On March 14 and15, 2009, the Holy Trinity Seminary Quartet sang during Vigil and Divine Liturgy at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Lakewood, N. J., for the Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas. The group was warmly welcomed by Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov and Matushka Irina, along with Priest Seraphim Chemodakov and his family.

Four singers and a reader arrived on Saturday afternoon in Lakewood from Jordanville and were offered hospitality by Fr. Seraphim and Matushka Anna. All-Night Vigil began at six pm. Singing in the group were Michael Perekrestov (conducting), Vladimir Davydov, Nicholas Lochmatow, and Alexander Kallaur (replacing Ephraim Willmarth). Seminarian Maxim Abroskin was the principal reader. The quartet sang a number of selections, which are usual for the Holy Trinity Seminary/Monastery choir, but are not often heard in parishes, especially in male-choir arrangements. After Vigil, Fr. Valery and Matushka Irina treated the group to dinner at their home, along with the other serving clergy.

On Sunday, the liturgy began at 9:30 am. The choir sang mostly in Church Slavonic, with some English parts. After his homily, Fr. Valery thanked the quartet for singing and made a collection to support Holy Trinity Seminary, the only seminary of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad.

The parish sisterhood offered an agape meal following liturgy. During the meal, the seminarians gave a graphic and oral presentation on the history and life of Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary, including the daily life of a seminarian. The power point presentation was delivered in English and Russian. Fr. Valery again thanked the seminarians for their visit, blessing each before his departure with a gift of his book “Notes on the Divine Services.” On the return trip, the Quartet stopped at the Novo Diveevo Convent to venerate the life-size icon of St. Seraphim.

The Holy Trinity Seminary Quartet, on behalf of the entire seminary, thanks Fr. Valery, Fr. Seraphim, their families, and the St. Alexander Nevsky parish for their warm hospitality and generous support.