HTS seminarians make a pilgrimage to parish in Erie, PA
On April 4th and 5th, celebrating the fifth Sunday of Great Lent, a group of seminarians and instructors from Holy Trinity Seminary journeyed to Erie, PA, to observe and participate in services at the Old-Rite parish of the Nativity of Christ. Having studied the history of the Old-Rite schism in Russian Church History and in Russian Literature, the students were very interested to visit a parish where the old rite is observed. The group arrived on Saturday evening. They were welcomed by members of the community. After the All-Night Vigil, Priest Pimen Simon and his wife Maria treated the guests to supper in their home. The students took the opportunity to ask many questions about differences between the Old-Rite and Nikonian practices, about the Old-Believers in the past and today, and about the history of this particular parish, which changed from all-Slavonic to mostly English services, and then from being a priestless Old-Rite group to embracing the priesthood under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
The seminarians were impressed by the beauty of the church. The iconography was written by Fr. Theodore Jurewicz of the same parish, who was a student of Archimandrite Cyprian of blessed memory, the ever-memorable iconographer of Holy Trinity Monastery. Everyone enjoyed the znameny chant in English. All were edified by the Gospel readings and explanations, attributed to St. John Chrysostom, which are inserted in between certain odes of the Matins canons.
The next morning, the group from Holy Trinity Seminary attended midnight office, hours, and Divine Liturgy. At the conclusion of Liturgy, they joined the parishioners for a brief meal and then Sunday religious education classes, which are not only for children, but for all parishioners. The teachers and seminarians from HTS were placed in a row facing the adult group. Fr. Pimen moderated a question-and-answer session to the benefit of all. The parishioners showed great interest in getting to know the group. They asked numerous poignant questions which resulted in an interesting and lively discussion.
The administration, faculty, and seminarians of Holy Trinity Seminary would like to express their gratitude to His Grace, Bishop Daniel, to Fr. Pimen and Maria Simon, and to the clergy and parishioners of the Nativity of Christ Parish for their warm welcome and generous hospitality.
The administration, faculty, and seminarians of Holy Trinity Seminary would like to express their gratitude to His Grace, Bishop Daniel, to Fr. Pimen and Maria Simon, and to the clergy and parishioners of the Nativity of Christ Parish for their warm welcome and generous hospitality.
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