On Wednesday, March 23, clerics and their spouses from across the Eastern American Diocese gathered at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, DC, for the official opening of the diocesan Lenten Retreat and Pastoral Conference. At 11:00 AM, the greeting of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God took place in the cathedral, and diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov, co-served by Protodeacon Leonid Mickle (cathedral cleric), served a moleben before the beginning of any good work before the wonderworking Icon, so as to call down the grace of the Holy Spirit on our Archpastors and conference participants. After the moleben, Fr. Serge read aloud a message from Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York to the Conference participants, in which the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad wished everyone fortification and renewal of their internal strengths unto the continuation of service to Christ’s Holy Church.

His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop George of Mayfield, then greeted the participants and noted that the number of those taking part in the conferences increases with every year, to the glory of God. His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Jerome of Manhattan also greeted all of the participants, underscoring that a lack of communication and a lack of unity among the clergy is one of the greatest problems that we as a Church face, and, thanks to these conferences, the problem becomes much easier to overcome. Cathedral rector Archpriest Victor Potapov then greeted the participants, thanking them for their participation in the conference and wishing them success in the fruit-bearing work of the conference. The Pastoral Conference is officially opened.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese 

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