On Sunday, September 27, the great feast of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, performed an archpastoral visit to the Brotherhood of the Holy Cross in East Setauket, NY, and led the monastery’s patronal feast day.

At Matins and Divine Liturgy, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad was co-served by Brotherhood clergy: Archimandrite John (Erickson), Hieromonk Silouan (Justiniano), and Hierodeacons Michael (Wells) and Dionysios (Hatcher), as well as Hieromonk Tikhon (Gayfudinov; cleric of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City, who accompanied His Eminence). Singing on the kliros were Hieromonk Zosimas (Krampis) and Hierodeacon Parthenios (Miller).

After the Great Doxology, the bringing out of the Cross was performed, followed by the Rite of the Exaltation, in which the hierarch lifts up the Cross (in memory of the miraculous event when Patriarch Macarius of Jerusalem, upon discovering that the Cross found by the Empress Helen was the True Wood of the Cross, elevated the Holy Cross for veneration by the people). Meanwhile, the priests pour sweet-smelling rose water over the Cross.

The Divine Liturgy followed. At the Little Entrance, for their dedicated service of prayer to the Holy Church, Metropolitan Hilarion awarded Hieromonks Silouan and Tikhon the right to wear the gold pectoral cross.

Upon completion of the service, His Eminence delivered a sermon on the subject of the feast: regarding the miraculous and God-given discovery of the Lord’s Cross, and about the unique power of the Cross, by which we will always find protection from the attacks of the demons.

After Liturgy, a lenten luncheon was served in the monastery refectory, prepared by the ladies of the parish.