October 21-23: Holy Trinity Monastery & Seminary in Jordanville hosted the EAD’s annual fall clergy conference and a PaTRAM master class for male choir. These events coincided with the EAD’s celebration of the 35th anniversary of Metropolitan Hilarion’s consecration to the episcopate.

The conference took place from Monday, October 21 to Wednesday, October 23 in the presence of the Wonder working Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign, and the Myrrh-Streaming Iveron Icon of the Mother of God of Hawaii . In addition to clergy from ROCOR’s EAD, clergy from the Diocese of Montreal and Canada, as well as clergy from the Moscow Patriarchal Parishes of the USA also participated in these events. The Hawaiian Icon was greeted on Monday afternoon, October 21, 2019.

The conference began with a Molebien, at the conclusion of which, a Gramota was presented by Metropolitan Hilarion to Deacon Nektary Yangston, guardian of the Hawaiian Icon, in appreciation of his profound dedication to the Mother of God, and his extensive travels over the last 12 years.  The morning session featured Archpriest Seraphim Chemodakov as the conference’s main speaker. Fr Seraphim’s presentation, which was open to matushkii and general public in attendance, was entitled “Mental Health Literacy and Referral Practice of Clergy”. This presentation inspired Q&A and follow-up discussions. The afternoon session included the clergy in attendance, as well as seminarians/faculty/administration of HTOS, and addressed several concerning issues pertinent to the effective ministry of our Orthodox clergy in today’s changing world. 

Concurrent with the clergy conference, a PaTRAM master class for male choir was conducted by Maestro Vladimir Gorbik during the conference. The choir sang the responses at Tuesday evening’s All Night Vigil and Wednesday’s Hierarchal Divine Liturgy, and was co-directed by Maestro Vladimir Gorbik and Fr. Deacon Nicholas Kotar, seminary choir director and lecturer in church music .

Metropolitan Hilarion’s episcopal consecration was held on December 10, 1984 in NYC in the Cathedral of the Mother of God of the Sign. Those Divine Services were presided over by +Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky) of blessed memory. The up-coming 35th anniversary of this joyous event in the life of the Church was recognized here, albeit 7 weeks early, at the conference. 

The events culminated with the celebration of the All Night Vigil on Tuesday evening, and the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy on the Feast of the Venerable Elders of Optina, followed by a festive trapeza on Wednesday. The HDL was presided over by our First Hierarch, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion of New York and Eastern America, His Eminence, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan and His Grace, Bishop Luke of Syracuse and Abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery, who were assisted by 60 priests and 15 deacons.