This post was originally published on this site
St. Tikhon’s Mission Choir visited Holy Trinity Church on the weekend of December 3-4, 2016. Archpriest David Koles is the pastor of the parish, and has served as Dean of the CT Deanery for the past six years. Fr. Steven, Seminary Dean, was attached to this parish for a period of time after serving as pastor of St. Alexis parish in Clinton, CT for fifteen years.
This was an auspicious weekend in many respects. Chris Dresko, Parish Warden and Choir Director who took primary responsibility for this visitation, and Benedict Sheehan, Director of Music at St. Tikhon’s Monastery and Seminary, participated together in the New England Diocesan Youth Rally some 20 years ago!
In addition, December 4th was the Feast Day for St. Alexander Hotovitzky, Missionary to North America and Martyr under the Bolshevik yoke. Fr. Steven brought the newly written icon of saints who have walked the grounds of St. Tikhon’s for its first visitation. St. Alexander is one of the saints who walked the grounds at St. Tikhon’s. He also accompanied St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow, who founded the monastery, when they blessed the original church in New Britain in 1902. Fr. Steven shared the very real connection between Holy Trinity and St. Tikhon’s Seminary through these saints.
Following Great Vespers on Saturday, Benedict Sheehan spoke of his new publication of two-part music. The Mission Choir sang several selections from this new publication. Seraphim Danckaert, Director of Mission Advancement, spoke of the St. Tikhon and St. Nikolai Fellowship, and invited those present to support mission choir members financial needs as well as married students direct financial needs.
On Sunday, Greg Dresko and Dan Belonick joined the Mission Choir to sing the responses for the Divine Liturgy. The Mission Choir is most grateful for the parish’s hospitality over the weekend. Over $3,000 was also raised for the seminary. May God grant Fr. David, and parish faithful many blessed years!
