of the All-holy Theotokos, the parish rector, with Protodeacons Paul Wolkoff and Eugene Kallaur, celebrated the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great; and on the previous evening, the vigil service, with the bringing forth of the life-creating Cross, while the choristers, under the direction of Nicholas Miro, provided compunctionate singing. 

After the meal, Fr. Seraphim continued his discussion of last year's pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Because of the feast of the Annunciation, the talk was dedicated to the holy places connected with the life and ministry of the Mother of God. 

On Sunday, March 31st, the 2nd Sunday of the Great Fast, the parish rector celebrated the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil; and on the previous evening, the vigil service, with Protodeacons Pavel Wolkow and Eugene Kallaur. 


Singers from the Youth Choir of the Diocese of Eastern America & New York, led by Alexander Cooley, took part in the divine services of the 2nd Sunday of the Great Fast.  After the conclusion of the vigil service, Fr. Seraphim provided a reception in honor of the singers, and before the veneration of the Cross on Sunday greeted them warmly, wishing them "good health and blessed success in their endeavors, and the great mercies and blessings of God for many years."  The rector of the church also addressed words of welcome to R. V. Polchaninov, who celebrated his name-day on March 27th, when the Russian Orthodox Church commemorates the right-believing St. Prince Rostislav of Kiev.  Afterwards, Many Years was chanted for both the singers and Rostislav Polchaninov.

After the meal on that day, the regular session of the Sisterhood was held under the leadership of E. M. Mikheeva, at which questions connected with the preparation for the feast of Holy Pascha were discussed.

During these holy days, in Sea Cliff nature was quite peaceful and serene; the rustling of leaves was not heard, nor was there a cloud in the sky.  Lamps burned in church before the icons.  All of this, along with the church singing of the unified youth choir and the parish singers, the glorification they offered up to God and to His saints, disused all to compunction of heart, to spiritual ponderings, and involuntarily inclined the soul to a certain prayerful joy: all moved one to thoughts of God.

See: the recording of the Divine Liturgy at which the singers of the youth choir participated:


See: the recording of the vigil service on the eve of the 2nd Sunday of the Great Fast, i.e., the second Sunday of Lent:

See: the recording of the joint Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts with the clergy and parishioners of Holy Intercession church in Glen Cove (March 29, 2013):


On Sunday, March 24th, the Triumph of Orthodoxy, the rector of the church celebrated the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great; and the previous evening he served the all-night vigil with Protodeacons Pavel Wolkow and Eugene Kallaur. 

On this day, in accordance with the directive of the Synod of Bishops, the 400th anniversary of the Romanov Dynasty was prayerful marked in the parishes of the Russian Church Abroad; with which radiant pages of our national history, as well as some not-so-radiant pages, were connected.  For this reason, in his homily of greeting addressed to the assembled faithful, the rector cited the words of Alexander S. Pushkin, which help us to find the correct words for this prayerful commemoration:

Let the descendant of the Orthodox know

The past fate of [their] earthly homeland.

Let them commemorate their great tsars

For their labors, their glory, the good the accomplished—

But for their sins and dark deeds

Let them humbly beseech the Savior.

After the meal on this day, Fr. Seraphim held the fourth part of his discussion on the parish pilgrimage to the Holy Land, which took place in August of last year, and which was dedicated to the monasteries of the Holy Land.  For the children the usual meeting of the spiritual-cultural group was held, organized by E. M. Kallaur, who prepared zhavaroniki (lark breads) with them.

On Saturday, March 23rd, the first Saturday of the Great Fast, when the Orthodox Church marks the memory of the holy Great-martyr Theodore the Tyro, the parish of St. Seraphim also honored the 30 martyrs of Sebaste in prayer, with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.  At the conclusion of its divine services, those who attended were called upon to "draw forth the strength to carry their own cross from the prayerful celebration of the memory of the martyrs, by turning to them in prayer and imitating their faith, endurance and courage amid trials."

During the first four days of the first week of the Great Fast, during the evening services, the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete was read.  The canon of St. andrew is called "great" because of the multitude of thoughts and references to the Sacred Scriptures which the author included in it, and also because it contains more troparia that any other canon, since other canons consist of only about thirty troparia, which the Great Canon has 250.

On Sunday, March 17th, Cheesefare Sunday, the parish rector concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with Archimandrite Kirill (Govorun) and Protodeacons Pavel Wolkow and Eugene Kallaur.

After the conclusion of the Liturgy, Great Vespers with the rite of forgiveness was served. Before the rite of forgiveness, Fr. Serafim said the following, in part:

"Today is an altogether special day. Tomorrow, the Great Fast begins, that is, the period designated for the deepening of the spirit, for making an assessment of one's life. This is also the reason why we ask forgiveness of one another: that we may enter upon these holy days in peace, love and unity, may observe them in a worthy manner, may enrich ourselves spiritually during this time, and support others in this struggle. Everyone should give thought to this.

"In seminary they taught us that a priest must exude light, warmth, joy. In him the faithful want to see a merciful father, a man of prayer who provides an example of a good way of life. Unfortunately, I lack all of these essential pastoral qualities that might lead to the flourishing of our life in the Church. With all my soul I repent that I am unworthy of this exalted ministry, am undeserving of your love, paying attention only to what is good as regards to myself; and I ask that God will make of me a real priest and man. This is my constant prayer; and for this I ask you all to pray. I beg forgiveness for my voluntary and involuntary sins and offenses against you, for all that I have done and omitted to do, and for the many things that I ought to have done and which remain undone.

"Let us always strive to remember that each of us suffers from his own personal weaknesses and inadequacies; each of us repents, and as far as he is able wages war on his own sins. And so, if we would see and feel our own personal wounds, repent of them, and see how others suffer from their own sins, we would be left only with sorrow for man, sorrow and compassion. And this is the beginning of love for one's neighbor; this is the beginning of that love of which Christ spoke in His Gospel.

"Making a prostration before you, I again ask your forgiveness, forbearance, condescension and prayer for me, the unworthy. Let us now approach the Cross, and then let us turn to one another. Amen."

After the veneration of the Cross and the rite of forgiveness, I. G. Kvartirova provided a tasty and abundant meal.

On Saturday, March 16th, before the beginning of the Vigil Service, the parish rector celebrated a memorial service in the St. Seraphim Memorial Church, to mark the fifth anniversary of the repose of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus. On the morning of this day, Protodeacon Pavel Wolkow, representing the clergy and parishioners of our church, took part in the celebration of the early Divine Liturgy celebrated by Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York in the cathedral at Holy Trinity Monastery, in Jordanville. There, on behalf of the parish's sisterhood, Fr. Pavel presented Archimandrite Luke, the abbot of the monastery, with a generous donation toward the repair and remodeling work being undertaken by the monastery.

On Sunday, March 10th, Meatfare Sunday, the clergy of St. Seraphim's Church celebrated the Divine Liturgy. After the veneration of the Cross, all were invited for the celebration of Butter Week (Maslenitsa), which was magnificently prepared by the parish sisterhood and carried off with great success. Many thanks in Christ to our caring and industrious sisterhood, headed by E. M. Mikheeva.

See the sermon delivered by Fr. Seraphim on Sunday, March 3rd, the Sunday of the Prodigal Son.

On March 3rd, the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, Protodeacon Pavel Wolkow took part in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Monastery, in Jordanville, while Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur served at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, in Lakewood, NJ, where the 50th anniversary of Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov's priestly ministry was being marked, headed by Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad.

On Monday, February 25th, the feast of St. Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow & All Russia, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the St. Seraphim Memorial Church of the Restoration of Unity within the Russian Orthodox Church, during which special petitions were intoned for His Holiness, the ever-memorable Patriarch Alexis II. At the end of the service the parish rector intoned "Many Years!" for Alexei Seraphimovich Slobodskoi and the young Alexei Kallaur.

February 24th, 2013, was the Sunday of the Publican & the Pharisee. On the previous evening, the vigil was served in St. Seraphim's Church. At Matins, after the reading of the resurrectional Gospel, the lenten troparia "Open unto me the doors of repentance, O Bestower of life" were chanted for the first time in this current year. The following morning, the parish rector concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with Protodeacons Pavel Wolkow and Eugene Kallaur.

It is with great joy that the editors announce that work on the frescoing of our Memorial-Church, which is being zealously carried out by Fr. Pavel Akmolin, a priest of the Diocese of Eastern America & New York, is continuing. The image of the final appearance of the Mother of God to St. Seraphim has been completed, and, as you can see, a sketch of an icon of the restoration of unity within the Russian Orthodox Church has been prepared. In the center of this icon is a table, on the left side of which His Eminence, the ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus is seated; and on the right side of which is His Holiness, Patriarch Alexis II. Behind them are clergy and the people of God. In the background the red walls of the Kremlin will appear, to show that the signing of the Act took place in Moscow. And beyond these walls Holy Trinity Monasery in Jordanville will be shown behind Metropolitan Laurus, and the Church of Christ the Savior behind Patriarch Alexis.

Why is this event to be depicted in this way? In general, no icon has as its objective the depiction of a particular event with chronological precision and the accurate setting forth of all the participants in the places they occupied. No icon represents a saint or an event with historical accuracy. An icon is a symbol, not a photograph, of its subject. Thus, the icon of the Baptism of Rus, which is located in our church above the vestibule, is a symbolic image of the conversion of Rus, utilizing several historical elements. For example, the Apostle Andrew the First-called is depicted with a cross, even though we are well aware that he was not (physically) present at this event. On the icon of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul is depicted sitting with the other eleven apostles, while it is a well-known fact that he was not present at that event.

Why then are these great and ever-memorable hierarchs sitting across from one another, and not side by side, as it was at the signing?

We all know very well that they were not seated in this way, but it was decided to depict them thus to show, by their figures bowing with heads inclined, their humble desire to forgive one another, to be reconciled with one another for the restoration of the fullness of fraternal unity within the one Russian Orthodox Church. Herein is contained the principal symbol of this icon (nevertheless, this is an icon, not a picture). Furthermore, they are, as it were, greeting one another in the center of this icon. Were they to be shown seated as they were beyond a table on the ambo, it would probably not be possible to make this a symbol of the reconciliation of both parts of the Russian Orthodox Church, even though such would be historically accurate.

If anyone wishes to make a donation toward the creation of this image in memory of those who overcame the division within the Church—His Holiness, Patriarch Alexis II and His Eminence, Metropolitan Laurus—or other departed servants of God, donations may be made toward this good undertaking through PayPal or by sending a check to St. Seraphim's Russian Orthodox Church, 131 Carpenter Ave., Sea Cliff, NY 11579.

On Sunday, February 10th , the feast of the Holy New-martyrs and Confessors of Russia, the clergy of the church celebrated the Divine Liturgy and a service of supplication to the saints, and on the eve, the all-night vigil.

On Thursday, February 14th, after the festal All-night Vigil, the clergy of St. Seraphim's Church celebrated a memorial service for Bishop Mitrofan (Znosko-Borovsky) of Boston (+2002), who reposed on the feast of the Meeting of the Lord. The following morning, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated, after which the Sisterhood provided a memorial meal.

On Saturday, February 16th, the feast of Sts. Symeon the God-receiver, Anna the prophetess and the holy hierarch Nicholas (Kasatkin), Archbishop of Japan (+1912), the parish rector celebrated the Divine Liturgy, assisted by Deacon Leonty Naidzions, a clergyman of Holy Protection Cathedral in Chicago. The same day, in the evening, the all-night vigil was served, after which a regular session of the Parish Council was held, at which a date was set for the annual parish assembly. Also discussed were the results of the working meeting of the parish wardens and his proposed construction and repair projects, as well as questions dealing with the preparations for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of our parish, which is scheduled for Saturday, October 12 of this year. In particular, the Parish Council approved the proposal of E. M. Miheyev and S. P. Shohov for the organization of a celebratory reception on the day of the anniversary at the Swan Club, a banquet hall located a short distance from the Sea Cliff coast. Fr. Seraphim reported to the members of the Council on those preparing a memorial coffee-table book and a short film with rare footage of St. John (Maximovich, +1966) and other prominent figures of the Russian Diaspora serving in our church, which, God willing, will be released in time for the celebration. The minutes of the previous session, which were read by F. G. Selinsky, were unanimously approved and signed.

On Sunday, February 17th, Zacchaeus Sunday, the parish rector celebrated the Divine Liturgy, assisted by Protodeacons Paul Volkov and Eugene Kallaur, and Deacon Leonty Naidzions, who is being prepared for ordination to the priesthood. At the end of the service, Fr. Seraphim addressed words of greeting to Fr. Leonty, wishng him God's help in his coming pastoral ministry to the Holy Church of Christ, and giving him gifts as a memento. Among these was a book on the life and legacy of Archpriest Seraphim Slobodskoy, signed by the latter's son, A. S. Slobodskoy, who sings in our parsh choir. Fr. Leonty is to be ordained on March 3, the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, at the Holy Protection Cathedral, in Chicago.

After the meal, which was prepared throught the efforts of L. V. Gurbeloshvili, the parish rector delivered the third part of his talk on the parish pilgrimage to the Holy Land, which took place in August of last year. During this, photos taken by pilgrims were shown by M. O. Slobodskoy. Because of the recent feast day of the Meeting of the Lord, photos were displayed of the Greek monsatery built on the site of the burial of the righteous Symeon the God-receiver, in Katamon, and an icon of that saint preserved in the main church of the monastery.

According to a Church tradition, Symeon the God-receiver was one of the seventy-two learned interperters and translators to whom Pharaoh Ptolemey II (285-247 B.C.) entrusted the task of translating the Sacred Scriptures from Hebrew into Greek (the Septuagint). When St. Symeon was translating the prophecy of Isaiah and read the words "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son" (Is. 7: 14), he assumed that this was a blatant error and that instead of "virgin","woman" ought to be written. He thus considered it his duty to correct the text. But the angel of the Lord stopped the hand of the holy Symeon and assured him that he would not die until he was convinced to the truth of Isaiah's prophecy.

According to another tradition, Symeon returned from Egypt to Jerusalem and cast his ring into the river, saying: "If I find it again, I can believe the utterance of the prophet to be literal." The follownig day, in a certain village, he purchased a fish; and when he began to eat it, he found his ring inside it.

When they brought our Lord Jesus Christ to the temple on the fortieth day after His birth, the Holy Spirit brought the righetous Symeon there too. The elder recognized in the babe the long-awaited Messiah, and taking him in his arms, said: "Now lettest Thou Thy servand depart, O Master!"

In the aforementioned monastery there is an icon on which these events from the life of the righeous Symeon are depicted, and pictures of this icon were shown during the course of the presentation.

Later, Fr. Seraphim spoke about Cana and other holy sites of Galilee which the pilgrims were fortunate enough to visit.

On Wednesday, August 1st, the feast-day of St. Seraphim of Sarov, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, celebrated the Liturgy at the Church of St. Seraphim, in Sea Cliff, Bishops John of Caracas & South America and George of Mayfield, vicar bishop of the Diocese of Eastern America, concelebrating, as well as a large number of clergymen. Glory to God, despite the fact that it was a weekday, the celebration was quite solemn and well attended. In the middle of the memorial church, two holy objects were placed: the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, the Directress of the Russian Diaspora, before which St. Seraphim was granted healing when he was a boy, and a pre-Revolutionary image of the church's heavenly patron, containing portions of his holy relics. At the appropriate moment during the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence ordained to the holy priesthood Protodeacon Nicholas Olkhovsky, the guardian of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God.

During the communing of the clergy, the parish choir, under the direction of Nichols Miro, and following the words of St. Seraphim, "chanted Pascha in the midst of summer," triumphantly and joyously singing all manner of paschal compositions by Russian composers and the chants of Russian monasteries.

At "Blessed be the name of the Lord", His Eminence, Vladyka Hilarion, addressed the congregation with words of greeting and edification.

After the conclusion of the service of supplication, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion performed the consecration of the restored iconostasis, and before the kissing of the Cross presented the parish rector with a special gramota, conferring upon St. Seraphim's Church the status of a memorial church commemorating the re-establishment of unity within the Russian Orthodox Church.

"To the Rector, Clergy, Parishioners, & Those Who Pray in the St. Seraphim Church in Sea Cliff, New York

"In accordance with the decision of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad, and at the suggestion of the Working Group Dealing with Questions of the Strengthening of Church Unity, the Church of St. Seraphim, in Sea Cliff, New York, is confirmed as the memorial-church commemorating the re-establishment of the fullness of fraternal unity within the Russian Orthodox Church. May this church, and its unique frescoes, which are gradually being executed with the assistance of good people, be an everlasting witness to our Orthodoxy and Russianness, that both may grow and flourish indivisibly among future generations of the Russian Diaspora! Let this church become a place for the prayerful commemoration of those who have advanced church unity and those who have preserved and increased the spiritual treasures and ideals of Holy Russia under the difficult conditions of the emigration!

"In witness thereof this gramota is issued. Signed by us and confirmed with the seal of the Synod in the divinely saved city of New York. 1 August 2012.

"+Hilarion,

"Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York,

"First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad."

For a recording of the Liturgy and His Eminence's sermon click here; for photos of the celebration, click here. For a video of the celebration with interviews of clergy by the Media Office of the Eastern American Dioscese, click here.

After the kissing of the Cross, the parish sisterhood served a festal meal in the "Sans Souci" Hall on the coast at Sea Cliff. There, the parish rector addressed the assembled hierarchs, clergy and numerous attendees, saying, inter alia, the following:

"Your Eminence, Most Reverend Master! Your Graces! Reverend concelebrants, brethren, sisters and children, beloved in the Lord!

 "I thank His Eminence, Vladyka Hilarion, sincerely for presiding today over our church-wide prayer and the glorification of the memory of St. Seraphim, for the trust which was expressed in the decision of the Synod of Bishops confirming St. Seraphim's Church as the church-memorial to the re-establishment of unity within the Russian Orthodox church. This is a great honor, of course; yet it is also a huge responsibility, which calls us to be an example of peace and unity in our mutual relations, in our service to God and man in this place, with the reverent preservation of the memory of those who overcame the lengthy division within our dear Mother, the Russian Orthodox Church. I thank also the assembled archpastors, pastors and deacons for their participation in today's celebration.

"I am deeply obliged to the parish council; to Protodeacon Paul Volkov; to all the members of the warden's staff, for their extraordinary labors in carrying out essential repairs in advance of the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of our Sea Cliff parish;, to the most pious Deacon Eugene Kallaur and his wonderful wife and children; to the altar-servers, headed by Ivan Andreevich Makarov; to Nicholas Miro, Alexis Slobodskoi and all the singers, who by their inspiring hymnody always dispose to prayer, comfort, move to compunction and gladden those who hear them; to Elizabeth Mikheeva and the sisterhood, who work for the majesty of the House of God with fervor and zeal, who organize the meals with which they fortify our weakened powers after lengthy divine services, and who also organize the charitable endeavors that aid all our beloved parishioners and attendees, and who for me personally are a good example of prayer, dutifulness and the Christian life.

"With a full heart I congratulate the newly-ordained Priest Nicholas Olkhovsky. Today, the words that my grandfather, Protopreist Rostislav Gan, wrote in his diary, and which strengthened me greatly in the early days of my priesthood, come unbidden to me: "At confession, it is essential to hear a person out to the end, and afterwards to try to say some words of edification, support and comfort." May the Lord, the Chief Shepherd, help you to bear this cross, to tolerate with patience the weaknesses and sorrows of all, in benevolent, compassionate and prayerful service of the people of God. It is just such a ministry that I wish for you with all my soul. May the all-pure Mistress Theotokos, our Directress, guide you on this path of service through her wonderworking Kursk-Root Icon. As a reminder of your ordination I present to you as a modest gift the vestments in which you have now been accounted worthy to receive the fiery grace of the priesthood, and I ask that you pray for me, a sinner.

"To mark this day, which is unspeakably holy for us, I wish to present to the St. Seraphim parish, on behalf of my family, this photograph of His Holiness, Patriarch Alexis, and Metropolitan Laurus, with the gold medal which was struck at the time of the signing of the Act of Canonical Unity, in Moscow in 2007, and which my brother, Protodeacon Vadim Gan, is holding. Five years ago, our late father, a faithful child of the Church of Russia, framed this photograph and medal, so as to cherish in his own home the memory of this great event in the recent period of our Church's history. And so, on the fifth anniversary of the re-establishment of unity, on the occasion of our church's receiving the status of a memorial-church, and in memory of Seraphim Serafimovich Gan, whom, as Fr. Nicholas knows, Vladyka Laurus loved to call "a big deal", I ask Elizabeth Mkhailovna to accept this gift and to take care to find for it a worthy place in our parish hall.

"With all my soul I ask forgiveness for all the problems in the parish's life which I must direct, for all of our inadequacies, for all—alas—that needs correction. But I thank everyone for putting up with me, for the fact that, despite the obvious shortcomings and weaknesses of your rector, you still labor for your parish, for the present and future of our church.

"Yet let us remember that the Lord and the people expect from us great self-sacrifice. In what? Of what sort? This we must constantly ponder as we prepare for our sixtieth anniversary. I think that the Lord expects from us renewal and the mystical powers for this renewal—'grace upon grace', as the Evangelist John writes, which are given in abundance by the resurrected Christ unto those who believe (Jn. 1: 14-16). A church's patronal feast is like Pascha; and the approaching celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of our parish likewise summons us to the renewal of our feelings and activity. On Great Saturday we hear in the reading of the epistle the very same words about the renewal of our whole life which are read at the Mystery of Baptism: " For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His [Christ's] death [i.e., if we desire to kill sin within ourselves], we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection" (Rom. 6: 5). May our common faith, hope and striving towards God serve as a surety that all of us together will begin and continue "to walk in renewal of life" (Rom. 6: 4). Amen."

Afterwards, His Eminence presented gramotas to G. F. Selinsky and V. V. Sushko, expressing his archpastoral gratitude for their fervent labors.

We want the St. Seraphim parish in Sea Cliff as quickly as possible to finish all the necessary repairs and renovations, to complete successfully the unique plan of frescoing of the walls, dedicated to the re-establishment of unity within the Russian Orthodox Church, and the solemn celebration of its approaching sixtieth anniversary. May it show itself to be a mighty event, "a strange and all-glorious mystery" (Christmas canon), both in the life of the parish and in the hearts of its parishioners.

On Tuesday, July 31st, Bishop John of Caracas & Venezuela celebrated the all-night vigil with the akathist hymn to St. Seraphim, on the occasion of the patronal feast. After the divine services a meal was served in the rector's quarters for many guests, parishioners and visitors.

June 19, 2012 The Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad has selected our parish to be an official honorary temple in memory of the reestablishment of canonical unity within the Russian Orthodox Church. A special proclamation to this effect will be granted to our parishioners and clergy on Wednesday, August 1st, our parish feast day. The frescoes, already in progress, illustrate the millennial path of Russian Christianity, from the Baptism of Rus in 988, up to and including the Act of Canonical Communion in 2007. Among those depicted will be Apostle Andrew the First Called, Sts. Vladimir and Olga, Equal to the Apostles, Martyr Patriarch Tikhon, and the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, along with various holy sites of significance to the fatherland and diaspora.

Sunday, January 15th On the winter feast of St. Seraphim of Sarov, the parish’s minor patronal feast day, His Grace Jerome, the Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop of Manhattan, co-served the Divine Liturgy with the parish rector Archpriest Serafim Gan, Protodeacon Paul Wolkow, Deacon Eugene Kallaur, and Deacon Nathan Mousselli (a cleric of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign). The parish choir festively sang under the direction of N.M. Miro. During the Small Entrance, Bishop Jerome presented Fr. Serafim with a jeweled cross in recognition of his selfless service to Christ’s Holy Church, on behalf of the Synod of Bishops.

Upon completion of the divine services, a molieben was served before the parish’s icon of St. Seraphim with his relics, after which Bishop Jerome blessed the newly completed iconography inside of the church’s dome. With the blessing of the President of the Synod of Bishops, Bishop Jerome presented parishioners M.S. and A.N. Ryl with the Synodal Order of the Sign, Second Class, in recognition of their years of service to the parish.

Sunday, August 7th, solemn services for the approaching feast day of St. Panteleimon were headed by Protopriest Serafim Gan along with Protodeacon Paul Wolkow and Deacon Eugene Kallaur at the St. Panteleimon chapel in Kittatiny, New York (built by the parish warden, Michael Ryl). Natalia Zhenilova led the prayerful choir. After Divine Liturgy and a moleben to Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon, an abundant trapeza feast at the summer home of Mr Ryl was offered.

Monday, August 1st, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in St. Seraphim's Church in Sea Cliff, NY, in honor of the parish feast day (the uncovering of St. Seraphim's relics). His Eminence was joined by a multitude of clergy. The miraculous Kursk Icon of the Root and the Pochaev Icon of the Holy Theotokos were present for veneration. Many faithful attended despite the working day.

Sunday, June 26th, the second Sunday of Pentecost and the feast day of All Russian Saints, our parish clergymen, protodeacon Pavel Wolkow and deacon Eugene Kallaur, celebrated Divine Liturgy at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign in New York. 

After Liturgy, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia,  announced that the very devoted and pious Archdeacon Eugene Burbelo, having served under the Primates of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia over the course of 56 years, had submitted a request to retire. The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad expressed the profound gratitude of the hierarchy to Fr. Eugene and invoked Divine blessings upon him, then gave him a parting gift.


Saturday, June 25th was the feast day of St Onouphry the Great, when our parish prayerfully marked the 75th anniversary of the priestly ordination of the late Bishop Mitrophan (Znosko-Borovsky). Divine Liturgy was served along with a commemorative litiya.

April 17th: The Palm Sunday sermon is available with English subtitles below:

 March 13th on the Feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, new frescoes of The Ascension of our Lord, dedicated to the Act of the Reconciliation of The Russian Orthodox Church in 2007, were blessed by Father Serafim after the Divine Liturgy.

On January 23rd, the Sunday after the Epiphany and the feast day of St Theophan the Recluse, Bishop John celebrated Divine Liturgy at St Seraphim Church in Sea Cliff, NY, along with Protopriest Michael Boikov, who is temporarily replacing the Parish Rector, along with Protodeacon Paul Wolkow and Deacon Eugene Kallaur.  

After the parish trapeza, bidding goodbye to and laying a blessing upon the clergymen and parishioners, Vladyka John left for Moscow to participate in a meeting of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, devoted to the second anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. (source: www.rocor.org)

Saturday, January 8th and Sunday, January 9th, Deacon Nikolai Olhovsky served the All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy together with Deacon Eugene Kallaur, with Fr. Seraphim Gan officiating. Protodeacon Pavel Wolkow participated in services at the cathedrals of Bishop Peter of Cleveland, Administrator of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America, and Bishop Longine of Novogracanica and Mid-Western America (Serbian Orthodox Church).

Friday, January 7th, our parish celebrated the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord. Deacon Nikolai Olhovsky served together with Deacon Eugene Kallaur, with Fr. Seraphim Gan officiating. Please see our pictures and video clips from the All-Night Vigil in our multimedia section.

The Rector of our Parish wishes all of our Parishioners and Site Visitors a Merry Christmas, full of inner spiritual strength, physical strength, and peace!

Saturday, October 30th, the miraculous Iveron Icon of the Mother of God from Hawaii visited our parish.

On October 5, 2010, the first joint meeting of the Commissions of the Orthodox Church in America and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia was held at our parish.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010, our parish mourned the loss of Elizabeth Panteleimonovna Olhovsky, a long-time parishioner at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, granddaughter of Bishop Mitrophan (Znosko-Borovsky, +2002) of blessed memory, and wife of Deacon Nicholas Olhovsky, a cleric of Holy Trinity Monastery and a member of the Administrative Staff of the Synod of Bishops.

We express our deepest condolences to Deacon Nicholas, Elizabeth’s mother Mrs. Anna Shohov, and her entire family. May the Lord grant peace to her soul in the abodes of the righteous!

Below is a video, where a farewell letter left by one of Elizabeth's co-workers is read aloud by one of our parishioners (in English):

On August 30th, his Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah of America and Canada of the Orthodox Church in America, Metropolitan Ilarion and Metropolitan Hilarion visited St Seraphim Church in Sea Cliff, NY, where they venerated its holy icons and relics and reviewed the ongoing fresco work commemorating the many centuries of the history of the Russian Orthodox Church and the reestablishment of its unity. At the trapeza dinner that followed, Metropolitan Jonah and the other hierarchs discussed matters of the Church in the USA. Also participating were Protopriest Alexander Garklavs, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America; Protopriest Leonid Kishkovsky, Head of External Relations for the OCA, and Fr Serafim, Chancellor of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and Personal Secretary of the First Hierarch of ROCOR.

On August 1, 2010, the feast day of St Seraphim of Sarov the Miracle-worker, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, officiated at Divine Liturgy at St Seraphim Church in Sea Cliff, NY. He was joined by Protopriest George Larin, Rector of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY; Protopriest Michael Boikov of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand; Protopriest Serafim Gan, Synodal Chancellor, Personal Secretary of the First Hierarch and Rector of St Seraphim Church; Priest Alexandre Antchoutine, Rector of neighboring Intercession Church in Glen Cove, NY; along with Protodeacon Joseph Jarostchuk, Protodeacon Paul Wolkow and Protopriest Vadim Gan of Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in Chicago, IL; Deacon Nicholas Olhovsky and Deacon Eugene Kallaur, Hierodeacon Anatoly (Zilin) and Deacon Nicholas Kostur of Novo-Gracanica Metropoliate of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Joining them for the moleben and a procession of the cross were Mitred Protopriest Alexey Ohotin, Dean of the First Deanery of the Eastern American Diocese; Protopriest Andrei Sommer, Senior Priest of the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign, and Hegumen Nestor from St Petersburg, the old northern Russian capital.

At the beginning of divine services, His Eminence ordained long-time altar boy at St Seraphim Church Ivan Makarov as a reader. During the minor entrance of Divine Liturgy, His Eminence awarded the palitsa to Fr Serafim.Especially impressive during this Liturgy were the singing of the Cherubic Hymn by Muzicescu, Mercy of Peace by Sokolov and the paschal songs during the vesting of the Primate and before Communion.

After the singing of May the Name of the Lord, Vladyka Hilarion read a sermon of greeting and edification.After the moleben and procession of the cross around the memorial church, His Eminence consecrated the interior fresco in the altar. This fresco series will depict the many centuries of history of the Russian Orthodox Church and the reestablishment of the Divinely-directed unity and fullness of brotherly communion in May 2007.

At the end of divine services, the Primate of the Russian Church Abroad, on behalf of Archbishop German of Kursk and Ryl’sk, awarded Protopriest Serafim the Diocesan First Order Medal of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God for heading the organizing committee which brought that Icon to Russia. He then awarded gramatas [decrees of blessing] from the President of the Synod of Bishops to the newly-ordained Reader Ivan Makarov and to Parish Treasurer IG Kwartiroff. This medal had earlier been awarded by Archbishop German to His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany and other members of the organizing committee: Priest Alexandre and Deacon Nicholas, Assistant to the Chancellor of the Synod of Bishops.

After the kissing of the cross, the Parish Sisterhood hosted a splendid reception in honor of the Parish feast day, during which many warm speeches and greetings were made.Afterwards, His Eminence Vladyka Hilarion visited Protopriest Leonid Kishkovsky, Rector of Kazan Mother of God Church in Sea Cliff of the Orthodox Church in America.

The following morning, the feast day of Prophet Elias and Holy Martyr Athanasius, Hegumen of Brest, a ktitorskaya Liturgy [performed on the day after a church’s feast day—transl.] was celebrated at St Seraphim Church. Commemorated at this service were “all reposed rectors, builders, benefactors, adorners, parishioners and worshipers of this holy church” as well as the newly-reposed father of the Parish Rector on the ninth day of his death, which had occurred on July 25.

During these celebrations, the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, the Protectress of the Russian diaspora, was in the church. St Seraphim of Sarov, the Parish’s heavenly intercessor, had as a youth been miraculously healed after praying before the Icon.

During these services, George Selinsky, at one time the official photographer of Metropolitan Laurus of blessed memory during his official visits, organized live streaming online video of the celebrations at St Seraphim Church.

Source: www.rocor.org

May 23rd, our parish celebrated Holy Pentecost.


April 18th, our parish celebrated our sisterhood with a festive barbeque.

April 8th, our rector met with Bishop of Naro-Fominsk Justian, who is now presiding over the parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in the United States.

Please see excerpts from our Easter Services in our videos page, and pictures in our photo album.

An excerpt from our Easter Vespers:

Please see the clip from our Palm Sunday service below:

March 21st After the Divine Liturgy, the annual meeting of the general parish assembly was held.

Please see below a fragment from our Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts (Let My Prayer be Right):

Please see our instructional for how to bake the prosphora.


February 26th funeral services were held for Mrs. Aleftina Mohov, a long time parishioner who had reposed in the Lord.

February 21st the "Triumph of Orthodoxy" was celebrated. During the service, Metropolitan Laurus of Blessed Memory was commemorated, who passed away during this feast two years ago. After the service, the sisterhood held a meeting where preparations for the Easter celebrations were discussed. Those wishing to help are asked to speak to the elder sister, Mrs. Alla Ryl, or to her assistants.

February 19th our parish celebrated the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified gifts, which will be served several more times throughout the course of Great Lent.


 

 

On January 18th and 19th, our parish celebrated the feast of Theophany (please view the video clip above, and pictures here).

 On January 17th, our parish successfully raised funds for the Orthodox mission in Haiti.

On January 15th, our parish was visited by the miraculous Kursk Icon of the Mother of God. Pictures are available here.

On January 8th, the second day of the Nativity of Christ, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, celebrated Divine Liturgy at St Seraphim Church in Sea Cliff, NY. He was joined by its Rector, Protopriest Serafim Gan, Chancellor of the Synod of Bishops and Personal Secretary of the First Hierarch; Protodeacon Paul Wolkow; Deacon Nicholas Olhovsky, Assistant to the Chancellor; and Deacon Eugene Kallaur, Synodal Archivist.

Also praying at the service were Protopriest Leonid Kishkovsky, Rector of neighboring Kazan Church and Deputy Director of the Department of External Church Relations of the Orthodox Church in America, and Priest Alexandre Antchoutine, Rector of Intercession Church in nearby Glen Cove, NY. The parish choir sang joyfully under the direction of Nicholas Miro. During the pre-Communion sticherion, the Rector read the Nativity Epistle of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

At the end of Liturgy, His Eminence Vladyka addressed the worshipers, after which he performed a funerary litiya at the coffin of the late Dr Panteleimon Leonidovich Shohov, one of the founders of the parish and an important leader of the Russian diaspora. He had always fervently supported Russian Orthodoxy, including the reestablishment of unity within the Local Russian Orthodox Church. (Readers can hear the Divine Liturgy in the audio section.)

During the trapeza that followed, Fr Serafim and Fr Leonid greeted those in attendance. In his speech, Fr Serafim congratulated Vladyka Hilarion on the continuing celebration of the Nativity of Christ, and his recent birthday. Fr Serafim asked His Eminence to pray for the parishioners of St Serafim Church, so that they may always please His Eminence and the Church of Christ. Despite the fact that many are departing to the next world, such as Panteleimon Leonidovich, people who labored to preserve Russia outside her borders, we believe and hope that the Lord helps us emulate our predecessors, the founders of the Russian Church Abroad, and zealots of Holy Russia who live abroad. This is, after all, our calling, noted the Parish Rector, and our prayers for this ideal must not cease. The parish choir then sang carols and other songs celebrating the Nativity of Christ.

The funeral of Panteleimon Leonidovich was performed later that evening at St Seraphim Church, with the burial taking place the next day at the cemetery of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY.  

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

 

The editorial staff extends Nativity Greetings to all its parishioners and worshippers at St. Seraphim’s Parish, and to all the visitors of our website, wishing all a joyous Christmas. May the light from the star of Bethlehem light our homes, our workplace, our souls, our parish. Through good deeds and words may this light, in concert with God's grace, warm us in the New Year!

December 18th: On the day of Saint Nicholas, protodeacon Paul Wolkow participated in divine services presided by Bishop Longin (Serbian Orthodox Church) who served a hierarchal Liturgy in the New Gracanica Monastery (Chicago) along with a number of Serbian and Russian clergy. On that day, the Bishop ordained Nikolaj Kostur into the rank of a deacon. Nikolaj is a graduate of the Holy Trinity Seminary and of Saint Vladimir's Seminary. We wish deacon Nikolaj and his wife Katherine Kostur (Wolkow) many fruitful years of service to Christ’s church.

After the Liturgy a festive lunch followed in honor of the Bishop's Slava and of Deacon Nikolaj's ordination.

Source: www.newgracanica.com

AN APPEAL FROM THE RECTOR

Dear Beloved in the Lord Brothers and Sisters!

Iconography in our parish altarOn May 17th, 2007, the day of the Ascension of the Lord, the historical Act of Canonical Communion between the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Moscow Patriarchate was signed in Moscow by His Holiness Patriarch Alexii II of Moscow and All Russia and His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, of blessed memories. 

With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, we have begun a unique iconography project to adorn the walls of St. Seraphim's Church. With this, we hope our church shall become a worthy commemorative monument dedicated to the millennial path of the Russian Orthodox Church, from the baptism of Russia to the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion, reuniting the two parts of the Russian Church. 

Our parish was a favorite place of worship and serving divine services by blessed Metropolitan Anastasii (Gribanovsky; +1965) and His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, of blessed memories. Saint John Maximovich of Shanghi, whose relic is kept in our church, had also served numerous Divine Liturgies. Archbishop Averky (Taushev), in the autumn of 1953 along with then hierodeacon Laurus, blessed the foundation of our church, and then performed the Great Consecration (with hieromonk Laurus participating). He was referred to as the “godparent” of the Russian church in Sea Cliff. For many years Father Mitrofan Znosko-Borovsky (+ 2002) resided here as parish rector, who later became the bishop of Boston.

On August 1, 2009, His Eminence blessed the newly completed fresco before the altar (please see the picture above). We are now beginning to adorn the walls of the altar which will depict:

Saint Seraphim of Sarov – our patron saint;

Saint Mitrofan, Bishop of Voronezh – in memory of our long time rector Bishop Mitrofan of Boston, who always supported the idea of reconciliation;

Saint Alexei, Metropolitan of Moscow and all Russia – in memory of His Holiness Patriarch Alexeii II;

Saint John, Bishop of Shanghai and San Francisco, whose holiness had touched not only North America, but also three centers of Russian emigration: Belgrade, Shanghai-Harbin and Paris, and whose sober views helped many of those who doubted the benefits of the act of reconciliatory unity, to reexamine their personal view points towards the Moscow Patriarchate and other Orthodox Churches;

Saint Anthony the Roman – in memory of Blessed Metropolitan Anthony (Hrapovitski; +1936) and Archbishop Anthony (Medvedev) of Western America and San Francisco;

Holy martyr Laurus – in memory of His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus;

Holy martyr Athanasii – Abbott of Brest, a most venerated saint of our parish;

Saint Onufri the Great – on whose day of memory Bishop Mitrofan was ordained a priest.

The Mother of God of the Sign will be depicted in the alter apse as the Protectress of Russians abroad. Upon the altar ceiling above the iconostasis the Ascension of Our Lord will be depicted, as on this feast day the Act of Canonical Reconciliation was signed. In the main part of the church – from the main entrance to the cupola – there will be a depiction of the Millenium of Russian Orthodoxy: from the Baptism of Russia up to and ending with the signing of the Act of Reconciliation in Moscow.

Also featured will be: Saint Apostle Andrew (in memory of Andrew Gevorgian, killed in the Lockerbie terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 107), Equal to the Apostles Vladimir and Olga, the Holy Kiev and Moscow saints, the saints of the synodal period, his Holiness Patriarch Tikhon, the Holy New martyrs and Confessors of Russia, and the saints of Russian Orthodoxy Abroad. 

All of these saints will be depicted in a historical context, featuring churches and holy sites in Russia and Abroad.

It is towards the continued success of the above project that I call upon all of you whose hearts and souls burn with love and fervor toward the Russian Orthodox church, toward the glorious pages of its history, toward the many burdens of its peoples, toward her culture, to answer the call of this worthy project by donating funds. The approximate cost of a square foot of fresco in the church is $150 US dollars. The names of all the donating participants along with their living and deceased relatives will be entered into a special commemorative book. All donors will be kept regularly updated as work progresses.

May this fresco be an everlasting witness to our Orthodoxy and Russian culture, so that both would grow inseparably within our future generations abroad. May this church become a place of prayerful commemoration of all those who kept and multiplied the spiritual treasures and sacred Russian Orthodox ideals, while living through difficult times abroad. 

With Love in the Lord, asking for your prayers,


Archpriest Serafim Gan

Archpriest Serafim Gan, parish rector.

 

On Sunday, November 22, 2009, at 5 pm, at Intercession Parish Hall in Glen Cove, NY, a presentation was made on the historic visit of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God to Russia. Members of the Synodal delegation Protopriest Serafim Gan, Rector of St Seraphim Church in Sea Cliff; Protopriest George Zelenin, Rector of Archangel Michael Church in Paterson, NJ; and Priest Alexandre Antchoutine, Rector of Intercession Church, told of the preparations for this historic visit, the meetings, the holy sites visited and the veneration of the icon by the faithful. Deacon Eugene Kallaur, Archivist of the Synod of Bishops and clergyman of St Seraphim Church, made a presentation of photographs and videos of the event. Protopriest Leonid Kishkovsky, Rector of Kazan Icon of the Mother of God Church in Sea Cliff (OCA) and the parishioners of the three parishes were in attendance. 

At the end of the event, it was announced that next year, the Kursk-Root Icon may visit Kiev and Kursk. This will be arranged by clerics of the German Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia headed by His Eminence Archbishop Mark (www.rocor.org).

 October 22nd By the Blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, St. Seraphim’s rector and clergy participated in the divine liturgy at Our Lady of Kazan Church in Sea Cliff, celebrating the parish feast day. His Beatitude the Most Blessed Jonah Archbishop of Washington Metropolitan of All America and Canada presided along with parish rector Archpriest Leonid Kishkovsky and other guest clergy. During the liturgy, priest John Bartholomew was elevated to the rank of Archpriest. His Beatitude awarded rector Archpriest Leonid Kishkovsky the Silver Medal Cross of St Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomensk, for 40 years of pastoral service. Matushka Alexandra was also recognized as a devoted wife and hard working supporter of her husband in his pastoral deeds. During the luncheon, St. Seraphim’s clergy received blessings from his Beatitude and congratulated him with his 50th Birthday. A letter from his Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion was handed to His Beatitude at this time. After the luncheon guest clergy were invited to visit St. Seraphim’s church. See photos here.

October 18th, The Feast of the First Moscow Hierarchs Divine Liturgy was served after which Father Serafim said a sermon on the Sacrament of Communion. Despite the poor weather, a successful Octoberfest luncheon was held thanks to our hard working sisterhood. God Bless!

October 11th, After Divine Liturgy Father Serafim congratulated Nicholas and Marina Miro along with Peter and Sofia Jarostchuk with their Silver Wedding Anniversaries. Both couples received commemorative gifts from the parish after which Many Years were sung to the anniversary and names day celebrants. Congratulatory wishes were also extended to church warden Michael and Alla Ryl who had also celebrated their Silver Anniversary a week prior. We wish them all Good Health and Divine Blessings.

October 4th, On the Apodosis of the Exaltation of the Cross and Uncovering of the Relics of St. Demetrius, Metropolitan of Rostov, our parish rector and clergy served Divine Liturgy. Father Serafim’s homily reflected the teachings that we all have a cross to bear, whether through illness or failures in life, personal strife amongst ourselves, or the loss of a loved one. Each one of us has to endure this cross with a patient sufferance, remembering our Divine Cross bearer. During lunch Father Serafim spoke about the historic trip of The ROCOR Delegates and the Kursk-Root Icon of The Mother of God, to Russia. Upon completion of the discussion the remaining parishioners and worshippers greeted the Kursk Icon of the Root upon its arrival and a moleben was served. Afterwards Father Serafim left with the Icon to California where She will be for the next 2 months.


September 20-21st The Feast of the Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. Our parish was visited by the Myrrh Streaming icon from Russia “Softening of evil Hearts”, which was visiting the ROCOR parishes. Divine Liturgy was served by priest Michael Vladimirov, visiting clergy and a multitude of worshippers. We thank Our Lord that He continues to bless our parish by the Grace of His Heavenly Mother and Her Icon.

September 6th Clergy and parishioners travelled to the Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York, where a new tombstone was blessed in the monastery cemetery for Bishop Mitrofan (Znosko-Borovsky), who reposed in 2002. 

August 28th The Feast of the Dormition marked the first day for our newest altar boy 6 year old Dimitri Makarow, who began serving on his birthday.

On Friday, August 21, the miraculous "Hawaiian" myrrh-streaming Iveron icon of the Mother of God visited the Holy Virgin Protection Parish in Nyack, New York. The icon is a replica of the Iveron Icon that Brother Jose Munoz-Cortes received on Mount Athos, which became a myrrh-streaming as well as healing icon. Brother Jose traveled to many Orthodox parishes with the "Montreal" Iveron Icon of the Theotokos until his martyrdom in Greece in 1997. With his death, the miraculous Icon disappeared. With reverence and faith toward the Mother of God, many copies of the icon were printed.

The "Hawaiian" icon was printed in Russia by Sofrino - a large producer of Orthodox icons, vestments, church articles, and other clerical items. The icon, laminated on a wooden backing, was given by rector Priest Anatole Lyovin to his Reader Nectarios of the Orthodox Church in Honolulu, which incidentally was named in honor of the original Iveron Icon of Montreal.

With the blessing of Archbishop Kirill of San Francisco, and with a ukase from the Synod of ROCOR, Reader Nectarios travels to all ROCOR, OCA, Greek, Serbian, and Antiochan Orthodox Churches with the myrrh-streaming icon. The icon was greeted by the rector, Mitred Archpriest George Larin, and hundreds of faithful who filled the church to capacity for an akathist and moleben to the Holy Virgin. The rector was co-served by Archpriest Alexander Donchenko (Poughkeepsie, NY), Protodeacon Pavel Wolkow (Sea Cliff, NY), Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky (Novo-Diveevo, NY) and Deacon Nathan Mousselli (Lakewood, NJ). (www.eadiocese.org)

On Saturday, August 1, on the feast of the Finding of the Relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in St. Seraphim's Church in Sea Cliff, NY, in honor of the parish feast day. His Eminence was co-served by a multitude of clergy in the presence of many faithful. After the Divine Liturgy, a procession around the church was held, after which His Eminence blessed a new icon on the high place of the altar. This icon is the first of many which will adorn the walls of St. Seraphim's Church as part of a unique iconography project, dedicated to the millennial path of the Russian Orthodox Church, from the baptism of Russia to the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion, which reunited the two parts of the Russian Church. A gramota from the Metropolitan was then awarded to the parish sisterhood, led by head sister A.N. Ryl, for their zealous work in the Holy Church. A plentiful luncheon was held on the parish grounds, during which congratulatory remarks were offered to the parish and its rector, Archpriest Serafim Gan, who is celebrating his namesday today. Pictures can be seen here. (www.eadiocese.org)

The editorial staff of our parish website extends whole hearted greetings to our clergy, altar servers, council members and sisterhood, choir members, parishioners and all worshippers at our Saint Seraphims parish in Sea Cliff and all visitors of our website with the Great and Joyous Feast of Holy Pascha! CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

Metropolitan Hilarion reading the canon.

March 3rd His eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, visited our parish and served the great compline with the reading of the Canon of St Andrew.

February 21st-22nd The Holy Kursk-Root Icon of Our Lady of the Sign was present during divine services. Sunday evening, a delegation headed by Hegumen Veniamin (Korolev), Prior of the city of Kursk’s Korennaya Pustyn, arrived to New York and went directly to our parish from JFK airport. The Parish Warden, Michael Ryl, met the delegation at the entrance to the church. The delegation prayed here before the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God and the holy icons of St Seraphim church. A reception was then given in honor of the guests, during which greetings and gifts were exchanged.  

Bishop JeromeFebruary 15th The Presentation of Our Lord. Divine Liturgy was presided by His Grace Bishop Jerome of Manhattan.

February 12th Our rector and parish clergy participated in the divine liturgy and holiday festivities of The Three Hierarchs Church in Garfield, NJ, with rector and Archpriest George Konev presiding. (see their website)

January 27th His Eminence Kyrill, Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, is elected as the new Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. On this day of the feast day of Saint Nina Equal-to-the-Apostles, Enlightener of the Georgians, Father Seraphim and clergy participated in the divine liturgy at the St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Elizabeth, New Jersey (which commemorates St. Sava of Serbia). Protopriests Lubomir Milosevic, Sergei Lukianov, and deacon Leonid Rozhkov conserved with St. George’s church rector Priest Zoran Radovic.

January 25th Divine Liturgy was presided by Hieromonk Joasaph (MacLellan) who was recently appointed by the Synod of Bishops as the Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, will assume his duties and will be based at the Ascension Convent on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

January 18th - 19th Epiphany services were joyously celebrated.

January 15th The Winter feast of Saint Seraphim of Sarov was celebrated with a , divine liturgy. Conserving with our rector and clergy were Protopriest Sergii Lukianov, hieromonk Evtihii (Dovganuk) and deacon Leonid Rozhkov. Father Alexander Antouchine was also present in the Alter. Protopriest Elias Gorsky participated in vesper services on the feast day eve.

January 7th, Christmas Day Festive divine services were held in our parish by our rector Protopriest Serafim Gan along with other clergy and Protodeacon Pavel Wolkow, Deacons Nicholas Olhovsky and Eugene Kallaur, supported by our choir under the direction of Nicholas Miro. See photos here. Listen to the audio here.

Met. HillarionOn Saturday, December 6, 2008, the feast day of St Mitrophan of Voronezh, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion celebrated Divine Liturgy at St Seraphim Church in Sea Cliff, NY, during which he commemorated the late Patriarch Alexy and Bishop Mitrophan, the long-time rector of the church. During the minor entrance at Divine Liturgy, His Eminence awarded the kamilavka to Protodeacon Paul Wolkoff and the double orarion to Deacon Eugene Kallaur. At the end of Liturgy, His Eminence gave a sermon during which said, in part:

“Reverend fathers, dear in the Lord brothers, sisters and children! Today we gathered to pray for the repose of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy and His Grace Bishop Mitrophan, the long-time rector of this church. One served God and mankind in the Fatherland, helping the rebirth of spirituality and restoring the Russian Orthodox Church, which had suffered grievously during the period of godless persecutions. The other labored for the preservation and growth of the great legacy that has been handed down to us, to return it one day to Russia when she would be emancipated from the atheistic regime.

“We know that the entire course of his life as Patriarch of Russia, and the lifetime of service of Vladyka Mitrophan, everything we saw in them bore witness to spiritual podvig and to the internal, blessed state which a person acquires when he firmly believes in God, when he forgets himself, when he belongs entirely to the One he serves and that for which he labors. Their humility and grand strictness, their patience and measured nature, were the foundation and the fruit of spiritual life. They keenly sensed the will of God in their souls. I believe that in all things they feared disturbing spiritual peace in which God is revealed. They moved onto the heavenly abode from our tempestuous world, a world in which they preserved undisturbed peace.

Metropolitan Hillarion and the priests concelebrating the divine liturgy.“The years of the patriarchal service of His Holiness Alexy was a period of establishing ecclesiastical peace. His love and wisdom, the humility and podvig of His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus once again united the two parts of the Russian Orthodox Church in love, for which Bishop Mitrophan prayed and dreamed before dying in 2002. “Praying for the souls of the reposed, we also address them with the words: ‘I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me’ (2 Kings 2:9). Amen.

Protopriest Serafim Gan, the Parish Rector, greeted the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, stressing that “the clergy and flock of the Church, raising our prayers today for the repose of the souls of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy and Bishop Mitrophan, also prayed that the Lord erect new pillars for us such as they were.” The Rector then recounted one of his conversations with the late Metropolitan Laurus, whom he once asked: ‘Isn’t it difficult for you to bear the burden of your First-Hierarchal service without your heroes, who have passed on into eternity, specifically Archbishop Vitaly [Maximenko, +1960], Protodeacon Paul WolkowArchbishop Anthony [Medvedev, +2000], Archimandrite Kyprian [Pyzhov, +2002] and others?’ The Primate responded that we must follow their example, we must become as they were, and pray for their souls, thereby drawing strength in fulfilling our duty.” In conclusion, Fr Serafim asked the First Hierarch’s prayers and expressed confidence that “the Lord, the Head of the Church, will always lead people who worthily carry His work forward.”

During the trapeza that followed, Fr Serafim announced that a collection is being made to paint frescoes in the church, which will illustrate the entire 1000-year path of the Russian Orthodox Church, from the Baptism of Rus to the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion in Moscow. This way, God willing, St Seraphim Church will be the first church in the diaspora to memorialize the reestablishment of church unity and those who contributed to this great work. Protopriest Sergei Lukianov then shared his memories of the late Bishop Mitrophan, and Priest Zoran Radovic, a clergyman of the Serbian Orthodox Church, spoke a few words about the newly-reposed Patriarch Alexy.

A Youth Symposium on St John of Kronstadt Is Held at the Synod of Bishops and St Nicholas Cathedral

On October 25-26, 2008, with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, the Synodal Youth Department held a symposium on the 100th anniversary of the death of St John of Kronstadt.

Students from Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville were in attendance, as were young people from New York and other US cities. Each one of them, as a rule, is an active participant in parish life, fulfilling one obligation or another to help their parish.

Priests from the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Moscow Patriarchate, Fr Joakim Provatakis and Protopriest Alexander Abramov, gave lectures on the life, podvigi and spiritual labors of the saint.

Fr Alexander spoke of the life lessons of the "All-Russian Batiushka" and the meaning of his podvig in contemporary church life. Fr Joakim told of the theological significance of one of the main works of St John, My Life in Christ. The speakers noted that the life and work of St John are infused with striving towards God, genuine sympathy for the suffering, true earnestness, and attention to seemingly insignificant aspect of the spiritual life. It is the fervor of his faith, the lack of indifference, the burning prayerful attitude towards the Creator that brought Fr John the fame as a great man of prayer even during his lifetime, and after his death placed him as one of the most revered of Russian saints.

The young participants visited the Russian Consulate in New York and spoke with Consul General Sergei Viktorovich Garmonin. The Russian diplomat told them about the role of consulates, referring to the preservation of culture and the protection of the rights of citizens. SV Garmonin pointed out the fruits brought by the cooperation of diplomatic missions of Russia and the Church now that the unity of Orthodoxy has become a fact. The Ambassador then answered questions.

That evening the youth prayed at all-night vigil at St Nicholas Cathedral of the Moscow Patriarchate. Officiating at the service was His Grace Bishop Merkury of Zaraisk, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the US. The choir consisted of an assemblage of young singers.

An icon of St John was specially brought from the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign at the Synod of Bishops, along with the saint's cassock, as well as his kamilavka, which was brought from St Seraphim Church in Sea Cliff, NY, by Protodeacon Paul Wolkow.

At the end of the service, the participants were offered a trapeza, during which Bishop Merkury and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergei Ivanovich Kisliak warmly addressed the youth.
The next day, for the first time since the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion in May of last year, with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, Bishop Merkury of Zaraisk officiated at Liturgy at the Synodal Cathedral.

A prayerful mood was created by the wonderful singing of the youth, most of whom have been singing in the kliros for some years. The choir was directed by Peter A Fekula.

At the end of Divine Liturgy, Vladyka Merkury delivered a sermon, reminding the faithful of the purpose and aim of the holy life is. He noted that "Fr John's entire life was devoted to one goal-to serve the Word of God, and the Word of God is the Gospel, which is the 'good news' of the Kingdom of Heaven brought to us by the Lord Himself. Fr John took upon himself the great labor of preaching, of bringing the Divine words to mankind." Bishop Merkury emphasized that "the all-Russian pastor's mission is especially clear now, when the Word of God is proclaimed with great difficulty, even though there are no more persecutions of Orthodox Christians. Now the enemy of mankind is wielding new weapons to prevent the Divine Word from permeating our hearts, tempting people with so-called freedom, with satiation, wealth, dissolution. Now we must struggle with ourselves, and sometimes this is more difficult than resisting open persecution."

In conclusion, Vladyka called upon the participants of the symposium and the parishioners gathered for Divine Liturgy to keep from letting the flame within us extinguish, which warms us ever since the Mystery of our Baptism occurred, not to lose focus, but to piously stoke love for God in our hearts, and prepare ourselves to meet God. Source: Official ROCOR site.

By the Blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, on December 6th Divine Liturgy will be presided by his Eminence Mark, Archbishop of Berlin and Germany, and his Eminence Kirill, Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America.

On October 16th, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion visited the headquarters of the Orthodox Church in America, where he was warmly greeted by His Eminence Archbishop Seraphim of Ottawa and Canada; His Grace Bishop Tikhon of Eastern Pennsylvania; His Grace Bishop Benjamin of Western America; Protopriest Alexander Garklavs; clergymen of St Sergius of Radonezh Church and members of the OCA Administration. Venerating the numerous holy icons and relics of St Sergius Church, His Eminence was given a tour of the premises and the archives. During lunch, Metropolitan Hilarion expressed his wish for divine aid in the All-American Council to be held in November, and told the hosts of the missionary work of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and about the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand.

As he bid farewell to the First Hierarch, Archbishop Seraphim expressed gratitude for his visit and kind attentions.

Also participating in the meeting was Fr Serafim Gan, the Director of the Synodal Chancery of the Synod of Bishops and the Personal Secretary of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.(source: Official ROCOR website).

On September 13-16th, His Grace Bishop Peter of Cleveland, Administrator of the Diocese of Chicago and the Midwest, accompanied by Protopriest Seraphim Gan, Priest Liubomir Kupec, Deacon Nicholas Olhovsky and Reader Eugene Hrihoriak, visited the Orthodox Church in Slovakia. (source: Official ROCOR website).

On September 10th, a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, headed by His Grace Bishop Peter of Cleveland, had arrived in Prague. Venerating the altar table of Assumption Church at the Russian cemetery, the delegation headed for the city of Brno. There, on the feast day of the Beheading of St John the Baptist, Bishop Peter and the members of the delegation participated in Divine Liturgy headed by His Eminence Archbishop Simeon of Moravia at the Church of St Wenceslas of the Czech Lands. It is worth noting that two great men of piety participated in its consecration: Holy Hierarch-Martyr Gorazd of Czech and Moravia and St Justin (Popovich).

After the divine service, Bishop Peter gave Archbishop Simeon a portion of the relics of St John of Shanghai and San Francisco for the Orthodox church in Brno. In his greeting, Protopriest Josef Feisak, the church's Rector, remembered the late Metropolitan Laurus of blessed memory, who loved to visit the region, and expressed his pleasure at the concelebration held on this day, which became possible because of the restoration last year of the fullness of brotherly communion within the one Local Russian Orthodox Church. At the end, Fr Josef introduced the members of the delegation, and gave Bishop Peter a part of the holy relics of St Ludmila of Bohemia. Then, at the parish hall, the Rector hosted a luncheon in honor of Archbishop Simeon, Bishop Peter and the other guests.

Bidding farewell to Archbishop Simeon and Fr Josef, Bishop Peter and those with him returned to Prague, where they visited with His Beatitude Metropolitan Krystof, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, who joyfully welcomed them to dinner in his residence. His Grace Bishop Melety of Hotins, Vicar of the Chernovtsy and Bukovino Diocese was also in attendance.

Bishop Peter was accompanied by Protopriest Serafim Gan, Priest Lubomir Kupec, Deacon Nicholas Olhovsky and Reader Eugene Hrihoriak.

August 1st On the feast day of St. Seraphim, Wonderworker of Sarov, amid a large crowd of parishioners and visitors, His Grace, Bishop John of Caracas, Administrator of the Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russian in South America, presided over the Divine Liturgy at St. Seraphim's Church, in Sea Cliff, New York, concelebrating with clergy of the Diocese of Eastern America and other dioceses of the Russian Church Abroad, and of the Moscow Patriarchate; and on the eve of the feast, he celebrated the vigil service and the congregational chanting of the Akathist Hymn to St. Seraphim, Wonderworker of Sarov. During the communion of the clergy, Protopriest George Kallaur delivered the sermon, and after the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy and the service of supplication with a procession around the church, His Grace, Bishop John, addressed words of greeting and edification to those present. At the festal meal, set forth through the efforts of A. N. Ryl, and the parish sisterhood, Protopriest Seraphim Gan, the parish rector, welcomed Bishop John, and then, turning to the parishioners and visitors, said the following: "Today there springs unbidden to mind the words which, as I have noted, are inscribed on the outside of the western wall in certain churches in Russia: 'Let thine eyes be open upon this temple day and night.' Interpreting these words as applying to ourselves, we must always keep the temple of God before our eyes, when we experience sorrow and grief, as well as when we have joy. If joy, then we must thank God for the joy we have received. And if you and I experience grief, misfortune and temptation, we must ask God to allay our grief, our sorrow and misfortune, and for help in overcoming temptations. Then will it become clear to us that our Christian eyes must be open upon the church day and night. I offer you these thoughts, my dear ones, today on our parish feast, so that, having been sweetened by the Church's prayer in the temple of God and found consolation in those remarkable words I have reminded you of, you may store them up in your hearts. Then they may help us attain spiritual perfection." The feast was greatly uplifting, and many people attended, despite the fact that it fell on a weekday. The most impressive moments of the divine services were the choir's singing, under the direction of T. M. Zhukova, of Muzychesky's "Cherubic Hymn", Sokolov's "A Mercy of Peace", and Bortyansky's "Let God Arise" (during the communion of the clergy).

On August 2nd, Bishop John departed for Erie, and for the reception of official personages and other guests the rector and warden opened the new meeting hall, which has been constructed in one of the buildings on the parish property. The new hall had been consecrated before the opening of the regular session of the parish council.

On August 3rd, the rector of St. Seraphim's Church concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with the Dean of the Bavaria-Hesse Circuit of the Moscow Patriarchate's Diocese of Berlin & Germany, Protopriest Peter Stepanov, together with Protodeacons Paul Wolkow and Vadim Gan, and Deacons Nicholas Ol'khovsky and Eugene Kallaur. Following the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the protopriests exchanged words of greeting. After the banquet, Protopriest Peter Stepanov told the parishioners about himself, his family, the course of his life, and his ministry in the Holy Church, both in Russia and in Germany, where he is now the rector of the Church of St. Xenia the Blessed, in Nuremburg.


Organized with the blessing of Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan

Sermons on all Presanctified and Saturday Liturgies during Great Lent will focus on the teachings of Christ's Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount. Discussions will be held every Sunday after Liturgy on various church and spiritual topics. See the new schedule here.

March 30th, The Week of the Veneration of the Holy Cross - Divine Liturgy was presided by Archpriest Michael Boikov - Diocesan and personal secretary to His Eminence Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand - Acting President of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Conserving were parish rector Father Serafim, protodeacons Pavel Wolkow, deacons Eugene Kallaur and Nikolai Olhovsky-personal aide of newly departed First Hierarch Metropolitan Laurus. An edifying sermon was said by Father Michael during liturgy followed by a discussion on Lent by Father Serafim in the parish hall.

March 29th, The editorial staff of our website wishes to express their condolences to the family of Dimitri K. Mokhoff- a long time parish member, who passed away today.

March 23rd, The Most Reverend Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and the Western Diocese presided at the Divine Liturgy. Conserving were our parish rector, deacons Eugene Kallaur and Alexander Reznikov- a cleric of the Saint John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington D.C. During trapeza Father Serafim shared his memories of our newly departed Hierarch and also congratulated parishioner G.M. Sazonova with her Names day. A meeting of the parish sisterhood followed. See photos here.

On this day protodeacon Pavel Wolkow, by request of Archpriest Serge Loukianov, served at St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Red Bank, NJ, where His Eminence Metropolitan Onufry of Chernovitsa and Bukovina presided the Divine Liturgy. See photos here: www.stnicholasredbank.com

March 16th, On the Triumph of Orthodoxy His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus passed away. Father Serafim, clergy and parishioners participated in the funeral services. An Ukase by the Chief Deputy and acting President of the Synod of Bishops His Eminence Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand, appoints Father Serafim as assistant to Archpriest Michael Boikov-personal secretary to his Eminence. See He Taught Others Humility: On the Passing of Metropolitan Laurus

March 9th, Forgiveness Sunday- Parish Blini festivities were a great success thanks to the hard work of our Sisterhood and chief sister A.N.Ryl

March 4th, Maria D. Sampsidis passed away. The editorial staff of our website wishes to express their feelings of sorrow and condolences to her husband and family for their loss.

February 18th - 29th, Father Serafim accompanied Metropolitan Laurus to Moscow. Also accompanying them was George Selinsky parishioner and personal photographer to His Eminence. See pictures and reports at www.synod.com

February 17th - 18th, Father Serafim conserved Divine Liturgy with His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus at the Saint Archangel Michael Church in Cannes, France.

February 16th, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus visited the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Nice, France, where he venerated the holy icons of the church, after which he visited the chapel built on the site of the repose of Tsarevich Nicholas Alexandrovitch, and viewed the museum of the Cathedral. His Eminence and his fellow travelers were met by the Cathedral's rector, clergymen singers and parishioners. After viewing the Cathedral grounds, they shared a trapeza.

February 15th, Our rector, clergy and parishioners commemorated the passing of Bishop Mitrofan (Znosko-Borovsky; + 2002.) Newly appointed cleric deacon Eugene Kallaur began serving in our St.Seraphims parish on this day.


In the beginning of February 2008, Deacon Eugene Kallaur, a Synodal employee and cleric of the Holy Trinity Monastery, will be moving to Sea Cliff with his family and will be assigned to the clergy of St. Seraphim's Parish. We congratulate Father Deacon Eugene on his new assignment and wish him strength from above in his service to the Holy Church of Christ! Father Eugene is married and has 2 children. We are happy to greet his wife, Ekaterina, along with his children Kiprian and Matrona, newest members of our parish!

6-7 January Christmas services in our parish were gloriously celebrated. Attending the All Night Vigil service was Father Michael Myasnikov, the new Treasurer of the Orthodox Church of America, who prayed in the Altar. Our neighboring parish priests, Very Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky and Rev. John Bartholemew attended and prayed with us the following morning. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, at which approximately 150 people received the Holy Communion, Father Serafim read the Christmas Epistle of His Holiness Alexy II Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, and then greeted all with the Joyous and Triumphant Feast of our Saviors Jesus Christ's Birth. A gift of the icon of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, which was painted in Kursk, the homeland of our patron saint, St. Seraphim of Sarov, was presented to our parish. Father Leonid Kishkovsky, on behalf of his Our Lady of Kazan Church parishioners, wished everyone happy holidays. At the parish reception offered by our Sisterhood, choir members sang Christmas carols, after which the children were visited by Santa Claus. The first two days of Christmas, Father Serafim with a group of parishioners, visited many parishioners in their homes where they greeted all with a short prayer and the singing of church Christmas hymns and carols. Look at photos here. Listen to the festal services here (All-Night Vigil, Liturgy).

Read the Christmas Epistles of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy and His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus here and here.

31 December a New Years moleben was served in our parish. We greet all parishioners and visitors to our website with a Happy New Year and wish all good health and God's grace!

19 December Father Serafim, Protodeacon Pavel and a group of parishioners participated in the parish festivities of Saint Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York.
Father Serafim and Protodeacon Pavel concelebrated with His Grace Mercurius Bishop of Zaraisk and His Grace Bishop Ilarion of Vienna and Austria, and a multitude of clergy from various Orthodox Churches. Prior to venerating the cross Father Serafim extended greetings from His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus to His Grace Bishop Mercurius and his parishioners.

24-25 November The Divine Liturgy in our parish was presided by Hieromonk Nikolai (Perekrestov) who until recently was serving in the monasteries of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, and is presently fulfilling his pastoral services at the Synodal Cathedral. Conserving with Father Nikolai was our parish rector along with Protodeacon Pavel Wolkow and deacon Nikolai (Olhovsky) personal aide to His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus. After the Prayer of dismissal Father Nikolai Perekrestov served a small memorial litany commemorating the 15 year arch pastoral installation of blessed memory Bishop Mitrophan along time rector of our parish, after which he said an edifying sermon. After liturgy Father Serafim greeted Father Nikolai and presented him with a token memorial gift - a book on The History of Our Parish. After veneration of the Cross, church warden M.S. Ryl and his wife and head of our sisterhood invited all to a Names day meal marking his past patron saints day.

24 November Father Serafim, Protodeacon Pavel and a group of parishioners attended a funeral service for newly departed reader Cyril Galitzine who passed away suddenly on Thanksgiving Day. Funeral services and internment were presided by Their Graces Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan and Bishop Peter of Cleveland at the Novodiveevo monastery and convent in Spring Valley, New York. His sudden death was a shock to all. Let us all strive more to cherish, love and respect one another and act with dignity and understanding towards each other, be patient with one another's ineptness', and help them thru patience and support as "We all follow in Gods footsteps". Therefore we all may lose someone when we least expect it.

Eternal Rest Grant of Lord to your departed servant Cyril, and May Christ our God and Savior grant strength and good health to his family.

22 November On Thanksgiving, father Serafim attended the liturgy at Our Lady of Kazan church in Sea Cliff, New York, where the Divine Liturgy was presided by rector protopriest Leonid Kishkovsky along with other orthodox clergy. Later that day a Thanksgiving moleben service was served at our parish by Father Serafim and Father Alexander Morozov- protopriest and rector of Saint John the Forerunner cathedral in Canberra, Australia, and protodeacon Pavel Wolkow. Before venerating the Cross our rector said the following sermon: "Thru the example of one of the 10 healed lepers, who returned and gave thanks to God, we have to build our Christian lives. We need to give thanks to God not only for the joys of life, but also for the sadness; not only for the smiles, but also for the tears; not only for the our health, but also for our sickness; not only for those who love us, but those who hate or despise us, because everything that is given to us, serves to benefit and edify us, serves to save us, for our happiness. We need to more frequently give ourselves to Gods hand, trusting Him and thanking Him, and then God in His wisdom will lay his path before us and grant us all that we need. And so my dear brothers and sisters in Christ let us not look for just the "bread and splendor", but of the spiritual worth. Let us contemplate the purpose of this celebration, giving thanks to our Lord His mercies and good fortunes to us, let us give thanks to one another. Amen."


Father Serafim then presented Father Alexander Morozov with a token gift - a book on the history of our parish, and our starosta Mikhail.S. Ryl, marking his Names day this past eve, - a book "PREDSTOYATEL" 2006, followed by the singing of Many Years.

18 November Our rector congratulated Dr. P.L and A.M. Shohov with their 38 year wedding anniversary, after which the choir under the choir master T.M. Zhukova sang Many Years. After veneration of the Cross all were invited for sumptuous Thanksgiving meal offered by our head sister A.N. Ryl and sisterhood.

11 November Church services in our parish were served by Hieromonk Roman (Krassovsky) with our rector and protodeacon concelebrating. An edifying sermon was given by Father Roman at the end of the liturgy.

That evening father Serafim flew to France. Meeting with church benefactors in Nice, father Serafim left for Canne to venerate the sanctuary of the Archangel Michael church and to meet with the parishioners, and also to visit the ailing and retired Bishop Varnava who was in the hospital this time where at the request of His Grace, Bishop Varnava was able to partake in the Sacrament of confession and receive the Holy Gifts from Father Serafim. On November 14 Father Serafim departed for London, where he participated in a meeting of all the benefactors of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. Also participating at the meeting was Lena S. Zezulin, daughter of the late S.J. Zezulin, one of our parish builders. Here Father Serafim presented a report on church wide youth programs. Also discussed were other church wide issues affecting the church in general. After the meeting Father Serafim and Father Viktor Potapov along with Synodal of Bishops diocese workers N.A. Ohotin and E.I. Hrihoriak visited the Dormition Cathedral in London and rector Father Yaroslav Belikow. Father Yaroslav showed his guests the new cathedral and its holy relics. Afterwards Fathers Viktor and Serafim along with the Synodal workers, met with Protopriest Peter Holodny Treasurer of The Synod of Bishops. On November 17 Father Serafim left for New York.

28 October upon completion of the Divine Liturgy and lunch, prepared by L.V. and E.S. Gurbeloshvilli, a monthly parish-council meeting was held. In addition to reports from the church warden M.S. Ryl and treasurer I.G. Kwartiroff, our rector proposed serving a memorial service on November 17 blessing the newly erected headstone of our former long time parish rector Bishop Mitrofan (Znosko-Borovsky), and his matushka Alexandra Semenovna, who passed away in 1989. The blessing of the headstone coincides with the 15 year anniversary of Bishop Mitrofan's consecration. This proposal was unanimously accepted. For the next parish-council meeting our rector will present a plan for continued beautification of our church and our church warden will present plans for maintenance of buildings and grounds. Later that afternoon, Father Serafim and a group of our parish youth attended the annual Russian Gift of Life Fundraiser. The event was a great success.


27 October upon completion of All Night Vigil, our parish youth, having sung beautifully at the service, organized a farewell party for Andrei Pervychine, who is leaving on the 30 October for Paris, France, where he resides with his mother and 2 sisters. The evening was one of warmth and friendship. Andrei is the grandson of our parish trustee A.L. Zezulin. During his stay in Sea Cliff, Andrei attended all church services and participated in our parish life. We wish him the Lord's blessings and all the best in his endeavors.

All our parishioners are asked to remember Valentina Petrovna Polchaninova in their prayers. Valentina Petrovna was a long time, much loved and respected teacher at our parish school. Due to her frail state of health Valentina Petrovna is unable to attend our services which she misses greatly. It is with thanks to our Lord that on Saturday October 27 she was able to receive the Holy Gifts through the sacraments of confession and communion. May the Lord grant our dear Valentina Petrovna strength, courage and good health.

21 October upon completion of the Divine Liturgy our rector attended festivities celebrating the 60th year of our neighboring parish of Our Lady of Kazan. In attendance at the festivities was Bishop Benjamin who also presided at the Divine Liturgy at the church at which time he presented numerous congratulatory decrees and certificates to the dedicated workers of that parish. Father Serafim had the opportunity to discuss with Bishop Benjamin many items concerning the Reunification of the Russian Orthodox Churches and its effect on the unity of all Orthodox in the USA. Bishop Benjamin also spoke of the present state of affairs in the Orthodox Church of America. The reception was held at the Swan Club where the aura of jubilation was felt among parishioners and friends.

20 October The home of E.Yigit, who had recently christened her son Timothy in our parish was blessed. We congratulate Elena with the Grace of God which has entered her home, and wish her and all her family many mercies and blessings and help from God. Also that day Father Serafim and protodeacon Pavel Wolkow, along with a small group of parishioners served a panikhida at the grave of G.A. Kozyreff, marking the 1st anniversary of her repose. Galina Arkadievna was beloved by all and was an example to all on how to lead a Chirstian life. She accepted everything-happiness and grief- as a gift from God, and, because of this, was always joyful. Her happiness, like a ray of light and warmth, spread onto us, allowing us to bear life's burdens. For this we shall never forget and shall always pray for her. May God grant her eternal life and rest.

19 October Father Serafim and a group of parishioners attended the funeral service and internment of Father Emmanuel (Manny) Gratsias, long time rector of our neighboring Greek parish in Glen Cove. During the course of 31 years Father Manny dedicated himself to his numerous flock, and recently had built the beautiful Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ along with a parish center in Brookville. Father Manny was a true pastor, who loved to share his knowledge of the Christ and His Holy Church. "Woe unto me, if I do not proclaim the Gospel", writes Apostle Paul. This is the teaching that Father Emmanuel espoused when he preaching the Gospel to his flock. May he rest in the Heaven and among the saints! Our parish wishes to express its deepest sympathies to the family and parishioners of dear Father Manny, who was always kind to us.

14 October On Sunday The Feast of The Protection of Holy Virgin, clergy and parishioners of our parish concelebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Feast day celebration of our neighboring parish in Glen Cove. The festivities were jubilant. It was wonderful to see so many of our parishioners among the choir and congregation on this day.

7 October On Sunday the choir chanted Many Years to Sergei H. Gurbeloshvilli and Serge P. Shohov, who celebrate their saint's day on the autumnal feast of St Sergius of Radonezh. After the trapeza all were invited for a reception at the home of Panteleymon Leonidovich and Anna Mitrofanovna Shohov in honor of their son. Father Serafim served a short service of thanksgiving to the joyous singing of the attendees and blessed the festive table. In attendance amongst the clergy and guests from St. Seraphim's Parish and the Holy Protection Church in Glen Cove was Protodeacon Igor Panachev, a cleric of St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in Manhattan.

On Friday, September 28, 2007, at Holy Virgin Protection parish hall in Glen Cove, NY (Long Island), an evening was organized by the parishioners of Protection as well as St Seraphim Church in nearby Sea Cliff in memory of the countries which gave Russian refugees succor during the godless regime in Russia. The evening touched upon the history of the Russian communities in those countries, the clergy and social figures.

The evening opened with an address by the Rector of Protection Church, Priest Alexander Antchoutine, who noted that the main goal of the event was to give the parishioners of the two churches a chance to meet in a social atmosphere, to remember the founders of “Russia abroad” and the path which brought them to the US, where the emigres began to build little pieces of Russia.

Protopriest Serafim Gan, Rector of neighboring St Seraphim Church in Sea Cliff, then spoke, saying that all of mankind is called upon to be the “whole race of Adam,” as we sing in the Paschal canon. The “whole race of Adam” is all of mankind in Christ. When we pray during Divine Liturgy in church, our thoughts must concentrate on one thing: prayer to God. Common prayer in church unites people in Christ, and, as a community, joins it in Christ. As we leave the church, this wonderful miracle must be continued. Unfortunately, our lives today have become so that people do not find the time nor the energy to commune with one another. That is why people like Archbishop Sergij of Prague have called social communion a podvig.

In conclusion, Fr Serafim called upon all those in attendance to try to find more time and strength to commune with one another. For in our difficult circumstances abroad, Russians preserve their faith, their language and the wealthy Russian culture only within the Church, in communion with one another. There is no other path for us, which the experience of our ancestors shows, our ancestors who created that which we enjoy today.

In the course of the evening, the participants reminisced as they viewed an exhibition of photographs organized by a group of parishioners of both churches. The most heartening aspect of the evening, as AN Ryl, the Senior Sister of St Seraphim Church, noted, was the presence of an especially large contingent of young people, our faithful and moral successors. The next day, after all-night vigil at St Seraphim Church, the youth gathered for a discussion on spiritual matters led by the Rector, after which refreshments were offered.

Parishioners would like to thank N.G. Fekula, S.M. Pompeii, O. Tarasova, S.P. Shohov, I.A. Gan, and their helpers who organized this evening of reminiscing between the parishioners of the Russian churches on Long Island!

September 23rd, prior to venerating the Cross, parishioners congratulated and wished Many Years to Anna Wolkow and Anna Slobodskoy who celebrated on the 22nd, Sts. Joachim and Anna, their Names day. Upon dismissal from the Divine Liturgy a short memorial Litany was served for Of Blessed memory Archbishop Anthony of San Francisco and West America, who reposed on this day 7 years ago.
A surprise 60 year birthday party honoring Alexander Kwartiroff was also held in the parish hall that evening. Let us all wish him Many Years!

September 22nd, Father Serafim together with matushka Irene Gan and Serge Shohov and a group of parishioners participated in a meeting to help plan and organize the Joint Parish Autumn evening planned for September 28 between St.Seraphims and Holy Virgin Protection Churches.

September 21st, Upon completion of the Divine Liturgy of The Feast of The Birth of Theotokos, Protopriest Serafim Gan visited the Greek Orthodox Church of the Resurrection, where the Sacrament of Holy Unction was performed over gravely ill Father Emmanuel. The Sacrament of the Holy Unction was presided by Archbishop Demetrious (Constantinople Patriarchate) and his vicar, Bishop Sava and over 40 other representatives of the Orthodox Churches. In attendance with our rector were students of the St. Vladimir's Seminary Nikolaj Kostur and Radomir Plavsic. We ask that everyone pray for the quick recovery and good health of Father Emmanuel who has always been warm and friendly towards our parishioners.

September 11th, accompanying His Eminence Metropolitan Onufrii of Chernovitsk and Bukovinsk, protopriest Mikhail Boikov and protodeacon Herman Polorotov, our rector conserved in Washington D.C. with His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, the official delegation of the Moscow patriarchate, the rector of St. John the Baptist Cathedral- protopriest Viktor Potapov,and other Orthodox church Representatives at there Founding Parish Feast Day. His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus elevated Father Viktor Potapov to the rank of Mitered Archpriest during the Small Entrance, for his devoted service to the Church. During the holiday reception feast, Father Serafim congratulated father Viktor on behalf of his parishioners and the Synodal office, with such a high honor and wished him further strength and heavenly help to continue this difficult work and service to the church. In the evening His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus along with Father Viktor and Father Serafim and members of the Moscow Patriarchate delegation attended a reception in honor of His Eminence given by the Russian Ambassador to the USA.

September 10th, after church festivities presided by His Eminence Metropolitan Onufrii of Chernovitsk and Bukovinsk , father Serafim visited relatives of His Eminence who reside not far from the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Lakewood, New Jersey, where they were offered a sumptuous meal and were able to converse in a warm and friendly atmosphere. His Eminence Metropolitan Onufrii, Father Serafim with our friends from Australia- Father Mikhail Boikov and Father Herman Polorotov, departed for Washington D.C., where they participated in the founding feast day Festivities and services of The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist.

9 September 2007 His Eminence Metropolitan Onufrii of Chernovitsk and Bukovinsk, a permanent member of The Holy Synod of The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, presided at the Divine Liturgy in our parish, and on the eve - All night vigil, with concelebrants Protopriests George Kallaur, Mikhail Boikov a cleric of the Sydney and Australia-New Zealand diocese, and Serafim Gan parish rector, along with protodeacons Paul Wolkow and Herman Polorotov.

A dinner reception in honor of His Eminence Metropolitan Onufrii was given by Serge Shohov and Irene Gan at the rector's home after the Vigil service.

In the morning the clergy greeted His Eminence with "Pompous Glory". To the sound of gladsome pealing bells and with the singing of the Sunday Troparion they walked to thechurch, where Starosta greeted His Eminence with welcoming words. Following was the Divine Liturgy, after which His Eminence Metropolitan Onufrii said a sermon. Prior to the veneration of the cross our rector presented His Eminence with a gift from the parish of an Icon of Saint Seraphim of Sarov.

At a splendidly prepared feast offered by the Sisterhood, His Eminence spoke of life in His Diocese of Chernovitsk and Bukovinsk. Present at the post festivities besides the serving clergy were also Protopriests Leonid Kishkovsky, priests George Zelenin and Alexander Antouchine, parishioners and guests.

1-3 September 2007 clergy and parishioners participated in the festivities celebrating the 40 years of The Archpastoral service of His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church outside of Russia, in Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville NY. Our parishioner George Selinsky was photographing the festivities as His Eminence's personal photographer.

30 August 2007 at JFK Airport the rector of our parish Protopriest Serafim Gan together with officials of the Synod, The Counsel General, clergy of the Saint Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral and others, met an official delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, headed by His Eminence Metropolitan Isidor of Ekaterinodar and Kuban and the choir of the Sretensky Monastery. On the next day Father Serafim participated in prayer services before an icon dear to the heart of every Orthodox Christian, the Derzhavnaya [Reigning] Icon of the Mother of God, which was brought with the delegation, and also in a special luncheon sponsored by the Counsel General of Russia to New York S.V. Garmonin in honor of His Eminence Metropolitan Isidor, His Eminence Metropolitan Onufrios, His Grace Archbishop Evgenii, Archimandrite Tikhon and the choir of the Sretensky Monastery.

1 August 2007 His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus along with many clergy of the Synod and Eastern diocese and numerous laity presided at divine services celebrating the parish feast day. Pictures may be viewed here.

Father protodeacon Thomas Resko was able to complete a newly carved oblation table, donated by a philanthropers. Many thanks to Father Thomas and to father deacon Alexander Jarostchuk, who were able to deliver the oblation table in time for the festivities and many thanks to our philanthropers. May our Lord remember them in His Kingdom!

25 June-16 July 2007 Father Serafim together with members our parish youth: Maria, Katherine,Peter Wolkow( children of protodeacon Pavel and Anna Wolkow) and also Katherine Ivask (daughter of Serafim and Susan Ivask) participated in the All-Diaspora Pilgrimage for the youth "In the Footsteps of Moses"arranged by the synodal Youth committee following the sacred sites in Egypt and Jerusalem. Thanks be to God the pilgrimage was of great spiritual benefit to all our youthful participants.

14-21 May 2007 Father Serafim, protodeacon Pavel Wolkow together with other members of our parish participated in the Glorious Celebration Festivities of the Canonical Reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia with the Moscow Patriarchate. At the end of the Moscow portion of the festivities, our rector accompanied His Eminenece Metropolitan Laurus on a pilgrimage thru Kursk diocese and the Ukraine Orthodox Church. George Selinsky, our parishioner was assigned the task as The personal photographer to His Eminence at the official visit with the Moscow Patriarchate.

A parish barbeque sponsored by the men of the parish was held on April 29th in honor of our parish sisterhood and our elder sister Mrs. Alla N. Ryl. After the Divine Liturgy a short moleben was held in the rector's house for the health and well being of our Sisterhood followed by congratulatory greetings and gifts to the sisters and Names day celebrants. Flowers were also given to the parish treasurer Irene Kwartiroff and Elizabeth Miheev. See photos here.

Listen here to the singing of THE CHERUBIC HYMN and THE EUCHARISTIC CANON: ANAPHORA sung by the childrens choir "VALAAM" during the Divine Liturgy on Easter Saturday. You can also listen to the concert held in our parish hall here, and see photos here.


The Holy Week Services and Holy Bright Pascha at St. Seraphims church were celebrated with an uplifting sense of glory and spirit.

Through the continued and tireless efforts of our sisterhood, new Paschal vestments were obtained and blessed. The church was beautifully decorated thanks to the active help of our parishioners and youth.

Holy Week services were particularly uplifting thanks to the endless efforts of our experienced Choir Director Tamara Miloradovna Zhukova and her assistant Nikolai Mikhailovich Miro. Readers Alexei Slobodskoy, Nikolai Miro, Serge Shohov, Maria, Ekaterina and Alexandra Wolkow, Katherine Gurbeloshvili and Natasha Miro sang the Holy Week Trios with a fervent sense of grace.

The Paschal reception was marked with congratulatory wishes to namesday celebrants: our head sister Alla Nikolaievna Ryl and Larissa Victorovna Gurbeloshvili, followed by the singing of Many Years.

At 3:00 PM the same day, after a glorious Paschal Vesper service, there was an open reception at the rector’s house which was attended by numerous parishioners and guests. Amidst those who came were the Very Rev. Protopriest Leonid Kishkovsky, rector of Our Lady of Kazan Church(OCA), Priest Aleksandr Antouchine, rector of Holy Virgin Protection Church (Glen Cove), Priest Mikhail Tarhovskoi (MP) - cleric of St. Nicholas Patriarchial Cathedral in Manhattan New York, and protodeacon Nicholas Mokhoff, cleric of the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady of The Sign.

The second day of Paschal festivities continued with the Matins of Holy Pascha and Divine Liturgy including a procession around the church.

See photos of Holy Week and Easter here.

Listen to the Paschal Vespers Service here.


Fr. Serafim gave an interview to the magazine "We in Russia and Abroad", about issues concerning the Russian youth abroad as well as the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad's upcoming plans in working with the youth:

Educating with a love for the Church and the earthly motherland


See parish news archives for 2006
See parish news archives for 2005

For more news, see The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia webpage.


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131 Carpenter Ave, Sea Cliff, NY 11579