Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, Protectress of the Russian Diaspora

On 8 September, 1295, on the day of the Nativity of the Most-Holy Mother of God, a small force of hunters from Rylsk came to hunt at the Tuskora river, 27 versts from Kursk. One of the hunters, an honorable and pious man, seeking prey in the woods, found a small icon lying face down on the root of a tree. He had barely lifted it to inspect it when the spot upon which the icon lay burst out with a strong spring of pure water. The icon turned out to be of the type referred to as the "Sign" of the Mother of God. The hunter who found the icon knew that this was no ordinary occurrence. He called his companions and together they built a small wooden chapel, into which they placed this icon. The residents of Rylsk, hearing of the newly-appeared icon of the Mother of God, began to visit it for veneration, and many miracles began to appear from it.

In 1385 the Kursk region was again swept by the Tatars. They tried to burn down the chapel and its Icon, but the wooden structure would not burn. The priest who lived by the chapel, Fr. Bogolep, explained to them that the reason for this miracle was the Icon itself. The incensed Tatars hacked the Icon in half and tossed the pieces in different directions, then burned the chapel.

They took the priest prisoner and was forced to tend to Tatar flocks. Some time later he was ransomed by emissaries of the Muscovite Grand Duke who were on their way to the Golden Horde, and he returned to the place where the chapel had stood. After a long search, while praying and fasting, he found both halves of the holy Icon, placed them side by side, and they grew together seamlessly, exhibiting only something "like dew".
In 1676 the holy Icon traveled to the Don River for blessing the Don Cossack troops. In 1684 Tsars Ivan and Petr Alekseevich sent a copy of this Icon with the order that it accompany Orthodox troops into battle. In 1687 the holy Icon was sent to the "Great Army." In 1689 copies of the holy Icon were given to the armies in the Crimean campaign. In 1812 a copy of the holy Icon was sent to Prince Kutuzov and the battling troops. Before his icon St. Seraphim of Sarov prayed and was healed.

On the night of 7-8 March, 1898, conspirator revolutionaries-atheists tried to blow up the Miracle-working Icon with a hellish bomb, but the Lord Jesus Christ glorified His Most-Pure Mother yet more, for despite the terrifying destruction in the cathedral surrounding the Icon, it remained untouched.

On 12 April 1918, the holy Icon was stolen from the cathedral of the Monastery of the Sign of the Mother of God and stripped of its ornamentation, but on 2 May it was found and returned to its place.

Finally, in 1919, while accompanying Bishop Feofan of Kursk and Oboyan' and some monks of the Monastery of the Sign, the holy Icon crossed the border to the neighborly Serbia. In 1920 it again, at the behest of General Wrangel, visited Russia at the Crimea and remained there until the final evacuation of the Russian Army in the first days of November, 1920. The holy Icon returned to Serbia, where it remained until 1944, when, together with the Synod of Bishops, it went abroad, to Munich (Bavaria) with Metropolitan Anastassy. In 1951 Metropolitan Anastassy moved from Munich to America. Since 1957 the Icon had resided in the main cathedral dedicated to it in the Synod of Bishops in New York. The holy Icon regularly travels to all the dioceses of the Russian diaspora

Kazan Convent in the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand Celebrates the Namesday of its Late Abbess

Diocese of Australia and New Zealand: August 14, 2013

On Wednesday, August 7, 2013, the feast day of the repose of Righteous Anna, Mother of the Most-Holy Mother of God, the Holy Deaconesses of Olympia (409) and St Eupraxia the Virgin of Tavenna (413), His Grace Bishop Nikolai of Salavat and Kumertau celebrated Liturgy along with Protopriest Nikita Chemodakov, Rector of St Nicholas Church in Sydney and Dean of New South Wales; Priest Dionisy Khalima, Assistant to the Chief of the Indonesia Ecclesiastical Mission; and Deacon Samuil Vishnevsky of St George Church in Carleton. On the evening before, he performed vigil and matins at Novoe Shamardino Convent of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Kentlyn (Sydney), NSW.

Vladyka Nikolai also performed a pannikhida for Abbess Evpraksia (Pustovalova, +2006), the former head of the convent.

During the services, the new abbess of the convent, Mother Maria (Miros) prayed and sang on the kliros with the other nuns, as well as Abbess Ioanna (Smolina) of the Convent of the Tabyn Icon of the Mother of God in Kurort, in the Gafuria region of Ufa Diocese.

Novo Shamordino is located in the town of Kentlyn, 50 km from Sydney, a part of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, on a parcel of land donated by Protodeacon Peter Grishaev of Sydney’s SS Peter and Paul Cathedral. 

In 1955, when Archbishop Savva (Raevsky +1976) became the Ruling Bishop of the Australian Diocese, he wished to establish both men’s and women’s monasteries within its territory, and a year later it was decided to establish a men’s monastery honoring All Saints.

On the feast day of the Holy Spirit (also the holidays of St Onouphry the Great and St Peter of Athos), June 12/25, 1956, a moleben was performed by Vladyka Savva, who then examined the site of the future monastery together with Hieromonk Dimitry (Obukhov) and Fr Peter Grishaev.

On this historic day, Fr Peter transferred the parcel to the diocese for its first monastery. Later that year, on the Meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God (June 23/July 6), a moleben was performed on the monastery site and the locations for the future monastery buildings consecrated.

Very soon after, on Sunday, September 3/16, the first hierarchal Divine Liturgy was performed in a garage-turned-sanctuary, and the site of the monastery’s future main church blessed, which would house the church and monastic residential cells. Preparation of the parcel began, which was until then an overgrown meadow with low-growing eucalyptus trees, littered with broken glass and barbed wire.

The handful of brethren, including three people (novices Michael Sorokin, Alexei Plenin and John Boiko), headed by Fr Dimitry, began the work with the help of other Russians and even neighboring Australians.

Vladyka would visit every Saturday with a brigade of volunteers, who would work in all kinds of weather, even cold and rain. Soon the main monastery corpus arose, with a small number of cells and a temporary church. Fruit trees were planted along with grapevines, which would later yield Liturgical wine.

Protopriest Rostislav Gan concurrently headed work on establishing a convent in Cabramatta (near Sydney), where several nuns from the Chinese city of Harbin, led by Nun Elena (Ustinov, sister of the renowned actor Peter Ustinov), found a home in the old house of the Russian Benevolent Society.

The Synod of Bishops issued an ukase on November 9/22, 1957, blessing the opening of a monastic community under the auspices of Holy Protection Church, where Fr Rostislav served, with Nun Elena confirmed as its abbess. Another ukase of the same date awarded Nun Elena a gold pectoral cross. The celebration of the opening of the convent and the award to Nun Elena took place on January, 1958, during Liturgy and Protection Church, celebrated by Archbishop Savva. When the nuns lost their residence in Cabramatta, the question arose of where to relocate them. At the time, two of the most valuable volunteers left the men’s monastery, and problems arose. Because of Fr Dimitry’s poor health, he was forced to leave the monastery and asked to be assigned to a parish.

Having received approval, Fr Dimitry left for Brisbane. According to a request by the convent’s spiritual father, Fr Rostislav, in which he asked Vladyka Savva to give the men’s monastery property to the nuns, and transfer the remaining brethren to St Vladimir Church, an ukase was issued on January 16, 1959, signed by Bishop Savva, and soon the convent was moved to Campbelltown and elevated to the ran of full monastery. It was given the name “Novoye Shamardino” (one of the nuns, Mother Mikhaila, was tonsured by one of the Optina Elders). Monastic life in Campbelltown was thus reinvigorated with the arrival of the nuns. The humble and meek Protopriest Anthony Galushko was appointed the spiritual father of the convent, who lovingly donated all his free time to the monastic community. The artist VP Zagorodnik and his son-in-law VS Saltykov and wife Zinaida Pavlovna helped contruct the iconostasis, painted the Crucifixion and adorned the church in other ways.

The further development of monastic life continued under the guidance and direct participation of Archbishop Savva, who continued to visit the convent until his health failed. A dairy and poultry farm was established and 1,000 chicks purchased, along with a tractor; the fruit trees were cultivated and the rest of the grounds planted with trees. The work was so difficult that nuns often hid before Vladyka Savva’s arrival. The land was rocky, and the plans for a cemetery were rejected, since graves would have to be dug with explosives. Watering was all done by the bucket, which was brought by the barrel from Campbelltown. There was no hot water for ten years. The floors in the cells and the church were unfinished. A special place was set aside for a permanent church, where a tall cross was erected on a stone foundation. During feast days, a procession of the cross would go there and a litany performed. VP Zagorodniuk designed tall wooden gates in the Russian style at the entrance, with four massive columns and a wooden roof. They were built by the elderly master MV Artemov and some helpers. Some time later he built the bell tower.

The convent played a major role when the Diocesan Refugee Committee began to take in exiles from China. Three large barracks were hastily erected, along with some auxiliary buildings. Russian society enthusiastically responded to Vladyka Savva’s call, and dozens of cars would bring workers for construction, labor and field work on off days. The “Vladimir Youth” selflessly and actively participated, too. When the refugees would leave the convent, the barracks were turned into hostels for pilgrims visiting on days off and summer vacations and in order to prepare for Holy Communion.

The idea arose to build small residences for retirees near the monastery, where Orthodox Christians could spend their final days near the church and convent. A “Brotherhood of the Holy Cross” settlement was established, and a hostel for the feeble and sick, which opened on August 4/July 22, 1963. Two years later, a few hundred meters away, they began to build a men’s monastery in honor of St John the Forerunner, where Monk Gury and Brother Michael Sorokin settled. The latter exerted a great deal of effort in establishing the diocesan candle works and workshops. The candlestands for the convent were made there.

Present at the establishment of the monastery were:

Abbess Elena
Nun Angelina
Nun Amvrossia
Nun Ioanna
Novice Anfusa
Novice Vera

In its best days, the number of nuns reached 20.

After Fr Anthony, Protopriest Timofey Klopov became its spiritual father. During its existence, a great number of clergymen participated in its spiritual life—Fr Rostislav and Fr Nikita, Protopriest Michael Klebansky, Protopriest Michael Konstantinov, Protopriest Nicholas Grant, Protopriest George Skrinnikov (from Canada), Protopriest Sergei Okunev, Protopriest Serafim Gan, Protopriest Boris Ignatievsky, Priest Vladimir Tsukanov, Hieromonk Cosmas (a Greek), Hieromonk Joachim Ross (a native Australian), and Hieromonk Evfimy (Samorukov). Many newly-ordained priests and deacons sought to gain experience by serving in the convent if possible. In addition to participation in daily services, the nuns also baked prosphoras for most of the churches of greater Sydney. Other obediences have included tending to the church, lighting lampadas and candles, singing and reading on the kliros, working in the kitchen and refectory, cleaning and adorning the church, gardening, mowing grass, greeting pilgrims, handicrafts such as making prayer beads, embroidering vestments, painting greeting cards and Paschal eggs, tending to the sick (nuns, locals and pilgrims), office and bookkeeping, buying produce, tending bees, sewing for the nuns, cleaning and making candles.

After the death from esophageal cancer of 93-year-old Abbess Elena (Ustinov +1984, on Great Friday), Nun Evpraksia (Pustovalova +2006) was appointed abbess. A new, main brick church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God was erected during her reign, and fully consecrated on February 4/17, 1990, by His Eminence Metropolitan Vitaly (Oustinov, +2006) of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, as well as a new brick monastic residence, a bell tower, a main gate with an archway, and accommodations for the churchgoers.

After twenty years of work, Abbess Evpraksia was awarded the right to wear a second pectoral cross. After she was stricken with paralysis, she suddenly died on July 6/19, 2006, having been ill for only one day, but not before having Holy Unction performed over her and receiving the Holy Gifts. Abbess Evpraksia was buried on their “second feast day,” the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, on July 8/21, 2006. The fortieth day of her death coincided with the feast day of the Prophet Mica, an icon of whom she had received as a gift on the day of her elevation to the rank of abbess, and whom she had always revered. Mother Evpraksia was born in Tsarist Russia, but after two revolutions—in Russia and China—she moved with her mother to Australia and chose the monastic path.

On the feast day of the Transfiguration of the Lord in 2006, Nun Maria (Miros), having been the cell-attendant of Mother Evpraksia for 19 years, was appointed the new abbess. On the feast day of the Kazan Icon, in November of that year, she was elevated to the rank of Abbess.

The holy items of the convent include a portion of the Live-Creating Cross of the Lord; relics of the Optina Elders and Elder Ambrose; of Holy Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna (in the altar table); St John of Shanghai and San Francisco; St Moses; Great Martyr Barbara; Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon; St George the Victory-Bearer; St Makrina; SS Job and Amphilochius of Pochaev; 82 relics of saints of both the Near and Far Kievan Caves; Abbess Sophia, first abbess of Shamordino Convent; Hieromartyrs Avxentios, Kharlampius and Philipp; Martys Tryphon and Mamant; Martyrs Agnes, Lucia, Cecilia and Agatha; Blessed Matrona of Moscow; a relic of the Infants of Bethlehem; and stones from holy sites in the Holy Land.

The self-brightening icon of St Seraphim of Sarov was brought to the monastery by relatives of Protopriest Anthony Galushko as a plain white board. In the early 1980’s, the outline of an epetrachelion appeared, the following year the face. Every year the icon gains more and more detail and color.

Brooklyn, NY: The Opening of St. Joasaph of Belgorod Church

On Saturday, August 10, the Russian Orthodox faithful of Brooklyn, NY celebrated a joyous occasion in the life of the Eastern American Diocese – the blessing of a new church. With the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, a new parish was formed in the beginning of 2013, named in honor of the Holy Hierarch Joasaph, Bishop of Belgorod. This is the fourth church of the Eastern American Diocese to be opened up in Brooklyn over the past 15 years.

With such a large number of immigrants from the former Soviet Republics coming to Brooklyn, specifically to Brighton Beach, the opening of a new church able to accommodate their spiritual needs is welcome news. "We are extremely glad and thankful to the Lord for sending us this church," said Eugenia Zaporozhets, warden of the parish’s adult Sunday school, who immigrated to Brooklyn from Russia. Like so many of her compatriots, she grew up in an atheistic country that persecuted Christians and tried to convince the people that God simply did not exist. "We grew up in the Soviet Union and did not go to church. If we did go to church, it was to inform on our classmates. That was our life, and that is why we are grateful to God for our church and our priest, who teaches us how to live properly as Christians."

The Eastern American Diocese has been actively encouraging missionary work among this burgeoning immigrant community, whose members yearn for spiritual and moral guidance. It is our Metropolitan’s missionary vision that the Russian Orthodox Church is in a unique position to lead these people on the path toward salvation: "Our Church Abroad was founded by Russian immigrants and refugees. Because of this, we are able to speak to those who left everything behind in search of a new life, while reminding them that a truly fulfilling life can only be rooted in the commandments of Christ."

The First Hierarch’s vision was echoed by New York City dean Archpriest Alexander Belya, who believes that there is a need for many Orthodox churches in Brooklyn to accommodate those who are searching for Christ, yet know very little of the Faith. "A person who wishes to be renewed, to become better, to live with God, understands that he must attend God’s church, and today that opportunity has been afforded to the residents of this neighborhood."

Just because there is a large Orthodox population in the New York Metropolitan area does not mean that the process of opening a new church will be without challenges. In a borough like Brooklyn, it is not easy or affordable to rent, let alone buy a suitable building or space for worship. Nonetheless, under the direction of the newly appointed rector, Archpriest Boris Oparin, parishioners were able to rent a small storefront in Brooklyn’s Bensonhurst neighborhood and transform it into a cozy Orthodox temple.

Although the space is not large, the new church is well-adorned, with a handcrafted iconostasis and many icons, some of which are printed on canvas and mounted on the walls, giving the impression that the church is fully frescoed. While the outward appearance of a church may not be the most important factor in determining the spiritual health of the parish, an aesthetically pleasing temple will help attract passersby and hopefully spark an interest in the Orthodox life. "Look how cozy it is here – you come in and immediately feel a different mood," Zaporozhets said. "I sometimes keep watch at the entry and candle counter, and greet newcomers. After visiting the church for the first time, many of them are overwhelmed by a feeling of grace and peacefulness, and assure me that they will return on a regular basis."

The particularly prayerful atmosphere can also be attributed in part to a collection of icons and sacred items that the newly established parish received from St. Nicholas Church in Millville, NJ. Unable to overcome recent hardships, St. Nicholas Church was forced to close its doors; but the parishioners desired that the contents of the church continue to serve as implements of prayer. "As sorrowful as it may be to see a parish close, Christ’s Church must minister where the people are," said diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov. "The remaining parishioners of St. Nicholas Church recognize this, and selflessly donated the contents of their church to help give birth to a new parish. In this way, St. Nicholas Church will always live on in Brooklyn."

A special plaque has been installed in the narthex of St. Joasaph’s Church, acknowledging the vital role that St. Nicholas Church played in the parish’s opening and adornment, and encouraging the faithful of Brooklyn to pray for the repose of the faithful in Millville.

After several months of preparation, the parish was finally ready to welcome its ruling bishop and the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, who held an Archpastoral visit to Brooklyn on August 10th in order to perform the lesser blessing of the church and lead the first Hierarchal Liturgy. His Eminence was co-served by Fr. Serge, Fr. Boris, Hieromonk Tikhon (Gayfudinov; cleric of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City), Protodeacon Igor Panachev (cleric of St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City), Protodeacon Leonid Roschko, and Deacon Michael Wengrin (clerics of St. George’s Church in Howell, NJ). Fr. Alexander Belya was also present for the Liturgy and prayed in the altar.

During the Liturgy, a special commemoration was held for the repose of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky), the first Primate of the Russian Church Abroad, in honor of the 77th anniversary of his blessed repose.

In his sermon upon completion of the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion addressed the faithful and congratulated them with the blessing of their new church. The Metropolitan noted that "the opening of new churches is a great grace from God to all the people." He called on the parishioners to follow in the footsteps of their patron saint, the Holy Hierarch Joasaph of Belgorod, and to imitate him in their own spiritual lives. Understanding that the physical construction of a church is only the first step in building a parish community, the Metropolitan urged parishioners to focus their attention on the spiritual needs of the parish by genuinely living a life in Christ. "I wish all of you physical and spiritual strength, patience, and health, that this community might grow not only in number, but especially in spirit and sanctity – St. Joasaph loved to observe this in his flock. Always strive to be closer to God – grow closer to Him, pray to Him constantly, and He will cover you with His almighty grace."

A diocesan Gramota was then presented to Fr. Boris and Matushka Tatiana Oparin for their selfless labors and substantial personal investment in founding the parish. Accepting the Gramota, Fr. Boris reminded parishioners that any award received by a rector is first and foremost an award bestowed on his faithful parishioners. After the Liturgy, a bountiful luncheon was offered in the parish refectory, during which many congratulatory remarks and words of encouragement were offered on behalf of the new parish.

With God’s help, the future of St. Joasaph’s Church is indeed a bright one. Witnessing the brotherly love and unity among the parishioners, it is obvious that the newly blessed church building will soon be outgrown. The parish already has its own Sunday school, in which approximately 40 students are enrolled, thus fortifying the future generation in the salvific virtues of the Orthodox Faith. Grounded in these blessed precepts, the energy and faith of these young men and women give us hope that even more churches will need opening in the near future.

NEW YORK: January 19, 2013 Schedule of Funerary Services for Protopriest Alexey Ohotin

On Saturday, January 19, 2013, the great feast day of the Epiphany, after Divine Liturgy and the blessing of the waters, Protopriest Andrei Sommer, Protopriest Serafim Gan, Priest Alexandre Antchoutine and Priest Nicholas Olhovsky, as well as Protodeacon Paul Wolkow, performed the rite of vesting of the body of newly-reposed Dean of the First Deanery of the Eastern American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Mitred Protopriest Alexey Ohotin. The coffin was then brought to Annunciation Church in Flushing, NY, where a pannikhida was performed before all-night vigil. On Monday, January 21, a hierarchal funerary Divine Liturgy will begin at 9 am, followed by the funeral. The burial will take place at Novo-Diveevo Convent Cemetary in Nyack, NY.

NEW YORK: January 18, 2013 Protopriest Alexey Ohotin Reposes in the Lord

On Friday, January 18, 2013, the Eve of the Epiphany of the Lord, following a lengthy and serious illness, Protopriest Alexey Ohotin, Rector of Transfiguration Church in Flushing, NY, reposed in the Lord. Fr Alexey was the eldest by ordination of all the priests of the Eastern American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, having been ordained by Metropolitan Anastassy (Gribanovsky, +1965) of blessed memory.

Information on the memorial services, funeral and burial of Fr Alexey will be posted in the near future. May he abide in the Kingdom of Heaven in eternal repose with the saints!

CANADIAN DIOCESE: January 16, 2013 27 Russian Organizations of Ontario Unite to Celebrate the 400 th Anniversary of the Romanov Dynasty

From the Editors: With the participation of the Russian-Canadian Cultural Education Society, the Russian House of Commerce, the Russian Youth Theater, the Association of Russian Artists and Actors, Prestige Private School, the Sisterhood of Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and many other organizations in Ontario, Canada, an organizing committee has been set up for the celebration in Canada of the 400 th anniversary of the Romanov Dynasty, consisting of leading members of our community. Below is the committee ’ s appeal to the Russian Orthodox community:

A grand jubilee in the history of Russia is approaching—the 400 th anniversary of the reign of the Romanov Dynasty. We who live in Canada seek to celebrate this date together with our beloved Homeland, four hundred years of the cultural and economic development of our great Russian people. The first challenge is not only to honor the Imperial Dynasty, the church hierarchs, military commanders, diplomats and aristocrats, but to return to our roots, our culture, and our great history. That is why it is especially important that the celebration of the 400 th anniversary be on a first-class level, with beauty, boldly, with characteristic Russian sweep and in all corners of the globe.

With the participation of the Russian-Canadian Cultural Foundation and many other organizations of Ontario, we are preparing a series of special events, proceeds from which will be devoted to concrete charitable programs and towards the dissemination of Russian culture in Canada.

An organizing committee for the celebration of the 400 th anniversary of the House of Romanovs, named the Coordinating Council, to which the most eminent representatives of our compatriots in Canada have been invited, will share their ideas and contribute their time. Canadian citizens of Russian descent are inspired by the fact that the Romanovs are closely related to the present British Royal Family, which heads the British Commonwealth, which includes Canada.

We hope that during the celebrations of this jubilee, charitable work will be the guiding star for our activities, continuing the centuries-old traditions which the Royal Dynasty was renowned for.

The main event will be the celebration of the 400 th anniversary of the end of the Time of Troubles and the reestablishment of Russian statehood, as well as the invitation of Michael Feodorovich to assume the throne as the first member of the Romanov Dynasty.

On behalf of the Coordinating Council, we invite everyone to consider participating in our charitable efforts. This will require great and exhaustive daily work over the entire coming year. Your help for the Coordinating Council can take many forms.

The participation of worthy individuals to this important project will bring its own benefits. For you and your organization, it will promote your cultural, spiritual and moral image. Cultural figures of various opinions and viewpoints, political activists, youth movement representatives and churches will all unite with a single goal, to serve the ideals of good and of mercy.

The personal character of the members of the Coordinating Council ensures success.

Your participation in organizing the events, various presentations and exhibitions, your advice, recommendations and contacts will prove an invaluable contribution towards our common goal, it will strengthen it and guarantee that this effort will earn international recognition.
Some members of the Russian cultural and business elite of Ontario have already expressed their willingness to support this project. We genuinely hope for your help and would be happy to invite new members of the Coordinating Council as a sponsor or member of the press committee. More information can be provided at your request: romanov400.ca@gmail.com, or visit our website atwww.romanov 400.ca.

DIOCESE OF CHICAGO AND MID-AMERICA: January 15, 2013 Nativity of Christ Celebrations at Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in the Mid-American Diocese

Festive divine services for the great feast of the Nativity of Christ were led by His Grace Bishop Peter of Cleveland, Administrator of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America, in Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in Chicago. He was joined by the other clergymen of the cathedral. Praying in the altar during the service was His Eminence Archbishop Alypy of Chicago and Mid-America. Below are photographs of the celebrations:

holyvirginprotection.org

DIOCESE OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND: January 14, 2013 Photo-Report on the First Hierarch's Services on the Nativity of Christ

On Monday, January 7, 2013, the great feast day of the Nativity of Christ, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, who is making an archpastoral visit to the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, celebrated Divine Liturgy of St Basil the Great at SS Peter and Paul Cathedral, and all-night vigil on Christmas Eve. Following are photographs of the solemn services provided by the Australian-New Zealand Diocese.

rocor.org.au