The Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Glorification of St. Seraphim of Sarov in the Eastern and Western Dioceses of the United States

Ukase of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
To All Diocesan Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

Decreed:
1. To confirm the Epistle on the 100th Anniversary of the Glorification of St. Seraphim of Sarov. 2. To schedule the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the glorification of St. Seraphim of Sarov in the Eastern American Diocese on 24 August/6 September 2003.
3. In the Western American Diocese: on 1/14 and 2/15 August at the Parish of St. Seraphim in Monterey, California. All neighboring dioceses are invited to participate in the celebrations.
4. To instruct the rectors of all parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia to commemorate St. Seraphim at all dismissals until the feast day of the Saint on 2/15 January 2004.

Secretary of the Synod of Bishops
+ Bishop Gabriel
27 May/9 June 2003

New Website for Novo-Diveevo

A website has been launched for Novo-Diveevo Convent, which includes schedules and information on the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the glorification of St. Seraphim of Sarov in the Eastern American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia: http://www.novo-diveevo.org

FROM DECREE No. 6/2003 OF HIS GRACE KYRILL,
BISHOP OF SAN FRANCISCO & WESTERN AMERICA

100 years ago, a special event took place in Holy Russia--the Tsar-Martyr Nicholas, together with the clergy and faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church, glorified a great God-pleaser: a wonderworker, prophet and ascetic, our holy and God-bearing father, Saint Seraphim of Sarov. St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco writes of this event: "On July 19 (new style: August 1), 1903, all of Russia was filled with hymns of praise, glorifying God and His pleaser. Indeed, all of Russia rejoiced then, as on Pascha..."

All of us, dear in Christ, are children of the Russian Church and remain faithful to the ideals of Holy Russia. One hundred years after the Finding of the relics of Saint Seraphim and his glorification, we continue to pray to this wonderful saint for help, we continue to gather spiritual strength, to rejoice and to receive comfort from his life and by his prayers. I greet you dear co-pastors, brothers and sisters and children with the 100th Anniversary of St. Seraphim of Sarov's glorification.

Those who saw the Sarov celebration with their own eyes are no longer with us, but the spirit of Saint Seraphim is alive and we must try to feel it, to preserve it, to multiply it. Our Western American Diocese must mark this spiritual Jubilee in a worthy fashion!

I. I announce a special All-Diocesan Celebration-Pilgrimage on Saturday, August 2, 2003 at the St. Seraphim church in Seaside (Monterey), California. August 1 is a weekday, so I am transferring the Feast of St. Seraphim to the following day, a Saturday. An old icon of St. Seraphim with his relics will be brought to Monterey for the Pilgrimage. On Saturday, August 2, the Divine Liturgy will begin at 9:30 AM and will be followed by a procession. Following the Liturgy a meal will take place outside, similar to how our Orthodox ancestors in Russia marked pilgrimages. A special Word of Praise to St. Seraphim will be compiled and read during the meal. At 4:00 PM all will take part in the chanting of the Akathist to St. Seraphim and at 5:00 p.m. the All-Night Vigil (eve of Sunday) will be served. Vestment color for the Pilgrimage is green.

II. Due to the solemnity of the Jubilee, I give my blessing to all parish Rectors who will be coming to Monterey for the St. Seraphim Pilgrimage to cancel the Saturday night vigil service in their respective parishes.

III. Father Rectors, I ask you to announce to your parishioners (in a timely fashion) the upcoming Pilgrimage and call upon them to take part in this Celebration. It would be best for parishes to organize a bus trip, so that everyone can be together, to St. Seraphim's church in Monterey.

IV. Father Rectors, please dedicate at least 1-2 Sunday sermons to St. Seraphim and his Glorification, so that your parishioners would understand the significance of this great Saint... May our Lord, by the prayers of our Holy and Godbearing Father Seraphim, spiritually strengthen us, motivate us and send us joy ? that joy, which overflowed from Batiushka Seraphim.

Contact information for the Rector of St. Seraphim Church in Monterey:
Protopriest George Kurtow (831) 442-2149
e-mail: jamkeg@aol.com.