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AUSTRALIAN DIOCESE: 6 November 2002
Holiday in Geelong
The Russian people--bearers of God in joys and sorrows, always
turned to the Mother of God, expressing its love for Her, Who
so often came to the aid of the Russian Land in her difficult
moments. Like "cover wider than the clouds," She protected
our ancestors with Her omophoros and merciful intercession from
all troubles and sorrows. The Mercy of the "Mother of the
Living," as the Mother of God is called by St. Epiphianius,
embraced our entire land.
In our homeland alone, before the revolution, there were 468
miracle-working icons of the Most-Blessed Virgin!
On 24 October, 1648, the icon of the Mother of God "Joy
of All Who Sorrow" was glorified through miracles in the
Moscow church of the Transfiguration on Bolshaya Ordynka, and
that same year, the Russian Church established its feast day.
And now, our church altar in Geelong is consecrated in honor
of the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow,"
where Archbishop Hilarion traveled on 23 October/5 November,
on the day of St. James, brother of the Lord. This icon is particularly
revered by our immigrants from Harbin, China, because in the
1920's, the renewed icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All
Who Sorrow," one of the greatest holy items of Harbin,
resided at the church of the House of Mercy.
Once, at the church, the now-reposed Priest Julian Sumnevich,
known for his asceticism, discovered that the ancient, darkened
icon began to brighten and renew itself. Indeed, in a few days
it was completely bright. At the present time, the renewed icon
of Harbin is in the Synodal church of St. Sergius of Radonezh
in New York. On the eve of the feast day, His Eminence Archbishop
Hilarion conducted all-night vigil with a litany and magnification,
along with Priest Simeon Kichakov, the rector of the church,
and Priest Seraphim Gan, with Protodeacon Basil Yakimov, clergy
of the Canberra church, and Deacon Alexander Abramov from the
Melbourne cathedral, who was deemed worthy of the ranks of subdeacon
and deacon and ordained in this church several years ago.
The following morning, on the feast day itself, Priest Simeon
Kichakov performed the proskomedia, and Priest Seraphim Gan
the minor blessing of the water along with Protodeacon Basil
Yakimov. At 9 a.m. the Archbishop was greeted, who served liturgy
along with Protopriest Michael Protopopoff, the dean of Victoria,
Protopriest Nikolai Karipoff, Protopriest Nicholas Danilkiewicz,
Priest Nicolas de Carleton, Priest Seraphim Gan, Priest Simeon
Kichakov and Hieromonk Peter from the local monastery of the
Serbian Orthodox Church, along with Protodeacon Basil Yakimovich
and Deacon Alexander Abramov.
During the ceremonious procession of the Cross and prayers of
supplication to the Most-Pure Mother of God, Archbishop Hilarion
consecrated the newly-gilded crosses and cupolas, which will
be elevated upon the completion of the restoration of the roof.
During the trapeza feast prepared by the hardworking Sisterhood
of the Geelong church, the clergy gave numerous congratulatory
speeches. Archbishop Hilarion declared that this holiday marks
the beginning of the 50th anniversary of the Geelong parish,
imparting the rector and parishioners with a Blessed Gramata
(Decree) from the Synod of Bishops.
The Russian Geelongites hope to mark their anniversary sometime
next year, when the Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul and the Protection
Church in Cabramatta celebrate their anniversaries.
I was personally gladdened and warmed while attending the feast
day of the Geelong parish, for the Cathedral in San Francisco,
in which I was ordained, and the church in Geelong have a spiritual
bond not only through their dedication to the Mother of God,
but also through their memories of the kind, loving archpastor
of San Francisco, Archbishop Anthony, who began his archpastoral
service in Victoria as vicar bishop of Melbourne. Here also,
as later in San Francisco, he was able to unite in his heart
his entire parish. May we, through his prayers, learn from Lord
how to love, to forgive all, to pray earnestly, which shall
make of us a light which illuminates this world and makes it
a brighter place.
Priest Seraphim Gan |
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