Centennial Year Church Services
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November 13, 2005 - The day dawned bright, clear, and milder than normal - a perfect Sunday morning in mid-Fall. However, this was not an ordinary Sunday morning as the photos of episcopal items in the Sanctuary below indicate. The presence of the Bishop's Mitre (below left) - typical of a diadem or crown and serving as an emblem of the power bestowed upon a minister of the Church - and the Bishop's Mantle (below right, please see Great Vespers photoreport for explanation) suggests that a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy is about to begin. Indeed, His Beatitude, HERMAN, Archbishop of Washington and New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada, is with us this morning to lead us in Divine Services and to help complete the Centennial Year observance of SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in South River, New Jersey. This photoreport is the first of three parts covering the Divine Liturgy. Please see "Centennial Hierarchical Divine Liturgy (2)" and "Centennial Hierarchical Divine Liturgy (3)" for a description of the second and third portions, respectively, of the Divine Liturgy. Thanks to James Sopchak for his photo contributions to all three pages. Without his help, these reports would have been less complete.
Immediately below is a tray in the Sanctuary upon which are the items which Metropolitan HERMAN will place upon his neck before the Divine Liturgy begins. Center is his jeweled Cross. Left is his Panagia (or "all-holy") an ikon of the Most-Holy Theotokos. Right is an additional pectoral icon of Jesus Christ. Typically, a Bishop wears one Panagia. The additional neckwear of Metropolitan HERMAN is an honor bestowed upon him indicative of his status as the First Hierarch of the Orthodox Church in America.
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Above left, Metropolitan HERMAN, known for his punctuality, arrives ahead of schedule at the Church Hall of SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in anticipation of his procession to the Church for Divine Liturgy. At this early hour there are very few people in the Church Hall. Above right, Sandra Saurman, Co-Chairwoman of the Centennial Year Anniversary Committee, greets His Beatitude. Your reporter had the honor of an unscheduled and unscripted ten-minute discussion with Metropolitan HERMAN. Among the things learned are that he spends very few days in Washington, D.C., where his Cathedral is located. He stated that he makes an archpastoral visitation to Churches throughout North America almost every weekend of the year. Also discussed were attempts at reunification of Easter and Western Christian Churches as well as attempts at uniting the various Orthodox Churches in the United States. He had met Pope John Paul II. twice but has not yet met Pope Benedict XVI. Metropolitan HERMAN has visited Istanbul (formerly known as Constantinople), Turkey, twice. If Metropolitan HERMAN had a choice of favorite destination for travel, it would be the monasteries of Russia which he has visited often.
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Above, the Subdeacons and Altar Servers arrive in the Church Hall for the procession to Church. Here, Subdeacon Peter Ilchuk assists Metropolitan HERMAN with the placing of the Bishop's Mantle. Below left, the procession leaves the Church Hall. Below right, at the head of the procession Altar Servers carry the Processional Cross followed by the two Sacramental Fans.
Above left, the procession continues along the eastern side of the Church and your reporter makes a rare appearance in a photo - well, at least his shadow does! Above right, the children of the parish throw rose petals in the Metropolitan's path as a sign of greeting.
Above left, Alexis Steffaro (left) and Kristen Berezniak wait patiently for the arrival of Metropolitan HERMAN. Above right, the children present the Metropolitan with a bouquet of red roses as a sign of greeting.
Next to greet Metropolitan HERMAN at the entrance to our Church is Church President (Starosta), James P. Kornafel (above left). He addresses the Metropolitan with the traditional greeting of bread and salt and warm words of welcome. Above right, Rev. David F. Garretson, Rector of SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, greets His Beatitude with the Holy Cross and a reflection upon the significance of this day to our Church.
Four priests will concelebrate the Divine Liturgy this day with Metropolitan HERMAN. Venerating the Holy Cross before the Divine Liturgy begins are (clockwise from top left): Protopresbyter Robert S. Kondratick, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America, V. Rev. David Brum, Secretary to the Metropolitan, Pastor Emeritus of SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, V. Rev. Sergius S. Kuharsky, and our current Rector, Rev. David F. Garretson.
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As he enters the Church, Metropolitan proceeds to a spot before the Ambo (above left) where Archdeacon Alexei Klimitchev prays with the Metropolitan. Above right, our Church Choir, under the able direction of Choirmaster Basil Kozak, sang the responses to the Divine Liturgy beautifully and prayerfully. Immediately below, Metropolitan HERMAN bestows his blessing upon the faithful as the choir sings in Greek,"Ton Despotin kai Arkhierea imon, Kyrie fylatte. Eis polla eti, Despota. (Preserve, O Lord, our Master and Bishop. For many years, O Master)."
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Two Subdeacons (Peter Ilchuk and Gregory Sulich) vest Metropolitan HERMAN (below) as the Archdeacon (above left) recites special prayers specific to each article placed upon the Metropolitan HERMAN during his vesting. The prayers remind the Metropolitan of the significance of each vestment and of his spiritual responsibilities before God to the faithful.
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Immediately above, the fully-vested Metropolitan is about to begin the service of the Divine Liturgy as authored by St. John Chrysostom. On this day (November 13) the Orthodox Church commemorates St. John Chrysostom.
You may click on the photo above left to view an enlargement.
Above left, the fully vested Metropolitan HERMAN then bestows a blessing upon the entire parish. In his hands he holds the double and triple branched candlesticks, known respectively as Dikiri and Trikiri. The Dikiri represents the dual nature of Jesus Christ (both human and divine) while the Trikiri represents the Holy Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Above right and below, Alter Server Chup is escorted by the Archdeacon and Subdeacons. The ewer and basin are brought forward and the Metropolitan then washes his hands before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy.
"O Lord our God, who didst sanctify the streams of Jordan by thy saving manifestation: Do thou now, also, send down the grace of thy Holy Spirit, and bless this water, to the sanctification of all thy people for blessed art thou unto ages of ages." Metropolitan HERMAN will now remain on his dais (kathedra) until the Little Entrance. The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is about to begin.
Your reporter was granted - by Metropolitan HERMAN and Rev. David Garretson - the privilege and honor of a layperson having a presence in the Sanctuary during a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Many of the ensuing photos follow the course of the Divine Liturgy from the perspective of the Sanctuary. Above left, Protopresbyter Robert S. Kondratick begins the Divine Liturgy: "Blessed is the kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages."
Archdeacon Klimitchev (above) intones the Great Litany before the icon of Jesus Christ: "In peace let us pray to the Lord."
Above left, Altar Servers assemble at the High Place in anticipation of the Little Entrance. Above right, Protopresbyter Kondratick is about to hand the Book of Holy Gospels to Archdeacon Klimitchev as the Little Entrance is about to begin (below left). Below right, the community of faithful of SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church is shown during the Little Entrance from the perspective of the Sanctuary. Metropolitan HERMAN and concelebrating clergy are about to enter the Sanctuary for the remainder of the service.
You may click on the photo above right to view an enlargement.
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