75th Anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Fathers ofthe Seven Ecumenical Councils

On Saturday, November 2/15 and Sunday, November 3/16, the Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Fathers of the Seven Ecumenical Councils, located in New York City, celebrated its 75th anniversary. Holy Fathers Church was especially blessed by the presence of His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, His Eminence Archbishop Hilarion and His Grace Bishop Gabriel, as well as the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God.

On Saturday, a pannihida was served for the reposed founders and parishioners of Holy Fathers Church. This was followed by an all-night vigil and the unveiling of a new patronal icon. On Sunday, a lesser blessing of the waters was performed, and divine liturgy celebrated, followed by a moleben [service of supplication] and procession of the cross. After service, a festive trapeza was held at a local hall with the assistance of the Parish Sisterhood.

The celebration was especially significant for the parish from an historical perspective. Holy Fathers is one of the few parishes celebrating its 75th anniversary. Further, it was His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus (then Bishop Laurus), who, at the completion of the current church building in 1966, performed the blessing of the cross atop the cupola.

The Metropolitan and Archbishop Hilarion had each, at one time, been Bishop of Manhattan. Thus, with the presence of Bishop Gabriel, the current Bishop of Manhattan, the parish was honored to have in attendance all three of the living Bishops under whose omophorion the Holy Fathers Church has existed.

Attended by over 200 persons, during this joyous event, numerous priests, deacons, subdeacons and altar boys augmented the altar, and a large choir especially assembled to sing the debut of a newly-written service, by Brother Isaac Lambertsen, to the Holy Fathers of the Seven Ecumenical Councils. Of note is the fact that, while a service exists for the first six Councils and another for the Seventh Council, it was not until Saturday that a service commemorating all seven Councils had bee celebrated.

During the celebration of the divine liturgy, the current Rector, Fr. Alexander Botschagow, was awarded the kamilavka, and diocesan gramatas [decrees of blessing] were awarded to two subdeacons, the warden and six parishioners.

Fr. Alexander and the parishioners of Holy Fathers of the Seven Ecumenical Councils Church wish to thank His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, His Eminence Archbishop Hilarion, His Grace Bishop Gabriel and everyone who participated in this most joyous celebration, and humbly ask that you keep
their parish in your prayers.