On Friday, 1st August, the patronal feast of the parish of St Seraphim of Sarov, located in the two communes of Chelles and Gagny, was the occasion for the blessing and installation of a new cross on the renovated roof of the church. For this event, the Divine Liturgy and the service of blessing were presided over by His Grace Elisey, Bishop of Reutov, with the blessing of our Metropolitan John of Dubna. On his arrival Bishop Elisey was welcomed by the rector of the parish. Bishop Elisey presided at the Liturgy, surrounded by Archpriests Andre and Adrian, as well as Priest Silouan. The choir, directed by Reader Stéphane Drobot, was reinforced by young people who came to pray with us.
At the end of the Liturgy, we went outside and Bishop Elisey blessed the new cross. Then, back in the church, he reminded us of the example that St Seraphim gives us in his teaching of love and forgiveness. He particularly recommended always keeping in our hearts the famous saying: “Acquire a peaceful spirit, and thousands around you will be saved.” He stressed that each person must begin at his own level, and that in this way peace will spread to all.
Bishop Elisey then offered, on behalf of the Monastery of St Silouan, relics of St John Chrysostom. It is an immense joy to welcome into our humble church the relics of this holy Doctor of the Church, whose liturgy we take care to celebrate as tradition has handed it down to us.
After the Liturgy all those present were able to share an agape meal generously prepared by the ladies of the parish.
At the end of the agape, the newly blessed cross was raised onto the roof of the church and set in place on the new dome, to the singing of the Troparion of the Cross, sung alternately in French and in Church Slavonic. It was a very moving moment for all the participants.
It was a great joy for the parishioners to receive the visit of Bishop Elisey, who was for six years the rector of the parish. We finally parted, happy to see our church once again surmounted by a magnificent dome and Cross, after having been deprived of them for some fifty years.
The Churchwarden
