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Observations:
In 2009, we had twice as many surfers than in 2008. New visitors doubled in number; number of visits was two fold; pages viewed increased by thirty three percent and hits (files requested from the server) rose by eighty four percent. November was again the most active month of our parish site and the most active hour was 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
Statistics
2009 (In Blue): 2008 (In Red) Unique visitors (new IP): 9,356 : 4,701 Number of visits: 14,626 : 7,237 Pages checked: 349,189 : 262,433 Hits (files requested from server): 981,911 : 533,286 Most active month: November : November Most active hour: 4 PM : 9 PM Top 10 country-viewers in 2009: United States (88%); Canada (2%); Russia (2%); Greece-Australia-Germany-Great Britain-Turkey-Indonesia and Latvia. Top 10 country-viewers in 2008: United States (88%); Canada (2%); Australia (1%); EU-Great Britain-Japan-Germany-Russia-France and China.
The Kursk Icon arrived on Saturday,January 16, 2010 to our Parish. An akathist and all night vigil began at 4:30 PM. Following the service, a bountiful dinner was served by the sisterhood in the Church Hall. A talk, with photos and videos was presented on the September 2009 Kursk Icon visit to Moscow and Kursk Russia.
Details of the memorable event with photos can be viewed by going to the Eastern American Diocese website: www.eadiocese.org
A Blini Organizing Committee has been assembled under the able leadership of Mr. Ivan Larin. He is assisted by able planners of past Blini Gala events. As you can see and read from the flyers posted above, the Orchestra, entertainment, prices, dates and contact for ticket orders are already in place!
Tickets are being sold as we speak. Do not delay in placing your orders as space is limited! Come and join us and be part of the Gala event and support the Church School Fund.
A
Message from the Diocesan Secretary on the Parish Visitation Tour of
the Kursk Root Icon
Dear in the Lord honorable fathers, brothers, and sisters,
With the blessing of His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern
America and New York, the guide and protectress of the Russian
Diaspora, the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign, will
tour the Eastern American Diocese from December 10th, 2009 to February
8th, 2010. With God's help, this parish visitation tour will
spiritually fortify the faithful and serve to unify our diocese. At a
time when our diocese is undergoing a revival, it is especially
important for us to intensify our prayers to the Lord our God and His
Most Pure Mother, that not only might our diocese be revived, but our
spiritual lives, as well. The Kursk Icon of the Mother of God is the
greatest blessing we in the Russian Church Abroad have. Over the
course of our history, the Heavenly Queen has, through Her icon
"Of the Sign," protected our archpastors, pastors, and all
of the faithful children of the Church Abroad under her omophorion. During the most fearful years
of the 20th Century, the Heavenly
Queen never abandoned us and, thanks to Her, our Church was able to
preserve the spirit of Holy Russia far away from our native land.
By
God's grace, Russia is being reborn, and we all bore witness to the
historic return of the miracle-working icon to its home in Kursk. Each
of our hearts rejoiced, seeing how the Russian people greeted this
miraculous icon for the first time in 90 years. The Kursk Icon
comforted the long-suffering Russian people and granted spiritual joy
to hundreds of thousands of our brothers and sisters in Christ. At a
time when the whole Russian Orthodox Church is undergoing a revival,
we have the weighty responsibility to participate in this revival here
in our own diocese. We have a duty to make sure that this revival is,
first and foremost, a spiritual one. We must offer up our sincere
repentance to the Lord God together, as one diocese, laying the
foundation for a renewed spiritual life. Our common diocesan life is a
reflection of our internal spiritual life. If within us are love and
co-suffering, then we will strive to help and support one another. If
in our souls we will harbor envy and pride, then we will foster only
vengeance and jealousy, to the rejoicing of the evil one, who
ceaselessly seeks to tear apart the one Church – the raiment of
Christ.
Our
diocesan hierarchs of blessed repose, Metropolitan Philaret,
Metropolitan Laurus, Archbishop Vitaly, Archbishop Averky, Archbishop
Nikon, and many other archpastors always prayed before our heavenly
guide. Let us follow their example, turning to our Heavenly Mother
with prayer for the unity and well-being of our beloved diocese. Let
us all fall to our knees together before this honorable image, singing
with "one mouth and one heart:" O Most Holy Theotokos, save
and bless us in our forthcoming labor!
Archpriest
Serge Lukianov
Diocesan Secretary
The Kursk Icon will arrive on Saturday,January 16, 2010 to our Parish. An akathist and all night vigil will begin at 4:30 PM. Following the service, refreshments will be served by the sisterhood in the Church Hall. A talk, with photos and videos will be presented on the September 2009 Kursk Icon visit to Moscow and Kursk Russia.
Click on Image to Display
Click on Image to Display
Here is an article that was written in Nyack's "Rivertown" periodical.
A Touch of Russia in Nyack!
One doesn’t need to travel to Moscow or
St. Petersburg to indulge in authentic Russian cuisine and pastries or to hear
the strains of Russian music.The annual
Holiday Boutique a la Russe at the Holy Virgin Protection Church in
Nyack is hosting our all-around Russian cultural festival on Saturday,
November 21, 10-6, and Sunday, November 22, 11:30-7:00.The church is located at 51 Prospect Street
(corner of Cedar Hill Avenue). Tel: 845-353-1155.
As you enter the church hall, you feel
as though you have been transported to a square in Russia where colorful booths
abound and vendors sell handicrafts and other gift items.The parish Gift Shop stocked with beautiful
imported novelties from Russia is open.
Enjoy traditional live Russian music
featured throughout the day and the performances of young Russian dancers.
The Merry Matryoshka Bistro
(named for the brightly painted, wooden nesting dolls) is definitely the focal
point of this three-day event!Your
mouth will water with the fragrant aromas of traditional foods. As you rest at
one of the bistro tables, you can enjoy the atmosphere and wonderful dishes
such as Boeuf Stroganoff (named after the distinguished Stroganoff family);
Borscht (the hearty beet soup served with dollops of fresh sour cream) and
either meat or cabbage piroshky (individual savory pies); Golubtsy (stuffed
cabbage); Shashlyk (pork or chicken shish kebobs grilled over hot coals) and
Pelmeni (Siberian meat-filled dumplings served with sour cream).Enjoy a glass of cold imported Russian beer
with your meal.This is just a small
sampling of what the menu offers.
If tea from a samovar and Old World
sweets beckon you, the Russian Tea Room Café on the stage of the
church hall serves napoleons, poppy seed rolls, honey cake, or apple cake
topped with fresh apple slices under a lattice crust among other
delicacies.One can always have a cup of
coffee but the drink of choice is hot black tea sweetened with cherry
preserves.
During the festival, the church is
opened for tours.Apart from the
distinct glowing golden dome, the inside of the church is beautifully decorated
with colorful icons and frescos depicting scenes from the Old and New
Testaments and the life of Christ.All
are welcome!
The Church tours will be offered on Saturday November 21st at 1:30 PM and again at 4:30 PM. On Sunday, November 22nd, the church tours will also be held at 1:30 PM and again at 4:30PM.
The church architecture, and structure will be explained. A discussion of the icons and symbolism will explain their significance in Orthodox worship. Comments and audio examples of Orthodox chants will be offered. Every one is urged to "come and see"!
Metroplitan Hilarion and Mr. Peter Fekula visit the Holy Virgin Protection Church School - 10/31/09
October 31, 2009
His Eminence,
Metropolitan Hilarion and the Synodal Choir Director, Mr. Peter A. Fekula visit
the Holy Virgin Protection Russian Orthodox Church School.
The Metropolitan Visit:
At 10 o’clock in the morning, His
Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, arrived in Nyack and was greeted with the
peeling of bells of the Nyack Parish. The Metropolitan wished to visit with the
children and view the school activities.
The visit began with the
Metropolitan attending the kindergarten class where each child received a
blessing from the Hierarch. The students then had the opportunity to sing and perform
for the Bishop. Metropolitan Hilarion then met with all the school children of
the Nyack School and ten students who arrived with Father Serafim Chemodakov from
the Saint Alexander Nevsky Parish in Lakewood, New Jersey.
The meeting was held in the
Church Hall which was filled nearly to capacity with clergy, children and
parents. The students had the opportunity to prepare questions before-hand to
be presented to the Metropolitan. The questions were very well thought out and covered
many topics. Some of the questions were even directed at the Metropolitan’s
personal life such as what was his favorite and least favorite part of his job;
his weaknesses; does he like to travel so much. Other questions addressed the
teachings of the Orthodox Church. The question and answer session lasted over
an hour and the Bishop was pleased with the dialog and has expressed the wish
that such meetings with His Eminence should be done on a periodical basis.
Then a pizza lunch was served and
was enjoyed by all. This was followed by the School choirs performing for His Eminence and all attendees.
The choir was directed very professionally by Mrs. Irina Serdsev. After a group
photo with the Metropolitan, the Hierarch left for Jordanville at 1:30 PM.
Mr. Peter A. Fekula talk on Orthodox Hymnology:
The Nyack School students then
had the wonderful opportunity to listen to a very interesting and educational
talk on the evolution of the Orthodox hymnology. Mr. Peter A. Fekula, the
Synodal Choir Director, had the full attention of his audience, young and old,
as he presented, with audio examples, different aspects of Church music
composition and meaning.
This was followed by a choir
rehearsal with the school student singers under the direction of Mr. Fekula
which then participated as the choir members in the All-night Vigil service
that was officiated on that day at 4PM in the afternoon. After the Vigil the
students were treated to supper in the hall and viewed the film “Ostrov”.
Coming to America! His Holiness with President Obama in Moscow during the latters' visit earlier this year
In
an exciting communiqué early this morning, our sources in Russia have
told us that His Holiness Patriarch Kirill will be coming for an
official visit to the United States in the early part of 2010. The same
news is also coming from other bloggers including Voices from Russia.
In what would be an extremely welcome, albeit hectic schedule, the
Patriarch, accompanied by His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral),
would be visiting places such as the Synodal Headquaters in New York
City, as well as possibly taking in the Joy of All Who Sorrow Cathedral
in San Francisco to venerate the relics of St John Maximovitch.
It is thought the Patriarch will also visit the Holy Trinity Monastery
Jordanville to pay respects to the final resting place of the late
Metropolitan Laurus, one of the architects of the blessed reunion of
the two parts of the Russian Church in 2007.
It is believed that
more news will come from the December meeting of the Holy Synod in
Moscow, which will be giving much attention to issues concerning
parishes abroad. Given that no bishop has been sent to replace Bishop
Merkury (who until recently headed the Patriarchal parishes in the
USA), it is quite possible these parishes will placed under ROCOR
Metropolitan Hilarion of New York. A similar situation may finally see
the overlapping diocese in Germany also combined. The process continues
the work of normalizing the ecclesiastical situation in the Russian
Church after years of division were healed following the 2007 Act of
Canonical Communion.
Text taken from "ROCOR United" website (October 27, 2009)
Feast of the Protection of the Holy
Virgin
Nyack, New York
October 14, 2009
The All night vigil began with His
Grace Bishop Jerome arriving at the
Holy Virgin Protection Orthodox Church at 6:30 PM. With Bishop Jerome, The
Rector of the Parish, Archpriest George
Larin and Archpriest Ilya Gorsky was in attendance. The Vesper and Matins
was beautified with the diaconate voices of Protodeacon Joseph Jarostchuk, Deacon Nicholas Olhovsky and Deacon
Eugene Kallaur.
The following morning, His Grace
Bishop Jerome was met at 9:30 AM by clergy Archpriest
George Larin, Archpriest Ilya Gorsky, Archpriest Sergei Lukianov and Archpriest
Zoran from the Serbian Orthodox Church in PlainfieldNew Jersey.
Again the Divine Liturgy Service was embellished by the participation of the Protodeacon Joseph Jarostchuk and Deacon
Eugene Kallaur. The choir was in full force with 30 singers and under the
able direction of Ms. Elena Miloradovich and sang beautifully for the Vigil,
Pontifical Liturgy and crucession.
A bountiful and festive trapeza
was offered by the Parish Sisterhood and served in the Church Hall to the clergy and to
many that came to take part of the Feast Day of the Nyack Parish. See below photos (114) of the Feast day celebration!
Reading of the Gospel- Eastern Station during the Crucession
Rector-Archpriest George Larin
Crucession
Reading of the Gospel by His Grace Bishop Jerome
Worshippers
Crucession-His Grace Bishop Jerome
Choir
Festal Trapeza
Litia-Artoklasia
Festal Trapeza
Festal Trapeza
Clergy table
Clergy Table
Archpriest Sergei Lukiano-Secretary of the Eastern American Council sharing his experiences on the visit of the Kursk Icon to Russia
Litiyia- Artoklasia: His Grace Bishop Jerome of Manhatan
Litia-Artoklasia
Litia-Artoklasia
Litia-Artoklasia: Protodeacon Joseph Yarostchuk
Litia-Artoklasia
Litia-Artoklasia
Litiyia (Artoklasia)- His Grace Bishop Jerome blessing the bread, wheat, wine ane and oil
The Icon of the Protection of the Theotokos
Matins-Reading of the six Psalms (Exapsalmos)
Reading of the six Psalms
Polielei
Choir
Polielei
Polielei
Polielei
Polielei-Subdeacon Andrew Komendantov
Subdeacon Andrew Komendantov
Deacon Nicholas Olhovsky-Polielei
Polielei
Polielei
Polielei
Polielei
Choir
Polielei
Censing of the Church during the Polielei
Censing of the Church during the Polielei
Poleilei-Deacon Eugene Kallaur
Poleilei- His Grace Bishop Jerome of Manhatan
Choir member - Tanya Gorsky
Choir member- Ivan Larin
Deacon Eugene Kallaur bringing out the Gospel
Deacon Eugene Kallaur with the Holy Gospel
Reading of the Gospel during Matins
Protodeacon Joseph Jarostchuk
Veneration of the Festal Icon
Veneration the Icon of the Protection of the Holy Theotokos
Veneration of the Icon
Waiting for the arrival of His Grace Bishop Jerome of Manhattan- On the morning of the feast Day
Clergy waiting for the arrival of His Grace Bishop Jerome
Acolyte Misha Miloradovich
Bishop's arrival
Bishop Jerome of Manhattan
The reading of Hours
Vespers-The Paremia readings for the Feast day
His Grace Bishop Jerome-the reading of the Hours
Archpriest Sergei Lukianov, His Grace Bishop Jerome and Archpriest Ilyia Gorsky
Archpriest Ilyia Gorsky and Archpriest Zoran
Bishop's Dikiri and Trikiri
Commencement of the Pontifical Divine Liturgy
The Little Entrance with the Gospel
Bishop's Orlets on the Bishop's Cathedra
The Little Entrance with the Gospel
His Grace Bishop Jerome
Bishop's Entrance into the Altar during the singing of the Third Antiphon
Trisagion blessing of the worshipers
Reading of the Epistle both in English and Slavonic
The preparation to the Great Entrance
The preparation to the Great Entrance
Deacon Nicholas Olhovsky
The Great Entrance - Protodeacon Joseph Jarostchuk
The Great Entrance
Archpriests Zoran and Sergei Lukianov - The Great Entrance
Archpriest George Larin - The Great Entrance
The Great Entrance
Archpriests Ilya Gorsky and George Larin-The Great Entrance
Blessing of the people after the Great Entrance
Blessing of the people after the Great Entrance
His Grace Bishop Jerome of Manhatan
Crucession
Crucession
Crucession
Crucession
Crucession
His Grace Bishop Jerome of Manhattan has celebrated with us before our Parish Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God. This happened thirty seven years ago (1972). The above pictures attest to that!
The first picture (left) shows cell attendant to Archbishop Nikon, John Shaw - now His Grace Bishop Jerome of Manhattan , to the left of Archbishop Nikon holding the Dikiri at the beginning of the crucession. At the top of the stairs stands Deacon Victor Potapov who at that time was the Deacon of the Nyack Parish.
The center picture shows Archbishop Nikon reading the Holy Gospel during the crucession on the Feast Day in 1972. Cell attendant, John Shaw stands to the left of the Archbishop holding the Dikiri. Deacon Victor Potapov holds the Holy Gospel. The Trikiri is held by subdeacon Andrei Papkov whereas to his right stands the newly appointed rector of the Nyack Parish, Father George Larin.
The picture to the right shows another angle of the crucession coming out of the Temple. Archbishop Nikon is in the middle of the picture, with his cell attendant, John Shaw, to his left holding the Dikiri.
Here are the pictures of His Grace Bishop Jerome of Manhattan performing the same rite, the reading of the Holy Gospel during the crucession on the Feast Day of Pokrov 2009.
His Grace Bishop Jerome will officiate the All Night Vigil and the Divine Liturgy of the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God. Parishioners are urged to come and take part in our Feast day - Second Pascha for the parish!
Bishop George of Mayfield will not be able to attend as originally planned due to illness, let us pray for a speedy recovery of our Vicar Bishop!
Last Saturday, October 10th, 2009, the new bulletin board was erected. It was built in three sections and installed.
Cosmetics yet need to be done. LED lights will be set in place with a light sensor. This will give light, at dusk, to read bulletins and the name of the Church as well as the names of the Orthodox hierarchy pertaining to this Parish.
The bulletin board roof will be shingled with the same color shingle as that of the Church. The vinyl siding of the bulletin board will be painted in the same two-tone color scheme as the Church. the bulletin side (facing the Church) will have a cork backing for ease of announcement postings.
The side facing the street will contain a professional sign depicting the name of the Church; service hours; and contact information such as the Office phone; website address and the photos of the clerical hierarchy.
The Kursk Icon
The Kursk Icon
NEW YORK: September 11, 2009
The
Delegation of the Russian Church Abroad Accompanying the Kursk-Root
Icon of the Mother of God Departed for Moscow and Kursk, Russia
After
praying at a moleben at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign
in New York, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion and the members of the
delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
accompanying the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God departed for
Russia.
Kursk Root Icon History
The Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "Of the Sign" is one of the
most ancient icons of the Russian Church. In the thirteenth century
during the Tatar invasion, when all the Russian realm was put to the
extremest tribulation, the city of Kursk, ravaged by the Horde of Batu,
fell into desolation.
First miracle
On September 8, 1259, a hunter noticed the icon lying underneath a tree, on a root, with its face
to the ground. The hunter lifted it and saw that the image of
the icon was similar to the Novgorod "Znamenie" Icon of the Mother of
God. Just as the hunter lifted up the holy icon from the earth, a
strong spring of pure water surged up at that place where the icon
rested.
Chapel
With the help of friends the hunter built an old small chapel and placed the newly-found icon in it. When news of this spread, many
came from Rylsk to venerate the icon and pray about
their sorrows and needs. There the Mother of God healed all who came to
her icon.
Soon after, the icon was transferred to Rylsk and put it in a new church in honor of the Nativity of the Theotokos.
But the icon did not long remain there. It disappeared and returned to
the place of its first appearance. The inhabitants of Rylsk repeatedly
took it and carried it back to their city, but the icon
incomprehensibly returned to its former place. It was realized, that
the Theotokos preferred the place of appearance of her icon.
Glorified icon
This icon, and the help granted by the Mother of God, is linked with
important events in Russian history: with the war of liberation of the
Russian nation during the Polish-Lithuanian incursion in 1612, and the
1812 Fatherland war.
Hymns
Troparion (Tone 4)
Having obtained thee as an unassailable rampart and wellspring of miracles,
O Most Pure Mother of God, thy servants quell the assaults of enemies.
Wherefore, we pray to thee:
Grant peace to our land, and to our souls great mercy.
Kondakion (Tone 6)
Come you faithful,
Let us radiantly celebrate the wondrous appearance of the most precious Image of the Mother of God,
And drawing grace there from, let us cry out with compunction:
Rejoice, O Mother of God, Blessed Mary, Mother of God!
The Icon will visit Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow for several days. After which the Holy Icon will be brought to Kursk, Russia where the icon was revealed to the Orthodox world over 700 years ago. The Icon is visiting its homeland for the first time since its exodus during the Russian Revolution over 80 years ago.
The Icon of the Holy Theotokos, named as "Softening of Evil Hearts" began to copiously stream Holy Myrrh in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow on the same day when Metropolitan Kiril of Smolensk and Kaliningrad was elected as the 16th Patriarch of Moscow and all of Russia. The icon exudes Myrrh in response to the trials and tribulations currently occuring in the world. Liters of Myrrh are being collected from the Holy Icon of the Theotokos. Hundreds of faithful come to pray before the Icon and venerate the Mother of God, asking the Holy Lady to soften the hearts of evil doers and also to receive blessings and relief from daily strife for loved ones.
With the blessings of His Holiness, Patriarch Kiril and His Eminence, Metroplitan Hilarion, and by invitation of the Abbot of the Holy Trinity Monastery, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Luke, the Myrrh streaming Icon of the Theotokos, "Softening of Evil Hearts" God-willing shall reside in Jordanville on the weekend of the 27th of September.
From the 12th of September on, the Holy Icon will visit with the faithful in and around New York City, as well as New England parishes. After Jordanville, the Icon will visit parishes in upstate New York, Pennsylvania and Washington DC. The Icon will leave for California Parishes on October 5th and will return to Russia on the 12th of October.
This Holy Icon of the Mother of God will visit our Church, The Holy Virgin Protection Church, at 6:00PM on Monday, September 21, 2009 (Feast of Her Nativity.)
The Myrrh-Streaming Hawaiian-Iveron Icon will visit our Church on Friday, August 21st, 2009.
The Myrrh-Streaming Hawaiian-Iveron Icon and the Holy Cross
The Myrrh-Streaming Hawaiian-Iveron Icon and the Holy Cross
Our Parish, The Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, will be visited by the Myrrh Streaming Hawaiian-Iveron Icon on August 21, 2009 at 6:00PM. At that time a Molieben (Thanksgiving Service) and Akathist will be offered to the Mother of God in honor of her Iveron Icon.
In June of 2008, the Holy Myrrh-streaming Hawaiian-Iveron Icon was officially recognized by Archbishop Kyrill of the Russian Orthodox Church as miraculous and geniune and given the blessing to travel to the various churches and monasteries of Holy Orthodoxy.
Everyone is welcome to come and join us in venerating the Holy Icon and give Honor to our Heavenly Mother!
Orthodoxy in America
Russian Version
