U.S.A., August 25, 2022
Abbot Methodije (center), Bishop Maxim (right). Photo: westsrbdio.org
The abbot of Hilandar, the Serbian monastery on Mt. Athos, visited several Serbian Orthodox dioceses and churches in America earlier this month.
Archimandrite Methodije, the head of the Athonite monastery, met with the faithful of St. Sava’s Church in New York on Saturday, August 13, bringing them the blessing of the Holy Mountain. He expressed his hope that their church, which burned down on Pascha in 2016, will be rebuilt as soon as possible, just as Hilandar has also recovered from a devastating fire in 2004, the monastery reports.
The next day, Abbot Methodije visited St. John the Baptist Church in Paterson, New Jersey, where the hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Grace Bishop Irinej of Eastern America.
Fr. Methodije offered a homily, encouraging the people to always get up when they fall and start afresh with repentance. All present shared in an agape meal following the service, and the Athonite abbot spoke about Hilandar and life on the Holy Mountain. He also presented Bp. Irinej with a copy of the wonderworking Mother of God of the Three Hands Icon, the original of which is treasured at Hilandar. In turn, the hierarch gave Fr. Methodije a hand-made pectoral cross, together with monetary donations from the Eastern American Diocese for the continued renovations at the monastery.
Fr. Methodije later celebrated the feast of the Transfiguration, August 19, at St. Steven’s Cathedral in Alhambra, California. He gifted His Grace Bishop Maxim with the same icon of the Mother of God, and following the Liturgy, everyone joined together for a fellowship luncheon and a Q and A session with the Athonite guest.
Anyone who desires to contribute to the continued renovation of Hilandar Monastery can send checks made payable to: Preserve Monastery Hilandar Fund, to: 1529 72nd St #21, Brooklyn, NY 11228.
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