Feast day of Saint John of Kronstadt- November 1st, 2008 - 11/01/08
Over 150 Orthodox Christians - clergy and laity - on November 1st, 2008, converged on Utica New York to be part of the celebration of the Feast Day of Saint John of Kronstadt. The Saint John of Kronstadt Russian Orthodox Church in Utica New York was filled to capacity.
It was here in 1963, when the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, (ROCOR) performed the Rite of Canonization of the Russian Pastor - Saint John of Kronstadt. The Temple prior to the Canonization was named in honor of Saint John of Rilski - the saint's name that St John of Kronstadt was given at his christening and bore all his life!
Clergy came from the Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville (Archimandrite Luke- Abbot of the Monastery, Protodeacon Victor Lochmatov and deacon Nikolai Olhovsky); from Boston area (Protodeacon Alexander Jarostchuk); from Nyack (Mitred Archpriest George Larin); from Red Bank, NJ (Archpriest Serge Lukianov); from Seacliff NY ( Deacon Eugene Kallaur) and other priests and deacons that alas,I cannot name since I did not have the opportunity to meet them!
Laity also came from other parishes - to name a few: Poughkeepsie (Mr. and Mrs. George Nikolsky); Nyack (Matushka Catherine Larin, Mr. and Mrs. Kiril Zaporoshan, Mr. and Mrs. Serge Lopoukhine) Boston, Hartford, Rochester.. Many seminarians from Jordanville came and assited in the singing of the Divine Liturgy.
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated in a most glorified and prayerful manner! All were in a uplifted spirit.
After the Cross Procession and Dismissal, the clergy, congregation and guests proceeded to a nearby Country Club for a luncheon banquet.
This was a memorable event - it showed how parishes join together in celebrating each others Feast Days! This is how it should be - showing brotherly love to one another!