On the eve of the Church commemoration of Saints Sergius and Herman of Valaam (June 28 O.S.), the monastery had its own feast, the tonsure of Riassophore Monk John (Weeks) to the Small Schema and Novice Stephen (Manduke) to the Riassa.  This grace-filled event took place just as the Church is finishing the fast of the Apostles.

For the elder fathers of the monastery brotherhood, this sacred event was not only a joy as we see our ranks replenished and strengthened, but also a reminder of our own vows and very importantly, a witness to our many pilgrims who perhaps for the first time were able to observe such a commitment to Christ.  

Fr. John is an American convert to Orthodoxy who left his home to dedicate himself to his salvation here in our monastery a few years ago.  His obediences have involved the care of our elderly and sick brethren, cleaning church and taking care of our mail.  He also corresponds with men in prison, encouraging them in their struggles.  In monasticism he has been given by our abbot, Archimandrite Luke, the name of the Apostle Paul.  

Fr. Stephen comes from the family of a priest. His father is Fr. Nikolai Manduke.  At a young age he has decided to dedicate his life to his salvation in monasticism.  It is interesting to note that he has a relative among the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, the Hieromartyr Vladimir Medveduk, his great uncle.  He has now started upon the next step to the angelic life.  May our Lord strengthen both him and Monk Paul, and may the Most Holy Theotokos guide them on their path to Christ.

On July 18 (N.S.), 1918, the day after the murder of the Russian Imperial family, the sister of the Empress, Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna, and other relatives of theirs, including the brothers, Princes Igor, Konstantin and Ioann Konstantinovich, were likewise killed by communist henchmen in Alpaevsk in the Ural Mountains area.  On June 15, 2017, two sisters, granddaughters of Prince Ioann, visited Holy Trinity Monastery for the first time.  

With God's grace, Holy Trinity was able to celebrate with solemnity Pentecost weekend (June 3-6). The cathedral was festively decorated with freshly-cut saplings, some tall enough to reach the base of the dome. This very strikingly manifests the church's concept of recapitulation, as the entire universe has been transfigured through Christ and brought within the purview of the Church through the power of the Spirit Who gives life to all.

As the capstone moment when the Trinity enters into full relationship with humanity and the world through the foundation of the Church, Pentecost is celebrated for three days in honor of the Three Persons. Following the Saturday service to commemorate the dead, Pentecost Sunday was celebrated as a hierarchical liturgy with his Eminence Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen) and culminated with the Vespers of kneeling prayers.

Monday, Holy Spirit Day, was not only the second day of liturgical celebration but was also the feast day for Holy Trinity Monastery. As a result, we were blessed with the presence of the Most Rev. Metropolitan Hilarion and his Eminence Bishop Nicholas as well as his Eminence Metropolitan Jonah who remained for the festivities.  During the Little Entrance Igumen Theophylact was awarded the jeweled cross, Priest Andrew Rudenko and Hieromonk Anatoly were both awarded the gold cross, all for their service to the Church. During the Hours a recent graduate, Vadim Abramov was tonsured a Reader.  After the liturgy, the hierarchs, priests, faculty, seminarians, and guests were invited for a reception.

We thank God for constituting His Church through the gift of the Spirit! May our church be revealed to the world as God's most precious gift to humanity, the vineyard planted by Christ and producing the new wine of Spiritual joy.

Blessed art Thou O Christ Our God

Who hast shown forth the fishermen as supremely wise

By sending down upon them the Holy Spirit

And through them didst draw the world into Thy net

Lover of Mankind glory to Thee!

On Monday, May 8th the faithful at Holy Trinity Monastery Celebrated the Divine Liturgy of St. Mark the Evangelist in honor of his feast day. In the Orthodox Church there are three orders for the Divine Liturgy that are celebrated in every parish—those of St. John Chrysostom, St. Basil the Great, and the Presanctified Liturgy of St. Gregory the Dialogist. But in addition to these three there are also several other, rarer Liturgies, characteristic of certain places or celebrated on certain days. In recent years the Liturgy of St. James has become increasingly known and celebrated; akin to it is that of St. Mark.

The Divine Liturgy of St. Mark is the ancient, traditional main Liturgy of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria. With the discovery of a papyrus from the end of the fourth century in 1928, it also has the most ancient documentation of any Orthodox Liturgy still in use. This is the Liturgy of the great hierarchs of Alexandria, whose names occur constantly in our Church calendar: Ss. Athanasius the Great, St. Cyrill of Alexandria, St. John the Almsgiver, and countless others. St. Anthony the Great and the Desert Fathers prayed at this Liturgy, and knew and loved its prayers.

On these last three days of Holy Week, the depth and poignancy of the period descended upon the monastics and seminarians, and a profound spirit of silence and contemplation permeated everyone and everything. Beginning with Great and Holy Thursday and the Liturgy of St. Basil that culminated with the foot-washing service, these days were festive with services, including the Matins with the readings of the 12 gospels, Royal Hours, Vespers with the Holy Winding Sheet, 2:00 am Lamentations, the Reading of the Book of Acts, and the Great and Holy Saturday Midnight Office. After being slowly enveloped in the ethos of Holy Week with a complete cycle of Lenten services, everyone was even more struck by the triumphant and joyous arrival  of Pascha at midnight. Truly, Christ’s Resurrection was worthily glorified! Christ is Risen!

To complete the Paschal service, the monastics, seminarians, and all the faithful pilgrims proceeded into the trapeza for the Paschal breakfast. We thank Christ for His saving Resurrection and gathering His faithful for this blessed and Great Feast. We also pray that all our friends have had an equally edifying Lent and Pascha!