By the grace of God and through the efforts of the Building Committee of the Parish of St. John the Baptist in Washington, construction of a chapel dedicated to the Montreal Iveron Icon of the Mother of God has been completed. The Chapel, which is in historic Rock Creek Cemetery, in the Nation's Capital, was consecrated on September 10 by His Eminence, the Very Most Reverend Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox church Outside of Russia.

 Vladyka Metropolitan Laurus added to the joy of the celebration by bringing with him the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, Indicator of the Path for the Russian Diaspora.

Built in 12th Century Novgorod style, the chapel was erected as a memorial to the deceased founders and benefactors of the Parish of St. John the Baptist, and to all those Orthodox Christians interred at the cemetery.

Our parishioner, the architect Irina Vladimirovna Zarechnak, designed the structure. It was erected by a former parishioner, Herman Ricketts. Adam Ivanovitch Gootan, the venerable chairman of our Building Committee, acted as a consultant on the project. Vladyka Metropolitan presented each of these individuals a certificate of commendation [gramota] for their efforts.

Priest Theodore Jurewicz designed the Cross for the cupola. Mosaics on the Western façade (the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God) and on the Eastern wall (the Icon of the Savior Not-made-by-Hands) were executed by Alexander Sokolov, a Muscovite iconographer.

The floor, the Altar Table, and the Table of Prothesis are made of white Jerusalem stone. The chapel interior will be decorated with a number of ceramic icons which are being fashioned in Switzerland by Dominique Lopez. Dominique and her husband Claude were close friends of murdered brother Joseph Munoz-Cortes, curator of the Iveron Icon.

The Icons and mosaics for the newly-erected chapel were donated in memory of the late Archimandrite Nicholas Pekatoros - for many years the rector of our parish - by his spiritual children and by others who revere his memory.

The granite commemorative plaques on the chapel walls were fashioned and donated by Michael Andreev, owner of Jordanville Monument Co.

Several days before the Consecration of the Chapel, the Parish Brotherhood tidied up the many gravesites, erected new Crosses on five graves at which with the passage of time the previous Crosses had deteriorated, and performed other tasks. Cemetery personnel erected tents and set up chairs for those for whom standing throughout the lengthy Services would be difficult.

Everything was in readiness by September 10, the date of Consecration. The Lesser Consecration of the Chapel began promptly at 9:00 AM.. His Eminence, the Very Most Reverend Metropolitan Lauras, First-hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia was principal celebrant; he was assisted by Archpriest Victor Potapov, Rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Protodeacon Leonid Mickle, and Deacon John Cavin. Before and after the Consecration, Archpriest Igor Hrebinka, a clergyman of the Cathedral, and Archpriest Peter Perekrestov, who had come from San Francisco, heard the confessions of those who intended to receive Holy Communion during the first Requiem Liturgy, which was served immediately following the Lesser Consecration. Also present and praying at the Divine Services was His Grace Bishop Gabriel.

Upon the completion of the Lesser Consecration, His Eminence the Very Most Reverend Metropolitan Laurus extended his warm greetings to our parishioners on the occasion of the successful completion of construction of a beautiful chapel which, the Vladyka-First-Hierarch stated, enhanced not only the oldest cemetery in the city, but also the USA's national capital city itself.

In his homily at the Requiem Liturgy, Fr. Victor noted that the physical presence of the chapel is a reminder of the sanctity of the cemetery ground in which so many people near and dear to our hearts are interred, and that the prayers for "those who lie here," living prayers raised up at the chapel today, serve as a reminder that all of us, those living and those departed from this temporal life, are members of one and the same Church, the One Body of Christ. Fr. Victor further stated that the Chapel, dedicated to the Montreal Iveron Icon of the Mother of God is also a reminder of the spiritual struggle and service of martyred Joseph Munoz-Cortes, the chosen one of the Mother of God who over the course of 15 years brought us joy and comfort, generously sharing with us the grace of the Holy Icon.

The Divine Services were enhanced by the harmonious and disciplined chanting of theCathedral Choir under the direction of Choir Director Yuriy Alexandrovitch Petcherkine.

At the conclusion of Divine Services, the celebration participants were given an opportunity to rest under the shade of a large tree, next to which were tables laden with refreshments prepared by the Cathedral Sisterhood.

In the evening on September 10, Vladyka Metropolitan Laurus was principal celebrant at the All-night Vigil Service in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Concelebrating with him were His Grace the Most Reverend Bishop Gabriel, the afore-mentioned clergy, and Priest John Barbus of the Holy Transfiguration Church in Baltimore. In attendance at the Service was the famous Romanian priest and Confessor of the Christian Faith, Fr. Georgi Calciu, as well as a host of Romanians, Greeks, and Georgians, all of whom came to join our parishioners in honoring the memory of St. John the Baptist and praying before the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God.

Heading the celebration of the Litya was His Grace the Most Reverend Gabriel, Bishop of Manhattan. At the Litya, the clergy and faithful took part in a Procession of the Cross around the Church. 

The Procession is intended to remind everyone that the Church of Christ is not bounded by the walls of the church building; rather the Church goes outside those borders and into the world in order to offer fervent prayers for God's world.

The following morning, one and one half hours before the Meeting of the First Hierarch, faithful gathered for Confession. There was enough time to also sing an Akathist to the Kursk Icon of the Mother of God.

At the Liturgy, during which the Cathedral Choir presented a number of new arrangements of liturgical chants, Subdeacon John Johnson was ordained to the Diaconate. Fr. John, a dedicated servant of the Church of Christ, has long been a parishioner of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.

In his sermon, Vladyka Metropolitan reminded the faithful of the significance of the spiritual struggle carried on by the "greatest born of women," St. John the Baptist.

"St. John was a preacher of the Truth; when he saw the Law being violated, he was not afraid to criticize even the king. As noted in his troparion, he joyously suffered for the Truth…"

Vladyka Metropolitan challenged the parishioners of Washington's Cathedral of St. John the Baptist to emulate their heavenly patron, and not be afraid to stand for the Truth and to defend the sacred gift of life.

V. Potapov

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