Celebrations at the Glorification of Hierarch Philaret The Confessor

For many years, the Russian Diaspora has longed for the glorification among the saints of the third First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad-Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky) of Eastern America and New York. Especially after the discovery of his incorrupt relics, the requests for the glorification started to arrive more often at the Synod and the Bishop's Council. Heeding the hopes of the flock and by the will of their hearts, the bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, at the 2005 Council, decided to create a committee to prepare for the glorification, and at the 2008 fall Council decided to perform the glorification of Metropolitan Philaret on 10/23 August 2009. It was decided to perform the glorification in Eastern America at the Holy Transfiguration skete, the final living and resting place of Hierarch Philaret's heir-Blessed Metropolitan Vitaly.

On Friday 8/21 August, at 3PM, in the Seraphim Sarov church in Montreal, Bishop Vladimir blessed the "New York" icon of the hierarch-work of icon-painter Peter Dzuba as well as many small copies of the Hierarch sent by Bishop Alexei of Soltanova from the Hierarch John of Shanghai monastery in Kiev. On the evening of the same day a parastas (Grand Requiem service -panikhida) was served for the Ever-memorable Metropolitan Philaret. Then, on the following day, a Liturgy for the reposed after which the celebrants moved to the Holy Transfiguration skete to continue the celebration. Many guests from different corners of the world arrived for the celebration. Some were able to come to Montreal for the beginning of the celebration and some came directly to the Transfiguration skete for the glorification.

Around 6PM, shortly before the last panikhida (requiem service) for the Hierarch, bishops Vladimir and Victor and the clergy, singing the troparion for the Vladimir Mother of God Icon, went out to greet the miracle-working Mother-of-God icon that arrived together with abbess Isihia of the Vladimir Mother-of-God convent located in California.

At the end of the requiem service, the church was filled with a 9-time singing of "Memory Eternal". Then the all-night vigil began with service to the Hierarch. Two icons were brought out of the altar for the litia. One was the "New York" and the other the "Kostroma"-work of mitered Protopriest Constantine Fedorov, spiritual child of Hierarch Philaret. Before the polyeleos, Bishop Vladimir spoke about Metropolitan Philaret and called upon all those praying to light candles to greet the joyous celebration. All present lit their candles and the celebration continued with the singing of the polyeleos. The ribbons were cut and before the singing of the megalynarion (velichanie) the white cloths covering the icons of the new saint were removed. At the singing of the first megalynarion to Hierarch Philaret, Bishop Vladimir censed the icons held high by the clergy.

Later, Bishop Vladimir did the oil-anointing and Bishop Victor distributed the bread blessed during the litia.

The service then followed its normal course. All this time, the choir was conducted by Father John Kochergin-recently ordained priest from the state of Nevada. Many are aware of his musical talents, but it is impossible to relay one's impression of the beauty of the singing that Fr. John was able to organize together with the Venerable Seraphim parish choir conductor Larissa Gordeichek. Long before the feastday, Fr. John contacted Larissa Leonidovna and, together, they prepared the service. Upon his arrival on Wednesday, Fr. John immediately began to conduct rehearsals with the Montreal choir. It was especially moving to hear at the all-night vigil the inspired singing of the verses from the proemiac 103rd psalm-composed by Hierarch Philaret himself.

Vigil ended a half hour before midnight. After a quick trapeza (meal) everybody retired to rest and to meet anew in the morning. On Sunday, at 6AM, Fr. Andrew Hricko baptized two newly-illumined servants of God, John and Igor, in the pond at the skete. They both remained in their baptismal shirts until the end of the service, standing with reverence at the right solea.

At 8 am, Fr. Kirill Bartoshevich performed the water-blessing moleben in the church and all those, so desiring, could take the newly-blessed water.

Then, Fr. John Kochergin began the proskomedia after which, around 10 o'clock, the priests, monastics, clergy and lay people met Bishop Vladimir while bishop Victor was already in the altar. During the small entrance, Bishop Vladimir awarded priests Kirill Bartoshevich and Andrew Lomov with the violet skufia (head covering) for their self-denying service to Christ's Church.

After the blessing of the Gifts, Bishop Vladimir ordained Montreal sub-deacon Igor Gritsishin, to the rank of deacon. It was especially touching that Matushka Adelaida, who had arrived to the glorification and wife of deceased Protopriest Nicholas Nekludov of New Kuban (New Jersey), reacted to the ordination with a sincere happiness.

For confession, towards the end of Liturgy, the line stretched out into the street-so many wanted to commune the Holy Gifts on this memorable day.

At the end of the service Bishop Vladimir gave a sermon dedicated to the newly-glorified Hierarch Philaret at the end of which he read the Hierarch's Spiritual Testament. This was followed by the procession around the church with the icon of the Hierarch and others which included the Kursk Root and the miracle-working Vladimir Mother of God. Everybody stopped at each side of the church and with the singing "Holy father Philaret, pray to God for us." Bishops Vladimir and Victor took turns raising the icon of the hierarch and sprinkling the people with holy water.

Service ended around three in the afternoon and all were invited to the festive meal at which Bishop Vladimir awarded several Montreal parishioners with blessed certificates for their diligent help in organizing the glorification celebrations of Hierarch Philaret the Confessor.

Thus, the feastday ended. As is customary, the clergy had talks with the parishioners. An especially long talk, filled with information, was held by Abbess Isihia of the Vladimir Mother-of-God convent with the sisters. Also, the children of the recently deceased Protopriest Sergei Petrov invited the clergy for some tea to the priest's house during which one of the sons said that it had been a long time since there had been such a gathering of clergy guests headed by two bishops. After mutual congratulations on the feastday, those present shared memories of father Sergei whom the majority knew and loved as a kind priest and a tireless worker for the benefit of Christ's Church and for the glory of God.

By evening time most of the guests departed but some stayed until the next day to help the hospitable Montreal parishioners to disassemble the tents, clear the tables and chairs, dishes, etc. It must be said that even before the celebration the Montreal parishioners did quite a bit of work at the skete. On the inside, the church was completely renovated: stucco was repaired, walls were painted from the cupola to the floor, icons were cleaned, the floor was patched, carpets were replaced, lighting was corrected and improved. All this was the work of the members of the Venerable Seraphim parish. Besides the church, the cells were painted again, the cemetery and woods were cleared, street lighting was improved, etc. Also, similar work is conducted every year, just that this year the scope was much wider.

In the days before and after the glorification, many had to stay in Montreal. Some were taken in at the Bishop's Montreal podvoriye where Hierarch Philaret used to stay. He slept in the cell of Hegumen (abbot) Sergei (Kindiakov) (who died as Archbishop of Montreal and Eastern Canada) where, for rest, was only a board covered with a carpet or the wooden floor. Possibly, this small detail from Hierarch Philaret's life was not known to many, but let it be another witness of the holy life of the glorious third First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad-Metropolitan Philaret. Holy father Philaret, pray to God for us!