On Sunday, December 11, 2022, the 26th Sunday after Pentecost, Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Elizabeth honored the rector of the parish, Archpriest Emil Minkovich, on the 55th anniversary of his priestly ministry. The Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov, came to congratulate the honoree and present an award on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.
Concelebrating with Fr. Igor at the Divine Liturgy were the rector, Archpriest Emil Minkovich; the head of the chancery of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Priest Mark Rashkov; and the cleric of the parish and Dean of the Eastern States, Priest Julian Ryabtsev. Members of the Parish Council, parishioners and spiritual children of Fr. Emil prayed at the service.
At the end of the service, Archpriest Igor addressed the honoree with words of greeting on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ and Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA. The Chancellor gratefully noted Fr. Emil’s many years of labor not only as rector of the parish but also as a responsible assistant to the Administrators of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA in his capacity as secretary of the Bishop’s Council. In recognition of Archpriest Emil’s labors and in connection with this milestone of his priestly ministry, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill awarded the honoree a high award of the Russian Orthodox Church — the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov, 2nd class, which, with the blessing of Bishop Matthew, the Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes presented to Fr. Emil.
At the rector’s request, Bishop Matthew awarded hierarchical certificates of blessing for many years of help to the parish to the treasurer Natalia Ramirez and parishioners Yana Janson and Kristina Brummett. Archpriest Igor presented the certificates and wished the recipients God’s help in their further labors for the good of the Holy Church.
The celebration continued in the parish hall at a fraternal meal, during which the parishioners and guests had the opportunity to congratulate Archpriest Emil.
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Mitred Archpriest Emil Minkovich, the senior cleric of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, was ordained to the priesthood on September 27, 1967, by Bishop Dositheus (Ivanchenko). Over the years of his ministry, Fr. Emil zealously carried out the responsible obediences entrusted to him as Dean of the Eastern States parishes and co-editor of the journal “One Church,” and since the consecration of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Elizabeth by the Patriarchal Exarch of North and South America, Metropolitan John (Wendland), in 1967, to this day — as its rector. For more than thirty years Archpriest Emil has also been secretary of the Bishop’s Council of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA.
