The city of San German, Puerto Rico
My heart is filled with gladness! Finally, there is a serious
Orthodox presence in my homeland, the Island of St. John
the Baptist of Puerto Rico, my beloved Borinquen (Spanish
transliteration of the Taino language, Boriken).
Established as a Spanish colony at the end of the 15th century,
it has always been a very strong Roman Catholic nation. But
according to the inscrutable providence of God, the field is now
ready for harvest.
!Gloria a Dios!
"November 13, 2013
From the website of the Eastern American Diocese of the
Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
San German, PR: Metropolitan Hilarion celebrated the
Divine Liturgy in the Mission of St. John of the Ladder
Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
San German, PR: Metropolitan Hilarion celebrated the
Divine Liturgy in the Mission of St. John of the Ladder
On Sunday, November 10, during his Archpastoral visit
to Puerto Rico, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church
Abroad celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Mission of
St. John of the Ladder(San Juan Climaco) in San German.
The small church was filled with parishioners and many
local non-Orthodox people who were invited to come to
the parish and experience an Orthodox Liturgy for the
first time. "Orthodoxy is not very well known here,"
said Archpriest John Moses. "The purpose of this
weekend was to introduce the locals to Orthodoxy, and
I think that it went really well."
His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, was co-served by
Archpriest Juan Carlos Rios (rector of Holy Protection
Mission in Kissimmee, FL), Archimandrite Maximos
(Weimar; abbot of Holy Cross Monastery in East
Setauket, NY), and Archimandrite Nektarios (Harding;
cleric of Holy Protection Mission), Fr. John Moses, parish
rector Priest Gregorio Justiniano, Hieromonk Silouan
(Justiniano; cleric of Holy Cross Monastery in Setauket),
and Hieromonk Tikhon (Gayfudinov; Metropolitan
Hilarion’s cell attendant).
During the Sixth Hour, the Metropolitan tonsured
Seraphim Justiniano to the rank of reader. Seraphim is
the son of Fr. Gregorio and has also been the parish’s
chanter for several years, faithfully singing the services
in Spanish.
During the Little Entrance, Fr. Gregorio was awarded
the kamilavka for his dedicated service to the Holy Church,
especially in his homeland of Puerto Rico.
Fr. Juan delivered a sermon after the reading of the Gospel,
in which he called upon the faithful to follow the example of
the Holy Apostles, whom the Lord commanded: "Go ye into
all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature"
(Mark 16:15).
Upon completion of the Eucharist, His Eminence ordained
Subdeacon Isidoro Valle, a native Puerto Rican, to the
diaconate. The newly ordained Deacon Isidoro will fulfill his
service at Holy Protection Mission in Kissimmee, FL.
The Divine Liturgy was served primarily in Spanish, with
some English. Metropolitan Hilarion pronounced several
exclamations in Spanish and performed most of the Eucharist
in Spanish. Many of the local faithful were touched by His
Eminence’s special effort to reach out to them in their own
tongue. "It was a very important thing for me to hear the
Metropolitan serving in my language. It made me feel
respected," said Fr. Isidoro. "I spoke to some of the people
who were not Orthodox and they were very much impressed
by this – ‘He came and spoke to us in our own language,’ this
is all that you heard them saying."
After the Divine Liturgy, the First Hierarch greeted the parish
community and expressed his sincere joy at visiting Puerto Rico.
His Eminence especially greeted all of the visitors who came to
an Orthodox service for the first time, encouraging them to
return and discover more about the True Faith of the Apostles.
He also congratulated Fr. Gregorio on his well-deserved award
and wished him renewed spiritual strength to continue his
salvific missionary labors on the island.
In turn, Fr. Gregorio thanked his ruling bishop for taking the
time to visit Puerto Rico and spiritually fortify his flock, that they
might remain steadfast in their faith and attract others to
Orthodoxy.
to Puerto Rico, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church
Abroad celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Mission of
St. John of the Ladder(San Juan Climaco) in San German.
The small church was filled with parishioners and many
local non-Orthodox people who were invited to come to
the parish and experience an Orthodox Liturgy for the
first time. "Orthodoxy is not very well known here,"
said Archpriest John Moses. "The purpose of this
weekend was to introduce the locals to Orthodoxy, and
I think that it went really well."
His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, was co-served by
Archpriest Juan Carlos Rios (rector of Holy Protection
Mission in Kissimmee, FL), Archimandrite Maximos
(Weimar; abbot of Holy Cross Monastery in East
Setauket, NY), and Archimandrite Nektarios (Harding;
cleric of Holy Protection Mission), Fr. John Moses, parish
rector Priest Gregorio Justiniano, Hieromonk Silouan
(Justiniano; cleric of Holy Cross Monastery in Setauket),
and Hieromonk Tikhon (Gayfudinov; Metropolitan
Hilarion’s cell attendant).
During the Sixth Hour, the Metropolitan tonsured
Seraphim Justiniano to the rank of reader. Seraphim is
the son of Fr. Gregorio and has also been the parish’s
chanter for several years, faithfully singing the services
in Spanish.
During the Little Entrance, Fr. Gregorio was awarded
the kamilavka for his dedicated service to the Holy Church,
especially in his homeland of Puerto Rico.
Fr. Juan delivered a sermon after the reading of the Gospel,
in which he called upon the faithful to follow the example of
the Holy Apostles, whom the Lord commanded: "Go ye into
all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature"
(Mark 16:15).
Upon completion of the Eucharist, His Eminence ordained
Subdeacon Isidoro Valle, a native Puerto Rican, to the
diaconate. The newly ordained Deacon Isidoro will fulfill his
service at Holy Protection Mission in Kissimmee, FL.
The Divine Liturgy was served primarily in Spanish, with
some English. Metropolitan Hilarion pronounced several
exclamations in Spanish and performed most of the Eucharist
in Spanish. Many of the local faithful were touched by His
Eminence’s special effort to reach out to them in their own
tongue. "It was a very important thing for me to hear the
Metropolitan serving in my language. It made me feel
respected," said Fr. Isidoro. "I spoke to some of the people
who were not Orthodox and they were very much impressed
by this – ‘He came and spoke to us in our own language,’ this
is all that you heard them saying."
After the Divine Liturgy, the First Hierarch greeted the parish
community and expressed his sincere joy at visiting Puerto Rico.
His Eminence especially greeted all of the visitors who came to
an Orthodox service for the first time, encouraging them to
return and discover more about the True Faith of the Apostles.
He also congratulated Fr. Gregorio on his well-deserved award
and wished him renewed spiritual strength to continue his
salvific missionary labors on the island.
In turn, Fr. Gregorio thanked his ruling bishop for taking the
time to visit Puerto Rico and spiritually fortify his flock, that they
might remain steadfast in their faith and attract others to
Orthodoxy.
A diocesan Gramota was awarded to Fr. John and Matushka
Alexandra Moses for their exemplary work with the Volunteers
in Mission (VIM) Program. Fr. John led a group of volunteers
who spent a week helping the mission prepare for the
Metropolitan’s visit.
This was the fourth work trip organized by VIM since its
conception in 2011. All of the members who participated in the
VIM project in Puerto Rico were awarded Certificates of
Appreciation from the First Hierarch.
A fiesta was organized on the grounds of the mission, featuring
native Puerto Rican music and cuisine. The purpose of the fiesta
was to introduce the Puerto Rican people, specifically those living
Alexandra Moses for their exemplary work with the Volunteers
in Mission (VIM) Program. Fr. John led a group of volunteers
who spent a week helping the mission prepare for the
Metropolitan’s visit.
This was the fourth work trip organized by VIM since its
conception in 2011. All of the members who participated in the
VIM project in Puerto Rico were awarded Certificates of
Appreciation from the First Hierarch.
A fiesta was organized on the grounds of the mission, featuring
native Puerto Rican music and cuisine. The purpose of the fiesta
was to introduce the Puerto Rican people, specifically those living
in San German, to Orthodoxy. "We wanted to show the people of
my community that our Church is a free Church," said Fr. Gregorio.
"We can share music, art, and cuisine without sinning. The
Protestant denominations in Puerto Rico teach the people that
having a glass of wine or listening to secular music is a sin. One of
the most beautiful things about Orthodoxy is that we believe in
freedom, which has been given to us by God. The Orthodox Faith
does not look down upon the local culture, but instead it embraces it."
Metropolitan Hilarion remained in San German until the following
day before continuing to the country’s capital city of San Juan,
where he will remain until his departure on Wednesday,
November 13."
my community that our Church is a free Church," said Fr. Gregorio.
"We can share music, art, and cuisine without sinning. The
Protestant denominations in Puerto Rico teach the people that
having a glass of wine or listening to secular music is a sin. One of
the most beautiful things about Orthodoxy is that we believe in
freedom, which has been given to us by God. The Orthodox Faith
does not look down upon the local culture, but instead it embraces it."
Metropolitan Hilarion remained in San German until the following
day before continuing to the country’s capital city of San Juan,
where he will remain until his departure on Wednesday,
November 13."
St John of the Ladder Orthodox Mission. The Church's Grounds
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