Holy Trinity Monastery

Third Day of Christmas

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

On Monday, January 9, 2012 His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion served at Holy Trinity Monastery for the third day of Christmas. The seminarian Deacon Igor Grytsina was ordained to the priesthood and seminarian Sergei Tuygin was made a reader. Priest Igor is currently serving his forty day liturgies and will continue his studies at Holy Trinity Seminary this year. During the small entrance of the Divine Liturgy the following clergy received awards for their service to the Church and monastery; Archpriest Vladimir Tsurikov, Hieromonk Roman Krassovsky and Hieromonk Theophylact Dewell Clapper. They were all awarded the right to wear the Palitsa. After the service a reception was held at Archimandrite Luke's office for all present.

Theophany - Photo Report

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The Nativity of our Lord 2012

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Christ is Born!
Glorify Him!

Today we joyfully celebrate the birth of our Savior. The Gospel story of this glorious event moves many to tears of compunction. Indeed we are moved to embrace on another our of love for God today. And even though this might be a quickly passing sentimental response it is a welcomed change in our otherwise busy life where thoughts of God are frequently crowed out by more mundane affairs.
However we should pause for a moment and give thought to the reason for this event, which forever change the course of history.

Our Lord and Savior was born to save us from the fires of hell. Surely mankind and each of us indivually for our sins could only expect to perish eternally. God’s judgment is clear in the words of our Lord, “But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: Fear him, who after he has killed has power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” Truly our eternal fate is in God’s hands. How can we affect the scales of God’s justice?

We worship the Child-God today with warm and loving hearts. Every one of us understands and loves the heart of a child, even more so the divine heart of our Savior today. Who of us would not be horrified at the thought of crucifying a child? However this heart of the infant Christ will grow into the heart of the crucified Savior who cried in agony on the Cross, and who’s heart was pierced by a spear, precisely because of our sins. The infant Christ knows that He is born today to save us from the fires of hell by his agonizing, redeeming death. And He willingly accepts this struggle.

Of all of our sins against the Infant Christ, which will lead him to the cross, the greatest is our refusal to take advantage of His salvific struggle, from the beginning to the end of his divine life. The gift of our salvation is daily, hourly offered to us and we refuse to accept it. More than any imaginable sin this sin of refusing the gift of forgiveness, the gift that leads to eternal life and delivers us from hell fire, is the greatest.

Our Lord in His birth humbled himself completely. His step towards us is immeasurable. The greatest stumbling blocks to our salvation are our constant denial of our need for God and our excuses for not making greater efforts. We should not forget that that at the Last Judgment there will be no lawyers to offer some feeble defense for our foolishness. Our damnation will be of our own making.

Let us make that small step toward the Child-Christ today and every day and take from His infant hands the gift of salvation. There is nothing He wants more, than that we take what He offers.

Amen.

Eve of Christmas 2012 - Photo and Video Report

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Feast of St. Nicholas 2012 - Photo Report

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Holy Trinity Monastery added to the National Register of Historic Places

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

On December 3rd, 2011, in the early afternoon people from all walks of life gathered together at the seminary hall at Holy Trinity Monastery to celebrate a moment of history. During a small ceremony, Archimandrite Luke, the abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery, was presented a certificate commemorating the monastery’s addition to the National Register of Historic Places. The monastery was added to the National Register on July 15., 2011.

It was the culmination of over four years of work by the monastery, local preservation groups, including the Preservation League of New York State and Otsego 2000, the New York State Historic Preservation Office and the Mohawk Valley Heritage Corridor Commission

To qualify for the National Register, a historic place must meet one of four primary criteria, in this case, the monastery’s unique architecture, design and construction, as well as the role it played in 20th century world history.

“Properties owned by religious institutions or used for religious institutions or used for religious purposes are not ordinarily considered eligible for National Registry status, however there are exceptions,” said Protodeacon Victor Lochmatow in a news release. The monastery qualified, he said, because the Byzantine-style architecture of the buildings has its own importance.

In the 20th century, the monastery was a gathering place for people who had lost their homes and country during the Soviet communist era. The monastery became a 'little bit of Russia' for immigrants forced to leave their homeland, where they were able to preserve their culture and religion. The monastery's role as a distribuor of spiritual literature which found its way behind the iron curtain, contributed to the recognition of its historic significance.

Receiving the status is significant because the church is now eligible for federal grant money and investment tax credits on rehabilitation work.

Tania Werbizky, regional director of the Preservation League of New York State, called Holy Trinity Monastery “one of the state’s most important landmarks.” In 2008, the Preservation League of New York State placed the monastery on its “Seven to Save” list of endangered properties. “We took this action not only because the property faced threats from unsympathetic, industrial-scale development proposed nearby, but also because we were certain of its extraordinary significance,” Werbizky said.

The proposal of a wind farm nearby threatened the serenity of the monastery Murianka said, adding that the noise, shadows and industrial feeling of the wind farm would be particularly harmful to the 10,000 visitors who come to the monastery each year. “They come to the monastery for spiritual refreshment in the context of the country,” Murianka said. Fred Miller, former executive director of the Mohawk Valley Heritage Corridor Commission, and Assemblyman Marc Butler also spoke at the ceremony. “In closing, let me suggest that we stay vigilant and aware of the treasure that is Holy Trinity Monastery,” Miller said. “Today’s celebration should be a beginning, not an ending.”

People from local, state and national government were present, as were historians, friends and neighbors. It was a joyous occasion, followed by refreshments and a guided tour of the cathedral.

Holy Trinity Monastery continues to be a gathering place for people from all continents. People still come to share in the culture and the spiritual treasure of Orthodoxy. It is a place were people bring their families to enjoy the peaceful landscape and quiet countryside, and for a brief time to share in the monastic life of the brotherhood.

Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

On December 4, 2011, the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple, Archbishop Gabriel of Canada ordained fourth-year seminarian Igor Grytsyna to the diaconate and Reader Ephraim Willmarth was made a sub deacon. May God grant them zeal and strength to serve the Church for the glory of God.

Cathedral Roof Repair in progress - Nov 2011

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Dear Friends of Holy Trinity Monastery

Work has begun in repairing the roof of the main cathedral of the Monastery. Thank you for your support to help us begin this work which is vital in preserving the frescoes in the Church and being damaged by leaks and moisture.

Pannykhida for veterans of Gallipoli and members of the white movement - Nov 26 2011

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500