Some of the twelve great feasts of the Church come in pairs.  Nativity followed by Theophany; so also is the case with the feasts of the Nativity of the Theotokos and the Exaltaton of the Cross.

In a recent posting, the monastery’s “All-People’s” celebration of the memory of the Venerable Job, Abbot and Wonderworker of Pochaev every year on Labor Day weekend was described.  The actual feast day, August 28 (Sept. 10, new calendar) is also celebrated, as the patronal feast of our lower church.   The All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy was celebrated by our abbot-bishop, His Grace Luke together with the monastery clergy also my with the local faithful as well as many pilgrims who are always in attendance on monastery feast days. The  new school year has started, so our seminarians, both old and new were participating. 

It has been the tradition of the Holy Monastery to take advantage of the long Labor Day weekend for the spiritual benefit of the faithful, by holding an All-People’s celebration of the memory of St. Job of Pochaev together with the Pochaev Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.

he traditions of the monastery in large part hark back to the Pochaev Monastery in Volynia, Ukraine, a great center of Orthodoxy and missionary work in defense of our holy faith from the times of its first abbot, the Venerable St. Job.  Known for his printing efforts in defense of the faith against the inroads of Uniatism in the southwestern part of Holy Rus,” the monastery founded by Archimandrite Vitaly Maximenko, later Archbishop in North America and abbot of the Holy Trinity Monastery and first Rector of the Holy Trinity Seminary, in Slovakia, was consecrated to his memory.  Under his protection, the monastery continued the printing efforts of the famous printing presses of Pochaev both for the Church Abroad as well as smuggling literature into the Soviet Union, during the seventy-year communist persecution of the Church.

An exact copy of the miraculous icon of the Mother of God of Pochaev was gifted by the brotherhood in Pochaev to the monastery in Slovakia, and from there was taken into exile with the brotherhood during World War II, eventually finding its way to the New World.  At first the icon was kept in a cathedral in the Bronx, later being brought to stay in Holy Trinity Monastery.  From those times, it became the tradition to hold a Meeting of the Icon on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, a time when hundreds of pilgrims, taking advantage of the civil holiday, made their way to the monastery.  Many of these pilgrims came from what is now known as Ukraine and were familiar with St. Job, the Pochaev monastery and its miraculous icon of the Theotokos. 

We continue these traditions until this day, having a meeting of the Icon at 3PM, followed by a moleben to the Mother of God and St. Job with an Akathist to St. Job, before the Vigil service Saturday evening. 

Once again, our shores have filled with many immigrants from the Ukrainian land.  And thus, the desire to especially pray to St. Job and the Pochaev Icon continue to be relevant to us, especially in light of what is going on in Ukraine in our days.

On the Sunday itself, besides an early liturgy in the basement church of St. Job, His Grace, Bishop Luke, abbot of the monastery, together with monastery clergy and guests, served a hierarchal liturgy at 9AM in the cathedral, followed by a moleben with a procession around the cathedral with the icons of St. Job and our copy of the Pochaev Icon, which is held by many of the faithful to be miraculous, having received cures of spiritual and medical problems from it.

At the end of the service, the traditional monastery trapeza was open to all of the pilgrims.  Again, on Labor Day itself, Vladyka served a hierarchal liturgy.  After the noon-day meal, His Grace, along with the monastery clergy, served a general pannikhida for members of the brotherhood, whose anniversaries of death were in recent days, including the every-memorable Metropolitan Laurus.  And thus concluded our celebration.

The Feast of the Dormition falls closely with the monastery’s “People’s” feast of the Pochaev Icon and  St. Job, Abbot and Wonderworker of Pochaev, celebrated for convenience’s sake on Labor Day weekend, as this usually falls within the afterfeast.

  The burial service was observed in many cathedrals and monasteries in Russia.  Here in our monastery this service was done many years ago.  With the generous gift of a beautiful shroud of the Mother of God, from Vladyka Nicholas, who became our First Hierarch, Vladyka Luke decided to renew this observance for the spiritual benefit of our community.

On Sunday, August 12/25, 2024, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada presided over the Rite of Consecration of Antimins, concelebrating with Bishop Luke of Syracuse. The Antimins (also known as “antimension”) is a rectangular cloth depicting the burial of our Lord Jesus Christ, on top of which the Holy Mysteries are consecrated. The Antimins contain relics of martyrs, in remembrance of the persecuted Church of ancient times, where Liturgy was often celebrated using a tomb of a martyr as an Altar table.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 August 24, 2024

Ever since the beginning of hostilities between Ukraine and Russia, we have prayed in our services for peace between these two countries, whose origins hail back to ancient Kievan Rus’
            The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is recognized by most of the brother Orthodox Churches as the only canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine.  Sadly, Patriarch Bartholomew has created a separate church in Ukraine, which has caused a grievous schism.  Nevertheless, the majority of the Orthodox remain faithful to their mother Church, despite ongoing persecution. People of ill-will interrupt services, attack elderly women, and have brutally taken over churches and in some instances, injured clergy and faithful laity.

In the midst of the Dormition fast, we have the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord on Mount Tabor.  All the altar coverings are changed from Lenten red to bright white, symbolizing the bright light given off by our Lord on Mount Tabor as seen by the holy apostles, Peter, James and John and the unseen light as experience as much as possible by them.

In the month of August there are three feasts of the Lord, besides the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God.  In Russian popular parlance, the first feast, the “First Saviour” is the feast of the Procession of the Life-Giving Cross.  This is also the feast of the Maccabean Martyrs.  On this day, in the Russian Church, it is traditional to bless holy water, as according to tradition this is about the time of the Baptism of ancient Rus’.  On this day it is also traditional to give out blessed honey.

The opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic games in Paris was a vivid and most emphatic manifestation of what spirit has descended among men. Many people from across the world were left shocked, scandalised, and in disbelief watching what was unravelling before their eyes. This global event that gathers all nations from across the globe, this 'opening' - expressed in an unequivocal way the inauguration or affirmation of a 'new world order' which is antithetical to God's order, an open declaration of who it serves, i.e, who its 'master' is, and who it battles against. This 'ceremony' was nothing less than a satanic assembly, very dark and very telling of the spiritual state the world is cataclysmically spiralling into. This worldly 'state of affairs' is nothing new for Orthodox Christians.

On the Feast of the Equal to the Apostles Grand Princess Olga,  Bishop Luke served the Vigil and Liturgy at the convent of Quick to Hear. St. Olga is the second patron of the Convent and of their craft shop.

The fast of the Apostles culminated with the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul on July 12th (N.S.)  With the attendance of many pilgrims in addition to the “summer youth,” 25 of whom are presently here, and of course the brotherhood, His Grace Bishop Luke celebrated the divine services. 

Praise be to God that the brethren of Holy Trinity Monastery were able to once again celebrate the patronal feast of the monastery in the traditional way, with three days of solemn services.

  Forty days after Pascha, the feast of feasts, the Church celebrates one of the twelve main feasts of the Church, the Ascension of our Lord into Heaven.  This is a great feast in that we celebrate that the Lord Jesus Christ took our human nature which he divinized and took it to Heaven to sit at the right hand of His Father. 

An Investigation of the Mystical Prayers of the Divine Services of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Orthodox Church

Dear brothers in Christ and fellow intercessors before the Throne of God!

Christ is Risen!

            Our Universal Church is now passing through difficult times.  The canons have been flagrantly violated, a deliberate and brazen legalization of the schism has taken place, and the scale of the destruction of pan-Orthodox unity is increasing. 

Article of the event  and photos will be posted soon on the Seminary's website https://hts.edu/

On June 2, the Fifth Sunday after Pascha, that of the Samaritan Woman, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Luke of Syracuse, performed an archpastoral visit to St. Luke the Blessed Surgeon Church in Pompano Beach, FL. With the blessing of parish rector, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, the celebration of the parish’s patronal feast of the Holy Hierarch Luke of Simferopol (June 11) was transferred to that day.

  On May 17, the monastery observed the 2nd anniversary of the repose of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Hilarion, whose body is buried in the brotherhood cemetery of the monastery.  For the brethren it is a great consolation to have with us one who was a graduate of our Seminary and then one of our hieromonks and spiritual father to many of us.

            It was God’s will that Vladyka Hilarion, who was himself a cell attendant of the ever-memorable Archbishop Averky, would become a bishop of our church and eventually its First Hierarch, succeeding another member of our brotherhood, Metropolitan Laurus.

            On this day, our present First Hierarch, another graduate of our Seminary, Metropolitan Nicholas, provided for a commemorative meal at the monastery trapeza.  This was followed by a pannikhida at the grave of Vladyka Hilarion, served by our present abbot, Bishop Luke, also a graduate of our Seminary.  May the memory of Vladyka Hilarion be eternal, and may he rest among the saints.

All of Bright Week, it is like one day of Pascha.  The Church celebrates the great joy of the Lord’s Resurrection, His victory over death.  For this reason, it is considered out of place to hold memorials for the dead since all of our attention is directed to the conquering of death.

As it is everywhere in the Orthodox world, Pascha is the feast of feasts.  Perhaps due to the Great Lenten atmosphere in the monastery, where all revolves around the Lenten services, the strict fasting, and this year the unprecedented great flow of pilgrims every weekend during Lent, the buildup of anticipation of Paschal joy is significant.  This is especially felt during Holy Week.

Holy Week is very special in our monastery, as are all of the festal services.  They are served in their completeness and with great solemnity.  Perhaps this is also due to the atmosphere kept in the monastery, where the fast is strictly kept, and there is not the distraction of the “World.”

  Palm Sunday is a most glorious holy day on the eve of Holy Week.  According to tradition, the children of Israel with great joy greeted He Whom they hoped would free them from the Romans.  They had a worldly understanding of His coming to the Holy City, after raising Lazarus from the dead.  Within a short time, these same people would shout “Crucify Him, crucify Him.”

Fr. Protodeacon Joseph Jarostchuk was one of those rare people who combined within himself a very skillful way of serving at the divine services with a very humble and amicable character.  He served very carefully and also prayerfully.  And he loved to serve at all opportunities.  The older brethren of the monastery remember how for over 50 years he would spend all of his free time serving in the monastery for the special days of commemorating the dead, and who can forget his awesome voice, serving at the festal services of Pascha, Holy Nativity, Pentecost as well as the very special Holy Week services?

Monday, April 15

12:00 PM – Memorial repast at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, followed by funeral and burial.

Color of vestments for funeral: violet

On the morning of Thursday, April 11, after a lengthy illness, Protodeacon Joseph Jarostchuk (longtime cleric of St. John of Kronstadt Memorial Church in Utica, NY; since 2021 – of Holy Epiphany Church in Roslindale (Boston), MA) reposed in the Lord. He was 81 years old.

Having graduated Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY, Fr. Joseph was ordained to the diaconate in June 1969 by Archbishop Averky (Taushev; +1976) of Syracuse & Holy Trinity. He was elevated to the rank of protodeacon by Bishop Laurus (Škurla; +2008) of Syracuse & Holy Trinity on September 16, 1976. On September 14, 1985, he was awarded the right to wear the kamilavka. He often accompanied the ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus on his archpastoral and official visits. Throughout the years, he was given various awards by the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Church Abroad. On Sunday, February 14, 2021, he was awarded a gramota from the Synod of Bishops.

Despite recurring illnesses, Fr. Joseph showed his dedication and love for the divine services, and served as often as he was able. He is survived by his Matushka Irina, their four children, including Protodeacon Alexander Jarostchuk, and many grandchildren.

Source: https://www.eadiocese.org/news_240411_1

Color of vestments for funeral: violet

The annual Great Lenten northern American diocesan clergy retreat was held at Holy Trinity Monastery.  Over 70 priests and deacons traveled to the Monastery to participate in the gathering on April 10 and 11.  Seminarians were also invited to take part.   Russian Church Abroad church traditions and other pastoral important issues were discussed on Tuesday. Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, all attended the Great Lenten services in the monastery cathedral, culminating in the hierarchal celebration of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.  

This year, the feast of the Annunciation coincided with the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross.  The feast, of course, happens at a fixed date, and so, from year to year, depending on what day it falls, it is always interesting to see the commination.  The hymns of this feast, celebrating the incarnation of the Son of God, go along very well with those of adoration of the Son of God’s Life-giving Cross.  The adoration of the Cross gives us the strength to continue our Lenten podvig and helps us concentrate on where we are going with our Great Lenten feat of prayers and fasting.  The feast day of the Holy Theotokos, bursts forth with joy during this somber time of year.

This past weekend in the monastery had many grace-filled blessings.  His Eminence, Archbishop Gabriel brought us the reliquary from Synod, containing the right hand of the New Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth and a relic of her co-struggler the New Martyr Barbara.  Vladyka was traveling to his diocese in Canada an desired to bless us with the opportunity to venerate these holy relics.

The right hand of Grand Duchess Elizabeth the New Martyr will arrive in Jordanville on the evening of March 29. After Compline there will be a moleben served and the relics will depart Saturday early  morning March 30.  

Once again, the Lord has blessed us at Holy Trinity Monastery to be able to “retreat” for a week in prayer and strict fasting to attempt to renew ourselves spiritually.  On Forgiveness Sunday, Great Vespers was celebrated at 3PM, celebrated by His Grace Bishop Luke, together with the clergy assigned to the monastery.  After the Great Prokeimenon, the service reverted to a simple Great Lenten service as the covers on the analogions were changed to black from gold.  In the evening, after trapeza, Small Compline was served, ending with a sermon by our Abbot.            Upon finishing his sermon, Vladyka asked forgiveness of us, and thereupon, all those present, monastics, clergy, seminarians and neighbors asked forgiveness one of another as we venerated the icons. 

"The Russian Orthodox Diocese of Sitka and Alaska held its annual clergy retreat in Anchorage from Friday March 8th through Sunday, March 10th hosted by His Grace ALEXEI, Bishop of Sitka and Alaska. As a special guest, His Grace LUKE, Bishop of Syracuse and Abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, led our retreat meditations, speaking on the theme “Confessing Holy Orthodoxy.”  The retreat commenced with a solemn and joyful All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy served at Saint Tikhon’s Russian Orthodox Church in South Anchorage.  The resplendent service included a universal memorial for all the Orthodox Faithful departed.  Vladyka Alexei offered fervent prayers and blessed koliva for the departed in anticipation of the Sunday of the Last Judgment.

The ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus, First Hieraarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia from 2001 to 2008, also abbot of the Holy Trinity Monastery and rector of the seminary from 1976 to 2008, reposed on March 16, 2008.  It was under his leadership that the two parts of the Russian Church reconciled and joined in canonical union.

A pannikhida for Metropolitan Laurus  will be served by Metropolitan Nicholas and Bishop Luke  on March 16, 2024 after lunch on the anniversary of his repose.

Depending upon the date of the beginning of Great Lent, this feast has a longer or shorter afterfeast.  Since this year Pascha is late, the afterfeast lasts a full week.

On February 12 (New Calendar) the Church celebrates the memory of Saints Basil the Great, John Chrysostom and Gregory the Theologian.  This feast was established to end the controversy over who among these holy fathers was the greatest.  In other words, the Church wants to emphasize that they are all equal in honor and piety and importance for the Church.

In the evening was held the All-Night Vigil, consisting of Great Compline, Litya and Matins.  The polyleos was served by Vladyka. 

            The Royal Hours for the feast were served at 8 AM Thursday morning.  After a brief rest, there was the Meeting of the Bishop at 9:45, vesting, and then promptly the Vespers Liturgy of St. Basil was started.  During the Old Testament readings, the clergy chanted the praises antiphonally with the choir.  At the conclusion of the Liturgy, there was the Great Blessing of Water.  The clergy, followed by the faithful, processed to the bell tower for this ceremony.  Vladyka poured some water from the Jordan River into the fount.  As Vladyka lowered the Cross into the water of the baptistry fount, all the bells of the bell tower pealed.  Then all returned to the church as the bishop blessed with holy water the church, including the altar.  The liturgy concluded with the Many Years.

The feast of the Holy Nativity is celebrated with great solemnity in our monastery. 

During the fore feast, all of the monastery and seminary buildings are thoroughly cleaned.  Every evening, at Compline, a special canon is read to prepare us for the upcoming feast.

On November 21/ December 4, the Holy Church celebrates the feast of the Theotokos Into the Temple, one of the twelve great feasts of the Church. 

One of the remarkable features of this feast is that for the first time, we hear the Irmosoi of the Nativity sung in church, as katavasia on feast days.  Thus the Church gradually accustoms us to the coming of this wonderful holy day.

What made this feast more joyful this year, was that Vladyka, with the blessing of Metropolitan Nicholas and the Synod, awarded our Seminary professor, Father John Boddecker, with the gold cross, for his service to the Seminary and the monastery. 

Also, the missionary priest in Grenada, Hieromonk Ambrose, was awarded with the nabedrinik.  Fr. Ambrose is spending some time in the monastery to practice serving and to have a spiritual rest from his labors.

 Congratulations to both these laborers in the Lord’s vineyard.

Nov 29  - PM: Vespers and Matins will be held at the Optina Chapel only. No services in Cathedral. 

Nov 30 - AM: Liturgy 6am at Dormition Chapel in Cemetery and Optina Chapel

On November 21 (8th Old Style), is held the feast of the Archangel Michael and all of the Bodiless Hosts.  His Grace Bishop Luke concelebrated the divine liturgy together with the monastery clergy on the feast day itself after the All-Night Vigil served the evening before. 

As this is also the anniversary of the repose of the every-memorable Metropolitan Philaret, the third First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, as has become traditional, a litya was served at the end of the divine liturgy for his blessed repose.

Mother Hilaria from the Convent of the Holy New Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth Convnet of Minsk, Belarus, visited our monastery more than a week ago.  

Mother Hilaria in her talk described how the convent lives and functions.  It is amazing the social work that they carry on, for the poor, the sick, prisoners, and all kinds of people who cannot live without support.  In this they try to emulate their patron saint, the Venerable Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth. 

The convent has both traditional nuns with obediences and daily cycle of services.  They pray for people all over the world.  They also have lay sisters who take care of the needy in several asylums.  Their workshops are known for their handiwork and its high quality.  There are over one hundred nuns and about the same number of lay sisters. 

After Mother Hilaria’s very informative talk, there was a question and answer time with refreshments served.

Announcement:

Mother Ilaria from Saint Elisabeth Convent in Minsk will give a presentation  in the Seminary Hall on Thursday November 16 at 5PM and Sunday November 19 at 5PM  about the life and work of the sisters.

The presentation  is open to everyone.

A short 10 minute film will be shown followed by discussion and questions.

October 23/ November 5 (NS) is the day of the commemoration of the holy Apostle James, Brother of the Lord in the flesh.   It has been the tradition on this day to serve the ancient Liturgy of the Apostle James, ever since the fathers of our church revived this liturgy in the Russian Church Abroad.

October 21 (Nov. 4 O.S.) is the day of the commemoration of the Venerable Hilarion of the Kiev Caves.  This was the Name’s Day of our ever-memorable Metropolitan Hilarion.  His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas came from New York to serve the Divine Liturgy on this day.  His Grace Bishop Luke along with the monastery clergy concelebrated with the Metropolitan.

The abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery and rector of Holy Trinity Seminary, His Grace Bishop Luke celebrated his Name’s Day on Tuesday, October 31, the day of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke.

Since the horrific murder of Brother Jose Munoz in 1997, it has been traditional for the parish of St. John the Baptist in Washington, DC to organize a pilgrimage to the monastery to commemorate this servant of God and his heroic feat of being caretaker of the Myrrh-Streaming icon of Iveron of Montreal. 

On Friday November 3, there will be a hierarchical liturgy presided by His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas at 6am.

After lunch, around 12:30PM, a pannikhida will be served at the grave of Metropolitan Hilarion behind the Church 

If all goes according to plan, we will host a talk by Mother Maria from Bethany, in the Holy Land.   All seminarians, wives and guests will be invited!  This event would be optional for seminarians.

DATE AND TIME:  Monday, October 23, about 5pm

PLACE: In the Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov Seminary Hall

A uniquely great feast in the Russian Orthodox Church is the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos.  In other local Orthodox churches, this feast is considered a minor feast, but the Russian Orthodox celebrate this feast as if it were one of the great feasts in honor of the Mother of God, to whom Russia has always been especially dedicated.

On September 28 (October 11 New Style), the Church celebrates the memory of the Venerable Fathers and God-pleasers of the Kiev Caves Monastery, reposing in the Near Caves.

During World War II, the Dormition Cathedral of the monastery was blown up by the Soviets.  Fortunately, before this, many valuable holy things were saved from destruction, and after the war, a large tabernacle of relics from the Kiev Caves Lavra was gifted to the monastery by refugee fathers from the monastery.  One of the first decisions made by Vladyka Luke, when becoming abbot of the monastery in 2008 ,was to establish a feast in the monastery of the Kiev Caves Fathers.

On the morning of Thursday, September 28, 2023, the Seminary administration discovered an anonymous electronic communication which made the claim that there was a bomb placed in the Seminary. The communication made the claim that a bomb was left because of “Russian atrocities in Ukraine.”  The administration made an immediate risk assessment and contacted NY State Police, who advised to evacuate the buildings.  The administration then cleared the Seminary and monastery buildings.  The NY State Police quickly brought in troopers, investigators, a K-9 unit, and an officer from the computer crimes unit.  The Richfield Springs Fire chief and EMS came and remained on standby.  Local roadways were closed, and pilgrims were turned away temporarily.  Students, monks, pilgrims, staff, and workers stayed outside for the rest of the morning and early afternoon while the police made an investigation and a K-9 unit swept the buildings.   As it happened, K-9 unit members were training nearby, so the police made use of many dogs at once, and so were able to make a complete and thorough sweep of the entire monastery campus very quickly. 

When the investigation found no evidence of any explosive device, the Monastery and Seminary community was cleared to re-enter the buildings.  The police investigation is ongoing.  Classes have resumed and monastery life continues as usual.  Local persons in the larger community are supportive.

On behalf of Bishop Luke, our Rector, and all the Monastery and Seminary community, we wish to thank the New York State Police for their speedy response and professional handling of this case, the Richfield Springs Fire Chief and local EMS responders, our First Hierarch, Metropolitan Nicholas, and all those who have offered and are offering their prayerful support. 

Greetings to All with the ongoing feast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross!
 
Having served the Divine Liturgy today in the Synodal St. Sergius chapel and beginning to attend to various matters in my office, I was informed of the bomb threat situation at our Holy Trinity Monastery. This caused me grief. I prayed before the wonderworking Icon ‘Joy of All Who Sorrow’ located in the St. Sergius chapel. I was later informed from his Grace Bishop Luke that all was well and the threat had been cleared. His Grace Bishop Luke, the monks, seminarians, and those residing at the monastery, giving thanks to Almighty God, returned to their assigned obediences and studies. 

One of the great feasts of the Church is the Exaltation of the Live-giving Cross of the Lord.   The Cross is the main symbol of our salvation.  Upon it our Saviour was crucified and died for our sins. 

The first feast of the Church year is the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos.  His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill in his sermon for the feast pointed out that Orthodox Christians begin the Church year with the blessing of the Mother of God and finish the Church year, also with the Mother of God, with the feast of Her Dormition.

On Friday evening, September 15, a concert entitled "Bells, Choirs & Resounding Virtuosity" was held at the Christ Episcopal Church in Cooperstown, NY, beginning the celebrations dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY.

The monastery is blessed to have a relic from the head of St. John the Baptist, gifted to the brotherhood still in Slovakia. 

On this day we celebrate the feast of the Uncovering of the Relics of St. Job of Pochaev in 1659.  As noted before, due to the long Labor Day weekend, the monastery holds an All-People’s pilgrimage of our beloved saint.   On this day, however, we also have an All-Nigh Vigil and hierarchal liturgy served in the basement church of St. Job.

From way back, it has been the tradition of the monastery to hold a special All-People’s Feast commemorating our Venerable and God-bearing Father Job of Pochaev, the heavenly protector of our publishing efforts and also the Pochaev Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, taking advantage of the long weekend.

This day, August 18/31, 2023, we celebrated the memory of the Holy Martyrs Florus and Laurus, the patron saints of two people who played a remarkable role in the life of the monastery and of the Church Abroad.

As was previously written, the Burial service of the Mother of God was served on the Apodosis of the feast of Transfiguration.  On the feast itself, Vladyka served the polyleos during the Vigil and the Divine Liturgy on the feast day, along with the monastery clergy. 

On the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, His Grace Bishop Luke served the Divine Liturgy together with the monastery clergy.  After the Great Entrance, Vladyka ordained Deacon Paul Siewers to the priesthood.  Fr. Paul serves in the mission in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania and will be serving his 40 days in the monastery.

Work has completed outside main dorm to water proof walls, repair plumbing lines, unblock drainage areas. We had had some heave rainfall the past week and we were glad to see that we were not flooded with water coming in. Hopefully this issues of water coing inot the basement has been resolved and we can begin to prepare to having areas fixed around lower store. 

For the past couple of year the exhaust system for the cathedral was not working. A couple of weeks ago all the necessary repairs were made and old exhaust fans were replaced with new ones and control system rewired. 

Labor Day Weekend Schedule
 
Saturday September 2
 
5:00 AM Midnight Office
6:00 AM Divine Liturgy
3:00 PM Meeting of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God with moleben and akathist hymn to St. Job of Pochaev. Rule for Holy Communion
7:00 PM Vigil
 
Sunday September 3
 
6:00 AM Early Liturgy in the church of St. Job of Pochaev
9:00 AM Divine Liturgy. After Liturgy there will be a moleben to the Mother of God and St. Job of Pochaev
6:00 PM Vespers
7:15 PM Small Compline
 
Monday September 4
 
5:00 AM Midnight Office
6:00 AM Matins
8:00 AM Divine Liturgy
4:00 PM Vespers, Matins
7:15 PM Small Compline
 
 

            The murder of the Tsar of Russia Nicholas II and his family is a very dark day in the history of Russia.  However, out of their deaths came great spiritual gains for not only Russia, but for all of the Orthodox world.  They truly offered their lives for the future rebirth of Holy Russia and for the expiation of the sins of the people.  As the years go by, more and more people, not only in Russia, but from all over the world, come to participate in the divine services in Ekaterinburg on this day.

The fast of the Apostles, or the fast of the Apostle Peter as it is sometimes called, is not only for preparing us for the feast celebrated on July 12, but also, in the wisdom of the Church, an opportunity to take advantage of the Christian virtues of prayer and fasting, after the long Paschal period.  The Church, aware of our human weaknesses, realizes that we need a time of fasting to help us live a life of repentance and prayer.

The patronal Feast Day of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco was celebrated at St. John Mission in Lewisburg, PA, on Sunday July 2, with Bishop Luke of Syracuse presiding.

His Grace arrived for Vigil Saturday evening, and also served Divine Liturgy on Sunday.
 
With Bishop Luke were mission clergy, the Rector Father George Sharonoff, the founding Rector (retired) Hieromonk Claude Vineyard, and Deacon Paul Siewers. Holy Trinity seminarian and Reader John Keller assisted the Bishop along with mission altar servers.
 

On June 17-18, 2023, the Sunday of All Saints who have shone forth in the land of Russia, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Luke of Syracuse, came from Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY to Saints Theodore Church in Buffalo, NY, where he led the celebrations in honor of one of the parish’s patron saints, Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates and the translation of his relics.   

Over two years ago our Abbot Bishop Luke was struck by the aura of spiritual antiquity and holiness reflected in the artifact, a stone head of an early Hieromartyr Benigne of Dijion France. After extensive research he decided to attempt to obtain a relic of the Saint for the Monastery.  Correspondence began with the Archbishop of Dijon, Monseigneur Roland Minnerath, with the assistance of a parishioner at our Synod Cathedral Dr. Joachim Pissarro. Finally our priest in France, Père Quentin de Castelbajac, was able to receive the relic in Dijion from the hands of Archbishop Roland. Eventually, several months later (as this was during the pandemic) he was able to pass it on to  Dr. Pissarro who was on a lecture tour in France.

On his return to America Dr. Pissarro brought the holy relic to the Monastery. Much labor was needed to create an icon wherein to enshrine the relic. Because the image would be one of its kind an iconographer  the postulant Gabriela from our convent of “Quick to Hear“ worked together with Bishop Luke for more than six months and with God’s help the icon was completed. Through the prayers of the Hieromartyr Benigne (Benignus) may the Lord
bless all those who contributed to a revival of the veneration of an early Western Orthodox Saint.

Copies of the icon are available from our icon mounting studio.
 

Pentecost is the patronal feast of the Holy Trinity Monastery.  More exactly, Holy Spirit Day, the 2nd day of Pentecost is the patronal feast of the cathedral of the Holy Trinity.  This feast traditionally Is celebrated in the monastery with great solemnity.  

On behalf of our Rector, Dean, faculty, and students, I am excited to announce the details for Holy Trinity Seminary's 75th Anniversary Celebration, which is set to take place this coming September 15-17, 2023

On May 13,  2023, His Grace Bishop Luke of Syracuse, Vicar of the Eastern American Diocese, Abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery  and Rector of Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville arrived in Australia to take part in the celebrations of the 100-year anniversary of the founding of Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Brisbane, Queensland.

On the Seventh Sunday of Pascha, in addition to the appointed celebration of the Commemoration of the 318 God-Bearing Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, Holy Trinity Seminary held its  Commencement ceremony at the conclusion of the 75th  academic year. The Divine Services for the weekend were celebrated by the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Metropolian NICHOLAS, along with members of the monastery clergy and some distinguished alumni.

Beginning in 2020, Bishop Luke has sponsored a property-wide bare-root seedling planting each spring, with this year's planting bringing up to 800 trees of different varieties planted around the property. 400 White Birch, 175 White Spruce, 50 White Pine, 50 Black Cherry, 50 Black Walnut, 50 American Elderberry, and 25 mixed stream buffer tree seedlings. In addition, this year a generous benefactor purchased 104 6yr old blue spruce to go around 3 sides of the new cemetery, in double rows, bringing the total planted to 904. Thanks again to the monastics, seminarians, and laymen who helped plant them and special thanks to the generous benefactor.

On May 16, 2022, the ever-memorable Metropolitan Hilarion of New York and Eastern America, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, from 2008 to 2022, reposed in the Lord.  He was buried behind the monastery cathedral in the brotherhood cemetery.

On Tuesday May 16 there will be a Hierarchical Liturgy served by Metropolitan Nicholas at Holy Trinity Monastery. Afrer lunch around 12:30PM Metropolitan Nicholas will serve a pannikhida at the grave of Metropolitan Hilarion. 

Following ancient Jewish traditions of dividing the year into festal seasons and the feasts themselves into parts, the Orthodox Church commemorates the half-point way from the feast of Pascha to the feast of Pentecost, with the feast of Mid-Pentecost.  It is an ancient tradition to bless holy water on this feast, which is done in the monastery at the old-fashioned water-well, which has recently been refurbished.  At the end of the liturgy on this day, several of the monastery priests and deacons, accompanied by the choir and the faithful processed to the well to the ringing of bells, for the Lesser Blessing of Water. 
             
 

On the feast of St George , Cyprian Fennema was ordained to the diaconate and on Sunday of the Paralytic he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Luke at Holy Trinity Monastery.  Father Cyprian will be serving as a Chaplain for Hosparus Health in Louisville, KY; as a Chaplain for the Kentucky Army National Guard at the 103rd BSB in Harrodsburg, KY; and as a (on loan) priest for the Antiochian Archdiocese at St. Andrew parish in Lexington, KY. Jurisdictionally he will report directly to ROCOR's First Hierarch Metropolitan Nicholas.

Fr Cyprian is currently a lecturer in Patrology in the Certificate of Theological Studies program at Holy Trinity Seminary.

May God help the newly ordained Father Cyprian to work for the salvation of souls.

PASCHAL APPEAL 2023
“Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God? Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival! Is there anyone who is a grateful servant? Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord! …Christ is Risen, and you, O death, are annihilated! Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down! Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice! Christ is Risen, and life is liberated! Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead:” (From the Paschal Sermon of St. John Chrysostom.)
 
 
Dear Reverend Fathers, Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
CHRIST IS RISEN!
 How powerful, wonderful, and triumphant are the words above spoken by our father among the saints, St. John Chrysostom! We hear them each year towards the end of Paschal matins, and each year they proclaim Christ’s victory over death and hades, filling us with spiritual inspiration and joy during our paschal celebrations. St. John in fact calls all of us to the joy of Our Lord’s Day wherever we are and whoever we may be. The saints truly understood this great joy of Pascha, and it has been said that whenever our St. John of Kronstadt and St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco greeted the faithful with “Christ is Risen”, one had the feeling that they themselves were so filled with paschal joy that it was as if they themselves had seen the Risen Lord. The radiant joy of Pascha is so great that we cannot help but share this wonderful joy with all those around us. Having this in mind, let us share in this approaching paschal joy by remembering those less fortunate than ourselves, those struggling in poverty and in great need. Let us remember our St. John of Kronstadt who often brought consolation and comfort to families and individuals in great need, and let us all imitate his kind works of benevolence and kindness by helping others in need through our St. John of Kronstadt Memorial Fund. We appeal to all to help us help others with your active participation by not only contributing what you can, but also by becoming members of our Memorial Fund which is active since 1954. Help us by preserving this holy legacy which stives to follow the spiritual ideals of St. John. With your help and kindness, we can help spread that paschal joy to the less fortunate and needy.
We express our profound gratitude to our donors and supporters who continue in their kind contributions over the years. May Our Risen Lord reward you all graciously!
May Our Risen Saviour bless you and your loved ones with a spiritually profitable Great Lent, Holy Week and a most joyous, bright and radiant Pascha!   
CHRIST IS RISEN!
 
With much love in our Risen Lord,
 Archpriest Michael Taratuchin,
 Vice-President of the St. John of Kronstadt Memorial Fund and
 Rector of the St. John of Kronstadt Memorial Church in Utica, New York, USA.

ПАСХАЛЬНОЕ ВОЗЗВАНИЕ 2023
"Аще кто благочестив и боголюбив, да насладится сего добраго и светлаго торжества. Аще кто раб благоразумный, да внидет, радуяся, в радость Господа своего. …Воскресе Христос, и падоша демони. Воскресе Христос, и радуются Ангели. Воскресе Христос, и жизнь жительствует. Воскресе Христос, и мертвый ни един во гробе….” (Слово Огласительное во святый и светоносный день преславнаго и спасительнаго Христа Бога нашего Воскресения иже во святых отца нашего Иоанна, архиепископа Константинопольскаго, Златоустаго)
Дорогие Возлюбленные Отцы, Братья и Сёстры во Христе,
                                Христос Воскресе!
Как же могущественны, чудесны и торжественны слова иже во святых отца нашего, святого Иоанна Златоуста! Каждый год мы слышим эти слова  в конце пасхальной утрени, и год за годом они провозглашают победу Христа над смертью и адом, наполняя нас духовным вдохновением и радостью во время пасхальных празднований. Святой Иоанн Златоуст призывает всех нас к радости Дня Господня, где бы мы ни находились, и кто бы мы ни были. Святые по-настоящему понимали эту великую радость Пасхи и всякий раз, когда  святитель Иоанн Кронштадтский и святитель Иоанн Шанхайский и Сан-Францисский приветствовали верующих словами «Христос Воскресе», было ощущение, что  они сами так исполнялись пасхальной радости, будто воочию видели Воскресшего Господа. Светлая радость Пасхи так велика, что мы не можем не поделиться этой чудесной радостью со всеми окружающими нас людьми. Давайте же разделим эту приближающуюся пасхальную радость с теми, кому повезло меньше, чем нам, и с теми, кто пребывает в бедности и большой нужде. А также давайте вспомним нашего святителя Иоанна Кронштадтского, часто приносящего утешение нуждающимся семьям и одиноким людям. Мы можем стараться подражать его добрым делам милосердия и доброты, оказывая помощь нуждающимся через благотворительный фонд святителя Иоанна Кронштадтского.
Мы призываем вас проявить активное участие в оказании помощи другим людям не только своими посильными пожертвованиями, но и становясь членами нашего фонда, который действует с 1954 года. Мы просим вашей помощи в сохранении этого святого наследия, стремящегося к духовным идеалам Святого Праведного Иоанна Кронштадтского. Благодаря вашей помощи и милосердию мы можем подарить эту пасхальную радость нуждающимся и обездоленным.
Мы выражаем глубокую признательность всем жертвователям фонда и всем, кто нас поддерживает и продолжает вносить свой вклад на протяжении многих лет.
Да вознаградит вас всех Воскресший Господь!
Пусть Воскресший Спаситель благословит Вас и Ваших близких духовно полезным Великим постом, Страстной неделей и самой радостной, светлой Пасхой!
Христос Воскресе!
 
С любовью к нашему Воскресшему Спасителю,
 
Протоиерей Михаил Таратухин,
Вице-председатель Благотворительного Фонда Святого Праведного Иоанна Кронштадтского, Настоятель Храма-Памятника Святого Праведного  Иоанна Кронштадтского в г.Ютика, штат Нью-Йорк, США

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
 
The issues below have become more critical with daily technological advances. The positions expressed are those of Holy Trinity Seminary and reflect the opinions of our late spiritual fathers such as Metropolitan Laurus and Archimandrite Kiprian.
 
+ Bishop Luke
Rector, Holy Trinity Seminary
 
 
 
 
Currently, reproductive biomedical technology, called "surrogate motherhood", is becoming increasingly widespread. Although this practice is permitted by law in several countries, it continues to cause heated discussions in society. The "Fundamentals of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church", adopted by the Jubilee Bishops' Council in 2000, assesses this phenomenon. However, a number of issues concerning the pastoral attitude to the consequences of "surrogacy" continues to be debatable. By this document, the Russian Orthodox Church gives church-practical instructions concerning the baptism of children born with the help of a "surrogate mother".

This year, the monastery celebrated a very warm Pascha in all senses of the meaning.  The Lord gave us unusually warm temperatures.  Many pilgrims arrived at the monastery in order to celebrate the Feast of Feasts with the brethren and the seminarians.  The large bell begins to be rung as the choir sings the Canon of Holy Saturday during the Midnight Office. At the end of this, the shroud is brought back into the altar and placed on the Holy Table, where it will stay all during the Paschal season.

Holy Week in the monastery, as experienced by our many pilgrims, is a very special time of year.  All of the many special services of Great Lent lead up to the commemoration of the Passion of the Lord.  Liturgically, on Great and Holy Wednesday, there are changes in the typicon which express the unity of these days, leading up to the feast of our Lord’s Resurrection, Holy Pascha.  Whereas the Psalter is read twice a week during Great Lent, and there are many Prayers of St. Ephraim, no more are these observed, neither is the Presanctified Liturgy celebrated, the last one being served on Great Wednesday.

On April 6, 2023, on the even of the feast of the Annunciation, Matushka Galina Tkaschow reposed in the Lord after a long illness.  She was the matushka of Archpriest Nikolai Tkaschow, pastor of the Church of the Entrance of the Mother of God Into the Temple in Syracuse, New York.

The feast of the Annunciation is like a bright light in the dark solemnity of Great Lent.  This year, it was two days before Palm Sunday, so we had the delight to celebrate two great feasts within a couple of days of each other, with the equally joyous feast of Lazarus Saturday in between. 

On the Fifth Saturday of Great Lent, the Saturday of the Akathist, we commemorate the “Laudation of the Virgin” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.

See more

All groups of pilgrims to Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary of more than 10 people or more must as their first contact notify Archimandrite Theophylact, our Pilgrimage Coordinator. Father Theophylact will then direct your request to the appropriate areas including the Guesthouse.  your intention is to only visit the museum please contact the museum web site. His contact information is: frtheophylact@jordanville.org  Phone: (315) 717-2795 / (315)858 3914

Groups of 10 and under please contact directly the guesthouse at 315 858 0131 and email address: 

If your intention is to only visit the museum please contact the museum web site. His contact information is: frtheophylact@jordanville.org
 

 

To provide our clergy with the opportunity to better spiritually prepare for the great feast of Pascha, it has been a tradition to hold conferences during Great Lent.  It was agreed that future conferences should be held annually in Holy Trinity Monastery/Seminary due to the conducive monastic atmosphere and especially the complete lenten services.

Having gathered in Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York, for the Lenten retreat and conference of clergy of the northern deaneries of the Eastern American Diocese, we, clergy and monastics, having bowed down in worship before the Cross, communed of the Holy Mysteries, and honored the memory of the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste, raised up our prayers for the flock entrusted to us. We prayed especially for our persecuted brothers and sisters of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, led by His Beatitude Onuphry, Metropolitan of Kiev & All Ukraine.

Incredible as it might seem, fifteen years have gone by since the repose of our beloved archpastor and abbot, Metropolitan Laurus, on March 16.

As is commonly known among Orthodox Christians, of late the canonical Orthodox Church of Ukraine has been undergoing increasing persecution in Ukraine.  And now it has been announced by the regime in Kiev, that the monks of the Kiev Caves Monastery, the holiest site of Orthodoxy in Ukraine, and the birthplace of Russian Orthodoxy, have to leave their home.  The Church has announced that they do not recognize this as legal and intend to remain.

Divine services will be held in Holy Trinity Cathedral. Lecture will be delivered in the Seminary Hall. Meals will be served in the monastery refectory. The bookstore will be open throughout the retreat.

Monday, March 20th  – Travel Day
7:00 PM – Supper.

7:30 PM – Great Compline.

Tuesday, March 21th

5:00 AM – Midnight Office, Matins, Hours.

7:30 AM – Breakfast in Monastery Refectory

10:30 AM –Greeting by His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas

10:40 AM – Discussion of missionary work: Priest Paul Kang from Korea; Archpriest Victor

Potapov (dean of the Capital Region); Archpriest Alexandre Antchoutine (dean of New York City & Long Island and dean of Florida) from Glen Cove, NY. Discussion to follow.

12:00 PM – Lunch.
2:00 PM – Messages by the Seminary Dean and Museum Curator.

3:00 PM – Open Floor: Bishops & Clergy. Seminarians may observe.  

5:00 PM – Vespers. 7:00 PM – Supper.
7:15 PM – Great Compline.

Wednesday, March 22nd
5:00 AM – Midnight Office, Matins, Hours.
10:30 AM – Greeting of the Metropolitan, followed by Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.
All clergy are expected to serve, and are asked to bring their own purple vestments.
12:00 PM – Group Photo after Liturgy, followed by lunch in the refectory.

The First Week of Great Lent is a very special time of spiritual retreat for the brotherhood and seminarians at Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary.  Although the monastery celebrates many feasts with great solemnity and observes the Church fasts strictly, the First Week is a very special time of year, when literally everything shuts down except for the most necessary activities. 

This year, the patronal feast of the seminary was celebrated with special solemnity.  This being the 75thanniversary of the seminary, it is only fitting that the seminary was able to mark this holy day in such a special way, for which we give thanks to our Lord.

The following is an answer to a question raised in an Orthodox email forum, answered by Fr. Alexander Lebedeff.

I recently read a post in which the author stated that a thorough answer had never been given regarding the practice of laymen lifting up their arms during the Anaphora, or saying three "Amens" after the Epiclesis.

I'll try to clarify the issue, at least from my point of view.

I had previously written that praying with both arms upraised was the prerogative of the Priest, following the simple paradigm: the Priest prays (at appointed times) with both arms raised; the Deacon prays with one arm raised, and the faithful laypeople pray without raising their arms.

This paradigm is one that is reflected in many other areas. At the service of ordination, the candidate for the diaconate bows one knee before the altar table; the candidate for Priesthood kneels on both knees, as a symbol of the extra (double) burden of the Priesthood. The Deacon wears the orarion on one shoulder. The Priest's stole (epitrachelion) is the same orarion, just worn over both shoulders, again indicating his extra spiritual responsibility. The Deacon's orarion even has only one row of fringe, while the Priest's stole always has two, for the same reason. The chain of the cross of a Priest or Bishops, in  contrast with the chain of the baptismal (on-the-body) cross of a layman has an extra loop that hangs down in the back, symbolizing the extra burden of the Priest, who carries not only his own sins, but the sins of his flock on himself.

So, allowing laypeople to raise their both arms is presuming upon the prerogative of the Priest. It cannot be considered an acceptable expression of fervor, since even the Priest is explicitly cautioned by the rubrics not to make any spontaneous expressions of fervor, explicitly including raising of arms during non-specified times in the services. If this rubric applies to Priests, it certainly should apply to laymen, as well.

Similarly, the proclaiming aloud of three "amens" after the epiclesis is another uncalled-for expression of fervor, meaning it is not specified in the rubrics of the service. The service books state clearly that the three "Amens" are said by the Deacon. It does not say: "and the people say—amen, amen, amen."

Again, this is an example of laypeople usurping the prerogative of the Deacon, who participates actively in the consecration of the Holy Gifts, and gives both the invitations ("Bless, Master, the Holy Bread." etc.) and the responses, including the "Amens." It would be inappropriate for the altar servers to participate in these responses, even though they are right there and can see and hear what is occurring. During the epiclesis, the choir is singing the solemn hymn "We sing unto Thee...", the Royal Doors are closed, and the faithful stand in silent prayer that should not be interrupted by any amens, however well-intentioned. In order to even know when the exact moment to say these amens occurs, the congregation would have to hear the words that the Priest is supposed to pronounce quietly during the singing of the hymn. Either the Priest would have to say them quite loudly, drowning out the singing, or the singing would have to stop so that you could hear what the Priest was saying. Both would be a violation of the order of the service (as is any reading aloud by a Priest of any prayer meant to be read quietly or silently).

Actually, there are a variety of dynamics indicated in the services for prayers. Some are said quietly (in a low voice), some are said loudly (in a great voice), some are said silently (no voice). We should humbly defer to the holy authors of these services and follow their directions. Whenever we want to introduce something "of our own," we not only violate the service rubrics, but we violate the unity of the church.

All such "unique" practices should be patiently and lovingly eliminated.

Source: http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/arms_amen.aspx

Dear friends and supporters of Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary,

We have recently been made aware of yet another attempt to build a windmill project in our backyard. While the previous plans were dismissed a few years back, now the companies involved are taking advantage of the New York State Energy Plan and its incentives to build renewables that will by-pass the environmental review and local input that put a halt to the previous windmill projects.

There is a legal case currently before the Court of Appeals about this type of surreptitious effort, however, we call upon all who read this to pray for an end to these threats to our environment and we ask that you contact local legislators to ask for their intervention. The email/website addresses are below. 

With your prayers and through the intercession of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, we pray this newest assault on the life of our Monastery does not succeed. 

In Christ

+Bishop Luke of Syracuse,

Abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery,
Rector of Holy Trinity Seminary

https://www.herkimercounty.org/government/county-legislature/

smullenr@nyassembly.gov - District 118 assembly member Robert Smullen

walczyk@nysenate.gov  - 49th Senate district Mark Walczyk

https://stefanik.house.gov/contact   Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

This year, the celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ has been as festive as usual, however without the snow that usually typifies Christmas in Jordanville

On December 6/19, the Church celebrates the memory of one of the most beloved saints of the Orthodox Church. 

Repairs were made in the bell tower, replacing worn out ropes and fixing certain areas of the bell tower by a lay pilgrim with a background in electrical engineering who came to volunteer his services for a few days.  

On December 4 (NS), the Church celebrates the great feast of the Entry, or Entrance, of the Mother of God Into the Temple.  This is a feast very much beloved by monastics.  At the age of three, the holy little child is taken to the temple in Jerusalem, to become prepared to be the Mother of our Lord.  She spent her time there in prayer, fasting, and in conversation with the heavenly hosts.  In this way, her life in the inter-sanctum, or the Holy of Holies, was a forerunner of the monastic life.

 
            On November 30 (New Style), the Church commemorates the memory of St. Paisius, who was very much responsible for the renewal of monasticism in Russia in the 19th century.

I have asked that my original statement about Covid-19 vaccines be removed. More information about these issues has come to light that prevent me from supporting all that I had written.

+ Bishop Luke of Syracuse
Abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery
Rector of Holy Trinity Seminary
Jordanville, NY

All the services will be in the chapel of the Optina Elders 

Tuesday Nov 29 :  4:30 PM Vespers and Compline.

                                6:30 PM Matins. 

Wednesday Nov 30:  6am Divine Liturgy

On November 21, 2017 Metropolitan Hilarion blessed the opening of the new  woman’s monastery Convent of the Mother of God, Quick to Hear.   Metropolitan Hilarion and Bishop Luke belived there was a need for a woman’s monastery in the Russian tradition using English and with God’s blessing our monastery is now celebrating its 5th year anniversary.   Bishop Luke and Mother Nektaria (McElroy) searched for a suitable property for establishing a monastery.  After several months of searching a lovely and very picturesque piece of property was found, a five acre plot of land with a house and a very large unfinished two-story garage.  It is in the quiet rural hills just outside of Richfield Springs, NY and a 20 minute drive from Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville.

On the second weekend of October, from the 6th to the 9th of the month, the inaugural Uncut Mountain Press conference took place at the Antiochian Village, Pennsylvania. More than 250 people were in attendance and nearly thirty were clergy, with broad pan-Orthodox representation. His Grace, bishop Luke of Syracuse, was the honorary chairman and a speaker at the conference, which was dedicated to the ethos of the Orthodox Church.

Before God created the physical world, he created the spiritual world.  Especially important for Orthodox Christians are the Bodiless Hosts who are a constant in our spiritual life.  On this day, we celebrate their memory.  In a way, it is the Name’s Day of all of us since we are all given a Guardian Angel at baptism, who assist us along the path to salvation and in all of our needs.

Work is underway fixing our septic system for the Main  Monastery Dormitory.

Today, the holy and miraculous Icon of Iveron from Hawaii departed the monastery after a most blessed stay of almost one week, during which all felt and witnessed the great mercy and love of the Most Holy Theotokos towards us sinners.

There are times when the grace of the Holy Spirit seem especially abundant in the Holy Trinity Monastery.  Such has been so these past few days.

On Thursday Nov 3, there will be a 6am Hierarchical Liturgy served by Metropolitan Nicholas and Bishop Luke. After lunch , around 12:30 there will be a pannikhida served for Metropolitan Hilarion by his grave site behing the cathedral.

On Tuesday, November 1, at 6PM there will be a moleben and Akathist in English to the "Hawaiian" Iveron myrrhstreaming icon in the Cemetery Dormition Chapel.

On Wednesday, November 2, after compline there will be a moleben and Akathist to the "Hawaian" Iveron myrrhstreaming icon in the main cathedral of Holy Trinity Monatery.

There will be an early liturgy in the St. Job of Pochaev Church at 6am. Hours will begin at 5:45m.

Saturday
 
3:30 Pannikhida at gravesite of Br. Jose 
4:00 Communion Rule
6:45 Greeting of the “Hawaiian”  Myrrstreaming Iveron Icon
7:00 Vigil
 
Sunday
6:00 AM Early Liturgy in St. Job of Pochaelv Church
8:00 Midnight Office
9:00 Hierarchical Divine Liturgy
After lunch: Presentation in Seminary Hall on life of Br. Jose and about the  Iveron Myrrh streaming Icon
Around 4:30PM Pannikhida at gravesite of Br. Jose 
 

On Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th of October, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Luke of Syracuse came from Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY to Protection of the Mother of God Church in Rochester, NY. His Grace’s visit was timed to coincide with the parish’s patronal feast day, which had taken place on the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos the Monday prior.

Unlike in other local Orthodox Churches, in the Russian Church, the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos is considered a great holy day and is treated much as one of the twelve major holy days of the Orthodox Church.  In part this is due to historical reasons.  This feast commemorates the miraculous appearance of the Most Holy Mother of God in the Church of Blachernae in ancient Constantinople, when the city was in danger of sacking by pagan warriors from present-day Russia.  This intervention of the Holy Virgin caused the pagans to reevaluate their paganism, upon beholding the power of the Mother of God in protecting the Orthodox people.

Among the many relics that the monastery is blessed to have, perhaps one of the most precious is a piece of the true Life-Giving Cross of our Saviour.  It is contained in a beautiful wooden pectoral cross, which belonged to the every-memorable Archbishop Averky, previous abbot of our monastery.  The cross itself is contained in a larger cross.  This cross is the one used for a couple of the commemoration days of the Cross of our Lord, specifically for this feast.

On September 8/21, the Holy Church celebrates the first great feast of the church year, the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, as it is called in the service, “The beginning of our salvation.”

On Wednesday Septermber 21 after Compline, around 8PM there will be an Akathist served to the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon at Holy Trinity Cathedral.

On Sunday, 18 September, 2022, ceremonies surrounding the enthronement of His Eminence His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, newly-elected Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, took place.

On Tuesday, 13 September, the election of His Grace Nicholas, Bishop of Manhattan, as the new First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia by its Council of Bishops took place.

In accordance with the Act of Canonical Communion, signed on May 17, 2007, the Council will send the Act of Election, drafted by the vote-counting committee, to His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow & All Russia, with a request to bless the electee to assume the duties of the First Hierarch entrusted to him by his brother-archpastors, and for confirmation of the election by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The rite of enthronement of His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, newly elected First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, will take place on Sunday, September 18.

Schedule of Divine Services
for the Enthronement of the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad:

Saturday, September 17 ‒ All-Night vigil in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign at 6:00 PM.

At the end of the service, the newly elected Primate will emerge through the Royal Doors in a black klobuk and common bishop’s mantle and face the congregation. Two senior hierarchs will then present a white klobuk and blue mantle, which the newly elected First Hierarch will don, aided by subdeacons. At this moment, the senior-most hierarch will announce "Axios" ("he is worthy") which will be repeated first by the bishops then by the choir.

After this, the Primate will bless the clergy and congregants. Before this, the blue mantle and white klobuk will be blessed with holy water by the senior-most hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad during the reading of the First Hour.

Sunday, September 18 ‒ Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral at 9:30 AM.

After the reading of the entrance prayers and the customary vesting of the two senior hierarchs, the new Metropolitan will be escorted to the vesting area, when "Axios" will be repeated by the hierarchs and clergy, then by the choir. Divine Liturgy will commence in the customary manner.

After the service, a moleben will be performed along with the entrusting of the archpastoral staff to the new Primate, which was blessed on the crypt of the Holy Hierarch Tikhon, Patriarch and Confessor of All Russia.

Source: https://eadiocese.org

This year, the feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist coincided with this Sunday’s service.  The monastery was blessed with a pilgrimage of faithful from the parish of St. Panteleimon in Hartford, CT., along with its pastor, the Very Rev. Dionysii Nalitov.

As shown in a previous posting, the monastery celebrates the memory of St. Job of Pochaev on Labor Day weekend for the sake of the faithful, who take advantage of the long weekend to come to the monastery in pilgrimage. 

However, the real feast is on August 28/September 10.  On this day, the monastery had an All-Night Vigil the evening before, and His Grace Bishop Luke celebrated a hierarchal Divine Liturgy together with the monastery clergy.  At the end of the Liturgy, a moleben was served to St. Job with a Cross Procession around the church. 

Since Labor Day weekend is a long weekend, and in order to provide the faithful the opportunity to spend the holiday in a spiritually profitable way, it has been the tradition of the monastery for many years to dedicate this weekend to the memory of St. Job of Pochaev and the Pochaev Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God.  This is only fitting as the roots of the monastery’s traditions go back to the Pochaev Monastery in Volynia, present-day Ukraine.

Today in the Church calendar are commemorated the holy Martyrs Laurus and Florus.  This was the Name’s Day of our beloved and ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus (+2008) and Archimandrite Flor (+2012).

The feast of the Dormition is celebrated very solemnly in our monastery.  In recent years, the Burial of the Mother of God has been added to the typicon of our monastery.  On the feast itself, special hymns are chanted to glorify the Most Pure Holy Virgin in her Dormition. 

A few years ago, His Grace Bishop Luke, abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery, instituted the practice of celebrating the “Burial” of the Mother of God.  In Russia, there were different practices of how to commemorate this event.  In our monastery it was decided to perform this service on the Eve, or the Forefeast, August 14th. 

There are three feasts of the Saviour in the month of August.  The first one was the feast of the Procession of the Cross. The Transfiguration is the second one, and the feast of the Image-Not-Made-By-Hands is the third, the day following the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.

It is the tradition of the Orthodox Church to put the Cross in the middle of the church for the veneration of the faithful, during the Matins service on the eve of this feast.  This commemorates when the True Cross was brought out of the Imperial Treasury and placed on the altar of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople. 

 
            On July 23 and 24, 2022, His Grace Bishop Alexis of Sitka and Alaska (OCA) paid a visit to the Holy Trinity Monastery.  Having been given a tour of the monastery grounds, His Grace Bishop Luke, abbot of the monastery, invited Vladyka Alexis and his travel companions to a tea in the afternoon.  The two bishops interchanged ideas about contemporary issues of the Orthodox Church locally and in the world.  Vladyka impressed all with his humble and sincere bearing. 

The celebration of the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul is the culmination of the fast that precedes it, differing ever year in its length due to the date of Pascha.  However, the fast is not only for preparation for a great feast, but also the Holy Church established this fast knowing very well our weaknesses and tendency to excess, especially after Pascha and the end of the Great Fast.  Also, in keeping this fast, we united ourselves prayerfully to the holy apostles who fasted and prayed after Pentecost to prepare themselves to begin preaching the Gospel to the world.

On July 7 (N.S.), the Church celebrated the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, of whom the Lord spoke as a man no greater of whom had been created.

The feast of St. John falls on the Saturday closest to the day of his repose, so that the faithful might find it easier to participate in the feast of this saint of the Church Abroad.  This year, this was July 2nd. 

Today, June 24 is the 40th day of the repose of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Hilarion.  Our dear Vladyka was much loved by his flock, as he himself always showed us so much love.  So, not just as our natural duty, but out of love for all that Vladyka did for us, his spiritual children, we observed a special day of prayer in his memory.

For Holy Spirit Day, many visiting clergy arrived from all over to participate in the monastery’s feast day.  Vladyka was greeted “with glory” at the refectory staircase.  Despite being a work-day, the church was filled with pilgrims.  Before the Small Entrance, Priest Ephraim Willmarth, the assistant to the seminary dean was awarded the right to wear the kamilavka.  Vladyka stated that this is due to his diligent service to the seminary and the Church.  We whole-heartedly congratulate Fr. Ephraim and Matushka Joanna for this well-deserved distinction.

The patronal feast of the monastery is Pentecost, more particularly, the Day of the Holy Spirit, the day after the great feast day.  On Saturday afternoon, the Rule for Communion is longer than usual as the Akathist that forms part of the Rule is to the Holy Trinity, a very lengthy composition.  During the All-Night Vigil, when the Litya is served, it is our tradition to process around the church, stopping at all four corners for the petitions to be read. 

The day before Pentecost, Saturday, there is a special commemoration in the Church’s typicon for all of the Orthodox reposed.  Since the monastery has a very large cemetery, it has been the custom for many years to have the Divine Liturgy on this day in the cemetery’s chapel of the Dormition, which was built almost fifty years ago in memory of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, especially the Royal Martyrs.

Friday, June 24, will mark the 40th day of the reposed of His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral), sixth First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad.

His Grace Luke, Bishop of Syracuse, will officiate the divine services for the departed in Holy Trinity Monastery: hierarchal Divine Liturgy at 6:00 AM, followed by a panihida at the gravesite behind the cathedral. Clergy who wish to concelebrate are asked to bring their red vestments.

There will also be a second Pannikhida after lunch for those that were not able to make Pannikhida after the Divine Liturgy

The Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary is an integral part of the life of the Holy Trinity Monastery.  The seminarians participate in the life of the monastery, in its services as well as in all other aspects of monastery life.  Likewise, the monastics participate in many ways in the life of the seminary. 

On June 2, the Holy Church celebrated the great feast of the Ascension of the Lord.  Culturally, this feast trails behind the solemnity of how Pascha and the Nativity of the Lord are celebrated by the faithful.  However, this is unfortunate, since this feast celebrates the culmination, one might say, of the Lord’s salvific life on this earth for mankind, in that this holy day commemorates how the Lord took our human nature and with it sat at the right hand of God the Father. 

On June 1st was the celebration of the Leave-taking, or Apodosis, of Pascha.  His Grace, Bishop Luke, celebrated the divine liturgy early in the morning, along with monastery clergy.  During the Liturgy, he ordained seminarian Lawrence Remington from Indonesia, to the deaconate. 

On Sunday, May 15, Deacon Lawerce Cunnighham was ordained to the priesthood by His Grace Bishop Luke at Holy Trinity Monastery. May God help Priest Lawrence to serve the Church with zeal and piety.  Fr. Lawrence currently is enrolled in the Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary.

On Tuesday, May 24, the whole Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, and also many in other churches, commemorated with prayer the 9th day since the repose of our dearly beloved Metropolitan Hilarion of blessed memory.  In the monastery His Grace, Bishop Luke, together with the monastery clergy served a pannikhida at the grave of Vladyka with the monastery/seminary choir singing.  Joining in prayer were many neighbors and pilgrims. 

Christ is Risen!

I was introduced to Metropolitan Hilarion (then  Fr. Hilarion) by Fr. Luke (Bishop Luke), the present abbot, who introduced me to Orthodoxy, when the time came to prepare for baptism.  Fr. Hilarion had been busy preparing one of the older professors for passing into eternal life, Professor Sergei Ivanov.  My memories of Fr. Hilarion are those that are universally held by all those who had the grace to know him.  He was so kind and friendly.  He made you always feel that you were the center of his attention.  He remained so until his last days.

            The newly reposed Metropolitan Hilarion began his spiritual life in our Holy Trinity Monastery.  After successfully completing his studies in the Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary, Igor Alexeivich Kapral was tonsured the Monk Hilarion and rapidly was ordained to be a hieromonk.  Until he was chosen to be Bishop of Manhattan in 1984, he began his pastoral life in the monastery while performing many different obediences.  The monastery being the spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, he quickly became well known by our pilgrims as a spiritual leader, exhibiting the important monastic and pastoral virtues of deep humility, simplicity and love.  It was extremely rare that Fr Hilarion was seen to be angry or depressed.  He exhibited spiritual joy and was very attentive to the needs of all with whom he crossed paths. 

To view the live stream video of the funeral of Metropolitan Hilarion please visit the Synodal YouTube Channel

God willing Vigil, Liturgy, Pannikhida and Burial of Metropolitan Hilarion will be live streamed from Holy Trinity Monastery's You TubeChannel. 

Saturday May 21 Vigil 6:30PM

Sunday May 22 Liturgy 9:00AM /  Pannikhida and Burial 3:00PM

Vigil on Saturday May 21 will be at 6:30PM instead of 7PM. 

The burial shall be performed on Sunday May 22, at 3 o’clock, at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY.

After Compline today the first Pannikhida was served for Metropolitan Hilarion at Holy Trinity Monastery presided by our Abbot, Bishop Luke. Bishop Luke asked for everyone gathered to pray for the repose of our beloved Metropolitan who was not only a member of the brotherhood but a caring and accesible ruling Hierarch who always showed interest in the life of the monastery, seminary and convents. He was a tireless shepherd giving his time to answer the many requests from different people and often staying up very late at night being on the phone with people to help them. The pannikhida was served in an atmosphere  of sober sorrow but also hope in the Resurrection that God would grant His servant eternal rest to where the righteous repose. 

A pannikhida will be served for the newly reposed Metropolitan Hilarion in the lower church today after Compline around 8:00 PM.

More information will be posted as it becomes available,

Today, May 16, 2022, the feast day of St Theodosius of the Kievan Caves, at two o’clock New York time, following a lengthy illness, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, reposed in the Lord, in a NYC hospital.

A new wooden floor is being installed at Holy Trinity Monastery's Cathedral. 

On the third Sunday of Pascha, the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women, His Grace Bishop Luke presided at the Divine Liturgy, along with the monastery clergy.  This was a particularly joyful occasion as Vladyka performed two ordinations along with a tonsure to the subdeaconate.

Title: Divinization as the Christian Project and Model of True Transhumanism.

Lecturer: Dr. Jean-Claude Larchet

Date and Time: 5PM Tuesday, May 3, 2022 

Holy Trinity Publications and Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary are excited to host noted patrologist and author Dr. Jean-Claude Larchet as part of a rare visit to the United States.

On Tuesday, May 3rd, at 5 p.m., Dr. Larchet will deliver a lecture in the Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov Hall of Holy Trinity Seminary titled, "Divinization as the Christian Project and Model of True Transhumanism." After first examining the dead ends and illusions of the current philosophical fashion of transhumanism, Dr. Larchet proposes the Orthodox Christian conception of divinization as a true fulfillment of the flawed transhumanist ideology.The lecture will be open to the public and time will be allotted for questions from the audience. Light refreshments will be provided.

Dr Jean-Claude Larchet is one of the most notable living authors on Orthodox Christian Patristics. He holds a Ph.D in philosophy from the University of Nancy and a Ph.D. in theology from the University of Strasbourg. A teacher of philosophy for nearly thirty-five years, he is an author of over thirty books and countless articles whose work has been translated into over a dozen languages. His magnum opus, Therapy of Spiritual Illness, and several other works have been translated into English to wide acclaim, three of them by Holy Trinity Publications.

Title: Divinization as the Christian Project and Model of True Transhumanism.
Lecturer: Dr. Jean-Claude Larchet

Date and Time: Tuesday, May 3, 2022

Full Description: Holy Trinity Publications and Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary are excited to host noted patrologist and author Dr. Jean-Claude Larchet as part of a rare visit to the United States.

On Tuesday, May 3rd, at 5 p.m., Dr. Larchet will deliver a lecture in the Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov Hall of Holy Trinity Seminary titled, "Divinization as the Christian Project and Model of True Transhumanism." After first examining the dead ends and illusions of the current philosophical fashion of transhumanism, Dr. Larchet proposes the Orthodox Christian conception of divinization as a true fulfillment of the flawed transhumanist ideology.

The lecture will be open to the public and time will be allotted for questions from the audience. Light refreshments will be provided.

Dr Jean-Claude Larchet is one of the most notable living authors on Orthodox Christian Patristics. He holds a Ph.D in philosophy from the University of Nancy and a Ph.D. in theology from the University of Strasbourg. A teacher of philosophy for nearly thirty-five years, he is an author of over thirty books and countless articles whose work has been translated into over a dozen languages. His magnum opus, Therapy of Spiritual Illness, and several other works have been translated into English to wide acclaim, three of them by Holy Trinity Publications.

Our abbot, His Grace Bishop Luke, commented at the luncheon meal on the day of Pascha, that whatever our Lord wills, happens, and without Him, nothing happens.  So it was that He willed that our monastery and community has had a most wonderful and solemn paschal celebration.  This is especially felt after two years of the Covid crisis.  For this we are most thankful to our Risen Lord.

After a brief rest of several hours, Vespers for Holy Saturday is served with many Old Testament readings and the Prokeimenon, “Arise, O God…,” during which all the coverings in church and the altar as well as the vestments of the clergy are changed to Paschal white.  Thereupon we proceeded with the Liturgy of St. Basil with the chanting of “Let all creation be silent…” in place of the usual Offeratory Hymn.  It is also monastery tradition that on this day all partake of the Holy Mysteries. 

            At the end of the Liturgy, according to and in remembrance of ancient practice,  large loaves of bread were blessed and distributed to the faithful which were eaten with some wine, in memory of the fact that in the early Church, Christians remained in church all day, awaiting the Resurrection of the Lord.
 

We have a power outage in our area. This is the second day now. Hopefully power will return today at 11PM. 

Holy Thursday the Church commemorates the first Mystical Meal, or Divine Liturgy.  The main theme is the partaking of the Body and Blood of Our Lord and the unity of His apostles with their Master.  By divine providence, we still have this in Christ’s Church to this day.  The Eucharist both unties us to our Lord and one to another.

 
            Liturgically Great Lent finishes on Friday of the 6th Week of Great Lent, and the Church celebrates a dual feast, that of the Resurrection of Lazarus from the dead and the Entrance of the Lord Into Jerusalem, or Palm Sunday as it is commonly known.

Many years ago the monastery did not have its own Unction service as is customary, during Great Lent in many dioceses, however around 30 years ago, a time when several of the monastery brethren were ailing from serious illnesses, Archbishop (later Metropolitan) Laurus, became convinced that it was a good thing to do. 

On the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent, the Holy Church commemorates the life of St. Mary of Egypt, as an example of ascetic struggling for the purification of the soul and deep repentance.

According to the typicon of the Lenten Triodion, on the Saturday of the Fifth Week of Great Lent, the Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos is chanted as part of the Matins service.  As usual, His Grace Bishop Luke served the Akathist Hymn along with the brethren of the monastery. 

The feast of the Annunciation and the rubrics on how to serve it are very interesting, since the feast can fall on any number of days during Great Lent and Bright Week, including, howbeit very rarely, on Pascha itself.

On the weekend of April 1-3, the monastery was visited by a pilgrimage of approximately 50 people from the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Resurrection in Chicago, Illinois.  The group was headed by a priest of the cathedral, the Rev. Nikolaj Kostur, a graduate of our Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary. 

A very good practice of our Church has been to hold clergy conferences a couple of times a year, during which the clergy many have brotherly contact and interaction with each other and the bishops.  Due to the COVID -19 pandemic, this was not possible until this year since 1920. 
           

During the middle of the Great Fast, the Holy Church, wanting to strengthen her faithful in their Lenten struggles, brings out the Life-Giving Cross for the veneration of the faithful.  The service itself in many ways repeats the service of the Exaltation of the Cross in September, both of them drawing their inspiration from the service of Holy Friday, the Passion of the Lord.

The faithful have expressed concern that some recent statements seem to indicate that the Orthodox Christian position on abortion has changed. The Orthodox Church has consistently and unequivocally recognized the full humanity of every person beginning at the moment of conception and, therefore, has always been pro-life, regarding abortion as the murder of another human being. While the society around us may change its views from century to century, the Church can still reiterate the words of the Lord’s Teaching through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations (the “Didache”), which dates to the earliest generations of the Church: “Do not murder a child by abortion or kill a newborn infant” The Church proclaims the love of God to all mankind, with no exception, and, while condemning the practice of abortion, the Church still holds out the offer of mercy and forgiveness to those who have been victims to the deceitful pressures of the world and have made the tragic choice to kill their own children or who have facilitated abortions for those seeking them. 

+ Bishop Luke

It is sometimes asked why does the Orthodox Church celebrate the Sunday of Orthodoxy on the first Sunday of Great Lent.  What does this feast have to do with fasting?

We have just finished the first week of Great Lent for this year.  Hopefully, we have changed to some degree in order to enter more into the spirit of the fast.  Great Lent is supposed to prepare us to celebrate joyfully the feast of the Lord’s Resurrection.  But in a greater way, it is meant to be a school of true Christianity, a time of repentance and redirecting our steps back onto the true path.  With all of the cares of contemporary life, we often get distracted from “the one thing essential.”  However, after participating in the deeply moving services of the first week, having entered into a “retreat” as it were, with ten hours daily of prayer and strict fasting, we hopefully will now spend the rest of the fast concentrated, each according to his strength, in the true meaning of our faith.

Where
Holy Trinity Monastery – 1407 Robinson Road, Mohawk, NY 13407
When
March 28-30, 2022. Retreat officially begins on Tuesday, March 29; Midnight Office at 5:00 AM. Monday, March 28 is designated as a travel day – Supper at 7:00 PM, followed by Great Compline.
Cost
Registration cost is $150 per person and does not include lodging accommodations.
Who Can Attend
Clergy (deacons and priests) of the Eastern American and Canadian Dioceses ROCOR and Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, as well as attendees of Holy Trinity Seminary. All others please contact diocesan office at (201) 940-7340 or office@eadiocese.org to inquire about attending the conference.
Lodging
Monastery Guesthouse
1407 Robinson Road
Mohawk, NY 13407
(315) 858-0131
Red Roof Inn & Suites
100 Marginal Road
Herkimer, NY 13350
(315) 866-0490
www.redroof.com/property/NY/Herkimer/RRI338
Airport
Those who wish to fly to Jordanville must fly to Albany International Airport (ALB) and send their flight information to Abbot Cyprian (Alexandrou) at cyprian@hts.edu in order to arrange for pick-up and drop-off.
Services
All clergy will concelebrate with Their Graces, Bishops Nicholas of Manhattan and Luke of Syracuse, at the Hierarchal Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts in Holy Trinity Cathedral on Wednesday, March 30. Clergy are asked to bring their own black vestments.
Speaker
The main speaker at the pastoral conference will be Deacon Andrei Psarev: "Pivotal Points of the History of the Russian Church Abroad."
Registration
Registration must be completed online at www.eadiocese.org.

 
Где
Св. Троицкий монастырь – 1407 Robinson Road, Mohawk, NY 13407
Когда
28-30 марта 2022 г. Говение официально начинается во вторник, 29 марта; Полунощница в 5:00 ч. Понедельник, 28 марта – день размещения – ужин в 19:00 ч. затем Великое повечерие.
Стоимость
$150 с каждого. Цена не включает проживание в гостинице.
Участники
Духовенство (диакона и священники) Восточно-Американской и Канадской епархий РПЦЗ и Патриарших приходов в США, а также учащиеся Св. Троицкой семинарии. Другим лицам, желающим принят участие в совещании, необходимо обратиться в епархиальную канцелярию по телефону (201) 940-7340 or office@eadiocese.org.
Размещение
Монастырская гостница
1407 Robinson Road
Mohawk, NY 13407
(315) 858-0131
Red Roof Inn & Suites
100 Marginal Road
Herkimer, NY 13350
(315) 866-0490
www.redroof.com/property/NY/Herkimer/RRI338
Аэропорт
Желающим путешествовать самолетом в Джорданвилль следует прибыть в аэропорт Albany International Airport (ALB) и послать информацию о прибытии игум. Киприану (Александру)
на эл. адрес cyprian@hts.edu для организации встречи и проводов.
Службы
Все духовенство cослужит Преосвященнейшим епископам Манхэттенскому Николаю и Сиракузскому Луке за Архиерейской Литургией Преждеосвященных Даров в Св. Троицком соборе в среду, 30 марта. Духовенству следует привезти собственное черное облачение.
Докладчик
Главный докладчик на Пастырском совещании –диакон Андрей Псарев: "Ключевые моменты в истории Русской Зарубежной Церкви".
Регистрация
Регистрироваться следует на епархиальной странице www.eadiocese.org.

Holy Trinity Publications seeks a Sales & Customer Service Associate. Click through for details, requirements, and how to apply.

With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of ROCOR and ruling bishop of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, Holy Trinity Publications is pleased to announce the publication of a new and enhanced edition of The History of the Russian Orthodox Church in Australia, by the diocesan chancellor Protopresbyter Michael Protopopov. This comprehensive chronicle elucidates larger themes from the global history and mission of the Church Abroad and of Orthodox diasporas more generally, from which we can all gain understanding for our present circumstances. Through Fr. Michael’s account we see the Church’s role in providing a religious and cultural home, as well as material assistance, to emigres and refugees whilst also serving as a beacon of the light of Christ in a multicultural, liberal society.

1) Archpastoral Epistle to the Clergy and Flock of the Eastern American and Australian-New Zealand Dioceses on Great Lent and on the Events on the Holy Ukrainian Landby Metropolitan Hilarion

2) Metropolitan Onouphry Appeals for Penintential Prayer and End to the "Fratricidal War

The feast of the Meeting of the Lord is a wonderful, great feast which happens just before the solemnity of the beginning of Great Lent.  Its afterfeast’s length depends on when Lent commences.  This year, we have a full afterfeast, since Pascha is relatively late this year.

The feast of the Three Hierarchs, Sts. Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom, is the feast of our Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary.  More information about this feast can be found on the seminary website and facebook page.

The feast of Theophany comes at the end of the holy day season, called “Sviatki,” or “Holy Days.”  Originally being one feast of the Theophany, or “Appearance of God” in the early centuries of the Church, in the fourth century, the feast of the Nativity became a feast by itself.  The two feasts are like twins in the way they are celebrated.

The monastery is now enjoying and celebrating the feast of our Lord’s Holy Nativity.  The Lord even provided us with seasonable snowy weather.  The brethren have decorated the monastery and seminary with lights and Christmas trees.  The church has been filled with poinsettias.  The choir has had practices to improve the chanting of the many special hymns and melodies.

The Nativity Issue of Pravoslavnaia Rus' is Now Available for Download
 
The fourth and final issue of Holy Trinity Monastery's Russian-language journal Pravoslavnaia Rus' for 2021 may be downloaded as a free PDF directly from the publisher's website.

In this issue:
 
1.     Nativity Epistle of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad.
2.    Archbisop Dimitri of Kherson and Odessa. Homily on the Day of the Nativity of Christ.
3.    On Christian Burial of the Dead.
4.    From the History of the Chinese Ecclesial Mission (Conclusion)
5.    Matushka Elena Perekrestov. Memories of Archimandrite Iov (Kotenko, 1926-2021)
6.    About the private library of Holy Trinity Monastery
7.    About monastic obediences. The Apiary.
 
*****************
 
Православная Русь is published four times a year and made available free of charge in electronic form. Donations towards the ongoing costs of production are accepted:

1) Via Patreon (recurring donations)
2) Via Paypal
3) By phone — 315 538-5008
4) By check - Please make your check out to 'Holy Trinity Monastery' and mail to:

Holy Trinity Publications
P.O. Box 36
Jordanville, NY 13361
 
So that we may properly record your support, please note 'Православная Русь' in the memo field.
 
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Вышел в свет Рождественский номер «Православной Руси»
 
Очередной номер русскоязычного журнала Свято-Троицкого монастыря можно скачать бесплатно на сайте издательства.
 
 В текущем номере: 
 
1. РОЖДЕСТВЕНСКОЕ ПОСЛАНИЕ Высокопреосвященнейшего ИЛАРИОНА, митрополита Восточно-Американского и Нью-Йоркского, Первоиерарха Русской Зарубежной Церкви
2. Димитрий, Архиепископ Херсонский и Одесский. Слово в день Рождества Христова  
3. О христианском погребении умерших
4. Изъ исторіи Китайской Духовной Миссіи (Окончаніе)
 5. Матушка Елена Перекрестова. Памяти архимандрита  Иова (Котенко) 1926-2021
6. О книжном собрании Свято-Троицкого монастыря
7. О монастырских послушаниях. Пасека
 
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Candle factory was expanded to make room for new machines we hope to aquire in the near future. 

Our fathers established the feast of the Venerable Father Herman of Alaska on December 12 (25th N.S.) in part to provide a pious means of emphasizing that while following the Church Calendar it would be inappropriate to break the Fast by engaging in Christmas celebrations on the Gregorian Calendar. Thus the creation of the annual St Herman’s conferences at this time.

St. Nicholas of Myra is perhaps, after the Mother of God, the most beloved by Russians of all the saints.  Every home traditionally has at least an icon of St. Nicholas besides of the Saviour and the Virgin Mary.

On November 21 (Old Style)/ December 4 (New Style), the Church celebrates one of its twelve main feasts, that of The Entrance of the Theotokos Into the Temple. During Matins, the katavasia of the canon consist of the Irmosoi of the feast of the Holy Nativity.  Thus in this way, the faithful hear for the first time hymns of the upcoming feast.  As we approach the feast of the Nativity of Christ, the Church more and more uses hymns concerning the incarnation of Christ, thus preparing us gradually for the celebration. On this day, His Grace, Bishop Luke, celebrated the Divine Liturgy, along with the monastery clergy.

With the blessing of Bishop Luke of Syracuse, abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, staff of Holy Trinity Publications (the monastery’s publishing arm) made a visit to the United Kingdom from October 9 - 21. Since mid-2019, Holy Trinity Publications titles have been widely available in the UK & Europe through Oxbow Books, an Oxford-based book distributor. Among the aims of the trip was to publicize this arrangement and increase the visibility of these books in the UK, in particular the works of some of their recently published British authors.
 

To view article click here

In response to a request from the students at our Seminary for a better understanding of the writings of Dr. Margret Barker I appealed to our professor Father John Boddecker, instructor in Biblical Studies for his assistance. This is a short summary of his longer work to be posted shortly.

To read article click here

+ Bishop Luke

Rector of Holy Trinity SeminarySt. Dimitry, 2021

Even though Fr. Job was basically a shut-in for several years, a multitude of people made their way to Holy Trinity Monastery for his funeral from all over the country.  People truly loved this meek and very devout monk who spent 72 years of his life living in our holy abode, laboring for the monastery and his salvation.  I think he would have been truly amazed at the number of people who came to bid him farewell, to this true and faithful servant of our Lord.

When I started visiting the Holy Trinity Monastery and eventually came here to live and study in seminary in the fall of 1980, I quickly came to know the fathers and brethren of the monastery.  All of them, of course, had their individual characteristics.  Fr. Job was one that truly stood out for his humility and tranquility of soul. 

The early morning hours of November 6, 2021, the feast day of the Icon of the Mother of God «Joy of All Who Sorrow», saw the passing of Archimandrite Iov (Kotenko), the oldest monastic of Holy Trinity Monastery, who had spent 72 years within its walls. While liturgy was being celebrated in the monastery cathedral, Father Iov reposed peacefully at the age of 95 after a prolonged illness.

Archimandrite Iov was born on April 26, 1926 in the pious family of Sergei Ivanovich and Olga Dmitrievna Kotenko. In baptism he was named Ivan (John). He was the youngest of three children – the older siblings were named Nicholas and Claudia. Ivan’s childhood and youth were spent in Kharkov. The children wore crosses, and their mother had to send the children away to their grandmother’s house in an outlying village whenever a certain commissar or committee would appear in the city that were likely to demand that the children take off their crosses. Through some miraculous happenstances, all three were able to avoid joining the Communist Pioneer Youth.

The funereal for Archimandrite Iov will be on Monday, Nov. 8 at 12:30 PM in the main cathedral of Holy Trinity Monastery.

Archimandrite Iov reposed in the Lord during the Divine Liturgy today, on Saturday Nov 6 2021. More updates will be posted soon. 

The guardian of the Myrrh-Streaming Montreal Icon of the Mother of God of Iveron suffered a martyric death on October 31, 1997.  He is buried in the cemetery of the Holy Trinity Monastery.  Since his burial many have been the pilgrims who have made their way to his grave to honor his memory and to ask his prayers before the throne of God.

There will be a Hierarchical Liturgy of St. James on November 5 at 6am.

On the first of October, the Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God.  It is especially and solemnly celebrated in the Russian Orthodox Church.  This is due to the fact that the pious Russian people regard the events associated with the feast as the beginning of their salvation, in that the pagans who inhabited what is now Russia and Ukraine were humbled by God in the miracle of the appearance of the Theotokos in the church in Constantinople, showing Her intercession before Her Son and Lord, so that the Christians would be saved and the heathen defeated, when the pagans were set to conquer the capital city of the Byzantine Empire.
 
One of the most precious relics housed in the monastery cathedral is a piece of the cincture, or the girdle of the Mother of God, which is contained in the icon of the Protection, which is brought out and placed in the middle of the church for the veneration by the faithful. 

On this day, it is traditional to commemorate all of the past and present choir directors of the monastery as well as the present day singers in the choir.  May the Lord through the prayers of His Most Blessed Mother inspire them to lead us in prayer.

To read article click here.

To read article click here. 

The monastery is very blessed to have among its many precious relics a piece of the Cross upon which our Saviour Jesus Christ was crucified.  It is contained in a pectoral cross once worn by the ever-memorable Archbishop Averky, a previous abbot of our monastery, when he was an archimandrite in Eastern Europe.  As a bishop, he had the relic of the Cross placed in his pectoral cross, also made of wood, and that cross is used for a couple of the feasts of the Cross, including the Exaltation. 

The first feast of the Church Year is the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos.  This is very apt since her birth is, as the troparion of the feast states, the beginning of the construction of our salvation. 

On the day before this feast, Saturday, a pilgrimage arrived from Hartford, Connecticut, from the ROCOR parish of St. Panteleimon, along with their parish priest, the Very Rev. Dionisii Nalitov.  From its foundation, the monastery has been conceived as a place of pilgrimage to provide spiritual solace for the faithful, so in need of comfort in a difficult world.  We are glad to be able to once again receive pilgrims, and we pray that all those who came here went home renewed and filled with the grace of God.

Between the 11th and 12th of September, His Grace Bishop Luke participated in the festivities for the 800th Anniversary of the birth of Saint Alexander Nevsky at the St. Alexander Nevsky Catrhedral in Howell , NY. For a complete report click here

The first abbot of the Pochaev Lavra in Volynia, Little Russia, was St. Job, who besides being a holy guide of monasticism, was a fervent defender of Orthodoxy in an area besieged by the Roman Catholics.  His zeal was in publishing the printed word.  His struggles in this way were later continued by an offshoot of this monastery, founded in the 1920’s in Slovakia.  Towards the end of World War II, the printing brotherhood of this monastery was forced to flee the onslaught of the Red Army, and most of them eventually found their way to the New World, to our Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York.  Glory be to God, we continue to this day their enlightening work in the printed word.

Our Russian Orthodox Church Abroad has been blessed with the appearance of several myrrh-streaming icons in recent years.  Perhaps due to the grave and frightful circumstances that we find ourselves in for a number of years, the Mother of God desired to show us Her love and care for us sinners, to strengthen us to forebear all that is happening and that which might come to pass.

It was with great joy that the faithful of the Russian Orthodox parish of the Protection of the Mother of God of the city of Rochester, New York, were finally able to have their beautiful church fully consecrated.  This long-awaited day was postponed from last year due to the Covid crisis. 
 
His Grace, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, along with His Grace Bishop Luke of Syracuse, Abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery, presided at the consecration and the Divine Liturgy that followed on September 6, 2021. 

The Pochaev Lavra in present day Ukraine, is one of the most venerated holy places of Holy Rus.’  It has had a very difficult and complicated history due to the struggle to maintain Orthodoxy in that part of ancient Rus,’ and is very much connected with the history of our monastery as well as the whole Russian Orthodox Church Abroad.

The traditions and history of the Holy Trinity Monastery are very much connected with the famous Lavra of the Pochaev Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos in Volynia, present-day Ukraine.  Although the monastery was started back in 1930 by Archimandrite Panteleimon, they were joined in 1946 by a group of fourteen monks from the St. Job of Pochaev Monastery in Ladomirovo, Slovakia, who had fled the onslaught of the area by the Red Army and eventually found their new home in Holy Trinity Monastery.  Thus began the intimate connection with the traditions of the Pochaev Lavra, one of the most famous of Russian monasteries.

The Hawaian Myrrstreaming  Iveron Icon of the Mother of God will be at the Monastery from the  afternoon of September 8 to the  afternoon of Septemebr 10. 

The Hawaian Myrrstreaming  Iveron Icon of the Mother of God will be at the Monastery from the  afternoon of September 8 to the  afternoon of Septemebr 10. 

On Wednesday Septemeber 8, 2021

3:50 PM Greeting of the Iveron Icon followed by Vespers and Matins

7:15 PM Compline  followed by moleben and Akathist to the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God

On August 18/31 the Holy Church celebrates the memory of the holy Martyrs Florus and Laurus.  This was the name’s day of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus and Archimandrite Flor.  Metropolitan Laurus was abbot of the Holy Trinity Monasery for 32 years and was one of the group of monastics from the St. Job of Pochaev Monastery in Slovakia, who immigrated to the United States after World War II to join the brotherhood already established here by Archimandrite Panteleimon.  Fr. Flor was also part of this group.

The feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God has always been celebrated in the monastery with great solemnity.  The Most Holy Theotokos is greatly beloved by all Orthodox Christians and especially by monastics, who look to Her for guidance and aid in their struggles.  In Mount Athos, the “garden” of the Most Holy Virgin, She is considered the abbess of all the monasteries.  In our monastery, we have a thread from Her most sacred belt as well as a miraculous copy of the Pochaev Icon, the mother house, so to speak, of our monastery.

During the Dormition Fast, a strict, two-week fast before the feast of the Falling Asleep of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Holy Church provides its faithful with the joyous feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, when Jesus Christ ascended Mount Tabor in Galilee with his holy Apostles Peter, James and John and was transfigured before them, being accompanied by the Old Testament holy men, Moses and Elias. 

In the popular tradition of Russian Orthodox people, the feast of the Procession of the Cross, which falls on the first day of the Dormition Fast, this day is called the “First Saviour” feast of August.  Holy Transfiguration is the “Second Saviour,” and the Feast of the Image-Not-Made-By-Hands is the “Third Saviour.”

It is impossible to imagine Orthodoxy in America without the Holy Trinity Monastery.  Not only the monastery, but the whole Orthodox world in the West owes so much to this humble, ascetic who almost single-handedly built what was called the Lavra of the Russian Diaspora by the ever-memorable Metropolitan Anastassy, the second First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad.
 
           

Bishop Luke designated a summer feast for the Convent of the Mother of God, Quick to Hear.  And so on July 24th the sisters celebrated their first annual feast for St Olga, Princess of Russia.

ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – The Russian History Museum is honored to loan fifty rare objects to Russia’s Tsarskoe Selo Museum-Preserve in St. Petersburg, for a new exhibition on view July 23 – October 18, 2021. At the Sovereign’s Stirrup («При государеве стремени. Конные эскорты России с XVI века и до наших дней») presents the history of mounted military units that escorted Russia’s tsars and emperors. A significant part of the exhibition is dedicated to the history of His Imperial Majesty’s Own Escort, the elite Cossack Guards unit that served as the emperor’s personal detail from the early 19th century until the Russian Revolution.

For more information click here.

July 29 @ 6:00pm - 7:00pm EDT

An exclusive online conversation with Peter Sarandinaki, President of SEARCH Foundation

In July of 1918, fourteen members of the Romanov family were murdered at Ekaterinburg and at Alapayevsk. On February 7th, 1919, Nikolai Sokolov began his investigation into the murder of the Imperial Family, and from May to July of 1919 he collected forensic evidence that to this day forms our understanding of what happened in those final days and hours.

For more information click here

Today, on July 12 (NS), the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, the monastery and seminary celebrated the 40th anniversary of its superior and rector to the priesthood.  This feast is always celebrated with great solemnity in the monastery for what these apostles signify for the Church, but this year was very special.

On July 12 (New Style), the Church celebrates the memory of the Holy and All-Praised Apostles Peter and Paul.  On this day, 40 years ago, our dear abbot and rector, His Grace Bishop Luke, commemorates the 40th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.  He was ordained by the ever-memorable Bishop Laurus, abbot of the monastery at that time and future metropolitan and First-Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
            To celebrate this jubilee, the brethren of the monastery have organized a reception after lunch on the day of the feast outside under a tent.  All neighbors and pilgrims are welcome to participate in this event in which we wish to express our love and support of our spiritual father.

" I Confess One Baptism" by Protopresbyter George D. Metallinos

Website will be under construction for the next two months.

On the eve of Holy Spirit Day, Sunday afternoon, Small Compline was served before supper with the reading of the Canon to the Holy Spirit.  After supper, Matins was served, in preparation for the altar feast of the monastery cathedral.

On June 20, the great feast of Pentecost was celebrated at Holy Trinity Monastery with the usual solemnity.  Last year, due to the Covid pandemic, the monastery celebrated this feast with much less pomp, although with great joy.

On the Saturday before Pentecost the Church has establised a general commemoration of the departed. 

When Pascha comes at a later date, the graduation celebration is made even more festive with the singing of “Christ is Risen…”  So it was this year; the 73rd commencement was solemnly celebrated together with Paschal hymns of joy.

His Eminence, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada was invited and willingly came to participate in his alma mater’s celebration.  Vladyka has always been a great support of the monastery and seminary.

 The Vigil was celebrated accompanied by the chanting of the seminary-monastery choir, under the direction of its regent, Deacon Nicholas Kotar.  The divine liturgy on Sunday concelebrated by Archbishop Gabriel and the rector of the Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary, His Grace, Bishop Luke.  During the Sixth Hour, seminarian Peter James was tonsured a reader.  He is in the Graduate of Divinity Program of the seminary.  We wish him, his wife, Lucina and their baby daughter, Sophia, good health and salvation.

 After the consecration of the Holy Gifts, Bishop Luke ordained Monk Subdeacon Theodore (Stanway) the be a hierodeacon.  Fr. Theodore graduated today with a Sumna com Laude from the Master of Divinity, recently established in the seminary.  Fr. Theodore, besides working in the bookstore, also bakes bread and prosphora among other various obediences.

 At 2PM there was a procession of seminary faculty to the cathedral of the monastery to commence a Thanksgiving Moleben for the end of the school year. 
 For further details about the graduation service, please visit our seminary website:  www.hts.edu

Dear pilgrims and vistors to Holy Trinity Monastery

By the directive of our ruling Bishop, Metropolitan Hilarion, pilgrims are discouraged from visiting the Monastery for the duration of the coronavirus crisis.

If you have any questions regarding visiting please write to info@jordanville.org

+ Bishop Luke

On May 23, the Sunday of the Paralytic Bishop Luke traveled to St. Petersburg, Florida to represent the Metropolitan at our parish of St Andrew the General.

 On Saturday morning Bishop Luke attended the Divine Liturgy in honor of the translation of the relics of St Nicholas. Every Saturday a newly formed missionary community meets at the parish for Liturgy in English. Father Stephen Zaremba, the head of the mission, served the Liturgy and asked Bishop Luke to speak to the community afterwards about the Monastery, the Seminary and answer questions.

The question of the appropriateness of long hair and beards is frequently put to traditional Orthodox clergy. A comprehensive article appeared in Orthodox Life concerning clergy dress in the J./F. 1991 issue. At this time we would like to address the topic of clergy appearance, i.e. hair and beards.

The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates on the Tuesday after Bright Week a special commemoration of all of those reposed in the Lord, and pannikhidas are served for the first time after Pascha.  In actuality, due to the present culture in which we live and due to work requirements, pannikhidas are served on St. Thomas Sunday, but here in the monastery, a universal pannikhida is served on Radonitsa itself. 

Pascha is always served with great joy in the monastery.  One time, someone described Pascha in one of our great cathedrals as being very glorious and solemn, whereas Pascha in the monastery is warm and very moving.  It seems to me that this is due to the long and very serious atmosphere in the monastery during Great Lent, with the daily and long, grace-filled Lenten services impart a treasure-house of divine grace to all those who are struggling in the monastery.

Matins for Holy and Great Saturday, commonly known as “The Burial Service,” is served at 2 AM in the monastery, unlike as in parishes, for which this time according to the Church’s typicon, is very impractical.  The service starts with the Praises, which are interspersed with verses from the 17th Kathisma of the Psalter.  The serving clergy take turns reading the praises while the choir chants the kathisma verses.   Later on, the Canon of Holy and Great Saturday is sung and read before the Tomb of the Lord, which is the center of all liturgical activity for the services of Holy Saturday.

One of the most moving services of Passion Week is the matins service of Holy Friday, during which there are twelve readings from the four Gospels concerning our Lord’s salvific Passion.  As is traditional, there was a ringing of a large bell at the end of each Gospel reading, according to the number of the reading.  At the end of the twelfth reading there was a light trezvon, symbolizing that the Lord’s salvific feat on the Cross was finished. 

“Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord,” exclaimed the children of Israel, as our Lord proceeded into the Holy City, surrounded by many people who thought that he had come to overthrow the Romans.  This after it was widely reported about how He had raised Lazarus from the dead.
 

The feast of the Annunciation is celebrated differently every year, depending on what day it falls during Great Lent of Bright Week.  Neither Great Lent nor Bright Week disappears on this great feast of the Mother of God, and a unique way enhances the feast.
 

By the directive of our ruling Bishop, Metropolitan Hilarion, pilgrims are discouraged from visiting the Monastery for the duration of the coronavirus crisis.

+ Bishop Luke

Dear pilgrims and vistors to Holy Trinity Monastery

By the directive of our ruling Bishop, Metropolitan Hilarion, pilgrims are discouraged from visiting the Monastery for the duration of the coronavirus crisis.

Due to continuing Covid restrictions the Monastery Guesthouse is currently closed and we are not able to accomodate overnight stays at the Monastery. 

If you have any questions regarding visiting please write to info@jordanville.org

+ Bishop Luke

After the first week of Great Lent, one of strict fasting and long and compunctionate services, the monastery celebrated the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the triumph over the heresy of iconoclasm.  The Divine Liturgy on Sunday was presided over by His Grace, Bishop Luke of Syracuse and abbot of the Holy Trinity Monastery as well as rector of the Holy Trinity Seminary.  Vladyka was co-served by the monastery clergy.  During the Small Entrance, Igumen Theophylact was raised to the rank of archimandrite by Vladyka.

At 3PM on Sunday, March 14, after the usual hierarchal Divine Liturgy, the brethren of the monastery along with the seminarians and gathered for Great Vespers, which started as a hierarchal service with the formal meeting of our abbot, His Grace, Bishop Luke, and his vesting.

            On February 2/15 the Holy Church celebrates the feast of the Meeting of the Lord.  In the Russian Church this feast is considered a feast of the Mother of God, even though it has several aspects of a feast of the Lord.  Another interesting detail of this feast is that the afterfeast can be either a full week, such as happens this year, due to the late date of Pascha, or it can be non-existent if Pascha falls on the earliest day possible.  The rubrics are very extensive to cover all the possibilities of celebrating this feast due to its proximity to the Lenten Triodion.

   The feast of the Three Hierarchs, Our Holy Fathers, Basil the Great, Gregory the Great, and John Chrysostom, is the feast day of the Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary.  This year, the seminary was blessed to have the presence and service of three hierarchs!  Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, and our own Bishop Luke of Syracuse, presided at the festive services.

 
            The feast of Theophany is the culmination of the church festal period known as “The Holy Days,” in the Russian Orthodox Church, which commences with the feast of the Lord’s Nativity.  During this period, there are no full prostrations in church and no fasting from animal products. 

            The monastery has always celebrated the three major feasts of the Church calendar in complete fulfillment of the Church typicon, that is, with festal services for three days.  This includes the feasts of Nativity, Pascha and Pentecost.  In this way, there is an atmosphere of spiritual joy which pervades the monastery.  Despite the current difficulties, the monastery once again was able to fulfill this if even with somewhat more simplicity this year.

On November 21 (Old Style)/ December 4 (New Style), the Church celebrates one its twelves main feasts. During Matins, the katavasia of the canon consist of the Irmosoi of the feast of the Holy Nativity.  Thus in this way, the faithful hear for the first time, hymns of the upcoming feast.  As we approach the feast, the Church more and more reveals to us hymns from the service of Nativiy, thus preparing us gradually for the celebration.
 
            On this day, His Grace, Bishop Luke, celebrated the Divine Liturgy, along with the monastery clergy.

Due to the COVID crisis, the monastery and seminary, which originally had planned very festive commemorations of several jubilees this year, has had to greatly diminish the original plans.  So it was that on November 26, 2020, which was also Thanksgiving Day in the United States, the monastery commemorated the 70th anniversary of the consecration of the cathedral of the Holy Trinity Monastery. 
 

The third issue of Holy Trinity Monastery's Russian-language journal Pravoslavnaia Rus' for 2020 may be downloaded as a free PDF directly from the publisher's website.
 
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Православная Русь is published four times a year and made available free of charge in electronic form. Donations towards the ongoing costs of production are accepted:

1) Via Patreon (recurring donations)
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Holy Trinity Publications
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Вышел в свет очередной третий номер «Православной Руси» за 2020 г.
 
Очередной номер русскоязычного журнала Свято-Троицкого монастыря можно скачать бесплатно на сайте издательства.
 
 В текущем номере: 
 
1. Диакон Андрей Псарев. Слово на Праздник Преображения Господня
2. Митрополит Макарий (Невский). О воспитании детей
3. Житие преподобного Леонтия, Архимандрита Михайловского, чудотворца
4. Опыт исторического описания Свято-Троицкого мужского  монастыря в Джорданвилле
5.  Архиепископ Аверкий (Таушев) и  его наследие.
6. Из  проповеднического наследия архиепископа Аверкия (Таушева)
Слово на Успение Пресвятыя Богородицы
Слово на Усекновение Честной Главы Иоанна Крестителя
Слово в день Рождества Пресвятой Богородицы 8 сентября
7. Личные документы священнослужителей в фондах архива Свято-Троицкой духовной Семинарии в Джорданвилле. Послужной список протоиерея Василия Шапошникова.
8. Храм на берегу Волги материалы к истории Петропавловской церкви  в селе Стрелка. Къ 180-летию основания
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Holy Trinity Publications
P.O. Box 36
Jordanville, NY 13361
Пожалуйста укажите на Вашем чеке ‘Православная Русь’
 
 

On October 18 (31 N.S.), the Church commemorates the memory of the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke. This is the Saint’s Day of our superior and rector, His Grace Bishop of Syracuse.  As is traditional, Vladyka served the divine liturgy at 6 AM, together with the clergy of the monastery as well as some guest clergy.  A short moleben was served at the end of the liturgy, offering prayers for our Vladyka.  All those attending the service wished Vladyka good health and God’s strength in his church obediences.
 

On October 14 (New Calendar), the Russian Orthodox Church solemnly celebrates the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, which commemorates the vision of the Holy Virgin in the church of Blachernae, in the mid-10th century, during an All-Night Vigil, during which the faithful were imploring the aid of the Mother of God during a siege from pagan tribes of the ancestors of the Russians. 

The weekend of October 10 and 11, the Kursk Icon was present in the monastery, having been brought here by His Grace, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, for the comfort of the monastery and the seminary, as well as the neighbors, for whom the monastery is their spiritual home.  On Saturday, after lunch, the icon was taken around to bless all of the rooms of the monastery as well as the seminary dormitory.  For some of our new seminarians, this was the first time that they had the opportunity to venerate in person this ancient holy relic of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The monastery has an immense blessing in having in its possession innumerable relics of saints.  One of our most treasured relics is a piece of the Honorable and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord.  It is set in a beautifully carved, wooden archimandrite’s cross which belonged to the ever-memorable Archbishop Averky, when he was an archimandrite in the Carpathian mountains area of north-western Hungary, before World War II.  Eventually, Vladyka used his cross for the setting of the wondrous relic, which itself was placed in a larger Maltese shaped cross, and which is used in the monastery for feasts of the Cross, especially the Exaltation of the Cross.

Although the feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist is not one of the twelves great feasts of the Orthodox Church, nevertheless it is considered a great feast, as the Baptist was called by the Lord the greatest of men who had every been born.  The feast commemorates several things.  First of all, it is a day of great sorrow, that the holiest of men was put to death, not due to any fault of his won, but due to lust and envy.  Also it signifies the death of a man who connected the Old Testament with the New.  He himself stated that he had to become smaller while Christ would become greater.

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, for the first time in memory, the monastery did not have its annual Labor Day weekend celebration of the memory of St. Job of Pochaev and the Pochaev Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.  Due to this, the Pochaev Icon was not taken to the cemetery church of the Dormition on the feast of the Dormition as has been the usual custom, to be brought back in procession on Saturday of the Labor Day weekend. 
 

The feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos has always been celebrated with great solemnity in the monastery.  Traditionally, it has been tied into our St. Job of Pochaev Pilgrimages on Labor Day weekend, and even if the afterfeast of the Dormition ended before Labor Day weekend, we would still keep blue vestments and sing hymns of the Dormition together with the Pochaev Icon and St. Job.
 
           

The Holy Trinity Monastery has renewed the practice of serving the Lamentations and Burial of the Most Holy Theotokos in our monastery.  Forty years ago, the English language mission of the monastery, served by Hieromonk Ioannikiy and then later the late Archpriest Laurence Girard served this service in English at the conclusion of the regular All-Night Vigil in the cathedral of the monastery.  After a few years, unfortunately, the practice stopped.
 

In 2011 Holy Trinity Monastery began making 100% Pure Beeswax Candles. Our standard has been since the begiining not to mix any chemicals or parrafin in the wax. Over the years we have been gradually increasing our production and variety of candles available. In 2019 the candle factory was expanded to better support the candle making operation. We hope by the end of 2021 to further exand the candle factory bringing in new equipment. There are many areas that need to be worked on in terms of upgrading electricity, bringing water to the building and adding new equipment. We ask for your continued support to be able to continue this work. You may purchase our candles here. We are now also accepting Amazon Pay. 

In 2014 the Monastery Apiary suffered major damage due to a fire. Since that time a new building has been built to house the workshop for processing honey and every year more and more beehives are been added. Currenly a building is being prepapred made out of straw walls to house the beehives during the winter. We hope to soon be able to offer our honey products online. Asking for prayers and support to continue this work. 

In January 2020 the ceiling of the Monastery Refectory was refinished because over the years much damage was done to the ceiling from various leaks due to plumbing problems. 

Holy Trinity Monastery Bookstore  is now Holy Trinity Church Supplies Store. In the past eight months we have been adding many more titles to our English and Russian books collection. In addition we are beginning to carry various church supplies for use in church and home as well as ecclesiastical clothing and vestments. The need arose for more space to stock all the items. The upper level store now houses all liturgical items, new and featured English and Russian books, English books and food items. The Lower Store houses all Russian books, vestments and ecclesiastical clothing. We hope in time to expand our range of products. We ask for your prayers and support.  

The roof of the main office and residence building was in great need of repair. In several places the shingle roof had rotted and there was water damage in several areas. An appeal was issued in the fall of 2019 as the Monastery had decided to replace the shingle roof with a metal roof with a guarantee that this would last for many years. However the Monastery could not cover the $150, 000.00 price tag and the faithful overwhelmingly answered the appeal with generous donations to cover the expense of this project. The work began in the fall of 2019 and was interrupted by the winter  climate. Thankfully due  to the phased  opening up of the economy in New York  State in May of this year the work continued until the end of July. We thank you for all your generous support so that this necessary work could be carried out to preserve our home. The Monastery has many repair needs but as our Abbot stated that without  a roof over the main monastery building we could not continue our mission.

The roof of the  chapel  of Saint John of Kronstadt and Saint John of Rila  was in great need of repair. It  was built through the labors of a bulgarian refugee Dimitri Blachev who was taken into the  monastery by Vladyka Laurus back in the 1970s. Dimitri after laboring here for many years decided it was time to leave and in gratitude to the Monastery he built this chapel in typical balkan style. The roof needed to be replaced as it was falling in and the beautiful iconography inside was in danger of being destroyed. Taking advantage of the roofers who were in the monastery replacing the roof of the main residence and office building it was decided to go ahead and replace the roof with a wood shingle roof. 

Attention Visitors and Pilgrims to Holy Trinity Monastery

Due to health restrictions we will not be hosting our traditional Labor Day celebrations.

Asking your prayers,

+ Bishop Luke
Abbot
Holy Trinity Monastery

Attention Visitors and Pilgrims to Holy Trinity Monastery

Due to health restrictions we will not be hosting our traditional Labor Day celebrations.

Asking your prayers,

+ Bishop Luke
Abbot
Holy Trinity Monastery

There are antecedents of the Orthodox feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord in the Old Testament feast of the harvest.  For this reason, it is the tradition to bless the first fruits on this feast which comes towards the end of the summer, at least in the northern hemisphere.  Such was the influence of Orthodoxy on the common people in old Russia, that pious Christians would not eat any fruit until it had been blessed on this feast.  In our world of supermarkets and globalization, when fruit can be purchased at any time of year, this has lost meaning among most people. 

            The Church year has four fasting periods, or periods of time of abstention from dairy products and all other animal products.  Occasionally fish or seafood is allowed, depending on the strictness of the fast.
 
            

The clergy and parishioners of the Church of the Holy Great-Martyr and Healer Panteleimon in Hartford, CT recently celebrated their patronal feast day. Bishop Luke of Syracuse, vicar of the Eastern American Diocese, came to share in the joy of the feast. Praying alongside the hierarch on Saturday, August 8, at All-Night Vigil and on Sunday, August 9, at Divine Liturgy were parish rector Dionysy Nalitov and Protodeacon Peter Markevich (cleric of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, accompanying His Grace).

Due to water damage and the humid climate the monastery refectory which has beautiful walls painited with frescoes was in great need of restoration in certain areas. The services of Ekaterina Piskareva were contracted and a a few weeks of labor with her expertise the frescoes were restored to their original beauty. 

On July 28 (N.S.), the feast of Equal-to-the-Apostles, Grand Prince Vladimir, His Grace, Bishop Luke, our abbot, presided at the hierarchal liturgy.  During the Liturgy, after the consecration of the Holy Gifts, Vladyka ordained to the deaconate, Subdeacon Paul Siewers, from the ROCOR mission of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.  Fr. Deacon Paul then remained in the monastery for two weeks to practice, serving every day with the monastery clergy.
 

Since its inception as a feast in the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, after their canonization by the Church, the memory of the Royal Martyrs of Russia, has been solemnly kept by the monastery.
 

OPEN LETTER
to
The Honourable Gavin Newsom, Governor of California
from
His Eminence Kyrill Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America
in light of the decree issued by the Governor of California
that forbids choral singing in churches.

Your Excellency,

I hereby express my protest against the recent prohibition of liturgical singing in houses of worship, which is an infringement of the rights and religious freedoms of the clergy and faithful of the Western American Diocese of the Russian Diaspora, the other Local Orthodox Churches, performing their ministry in this state, as well as other religious bodies.

On the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, July 12 (N.S.), which also was a Sunday this year, the monastery brotherhood had the joy of the tonsure to the sub deaconate of one of our own, Monk Paisios.  He was tonsured during the Hours by our abbot, His Grace, Bishop Luke. 
 

Book Trailer - St Ignatius (Brianchaninov), Harbor for our Hope: On Acquiring Peace Amidst Suffering.

Please click below to read an Appeal by Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid America:

English

Russian

If you would like us to light candles at our divine services please click here.

The Pascha 2020 Issue of Pravoslavnaia Rus' is Now Available for Download
 
The first issue of Holy Trinity Monastery's Russian-language journal Pravoslavnaia Rus' for 2020 may be downloaded as a free PDF directly from the publisher's website.
 
 
*****************
 
Православная Русь is published four times a year and made available free of charge in electronic form. Donations towards the ongoing costs of production are accepted:

1) Via Patreon (recurring donations)
2) Via Paypal
3) By phone - 315 538 5008
4) Please make your check out to 'Holy Trinity Monastery' and mail to:

Holy Trinity Publications
P.O. Box 36
Jordanville, NY 13361
 
So that we may properly record your support, please note 'Православная Русь' in the memo field.
 
 

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
 
Dear Brothers!
 
Today, God lies in the tomb, not as one dead, but as one resting from the completion of a great work. In the silence of this great and holy day, Our Lord keeps His Sabbath, having rendered a new creation by the work of His mighty hands.
 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
 
Holy is the Lord our God!
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal have mercy on us!
 
These and many other prayers and sacred writings characterize God as holy and the source of holiness.
 
The salvific struggle of the Son of God is completed, “In the grave bodily, but in Hades with Thy soul as God; in Paradise with the thief, and on the throne with the Father and the Spirit wast Thou Who fillest all things, O Christ the Inexpressible.”
 
Time and place disappear in the Grace-filled experience of the Body of Christ, the Church and the life of Orthodox Christians. However, God choose to be born in the flesh and to truly suffer and die so that He could work out our salvation though things of this world, beginning with His flesh and Blood and continuing to sanctify us through everything the Church offers us. He beckons us to receive into our bodies, to venerate, to touch the shroud before us, the incense we breathe, holy water, blessed salt, sanctified palms and pussy willows, myrrh from a streaming icon, our personal prayers, the sign of the cross, the struggle for virtue, the battle with sin, the endless invisible and visible means by which our Lord desires to commune with us and make us holy.
 
Dearly beloved  brothers and sisters, piety is Orthodoxy, holiness in life, in everyday life where we commune with the Holy Spirit, Who is the Giver of Life, not death. Beware lest we fall into a carnal purely natural worldly understanding of these mysteries, which God has ordained, for our salvation. Empty religious forms will not satisfy our spirit and we will then seek pleasure and satisfaction in the passions, in endless worldly distractions, neo-idol worship. Be careful not to shake the simple hearted faith of those little ones among us by disinfecting the sacred, the Lord warns us about this.  Yes it requires unshakable faith to move mountains, but our Creator tells us it is indeed possible. As we continue to repent, to grow in Christ, let us pray earnestly to God to forgive us for our weak faith, that He ever increase our faith so that we might put away sin, triviality, carnal thinking of the natural man, and enter into that which we are called, a life in the Holy Spirit, a spiritual life, and exclaim with St. David, “Take not Thy Holy Spirit from me but give me the Joy of Thy salvation!”

Amen.
 

 
 

Harbor for Our Hope, On Acquiring Peace Amidst Suffering

Dear members of Holy Trinity Monastery Community!

Based on the inspiration of the Eldress Agatha below, considering the difficulty of gathering at this time and having consulted with the fathers, the following suggestion is offered for blessing of Paschal baskets.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, in Christ!
 
In compliance with the New York State Governor's Office Executive Order 202.10 pursuant on April 9, 2020, and the local authorities, Holy Trinity Monastery's worship services are now closed until further notice. All pilgrimages and visits by outside guests have been temporarily suspended. Under the present circumstances, the Seminary is employing distance learning technology. 
 
Please maintain your prayer life and increase your spiritual struggles asking for God’s mercy and protection!
 
Pray for our community always.

 
+ Bishop Luke

To the friends and supporters of Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary:

His Grace Bishop Luke, the Monastery Brethren, the Teachers, and Seminarians are praying for your health and safety during this plague that has been visited upon us. We all look forward to the end of this crisis and the ability for you to once again come and be with us so that we can pray together. Your support and generosity are what have allowed the Monastery to be here for over 90 years, praying for you and your departed loved ones.

In this time of crisis, we sadly have to point out a few unpleasant facts. 

Visits to the monastery by pilgrims have been suspended by directive of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, who shares our concern for the health of the elderly fathers in our community. This has hurt us financially. Donations for the month of March are at half the level of the previous year. 

Our suppliers, utility companies, and workers still need to receive payment for services and goods. We would ask each of you to please consider sending a special donation, or making a monthly pledge of support through PayPal, to the Monastery and Seminary to help sustain us through this period.
 
We would also ask that you pray to the Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, and to St Job, Abbot, and Wonderworker of Pochaev for the health and welfare of the Brotherhood.  

With a sense of weighty responsibility not only for the eternal salvation of men’s souls, but also for the physical health of the clergy, monastics, parishioners, and worshipers of the Russian Church Abroad, I have been attentively following the development of events relating to the spread of the coronavirus, prayerfully beseeching for all God’s aid and the intercession of His Most-Pure Mother.

The current global outbreak of coronavirus dominates the daily headlines, with reports every day of new cases. Nevertheless, the divine services in our churches will continue, and Communion of the clergy and laity will be performed in the usual manner. In everything else, I ask that you undertake reasonable precautionary measures, adhering to common sense and the recommendations of local authorities, in order to preserve the health of the people and arrest the virus’ spread. If you are experiencing symptoms reminiscent of a cold, or if you have spent time with those who are ill, please have consideration for your neighbors, refrain from attending church, and pray at home.

The most important thing in these days is to preserve calm and inner peace, trusting in God. May the Lord help us not only to believe in Him, but also to trust in Him and in His guidance, that we might not lose spirit, and may act with goodly wisdom.

May the Lord keep you!

+HILARION
Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York,
First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ members of the Holy Trinity Monastery community!

Greetings in the Lord!

It has come to my attention that many are suffering from some form of stress induced psychosis as a result of the recent epidemic. This is characterized by continual worry, nervousness, anxiety, faintheartedness, panic etc. One of the causes for this spiritual malady is an obsession with news concerning the epidemic. This is confirmed by the world mental health organization, "The World Health Organization has a recommendation for mental health: only check the news once or twice a day."

I am issuing a directive to all members of our Holy Trinity community to limit themselves to no more than 15 minutes a day informing themselves about the epidemic.

The Lord commands,"Let not your heart be troubled..." We create our own spiritual problems by our obsession with these issues which do little positive towards our hope for salvation.

As true Orthodox Christians preparing for eternity, spend the extra time in heartfelt prayer, spiritual reading and other good works!

Love in Christ,

+ Bishop Luke  

St. Dionysius the Great

St. Dionysius the Great was Pope of Alexandria from 248 to 264. During that time, the Church of Alexandria suffered horrible persecution. Just as that was dying down, an epidemic broke out in the city, just as Pascha was approaching. St. Dionysius described the epidemic, and the Church’s response, in a letter to some of his flock outside of Alexandria. It is especially relevant today, as our current church leaders try to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, which is also happening as we prepare for Pascha.

St. Dionysius’ letter was printed by Eusebius in his seminal Church History, chapter 7. The following English translation is by G.A. Williamson, published by Dorset Press in 1965 and again in 1984.
***
[Eusebius writes:] Later, when a severe epidemic followed the war just as the festival [Pascha] was approaching, he [Dionysius] again communicated in writing with the Christian community, revealing the horrors of the disaster:

Other people would not think this a time for festival: they do not so regard this or any other time, even if, so far from being a time of distress, it is a time of unimaginable joy. Now, alas! all is lamentation, everyone in mourning, and the city resounds with weeping because of the numbers that have died and are dying every day. As Scripture says of the firstborn of the Egyptians, so now  there has been a great cry: there is not a house in which there is not one dead — how I wish it had been only one!

Many terrible things had happened to use even before this. First we were set on and surrounded by persecutors and murderers, yet we were the only ones to keep festival even then. Every spot where we were attacked became for us a place for celebrations, whether field, desert, ship, inn, or prison. The most brilliant festival of all was kept by the fulfilled martyrs, who were feasted in heaven. After that came war and famine, which struck at Christian and heathen alike. We alone had to bear the injuries they did us, but we profited by what they did to each other and suffered at each other’s hands; so yet again we found joy in the peace which Christ has given to us alone. But when both we and they had been allowed a tiny breathing-space, out of the blue came this disease, a thing more terrifying to them than any terror, more frightful than any disaster whatever, and as a historian of their own [Thucydides] once wrote: ‘the only thing of all that surpassed expectation’. To us it was not that, but a schooling and testing as valuable as all our earlier trials; for it did not pass over us, though its full impact fell on the heathen… [ellipses in original]

Most of our brother-Christians showed unbounded love and loyalty, never sparing themselves and thinking only of one another. Heedless of the danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ, and with them departed this life serenely happy; for they were infected by others with the disease, drawing on themselves the sickness of their neighbors and cheerfully accepting their pains. Many, in nursing and curing others, transferred their death to themselves and died in their stead, turning the common formula that is normally an empty courtesy into a reality: ‘Your humble servant bids you good-bye.’ The best of our brothers lost their lives in this manner, a number of presbyters, deacons, and laymen winning high commendation, so that death in this form, the result of great piety and strong faith, seems in every way the equal of martyrdom. With willing hands they raised the bodies of the saints to their bosoms; they closed their eyes and mouths, carried them on their shoulders, and laid them out; they clung to them, embraced them, washed them, and wrapped them in grave-clothes. Very soon the same services were done for them, since those left behind were constantly following those gone before.

The heathen behaved in the very opposite way. At the first onset of the disease, they pushed the sufferers away and fled from their dearest, throwing them into the roads before they were dead and treating unburied corpses as dirt, hoping thereby to avert the spread and contagion of the fatal disease; but do what they might, they found it difficult to escape.

https://preachersinstitute.com/2020/03/23/on-the-plague/

Saturday March 21 

7 pm vigil at the monastery cathedral

4pm  Vigil for children  at the cemetery church

Sunday March 22

9 am  Divine Liturgy at the cathedral

9 am  Divine Liturgy for children  at the cemetery church

Note: Monastery parishioners are kindly requested not to attend Trapeza on Sunday after the liturgies.

+ Bishop Luke

The first week of Great Lent finally arrived, after a time of Holy Nativity and Theophany celebrations with the blessing of houses, combined with the preparatory weeks before Lent.
 
On Sunday, March 1st, at 3PM, the large bell toned very solemnly as the brethren, seminarians, and pilgrims greeted His Grace, Vladyka Luke, who was then vested solemnly before the beginning of 9th Hours, followed by Great Vespers, served together with the monastery clergy.

On Sunday, March 8, the first Sunday of Great Lent, the Holy Church commemorates the triumph of Orthodoxy when the veneration of the holy icons was confirmed by the 7th Ecumenical Council.  In Russia, it has been traditional in cathedrals to include with the service the so-called Anathema service.  This service consists of reiterating the traditional dogmas of the Orthodox faith concerning the Orthodox belief in the Holy Trinity and the dual nature of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The feast of the Three Hierarchs traditionally is the feast day of Orthodox theological seminaries, and so it is for our Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary.  For this feast day, our seminary is often visited by other hierarchs of our Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, as it was this year, which made the feast even more solemn.

The feast of Theophany or Baptism of the Lord comes at the end of the so-called “Sviatsi,” or “Holy Days.” Following the typicon the Royal Hours were served on Friday morning with no liturgy, since the feast fell on Sunday.  Saturday morning, on the Eve of Theophany, His Grace Bishop Luke served the divine liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, which was followed immediately by Great Vespers for the feast of Theophany.  This itself was immediately followed by a Great Blessing of Water in the monastery bell tower chapel.  As is the monastery custom, one meal, strictly Lenten, was served after all the monastery and seminary quarters had been blessed with holy water.

Glory to God, the feast of the Holy Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour was celebrated with the usual solemnity and joy.  For this we must be thankful to God and the efforts of the brethren and seminarians, who with diligence carried out all the usual preparations for the feast, by singing and reading in kleros, the preparation of the meals, the thorough cleaning of all the monastery and seminary buildings, and the reception and care of our many pilgrims.

Your Eminence, Fathers, conferencees!

It’s wise to search the Scriptures and especially the Gospel for guidance before beginning any new task. What does the Gospel say that gives direction for the topic of culture and Orthodox living?

Since today was a feast of the Mother of God, in the midst of the Nativity Fast, when the vestments are read, the church was filled with blue vestments In honor of the Most Holy Virgin. 

            St. Nicholas is perhaps the most beloved of all saints by Russians.  Every pious home has at least icons of the Savior, the Mother of God, and also of St. Nicholas.   In the monastery we had the usual All-Night Vigil, and His Grace Bishop Luke presided at the Divine Liturgy on the day itself. 
 
            The church was filled with the faithful.  At the end of the service, the monastery cathedral Protodeacon Victor Lochmatow was presented with a Synodal Grammota by Bishop Luke in recognition of his 45 years anniversary of being ordained a deacon on this feast.  The choir sang Many Years for him and all of her many Name’s Day people. 
 
            Fr. Victor besides being a long-time deacon has also taught Russian Literature in the seminary for many years.  He is one of the original “summer boys,” and was the secretary and helper of Metropolitan Laurus for all of his episcopate, that is, for over 40 years.  Many years, dear Fr. Victor.

Despite it being a work day, many of our  neighbors attended the Divine Liturgy on this blessed feast, officiated by Bishop Luke and concelebrated by the monastery clergy.  As we like to say, it is the feast of all of our guardian angels.

This feast is also the anniversary of the repose of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Philaret, the third First-Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, a prolific sermonizer and known throughout the Orthodox world for his stance against ecumenism. 

On October 18/31 the Holy Church commemorates the memory of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke.  This is the Name’s Day of our abbot, His Grace, Bishop Luke, who is also the rector of our Holy Trinity Seminary.  This year, Vladyka celebrated his first Name’s Day as a bishop.  With great joy, the brotherhood, seminary teachers and students and many neighbors and pilgrims came together to celebrate this feast day together with our dear bishop.

As has been their custom since the horrific death of Brother Jose Munoz in, the guardian of the Montreal Iveron Myrrh-Streaming Icon in 1997, the cathedral parish of St. John the Baptist of Washington, D.C. has organized an annual pilgrimage to the Holy Trinity Monastery, in whose cemetery repose the earthly remains of Brother Jose.  Led by Archpriest Victor Potapov and other clergy, a busload of pilgrims arrived on Saturday afternoon, October 26th, whereupon a pannikhida was served at Brother Jose’s gravesite.  Many other pilgrims, neighbors as well as monastery brethren and seminarians joined in remembering Brother Jose.

From time to time the Eastern American and New York Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia has held its conferences within the walls of the Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York.  So it was on October 22-23, on our hallowed grounds, approximately 100 priests and deacons gathered with Metropolitan Hilarion, our First Hierarch and his two vicar bishops, Bishop Nicholas and Bishop Luke, along with Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada and his clergy, and clergy of the Moscow Patriarchate. 

The feast of the Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross is very solemnly celebrated in the monastery, which is blessed to have a small piece of the True Cross.  This is contained in a decorated pectoral cross which once belonged to Archbishop Averky, a well-known writer and confessor of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad and a previous abbot of our monastery and rector of the Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary, located in the monastery.

St. Tikhon's Monastery in Waymart, PA will host a Bellringing Education Weekend on October 4–6, 2019. Organized by New Creation Bellringing, the event consists of two lectures, a demonstration at the monastery belfry, and hands-on ringing lessons for students that have registered in advance.

On Friday, October 4, 7–9 pm, there will be a lecture, "The 5 Essential Elements of a Successful Bellringing Ministry." Intended for clergy, seminarians, and bellringers, it will equip them with the knowledge and tools needed to build a culture of serious church bellringing in their communities. On Saturday, October 5, at 10:00 am, there will be a lecture open to the general public, "The Liturgical Art of Bellringing in the Orthodox Church," which will provide an overview of the history, sounds, and methodology of Christian bellringing, focusing on the bellringing traditions of Orthodox Church. It will be followed by a demonstration at the Millennium Belfry. At Vigil and Liturgy in the monastery church, student bellringers who have studied during the week will ring the tolls and peals.

For more information, visit the event page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/424297171549692.

To learn more about Constantine Stade and New Creation Bellringing, please visit www.newcreationbellringing.com.

We are glad to announce that we have completed the renovation of our incense workshop. We are now currently making incense and in the very  near future we will be adding our initial line of aromas of  Jordanville Incense to our Church Supplies Site. 

The renovation work was extensive and expensive and we please ask for your continued support and prayers that we may work and be succesful in  producing high quality incense. We hope to be able to produce an organic line of incence in the near future with no chemical additives.

If you would like to help us grow our incense making endeavor you may do so in the following ways:

1) We are currently looking for an engineering machinist who would be able to create a custom made machine to cut incense.

2) We would welcome anyone with experience in using organic oil bases and combining them with essential oil aromas.

3) We would be grateful for any material support to help us purchase raw materials of frankincense and high quality aromas. This in turn will help the monastics continue working to support the needs of the Monastery.

4) Finally if you have any suggestions and recommendations on how we can improve our current products please feel free to write to us at incense.jordanville@gmail.com

ONLINE DONATIONS MAY BE MADE HERE

With God's help the path to  the St. Seraphim chapel was completed. For many years water was collecting on the surface of the old path and entering the chapel. The area under the new path was water proofed, cement poured on top at a slight angle so as to have water escaping safely from the area of the chapel.

Our cemetery has over 3000 graves and both the Monastery and Seminary grounds need a good Lawnmower. The lawnmower is needed to be better able to maintain the grounds for our dearly departed, as well as for the monastic and seminary grounds. This fundraiser will go towards the purchase of a Hustler Riding Lawnmower.

Update: August 14, 2019 by Archim. Nektarios Harding
On behalf of Bishop Luke of Syracuse, I want to thank all our donors! We have exceeded our goal of 4500.00!!
God bless each and every one of you who donated to this campaign!

Labor Day weekend in the United States, besides being a time to commemorate all those who work hard in the industry of our country, is traditionally considered the last weekend of the summer season, a time when often people have their last vacation time and have barbeques and other festivities.

August 18/31, 2019, the day of the commemoration of the Holy Martyrs Florus and Laurus, is the Saint’s Day of our ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus and Archimandrite Flor.  For this reason, a pannikhida was served after lunch by His Grace, Bishop Luke, abbot of our monastery, joined by the monastery clergy, neighbors and pilgrims, who were already arriving for the Labor Day weekend festivities. 

Also commemorated were Hierodeacon Andrei, a reposed member of our brotherhood and also Subdeacon Basil Anderson, a former seminarian, who tragically died in a home accident many years ago, and also the newly reposed Ludmilla Popow, mother-in-law of our Protodeacon Victor Lochmatow.

May the Lord grant them all eternal memory!

Saturday, 18 / 31 August
Martyrs Florus & Laurus
5:00 Midnight Office
6:00 Divine Liturgy
3:00 Procession to Greet the Pochaev Icon, Akafist to St Job, Communion Rule
7:00 Vigil

Sunday, 19 August / 1 September
11th Sunday after Pentecost
6:00 Early Liturgy in the Church of St Job of Pochaev
9:00 Hierarchal Divine Liturgy with Procession Around the Cathedral, Moleben to the Pochaev Icon and St Job of Pochaev
6:00 Vespers
7:00 Supper 
7:15 Small Compline

Monday, 20 August / 2 September 

5:00 Midnight Office
6:00 Matins
8:00 Hierarchical Divine Liturgy
4:00 Vespers
7:15 Small Compline

As always, the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos will be served with particular solemnity at Holy Trinity Monastery, including the celebration of the altar feast of the cemetery Church of the Dormition located in the "new cemetery." This year His Grace, Bishop Luke, and the monastery clergy will also serve the Lamentations of the Dormition of the Theotokos (sometimes known as the Burial Service of the Mother of God) in the monastery's cathedral as part of the festal observances.

On Monday evening, the eve of the feast of the Tikhvin Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, July 8 (N.S.), Bishop Luke, our abbot, performed two more tonsures.  Traditionally, in our monastery, tonsures are done during Great Lent. However, any Lenten period is appropriate for tonsures.  

This year, the monastery’s celebration of its altar feast day of the Holy Spirit was especially solemn, in large part due to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the ordination of Protodeacon Joseph Jarostchuk to the deaconate.  His family organized a reception in his honor after the feast day luncheon. This drew even more than the usual number of pilgrims, especially from Albany and Boston, where Father has many relatives.

As is usual, the monastery celebrated Pentecost with great solemnity.  In past years, since the repose of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus, we had to request the presence of a visiting bishop to head up our services, but this year, for the first time, our very own Bishop Luke presided at the services on Pentecost.  

Dear Supporters & Friends,

Christ is in our Midst!

Since its humble beginnings 90 years ago, Holy Trinity Monastery is the largest monastery of ROCOR, and an important spiritual centre for those seeking fulfillment in the religious life. Throughout those years, it is people like you who share the vision of our forefathers of Blessed memory, that have supported and maintained the Monastery.

Dear Supporters & Friends,

Christ is in our Midst!

Since its humble beginnings 90 years ago, Holy Trinity Monastery is the largest monastery of ROCOR, and an important spiritual centre for those seeking fulfillment in the religious life. Throughout those years, it is people like you who share the vision of our forefathers of Blessed memory, that have supported and maintained the Monastery.

On May 21 (New Calendar), on the feast of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, in the 103rd year of his life, the eldest inhabitant of the Holy Trinity Monastery, Lev Ivanovich Pawlinets, reposed quietly in hospital after a brief illness.

https://eadiocese.org/news_190516_3.html

Lev Ivanovich Pavlinetz reposed in the Lord On Tuesday morning, May 21, 2019. A hierarchical liturgy will take place on Wednesday, May 22, followed by the blessing of the water. Following this service, lunch will be held in trapeza and the funeral for Lev Pavlinetz will follow.

On Wednesday, May 15, at 5:30 pm in the Seminary hall, Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary is pleased to present a lecture, delivered in English, titled “Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) In Memoriam: An Icon of Russian Culture in the Emigration”.

This lecture is mandatory for all students.  Faculty, staff, and the Brotherhood are cordially invited to attend, and the lecture is open to the public.

This Bright Friday, May 3rd, a Hierarchal Divine Liturgy will be held at 9am in memory of Archbishop Alypy. His burial will take place at 1pm after lunch is held in the trapeza. All are invited to attend. 

On Pascha day, at 3PM, the joyful Paschal service of Vespers was served.  This is already vespers for Bright Monday. A distinguishing feature of this service is the reading of the Gospel by the bishop, towards the people, while the priests are gathered below the amvon, with deacons supporting the Gospel.

It has been commented that in a certain cathedral of our Russian Church Abroad Pascha is quite glorious, but in the monastery it shines forth with great warmth, if somewhat more humble.  Perhaps this is due to the concentrated prayer and relative ascetic labors of conducting the full typicon of Great Lenten services with the ensuing atmosphere of great spiritual concentration and repentance.  Even so, the monastery services on Pascha and Bright Week are very joyous and for Pascha the singing is quite glorious and joyful.

It has been commented that in a certain cathedral of our Russian Church Abroad Pascha is quite glorious, but in the monastery it shines forth with great warmth, if somewhat more humble.  Perhaps this is due to the concentrated prayer and relative ascetic labors of conducting the full typicon of Great Lenten services with the ensuing atmosphere of great spiritual concentration and repentance.  Even so, the monastery services on Pascha and Bright Week are very joyous and for Pascha the singing is quite glorious and joyful.

On April 28, 2019, the first day of Holy Pascha, His Eminence, Archbishop Alypy, reposed in the Lord.  Thus ended the heavy cross born by Vladyka for many years, after a tragic accident, after which he became an invalid. 

After six weeks of Great Lent, followed by the celebration of Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday, the monastery entered upon Holy Week.  This is perhaps the most solemn period of time in the monastery of the whole year. There are spiritually uplifting services throughout the day as we move forward to the Lord’s Passion.  

After six weeks of Great Lent, followed by the celebration of Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday, the monastery entered upon Holy Week.  This is perhaps the most solemn period of time in the monastery of the whole year. There are spiritually uplifting services throughout the day as we move forward to the Lord’s Passion.  

On April 18, Thursday of the 6th Week of Great Lent, in the evening after Great Compline, our abbot, Bishop Luke of Syracuse, performed the mystery of the tonsure to the Little Schema.  This was truly a feast of the monastery as three of our rassaphore monks were tonsured into the angelic state.

It has become traditional for the monastery to celebrate the mystery of Holy Unction on Tuesday of the 6th Week of Great Lent.  And so, many people gathered at the monastery for this service, many arriving from neighboring parishes besides the members of our community and our neighbors. 

The first attempt at compiling an annotated database of the departed who are buried in the cemeteries of Holy Trinity Monastery was carried out in 1996 by an enthusiastic amateur historian from Michigan, Andrei Alekseevich Lyubimov. The results of his research were published in the journal Letopis’ Russkogo zarhubezh’ia (no. 2, 1996 and no. 3 for 1997). In 2005, Hieromonk Evtikhii (Dovganiuk) submitted to Holy Trinity Orthodox Theological Seminary his dissertation, A Draft of a Guidebook for the Necropolis of Holy Trinity Monastery (in Russian). The Holy Trinity seminarian, Vladimir Davydov, developed Fr. Evitikhii’s work, presenting his thesis to Holy Trinity Seminary in 2009. In 2012-14, Andrei A. Lyubimov resumed his cataloguing of the cemeteries, having arrived in Jordanville at the invitation of the Foundation of Russian History, headed by the seminary' deaan Archpirest Vladimir von Tsurikov. In 2015, the results of A. Lyubimov’s and Fr. Vladimir von Tsurikovs' collaboration came out of the Moscow press, Staraia Basmannaia, under the title, Dzhordanvil’skii nekropol’. Meanwhile, in 2012, the internet site, Historical Studies of the Russian Church Abroad, began to video-record numerous commentaries made in Russian by Hieromonk Roman (Krassovsky) and Protodeacon Viktor Lochmatow at selected graves of the Jordanville cemeteries. However, the seminary professor and editor of the website, Deacon Andrei Psarev, did not have the resources for posting annotated video materials on the website. The situation changed for the better in October 2018, when the Canadian foundation, Russkaia Dusha (The Russian Soul), allocated a grant for placing video materials on the website, Historical Studies of the Russian Church Abroad. Each video is accompanied by a reference to the book, Dzhordanvil’skii nekropol’ and can be viewed here: http://www.rocorstudies.org/ jordanville/

The Softener of Evil Hearts icon will visit the monastery from Tuesday, April 23rd until Pascha. The greeting of the icon will take place on Tuesday morning at 9:50am. 

The Service of Holy Unction will take place at 3:00pm on April 16th, 2019.

For a number of years, during Great Lent, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts of St. James, the Brother of the Lord, has been celebrated.  This was instituted by our abbot, Archimandrite Luke, now Bishop Luke. As he has done every year, he celebrated this liturgy for the spiritual edification of the brethren and the faithful and to strengthen our ties with the early Church.  This is especially interesting for our seminarians, who never had witnessed this type of liturgy.

As has become a fixed tradition in the monastery, many Serbian pilgrims, mainly from New York, but also from other parts, joined the brotherhood in celebrating the Veneration of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord on the 3rd Sunday of Great Lent.  For us it is a great joy to share this mid-Lenten commemoration with our brethren in the faith.  

As has become a fixed tradition in the monastery, many Serbian pilgrims, mainly from New York, but also from other parts, joined the brotherhood in celebrating the Veneration of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord on the 3rd Sunday of Great Lent.  For us it is a great joy to share this mid-Lenten commemoration with our brethren in the faith.  

On Friday, April 5th, 2019, we will serve the Liturgy of St. James at 11:00am in the St. Job of Pochaev Church below the main cathedral. 

In Orthodox understanding, Great Lent is called the “spring of the soul.”  So once again, our All-Merciful Lord has granted us to arrive at this soul-saving time of the Church year.  With the passing of the first week, the monastery-seminary community has whole-heartedly turned its heart over to this special time of repentance and fasting with prayer.

In Orthodox understanding, Great Lent is called the “spring of the soul.”  So once again, our All-Merciful Lord has granted us to arrive at this soul-saving time of the Church year.  With the passing of the first week, the monastery-seminary community has whole-heartedly turned its heart over to this special time of repentance and fasting with prayer.

This year, the feast of the Meeting of the Lord was special in that it was the first festal, pontifical liturgy served by His Grace, the newly consecrated Bishop Luke, abbot of our monastery.  Concelebrating with him were the monastery and seminary clergy.

On February 12, 2019, the seminary feast of the Three Hierarchs, a wondrous and historic event took place in the life of the monastery.  Our beloved abbot, Archimandrite Luke was consecrated to the episcopacy. Having been elected our abbot in May of 2008 to succeed the ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus, the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, in their December 2018 session, elected Fr. Luke to become Bishop of Syracuse.  He will continue to be the abbot of the Holy Trinity Monastery as well as rector of the Holy Trinity Seminary.

On February 12, 2019, the seminary feast of the Three Hierarchs, a wondrous and historic event took place in the life of the monastery.  Our beloved abbot, Archimandrite Luke was consecrated to the episcopacy. Having been elected our abbot in May of 2008 to succeed the ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus, the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, in their December 2018 session, elected Fr. Luke to become Bishop of Syracuse.  He will continue to be the abbot of the Holy Trinity Monastery as well as rector of the Holy Trinity Seminary.

The Nomination to the Episcopacy of Archimandrite Luke  will take place at Holy Trinity Monastery on February 11, 2019 at 5PM. The Consecration to the Episcopacy will take place on the following day, February 12, 2019  also at the Monastery. 

LIVE STREAMING SCHEDULE (EASTERN TIME ZONE) :

MONDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2019

5:00 PM  - Nomination of Archimandrite Luke to the Episcopacy 

7:00PM - Vigil 

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2019

9:00 AM  Hierarchical Liturgy/ Consecration to the Episcopacy of Archimandrite Luke 

This year, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, will lead a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Russia. Further information and itinerary are available in PDF format below in Russian and English.

This year, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, will lead a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Russia. Further information and itinerary are available in PDF format below in Russian and English.

The feast of the Theophany of the Lord is in many ways a twin of the feast of the Nativity.  Originally it was all one feast, the Theophany, with the emphasis put on the appearance of the Lord to the world for His ministry.  Only later did the feast split into two as it were, in order to combat the pagan feast of the winter solstice.

The feast of the Theophany of the Lord is in many ways a twin of the feast of the Nativity.  Originally it was all one feast, the Theophany, with the emphasis put on the appearance of the Lord to the world for His ministry.  Only later did the feast split into two as it were, in order to combat the pagan feast of the winter solstice.

With great spiritual joy, the brotherhood, seminarians, and all those who share in the life of the Holy Trinity Monastery and Holy Trinity Seminary, have welcomed once again the great feast of the Lord’s Nativity.  Having completed the 40-day fast, and having participated in the mystery of Confession, we joyfully greet the Christ Child, praising Him with song and prayer.

With great spiritual joy, the brotherhood, seminarians, and all those who share in the life of the Holy Trinity Monastery and Holy Trinity Seminary, have welcomed once again the great feast of the Lord’s Nativity.  Having completed the 40-day fast, and having participated in the mystery of Confession, we joyfully greet the Christ Child, praising Him with song and prayer.

The Nomination to the Episcopacy of Archimandrite Luke  will take place at Holy Trinity Monastery on February 11, 2019 at 5PM. The Consecration to the Episcopacy will take place on the following day, February 12, 2019  also at the Monastery. 

SCHEDULE:

MONDAY

5:00 PM  - Nomination of Archimandrite Luke to the Episcopacy

6:00PM - Supper

7:00PM - Vigil

TUESDAY

9:00 AM  Hierarchical Liturgy/ Consecration to the Episcopacy of Archimandrite Luke

After Liturgy: Reception for all in Seminary Hall ( Overflow in Monastery Refectory)

6:00PM - Supper

6:30PM - 9th Hours, Vespers and Matins, First Hour

WEDNESDAY

9:00AM Hierarchical Liturgy

After Liturgy: Lunch in Monastery Refectory

4:00PM 9th Hour, Vespers and Matins, 1st Hour. (Return to usual schedule of services)

7:00PM Supper

7:15PM: Compline

On December 28, 2018, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church made the following decision regarding the election of Archimandrite Luke (Murianka) as Bishop of Syracuse of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia:

JOURNAL No. 116
HEARD:

The report of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, President of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, interceding for the confirmation of the election of Archimandrite Luke (Murianka), Abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, and Rector of Holy Trinity Seminary, as Bishop of Syracuse, Vicar of the Eastern American Diocese.

The great feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos Into the Temple was celebrated at the monastery with the usual solemnity that characterizes our divine services.  We were graced with what has become almost traditional, the presence of His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan for the All-Night Vigil. Vladyka is usually invited to serve in our parish in Syracuse, and so he breaks up his journey there from New York by staying in the monastery for the evening.  

On the weekend of November 3-4, 2018, the parish of St. John the Baptist in Washington, D.C. organized once again their annual pilgrimage to the monastery to honor the memory of Brother Jose Munoz, the ever-memorabel guardian of the Myrrh-Streaming icon of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God.   As is known, Brother Jose was murdered on October 31, 1997, and the icon was “lost,” its location being unknown until this day. Through God’s mercy, a copy of the icon from Hawaii streams great quantities of myrrh and for the past number of years has been taken around many Orthodox parishes around this country and others, for the spiritual consolation of the faithful.  And so, this weekend, also the icon was brought here by Fr. Athanasius Kone, our parish priest in Honolulu.

On Monday, Nov. 5th, 2018, the liturgy of St. James will be served in the main church at 6:00am.

From Saturday, November 3rd until Sunday, November 4th, the myrrh-streaming Hawaiian Iveron icon will visit Holy Trinity Monastery.

Discover the fascinating story of a long-lost album containing remarkable photographs of Russia’s last imperial family. Coming to light during the filming of “Antiques Roadshow” in Wales, the 66 photographs in the Lintern Archive show Tsar Nicholas II and his family before the revolution and their life in exile in the Siberian city of Tobolsk. Many of the images have never been published and are new to scholars.

This lecture is presented in conjunction with the Russian History Museum’s current exhibition, Last Days of the Last Tsar.

Discover the fascinating story of a long-lost album containing remarkable photographs of Russia’s last imperial family. Coming to light during the filming of “Antiques Roadshow” in Wales, the 66 photographs in the Lintern Archive show Tsar Nicholas II and his family before the revolution and their life in exile in the Siberian city of Tobolsk. Many of the images have never been published and are new to scholars.

On September 26th the usual vigil for the great feast of the Exaltation of the Lord was served with its highlight being the service of the Exaltation or Elevation of the Cross.  Usually this service is performed by bishops in their cathedrals, but it can also be done by archimandrites.

From the Western American Diocese:

To My Eminent Brother Archpastors, Honorable Fathers, Dear Brothers and Sisters:

The 20th century was a difficult time for Orthodox Christians on the territory of the Russian Empire, which became the USSR after the Great War, the October Revolution and Civil War. But the more the Church endured persecution, the brighter the lanterns of faith and piety shone in the Russian land. From the Tsar and the members of the Royal Family close to him in spirit, from archpastors and simple monastics, priests, deacons to laypersons came forth a powerful spiritual army of the Church Militant. 

From the Western American Diocese: 

Standing before God in prayerful solidarity with our long-suffering brethren of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, headed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine, who, being revered and respected throughout the whole of the Orthodox world, is primate of the only recognised canonical Orthodox Church of Christ in Ukraine, we, the members of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, which carries out its ministry in the lands of North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other nations of the West, ministering to numerous emigres from the lands of historic Russia and their descendants, express our profound indignation at the blatant violation of the Holy Canons by the Orthodox Church of Constantinople.

From OrthoChristian.com:

On September 17, 2018, we published the news piece, “Greek Metropolitan Calls on Constantinople to Repent and Cease Communication with Ukrainian Schismatics,” presenting thoughts from Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythira and Antikythera on the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s ongoing dealings with Ukrainian schismatics, with the intention of granting a tomos of autocephaly and thereby creating a new Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Ecumenical Patriarchate announced on September 7 that he was sending two exarch bishops to Kiev to oversee and facilitate this process—an uncanonical action, as no blessing was sought from nor given by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine, the primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In response, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church announced on September 14 that it was ceasing liturgical commemoration of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and episcopal concelebrations, and that the Russian Orthodox Church was withdrawing from any organizations or committees chaired or co-chaired by representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Synod was also clear that this is not a break in Eucharistic communion.

From back in the 1950’s, it has been the tradition of Holy Trinity Monastery to use the American civil holiday weekend of “Labor Day Weekend” as a convenient means for the monastery’s pilgrims to come to the monastery and commemorate the memory of the Venerable St. Job, abbot and wonderworker of Pochaev and also the miraculous icon of the Mother of God of Pochaev.

From back in the 1950’s, it has been the tradition of Holy Trinity Monastery to use the American civil holiday weekend of “Labor Day Weekend” as a convenient means for the monastery’s pilgrims to come to the monastery and commemorate the memory of the Venerable St. Job, abbot and wonderworker of Pochaev and also the miraculous icon of the Mother of God of Pochaev.

The great feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos was celebrated in the usual very solemn way in the monastery this year.  Especially noteworthy was that this was the first time the new Shroud of the Dormition, given to the monastery by his Grace, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, was used for the feast.  This greatly intensified the compunction felt by the monastery brotherhood and its numerous pilgrims, who found their way to the monastery for the feast. Many were moved to tears as they contemplated the beautiful depiction of the falling asleep of the Blessed Virgin.  

The great feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos was celebrated in the usual very solemn way in the monastery this year.  Especially noteworthy was that this was the first time the new Shroud of the Dormition, given to the monastery by his Grace, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, was used for the feast.  This greatly intensified the compunction felt by the monastery brotherhood and its numerous pilgrims, who found their way to the monastery for the feast. Many were moved to tears as they contemplated the beautiful depiction of the falling asleep of the Blessed Virgin.  

This weekend the monastery was blessed with the visit of our spiritual benefactor, His Eminence, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada.  Vladyka is a firm supporter of his Alma Mater and whenever he is able, makes the five-hour trip to the monastery. This time was for the purpose of ordaining his hierodeacon, Fr. Sergiy Gusakov, to be a hieromonk.

On July 17th, 2018, an exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of the death of Tsar Nicholas II and his family opened at the Russian History Museum on the grounds of Holy Trinity Monastery.

On July 4/17, 2018, Holy Trinity Monastery celebrated the 100th anniversary of the martyrdom of Tsar Nicholas II and his august family and their loyal servants and attendants who were executed in Ekaterinburg early in the morning on this day in 1918.

On July 17^th, 2018, an exhibition commemorating the 100^th anniversary of the death of Tsar Nicholas II and his family opened at the Russian History Museum on the grounds of Holy Trinity Monastery.

The three-week Summer Youth Program completed its most successful year at Holy Trinity Monastery on July 15. Twenty high school students from 15 to 18 years of age, the largest group in the camp's history, gathered from across the United States and Canada to experience a unique schedule of daily liturgies, lectures, work alongside the monastics, nightly reflections, and recreational activities in beautiful, rural upstate New York.

The cathedral of the Holy Trinity Monastery is widely known and loved as the focal point of the prayer life of the monastery. Its unique frescoes, painted by the every-memorable Archimandrite Cyprian, are treasured throughout the Orthodox world, and its many holy icons and relics are greatly venerated by the countless number of pilgrims who stream to the monastery throughout the year for spiritual renewal.  The church is also used by the monks and the seminarians for the rich spiritual life of the monastery.

The cathedral of the Holy Trinity Monastery is widely known and loved as the focal point of the prayer life of the monastery. Its unique frescoes, painted by the every-memorable Archimandrite Cyprian, are treasured throughout the Orthodox world, and its many holy icons and relics are greatly venerated by the countless number of pilgrims who stream to the monastery throughout the year for spiritual renewal.  The church is also used by the monks and the seminarians for the rich spiritual life of the monastery.

To read article click here. 

Since the monastery is dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity, our patronal feast day is Pentecost, or more correctly, the day of the Holy Spirit.  Since Pascha was very early this year, the feast coincided with the civil holiday of Memorial Day, thus facilitating the pilgrimage of hundreds of the faithful.  

Since the monastery is dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity, our patronal feast day is Pentecost, or more correctly, the day of the Holy Spirit.  Since Pascha was very early this year, the feast coincided with the civil holiday of Memorial Day, thus facilitating the pilgrimage of hundreds of the faithful.  

Through the generous voluntary efforts of members of the greater Jordanville community, Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary has been blessed with bountiful springtime beauty.

The feast of the Great-Martyr and Trophy-bearer George is celebrated in the monastery as a full feast day.  This year, it fell on the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman. As if this were not enough to make it especially solemn this year, adding to the joy of the feast was the visit of Bishop Nikolaj from Las Vegas, so we were able to have a pontifical service and also to celebrate the Slava of His Grace as well as two of our seminarians, the brothers Milosh and Negosh.

On May 2, the Orthodox Church commemorated the feast of Mid-Pentecost, the half-way point between Pascha and Pentecost.  This was a feast in the Old Testament Church.

On the feast day of the Apostle and Evangelist Mark on April 23/May 8th, the liturgy of St. Mark will be served in the main church at 6am. 

This year in the monastery Holy Week and Pascha were celebrated with the usual solemnity, beautiful chants and with great efforts in the preparation thereof, both practical and spiritual.  Joined to this was the snowy, wintry weather, experienced as hardly ever felt before. Early on Holy Saturday morning, towards the end of the Matins service, or as it is popularly called, “The Burial Service,” one of our father had to actually plow the snow around the church in order for the procession to take place.  A bit of snow fell on almost every day, including Pascha itself.

This year in the monastery Holy Week and Pascha were celebrated with the usual solemnity, beautiful chants and with great efforts in the preparation thereof, both practical and spiritual.  Joined to this was the snowy, wintry weather, experienced as hardly every felt before. Early on Holy Saturday morning, towards the end of the Matins service, or as it is popularly called, “The Burial Service,” one of our father had to actually plow the snow around the church in order for the procession to take place.  A bit of snow fell on almost every day, including Pascha itself.

The myrrh-streaming icon of the Mother of God, Softener of Evil Hearts will be visiting the monastery from Holy and Great Monday (April 2/March 19) until Pascha (April 8/March 26).

The Sunday before Pascha, known as Palm Sunday, is always celebrated with great joy in Holy Trinity Monastery.  The day before, Lazarus Saturday, is very joyous with a General Matins service served, and at the noon-day meal, traditionally an inexpensive form of caviar is served on bread, according to the typicon, the caviar, or fish eggs, symbolizing a foreshadowing of the Lord’s Resurrection, as in the event, the resurrection of St. Lazarus did.

The Sunday before Pascha, known as Palm Sunday, is always celebrated with great joy in Holy Trinity Monastery.  The day before, Lazarus Saturday, is very joyous with a General Matins service served, and at the noon-day meal, traditionally an inexpensive form of caviar is served on bread, according to the typicon, the caviar, or fish eggs, symbolizing a foreshadowing of the Lord’s Resurrection, as in the event, the resurrection of St. Lazarus did.

Every since 1988 the monastery has conducted annual General Unction services for its members and also for the faithful and pilgrims.  Before it was felt that this service would interfere with the many-houred and solemn services of Great Lent and especially those of Holy Week.  However, due to the number of seriously ill fathers at the time, the service was held and has been ever since.

This Friday, March 30th, we will be serving the liturgy of St. James at 11am. 

On March 23, 2018 , His Eminence, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada arrived in the monastery for a few days of spiritual rest and also to celebrate the Divine Liturgy on the Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt, March 25, 2018, and in this way, to be able to partake of the special, Lenten atmosphere of the monastery during Great Lent and also to pray with the brotherhood, which is very close in heart to His Eminence, himself being one of our brethren.

On March 23, 2018 , His Eminence, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada arrived in the monastery for a few days of spiritual rest and also to celebrate the Divine Liturgy on the Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt, March 25, 2018, and in this way, to be able to partake of the special, Lenten atmosphere of the monastery during Great Lent and also to pray with the brotherhood, which is very close in heart to His Eminence, himself being one of our brethren.

On Tuesday, March 27th, there will be an Unction service held in the main church at 3PM.

On March 16, 2018, the Holy Trinity Monastery piously noted the memory of the 10th anniversary of the holy repose of Metropolitan Laurus, our former abbot for 32 years.  

In the evening, this same day as the 10th anniversary of the repose of Metropolitan Laurus, Fr. Archimandrite Luke, the Superior of the monastery, tonsured Novice Emilian to be a rassophore monk.  This was done at the end of the Small Compline service.

We congratulate Fr. Emilian, and wish him God’s mercy and strength to fulfill his desire for monasticism.  

On March 16, 2018, the Holy Trinity Monastery piously noted the memory of the 10th anniversary of the holy repose of Metropolitan Laurus, our former abbot for 32 years.  

This year, since Pascha is relatively early, the 8th of April, there was a very short period of time between the festal period of Holy Nativity and Holy Theophany and the beginning of Great Lent.  She just finished singing the festal hymns of the feast days, and then we commenced to sing the preparatory hymns of the time of repentance.

With God's grace, the help of our generous benefactors, and the diligence of our faculty and staff, Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary was once again blessed to celebrate our patronal feast day of the Three Hierarchs: St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, and St. John Chrysostom. On February 11 and 12, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, the monastic community, the seminarians, faculty, staff, and friends gathered to praise God the Holy Trinity, honor those great saints of the fourth century, and extol the virtues of the Seminary.

With God's grace, the help of our generous benefactors, and the diligence of our faculty and staff, Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary was once again blessed to celebrate our patronal feast day of the Three Hierarchs: St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, and St. John Chrysostom. On February 11 and 12, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, the monastic community, the seminarians, faculty, staff, and friends gathered to praise God the Holy Trinity, honor those great saints of the fourth century, and extol the virtues of the Seminary.

Deacon Michael Pavuk, HTOS Director of Development, brought the Jordanville Pochaev Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, with the blessing of Archimandrite Luke and at the invitation of Archpriest Serge Lukianov, Rector, to the parish of the New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia on 18th Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, for their patronal feast, which occurred this year on the Sunday of the Prodigal Son.

As in all other years, the Feast of the Theophany was celebrated in the monastery with special solemnity.  Liturgically it is a continuum of the feast of the Nativity and as is known, mimics the Nativity liturgically, as originally it was one feast, the Theophany, or the Appearance of Our Lord to the world.

The Nativity issue of Holy Trinity Monastery's Russian-language journal Pravoslavnaia Rus' for 2018 may be downloaded as a PDF directly from the publisher's website.

As in all other years, the Feast of the Theophany was celebrated in the monastery with special solemnity.  Liturgically it is a continuum of the feast of the Nativity and as is known, mimics the Nativity liturgically, as originally it was one feast, the Theophany, or the Appearance of Our Lord to the world.

The last few days in the Holy Trinity Monastery have been one of preparation and the celebration of our Lord’s Holy Nativity. One the seminarians finished with their exams for the fall semester, they began to help the monastery brethren in the thorough cleaning of all of the monastery and seminary buildings, especially the church. This coincided with the Forefeast of the Nativity, which was the liturgical preparation.

The last few days in the Holy Trinity Monastery have been one of preparation and the celebration of our Lord’s Holy Nativity. One the seminarians finished with their exams for the fall semester, they began to help the monastery brethren in the thorough cleaning of all of the monastery and seminary buildings, especially the church. This coincided with the Forefeast of the Nativity, which was the liturgical preparation.

Jordanville, NY - By God’s grace, 2017 was another fruitful year for Holy Trinity Publications, the missionary-publishing arm of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY. With the blessing of H.E. Metropolitan Hilarion and under the direction of Archimandrite Luke, the monastery’s abbot, three new titles were released this year.

On December 1, 2017, the monastic funeral of the newly-reposed Schema-Archdeacon Amvrossy was served at Holy Trinity Monastery.  Fr. Amvrossy reposed on November 26 in San Francisco where he had served for 34 years in the Cathedral of Our Lady Joy of All Who Sorrow.

On December 1, 2017, the monastic funeral of the newly-reposed Schema-Archdeacon Amvrossy was served at Holy Trinity Monastery.  Fr. Amvrossy reposed on November 26 in San Francisco where he had served for 34 years in the Cathedral of Our Lady Joy of All Who Sorrow.

Prior to their graduation, Holy Trinity Seminary’s graduation class of 1971 erected a magnificent 40 foot tall cross on the top of the hill overlooking Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY. Since then, this cross has become a part of the local scenery, something that is very strongly associated with the imagery of the monastery.
Although the cross has been already renovated once, time and severe weather conditions have taken their toll on it. This past summer, pilgrims from the Moscow-based Institute of Russian Athos made an initial donation that has been used to paint the cross. This is an impressive beginning, but the monastery still needs $4,000 more to renovate the entire plot. You can also be part of this noble cause, donating via PayPal below here.  Please mark your donation for the Golgotha site renovation.

Two years ago Metropolitan Hilarion blessed the founding of a woman’s monastic community, in the Russian tradition, using English as its liturgical language and under the spiritual administration of Holy Trinity Monastery. Finally, at the end of this summer, property with buildings were found near West Winfield, NY. This fall the property was blessed and recently on the patronal feast of the community, “Quick to Hear” Icon of the Mother of God, Vigil and Liturgy were served. We ask for the prayers of the faithful for this newly formed community. Their address is 235 Cole Hill Rd, Richfield Springs, NY 13439.

On Saturday, November 11 2017 the funeral and burial of Fr. Wsewolod took place at his beloved Holy Trinity Monastery.  Fr. Wsewolod was the rector of the Holy Nativity of the Mother of God parish in Albany for 50 years, but he also labored within the Holy Trinity Monastery, even earlier, partaking in many aspects of the life of the monastery.  So it was only fitting that the monastery served as the place of his funeral.

On Wednesday, November 08, 2017, at 5:30 EST, Mitered Archpriest Wsewolod Drobot (HTOS 1965) reposed in the Lord. Fr. Wsewolod was the retired rector of the Nativity of the Mother of God parish in Albany, NY, and presided as the new church building was completed.  Fr. Wsewolod was born on April 1, 1930 in Zaporozhiye, Ukraine.  He was a clergyman for 57 years from the time of his ordination to the diaconate.  He was a graduate of Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary and lived in a house near the monastery with his family.  Fr. Wsewolod is survived by their seven children and seven grandchildren, his matushka Nadezhda having reposed in 2015. May God grant Fr. Wsewolod the Heavenly Kingdom!

Today, when the Holy Church commemorates the memory of the Holy Apostle James, Brother of the Lord in the flesh, as has been customary in the monastery, the Liturgy of the Apostle James was concelebrated by the monastery clergy. 

Today, when the Holy Church commemorates the memory of the Holy Apostle James, Brother of the Lord in the flesh, as has been customary in the monastery, the Liturgy of the Apostle James was concelebrated by the monastery clergy. This ancient liturgy, which was the basis of the liturgies of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great, impresses one with its great prayerfulness and a connection with the Old Testament.

On November 25, 2017 at 1:00pm, a pannikhida will be served by Hieromonk Gabriel in the cemetery church in memory of all of the heroes of the White Movement and all those who lost their lives under the Bolshevik yoke.  This is sponsored by the Union of the Descendants of the Heroes of Gallipoli with special significance, this being the hundredth anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution.

On October 31, the superior of the Holy Trinity Monastery, Archimandrite Luke, celebrated his Name’s Day in the usual way. He celebrated Divine Liturgy at the usual time in the morning, at 6AM. The noon-day meal was festive, at the end of which, Igumen Theophylact congratulated Fr. Luke in the name of the brotherhood, the professors and teachers of the seminary and our many pilgrims. After the monastic “mnogaya letiye,” all were invited to coffee and dessert in the former typographia, which gave a wonderful opportunity for monastics, seminarians, with the professors to engage in brotherly conversation.

This past weekend, October 28-29, was held the annual pilgrimage from Washington, D.C. along with pilgrims from Brooklyn, Lakewood, N.J. and many other parts of our country, to commemorate the tragic murder of the guardian of the Iveron Myrrh-streaming icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.

This past weekend, October 28-29, was held the annual pilgrimage from Washington, D.C. along with pilgrims from Brooklyn, Lakewood, N.J. and many other parts of our country, to commemorate the tragic murder of the guardian of the Iveron Myrrh-streaming icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. This year had special resonance, it being the 20^th anniversary of this sorrowful event.

The fall 2017 Eastern American Diocesan clergy conference was held in the Holy Trinity Monastery from October 23-26.

Some Orthodox Christians today are trying to re-institute the ancient Church order of “deaconesses,” despite the uneven history of that female office in the Church, as well as that of the male diaconate. Protodeacon Patrick Mitchell surveys the Church’s early experience of both male and female “deacons” and concludes that they were never the same order, that the female order was inherently problematic for the Church because it appeared to elevate women over men, and that the “ordination” of women as deaconesses made less and less sense as the Church’s understanding of holy orders evolved. That explains why much of the Orthodox Church never had deaconesses, and why even those segments of the Church in antiquity and in the Byzantine era where they did serve eventually abandoned the order.

The fall 2017 Eastern American Diocesan clergy conference was held in the Holy Trinity Monastery from October 23-26. The Hawaiian Myrrh-streaming icon of the Most Holy Theotokos was present from October 26 through the weekend, when the annual pilgrimage from Washington, D.C. took place.

The Myrrh-Streaming Hawaiian Iveron Icon will be visiting Holy Trinity Monastery from the night of October 25th until October 30th, 2017. The icon's arrival accompanies the clergy conference of the Eastern-American diocese. The greeting of the icon will take place at 5:00pm on the Wednesday night of the 25th, just prior to the hierarchical All-Night Vigil at 7:00pm. The icon will also be in the main chapel for Thursday morning's hierarchical Divine Liturgy at 9:00am as well as Friday morning's 6:00am Divine Liturgy. At 9:00am that morning, the icon will be brought to St. Elizabeth Skete down the road from the monastery for a moleben with akathist service. On Saturday the 28th, there will be a pannikhida for Br. Jose at the cemetery at 3:30pm, and then a hierarchical All-Night Vigil in the main chapel at 7:00pm. The next morning, the hierarchical Liturgy will begin at 9:00am. A final pannikhida will be held for Br. Jose that afternoon at 3:00pm, and the icon will stay at the monastery for one last liturgy the next morning at 6:00am before its scheduled departure at 11:00am of the 30th of October, 2017.

Some of the twelve great feasts of the Church come in two’s. Such was the case of the Transfiguration of Our Lord and the Dormition of the Theotokos, and so now also is the case of the Nativity of the Theotokos and the Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross. At Holy Trinity Monastery the latter is celebrated with extra solemnity in that with the blessing of the Metropolitan, Archimandrite Luke is granted the right to perform the rite of the Elevation of the Cross, much to the spiritual joy of the monastics, the seminarians and the many faithful who attend this service, conducted toward the end of the All-Night Vigil.

Some of the twelve great feasts of the Church come in two’s. Such was the case of the Transfiguration of Our Lord and the Dormition of the Theotokos, and so now also is the case of the Nativity of the Theotokos and the Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross. At Holy Trinity Monastery the latter is celebrated with extra solemnity in that with the blessing of the Metropolitan, Archimandrite Luke is granted the right to perform the rite of the Elevation of the Cross, much to the spiritual joy of the monastics, the seminarians and the many faithful who attend this service, conducted toward the end of the All-Night Vigil.