Holy Trinity Monastery celebrates its Patronal Feast
On May 22-25, Holy Trinity Monastery celebrated its Patronal Feast of Pentecost. The celebrations began on Saturday evening and continued until Tuesday, the third day of the feast of Pentecost. Seminarians actively participated in the celebrations as altar servers and on kliros, as well in the kitchen preparing a festive meal for the numerous pilgrims. Two Divine Liturgies were served on the Sunday morning: one in the lower church of St. Job of Pocaev, and a hierarchical Liturgy in the upper Holy Trinity Cathedral. Many faithful partook of the Sacred Mysteries of Christ during both services. The main Liturgy was headed by His Grace, Bishop George of Mayfield. The Divine Liturgy ended with a moleben to the Holy Trinity with kneeling prayers. This was followed by a solemn procession of clergy, brotherhood and the many pilgrims to the refectory for a common meal, after which Abbot Luke invited the brethren, seminarians and pilgrims to a reception at the former skete of Metropolitan Laurus of blessed memory.
The same weekend saw a Youth pilgrimage retreat in Jordanville, hosted by Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary. Many young Orthodox people came to the monastery to participate in the festive services. The young pilgrims began arriving Friday evening, when an informal bonfire, that included a barbeque and songs around the fire, was organized near one of the monastery’s ponds. Saturday began with Divine liturgy at the cemetery Dormition church. Over the course of the weekend, retreat participants took an active part in helping the monastery to organize the festivities, sang on kliros and helped in altar during the services.
Monday, the day of the Holy Spirit, was marked by the arrival of His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. Twenty seven clergy co-celebrated Divine Liturgy with Metropolitan Hilarion, including His Grace, Bishop George, Archpriest Michael Boikov from the Australian diocese, local clergy as well as a number of visiting priests and clergy from Eastern American diocese. During the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, ordained Subdeacon Vladislav Naumkin, fifth year seminarian, to the deaconate. After the Divine Liturgy, a procession around the Holy Trinity Cathedral took place with a full moleben. After lunch, the Abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery, Archimandrite Luke, invited all clergy and monastics for a reception in his office.