The Pastoral Conference of the clergy of the Western-American Diocese and the
Western part of the Canadian Diocese opened in Seattle on Tuesday, December 17
under the Chairmanship of his Grace, Bishop Kyrill of Western America and San
Francisco. Participating were 33 clergymen: one bishop, 23 priests, and 9
deacons--from Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona,
Idaho, and Colorado. The clergy arrived in Seattle on Tuesday, by 11:00am.
After a welcoming luncheon, sponsored by the Sisterhood of St. Nicholas
Cathedral (as were all of the other meals at the Conference), the clergy were
taken by the host of the Conference, Priest Aleksei Kotar, Rector of St.
Nicholas Cathedral, to the recently-renovated second floor of the parish
building, where the Chapel in the room where St. John of Shanghai and San
Francisco reposed is located.
After venerating the icons in the Chapel of St. John, the participants boarded a
school bus for an excursion to Vashon Island, the home of the Monastery of the
All-Merciful Savior. After a brief ferry trip, during which the clergy, standing
on the deck, were treated to the amazing sight of a large pod of killer whales
(orcas) cavorting in the waters, the bus arrived at the monastery, where the
Ruling Bishop was greeted, accompanied by the ringing of bells, by the Abbot of
the Monastery, Hieromonk Tryphon, and the other monks. In the recently-completed
monastery chapel, a moleben before the beginning of any good deed was served,
asking God's blessing on the participants of the Conference and their labors.
A reporter and photographer from the Associated Press had accompanied the clergy
on their trip to Vashon Island, and recorded all that occurred for a story to be
published. The reporter interviewed several of the participants, asking about
the Conference and about church life in parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church
Outside of Russia. After the moleben, Fr. Tryphon gave a tour of the monastery
grounds, showing the foundations that have already been laid for future
monastery buildings--cells for the brothers, a refectory, and guest houses. Fr.
Tryphon then led a group of clergy on a trek through the monastery woods along
the Valaam and Optina trails, pointing out the various crosses and shrines that
had been put up along the path. Most of the clergy on this excursion had never
been to the Monastery of the All-Merciful Savior before, and were astounded by
the natural beauty of the monastery territory, which covers more than 16 acres.
After the walk through the woods, the visitors were treated to refreshments in
the monastery main building--lenten cookies, accompanied by the monastery's
famous coffees and teas, the sale of which is a significant source of income for
the monastery. Fr. Tryphon shared his plans for the future, and presented Bishop
Kyrill with a commemorative blue cobalt plate with the logo of the monastery
embossed in gold. Every participant also received gifts--a box of monastery tea
and a color brochure with photographs of the monastery.
After the trip home to St.Nicholas Cathedral, the clergy gathered in the Church
for vespers and matins, after which dinner was served in the Parish Hall. The
participants were able to become acquainted with one another, as many of the
clergy of the Western American Diocese had not previously met the clergy of the
Western part of the Canadian Diocese or the clergy from Alaska.
The following morning, Divine Liturgy was served in the Cathedral, with two
clergy choirs (one singing in Slavonic and one in English). Word had come during
the night that one of the clergymen of the Western American Diocese, Priest
Phillip Blyth, had reposed at about midnight. After Liturgy, the clergy
performed the order of the passing of the soul from the body for their reposed
brother. It was very moving, as everyone felt that it was providential that so
many clergy had been gathered together at the very same time that one of their
number had reposed in the Lord, and so were able to pray together.
After breakfast, the clergy gathered in the Conference Room upstairs. A draft of
an Address to His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus from the participants of the
Conference was read and approved.
Following this, Archpriest Alexander Lebedeff, gave a presentation on the two
Conferences on the History of the Russian Church that he attended--the first, in
Hungary in 2001, and the second, just completed, held in Moscow in November
2002. Fr. Alexander described the goals of the Conferences and went over the
topics that had been presented. A lively question and answer session then
followed.
Following lunch, the clergy congregated in front of the church, where the formal
group picture was taken. Then, they proceed to the Conference Room to hear
Hieromonk Tryphon's lecture, "The Pastor as Marriage Counselor." After
a brief discussion, a second lecture followed--a presentation by Deacon Jan
Veselak, "Dealing with Substance Abusers and Co-dependents." Both Fr.
Tryphon and Fr. Jan have many years experience in counseling, so their views and
suggestions were listened to with great interest, especially as both lecturers
focused on the spiritual aspects of counseling from an Orthodox perspective.
Fr. Alexander Lebedeff then shared some extracts from the presentation given at
the Historical Conference in Moscow by Rassophore Nun Vassa (daughter of
Archpriest George Larin) which contained the recorded views of Metropolitan
Anastassy, taken from the Synodal Archives of the Russian Orthodox Church
Outside of Russia, found both in New York and in the State Archives of the
Russian Federation (the Synod, fleeing Belgrade at the approach of the Red Army,
was forced to leave behing the larger part of the Synodal Archives, which ended
up in Moscow). From these Synodal Protocols, previously unpublished, one is able
to get a much clearer picture of the views of Metropolitan Anastassy and the
historical positions of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia regarding
the Moscow Patriarchate and other jursidictions--views which were much more
moderate than some now would think.
The prayer rule before Holy Communion was read in the Chapel of St. John,
followed by dinner in the parish hall. At 6:00pm, the clergy gathered in the
Cathedral, where all of the clergy, led by Bishop Kyrill, served a full
pannikhida for the newly-departed Priest Phillip Blyth. The Vigil for St.
Nicholas, the Patronal Saint of the Cathedral, followed at 6:30pm. Two choirs
sang--the parish choir and a choir of clergy. All of the clergy came out to
serve at the polyeleos. The parishioners, after the service, expressed their
amazement at how strong the clergy voices were, when they sang the opening
"O come let us worship" and the Megalinarion to St. Nicholas.
Vigil ended
some time after 10:00pm. On the Day of the Feast of St. Nicholas, His Grace
Bishop Kyrill was met in the Cathedral by all the gathered clergy at 9:00am.
During the reading of the hours, Bishop Kyrill elevated Reader Gordian Bruce to
the rank of Subdeacon, and bestowed the right to wear the orarion to Reader
Nicholas Ilyin, son of Priest Michael Ilyin. At the hierarchal Divine Liturgy,
Priest Alexei Kotar, the Rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral, was elevated to the
rank of Archpriest for his service to the Church and also in view of his
position as Dean of the Northwest Deanery of the Western American Diocese.
Priest John Adams of Victoria, British Columbia, was awarded the right to wear
the nabedrennik and the purple skufia, and Protodeacon Christopher Birchall of
Vancouver was awarded the right to wear the kamilavka for their many years of
service to the Church.
After the consecration of the Holy Gifts, Subdeacon Gordian Bruce was ordained
to the holy diaconate. Two choirs sang antiphonally throughout the service,
which concluded with a moleben with a procession around the Church. Although
rainthreatened, the weather held out and the sun even made a brief appearance
during the reading of the Gospel before the Church at the Procession.
Following the service, all gathered in the Parish Hall for a trapeza luncheon
prepared by the Sisterhood, at which Bishop Kyrill congratulated the new
Archpriest, Fr. Alexei Kotar, and commended him for his work in directing the
parish in Seattle.
