Nativity Troparion

"Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath shined the light of reason upon the world; for thereby they that worshipped the stars were instructed by a star to worship Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the Dayspring from on high. O Lord, glory be to Thee."

"When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan, worship of the Trinity wast made manifest; for the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee, calling Thee His beloved Son. And the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the truth of His word. O Christ our God, Who hath appeared and enlightened the world, glory to Thee."

Archbishop Gabriel, a graduate of Holy Trinity Seminary, served the Hierarchical Vigil and Liturgy for the Feast of the Three Hierarchs. This is the patronal feast day for the seminary. After Liturgy, students, faculty, and alumni celebrated the feast with a reception in the Seminary Hall.

"Where shall I begin to weep for the actions of my wretched life? What first-fruit shall I offer, O Christ, in this my lamentation? But in Thy compassion grant me forgiveness of sins." --The Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete

For The Triumph of Orthodoxy, Bishop Jerome served the Hierarchical Vigil and Liturgy at Holy Trinity Monastery. The Rite of Orthodoxy service followed Sunday's Liturgy.

On Wednesday, March 11, the community of the Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary celebrated the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts of St James, the Brother of the Lord.   The liturgy was served at 11am in the church of St Job of Pochaev in the basement of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, and was presided by Archimandrite Luke (Murianka), the Abbot of the monastery. 

On March 15, Holy Trinity Monastery celebrated the Third Sunday of Great Lent: The Veneration of the Precious Cross.

On March 16, the Abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery and the brotherhood served a Pannikida for Metropolitan Laurus who was the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Outside of Russia and Abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery.

On April 1, Abbot Archimandrite Luke served a Presanctified Liturgy in English in the Dormition Church in the cemetery. The English translation of the Liturgy is from Colonel Philip Ludwell III (1716-1767).

"By raising Lazarus from the dead before Your passion, You did confirm the universal Resurrection, O Christ God! Like the children with the palms of victory,We cry out to You, O Vanquisher of death;Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord!"

"Today is the fountainhead of our salvation and the manifestation of the mystery which was from eternity: the Son of God becometh the Virgin's Son, and Gabriel announceth the good tidings of grace; for this cause, let us cry to the Mother of God with him:  "Rejoice, thou who art full of grace; the Lord is with thee." 

"The whole creation was changed by fear, when it saw Thee, O Christ , hanging on the Cross. The sun was darkened and the foundations of the earth were shaken; all things suffered with the Creator of all. Of Thine own will Thou hast endured this for our sake: O Lord, glory to Thee."

"Noble Joseph, taking down Thy most pure Body from the Tree, and having wrapped It in clean linen and covered It with spices, laid It in a new tomb."

Joseph begged Thy holy body from Pilate and, anointing it with sweet-smelling spices, he wrapped it in clean linen and laid it in a new tomb; and early in the morning the women bearing myrrh cried out:  'As Thou hast foretold, O Christ, show us the Resurrection.'"

"He who closed the abyss lies before us dead; and as a corpse the Immortal is wrapped in linen with sweet spices and laid in a tomb.  The women came to anoint Him with myrrh, weeping bitterly and crying: 'This is the most blessed Sabbath on which Christ sleeps, but on the third day He shall rise again.'"

"When Thou hadst fallen asleep in the flesh as one mortal, O King and Lord, Thou didst rise again on the third day, raising up Adam from corruption, and abolishing death: O Pascha of incorruption!  O Salvation of the world!"

On Radonitsa, led by Abbot Fr. Luke Murianka the monastic brethern, seminarians and members of the community prayed for the departed including those buried in the Holy Trinity Monastery Cemetery.

On May 6, 2015, Holy Trinity Monastery celebrated Mid-Pentecost and St. George Day. Following Divine Liturgy, Abbot Fr. Luke led the service of the Small Blessing of the Water at the Holy Trinity Monastery well. Holy Great Martyr George pray to God for us!

"Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God, and gladdened Thy disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit; and they were assured by the blessing that Thou art the Son of God and Redeemer of the world."

On May 22, Holy Trinity Monastery celebrated the Feast of the Translation of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker's relics to Bari, Italy. Following the Divine Liturgy, Abbot Fr. Luke served a Panikhida at Metropolitan Anastasy’s grave located in the back of the Holy Trinity Cathedral. Metropolitan Anastasy was the second First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. He reposed 50 years ago on May 22, 1965.

On May 24, 2015 Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary had its 67th Commencement and marked the end of the 2014-15 academic year and the conclusion to the years of seminary studies for the Graduating Class of 2015. Metropolitan Jonah (OCA) presided at the hierarchical vigil and liturgy. 

On May 31, 2015, Holy Trinity Monastery celebrated the Feast of Pentecost. His Eminence, Metropolitan Jonah (OCA) celebrated the Hierarchical Vigil and Liturgy. Following Liturgy, the Metropolitan served the Vespers service with the three prayers on bended knees. After the Vespers service, Abbot Archimandrite Luke congratulated everyone with the feast and invited them to a festive meal followed by a reception. We wish everyone a blessed Pentecost!

On June 1, 2015, Holy Trinity Monastery celebrated Holy Spirit Day its patronal feast day. Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and Metropolitan Jonah concelebrated the Liturgy for the feast day. Co-serving along with the two hierarchs were 16 priests and 9 deacons.     

For the Third Day of Pentecost, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan celebrated the Hierarchical Liturgy at Holy Trinity Monastery. Today is the last day of celebrations for the monastery’s patronal feast day.

From the EA Diocese website:

"On Monday, June 8, Matushka Nadezhda Drobot, wife of Archpriest Wsewolod Drobot (former rector of Nativity of the Mother of God Church in Albany, NY) and mother of Protodeacon Nicholas Drobot (cleric of Holy New Martyrs of Russia Church in Norwich, CT), reposed in the Lord.

From the EA Diocese website:

"On Monday, June 8, Matushka Nadezhda Drobot, wife of Archpriest Wsewolod Drobot (former rector of Nativity of the Mother of God Church in Albany, NY) and mother of Protodeacon Nicholas Drobot (cleric of Holy New Martyrs of Russia Church in Norwich, CT), reposed in the Lord.

Matushka Nadezhda is survived by her husband, seven children, and eight grandchildren.

All funeral services will be held at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY.

Tuesday, June 9: 6:30 PM Panihida

Wednesday, June 10: 6:30 PM Panihida

Also: 6:30 PM Panihida at Nativity of the Mother of God Church in Albany

Thursday, June 11: 1:30 PM Funeral, followed by burial at Jordanville cemetery

Memory eternal to the handmaiden of God Nadezhda!"

http://eadiocese.org/News/2015/june/drobot.en.htm

June 26, 2015

Today the United States Supreme Court ruled that homosexual marriage is a constitutional right in the United States of America. Given the ubiquitous coverage the news media is providing on this issue it is important that our clergymen and parishioners fully understand the position of the Church in this regard.

When our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ instructed His Apostles to render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s (Matthew 22:21), He foretold of the future what was already true in the days in the Roman Empire: that a Christian would never be one who sat dismissively apart from the world and its governance, but neither would a Christian be one for whom the ever-changing whims of social governance would be the chief voice ruling his life...

“Their sound has gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.” 

Our Church is Apostolic because it follows the life and teaching established by the Apostles. They in their turn continue the mission of our Teacher and Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ. The rule of faith given to us by our Saviour and his Disciples must be kept without change as He says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away (Matthew 24:35).”

On July 11,  the 2015 Summer Youth Program came to a close at Holy Trinity Monastery. The program incorporates both monastery life and features of a summer camp. Young men have the opportunity to attend monastic services, work beside members of the brotherhood, and participate in candid religious discussions. The program also features sports and recreational activities, including special events such as day trips to local points of interest.

On July 17, 2015, Holy Trinity Monastery celebrated the Feast of the Royal Martyrs of Russia.

Troparion: Meekly didst thou endure bonds and diverse sufferings, and the loss of an earthly kingdom, and didst bear witness for Christ even unto death at the hands of those that fight against God, O great passion-bearer, divinely-crowned Tsar Nicholas; therefore, Christ God hath crowned thee in the heavens with a martyr’s crown, together with thy queen, thy children, and thy servants. Him do thou entreat to have mercy on the Russian land and save our souls.

Holy Trinity Monastery is blessed with many joyful feasts throughout the liturgical year and also the occasional special event.  Such an occasion was recently on Friday evening and Saturday morning, when according to the Church calendar, the feast of St. Sergius of Radonezh was celebrated. It is doubtful that this feast was ever celebrated with such solemnity and joy as this year.  During the afternoon services the Hawaiian Iveron Myrrh-streaming icon arrived, brought by its guardian, Brother Nectarios.  Later in the afternoon, his Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, arrived to greet a very important guest, his Beatitude, Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine, who finds himself in the United States on a private visit.

On Friday, July 31, 2015, after lunch, a new cemetery area was consecrated.  Due to the fact that almost all of the available plots in the older monastery cemeteries have been purchased, a new section has been prepared along side the oldest cemetery.  For the Orthodox faithful, this need for more plots has been emphasized especially of late, as recently there have been more and more requests for cemetery plots.  This is due no doubt to the fact that the souls of those buried in the Holy Trinity Monastery cemetery are prayed for during the Divine Liturgy and also during the several special commemorative days during the church year.

On August 14, 2015, to begin the Dormition Fast, a blessing of water and honey was served at Holy Trinity Monastery. The Dormition Fast is two weeks and one of the strictest fasts in the Orthodox Church.

On August 19, 2015, led by Abbot Archimandrite Luke (Murianka), Holy Trinity Monastery celebrated Transfiguration. Following the service, Abbot Luke blessed fruit for the feast.

On Friday, August 28, 2015, Holy Trinity Monastery celebrated the Dormition of the Theotokos.  Two Liturgies were served for the feast. An English Liturgy was served in the cemetery chapel which is dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos and a Slavonic Liturgy was served in the Holy Trinity Cathedral. Following both Liturgies, a moleben was held at the cemetery chapel.

On Monday, August 31, 2015, Holy Trinity Monastery led by Archbishop Gabriel served a Pannikyda for Metropolitan Laurus behind the cathedral at the Metropolitan's grave. Memory Eternal!

Recently, Holy Trinity Monastery installed a new welcome sign for visitors, guests, clergy, and seminarians.

Every year in September, on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY triumphally celebrates the memory of its heavenly intercessor, Venerable Job of Pochaev.

On September 21, 2015, Abbot Archimandrite Luke (Murianka) led the Liturgy for the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos in the Holy Trinity Cathedral. Holy Trinity Monastery wishes you a happy feast day! С праздником!

An appeal was made to Holy Trinity Monastery to assist with refurbishing the roof on the church in Ladomirova, Slovakia, where many of the monastics of our monastery resided before the advance of the Soviet Army. A donation was sent, and the reply was an invitation from His Beatitude Rastislav of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, to Archimandrite Luke to take part in their celebration of the feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist. A large portion of the Holy Head is enshrined at the church. Father Luke arrived on the eve of the feast day itself and attended the services there, the celebration being transferred to the nearest Sunday. Immediately after the Liturgy, Father Luke began his extensive tour of all the local parish communities.

On Sunday, September 27, 2015, Holy Trinity Monastery celebrated The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. At the end of Saturday night's Vigil, Abbot Archimandrite Luke performed the Rite of the Exaltation of the Cross in Holy Trinity Cathedral.

You are invited to a free lecture at Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary (Jordanville) by Dr. Scott Kenworthy at 10 am on Saturday, October 10, 2015. The address is entitled "Before the Patriarchate: The Life and Times of St. Tikhon until 1917" and will be delivered in English. Following the lecture, you will be able to view the new Foundation of Russian History Museum and Holy Trinity Monastery Cathedral.

Holy Trinity Monastery is located near New York's historic Mohawk Valley, one mile north of the village of Jordanville, within a triangle formed by Cooperstown, Utica, and Albany. It is also known for its beautiful fall scenery. 

From October 10 - 11, 2015, Holy Trinity Monastery had the great blessing to be visited by Metropolitan Philip of Poltava and Mirgorod. On Saturday, Metropolitan Philip delivered a few remarks about the life of Patriarch Tikhon during the St. Tikhon Symposium at Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary. After Sunday's Hierarchical Liturgy, Metropolitan Philip thanked Abbot Fr. Luke (Murianka) for the opportunity to visit Jordanville. He referred to Jordanville as a legendary place, and he was delighted to finally visit. We thank him for his participation in the St Tikhon Conference and his continued support of Jordanville.

From October 9 to 10, 2015, Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary held its second annual academic symposium, entitled “Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow (1865-1925): His Life and Times.” The Symposium was dedicated to the Saint’s “double” anniversary this year: 150 years since his birth, and 90 years since his blessed repose.

On Saturday, October 24, 2015, Holy Trinity Monastery held an open house for the neighboring community. During the open house, Abbot Fr. Luke (Murianka) spoke to the neighboring community about the history of the Orthodox Church, and Fr. Theophylact spoke about the history of the monastery. Following the talks, guests were led over to the Cathedral with the ringing of bells from the monastery bell tower. A short choir concert was conducted in Holy Trinity Cathedral, and Fr. Theophylact explained the particulars of an Orthodox church. Guests were also able to view the Foundation of Russian History Museum. We thank all those who visited, and we hope to see them again soon!

On November 21, 2015 Archimandrite Luke of Holy Trinity Monastery blessed the new tombstore for Bishop Constantine (Essensky) at the brotherhoood cemetery located behind Holy Trinity Cathedral. Bishop Constantine was reburied at Holy Trinity Monastery on Decemember 1, 2014. 

For the first time, Holy Trinity Seminary is participating in #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back. Thanks to a generous donor, every dollar you give to Holy Trinity Seminary starting today until December 1 will be doubled! All donations will be matched up to $50,000. Donate today and help the Seminary raise $100,000 by December 1. 

New electrical power was installed for the new cemetery, old cemetery and beehives December 2015. 

On December 24, 2015 the funeral and burial of  Vasiliy P. Nistratov was held  at Holy Trinity Monastery. May God grant rest to his soul.

On December 24, 2015, the St Herman Youth Conference spent the day in Jordanville. In the morning, about 100 youth listened to a lecture about addiction. Following the lecture, everyone enjoyed a casual meal in the Seminary Hall while listening to a visiting priest from St. Petersburg speak about youth conferences in Russia. After lunch, the youth spent time viewing the museum, visiting the St Elizabeth Skete, seeing the cemetery, hearing about the monastery publishing office, viewing the bell tower, and enjoying a bonfire by the St. John of Kronstadt Chapel.