On Saturday, November 9 and Sunday November 10, with the blessing of His Grace, Bishop Luke, and at the invitation of Archpriest Victor Potapov, cathedral rector, the Jordanville seminary choir, under the direction of Deacon Nicholas Kotar, sang the responses for the divine services at St John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, DC. 

The seminary choir arrived in DC on Friday evening and were treated to a wonderful meal in the parish center and invited to join in on a wedding reception for a young couple that had been married in the cathedral earlier that evening. Saturday morning, the seminarians had an opportunity to visit parts of downtown Washington DC, and in particular, visit the National Gallery of Art, and tour a portion of the exhibition of the first sculptor of Renaissance Spain; Alfonso Berruguete. Afterwards, they were treated to a driving tour of the National Mall, and other historic parts of DC.

The choir sang the responses to the All Night Vigil, which was bi-lingual. Following the Vigil service, the parish sisterhood again treated the choir to a sumptuous pre-thanksgiving meal that was also prepared for both of the parish’s English and Church Slavonic choirs.

Following singing the responses to both the English and Church Slavonic Divine Liturgies, presentations were given to the faithful by Fr Ephraim Willmarth, Director of Admissions and Asst. Dean, Deacon Michael Pavuk, Director of Development & Deacon Nicholas Kotar, Lecturer in Church Music and Seminary Choir Director, relative to everything that is happening in Jordanville, including the launching of the Jordanville Annual Fund 2019 Fall appeal, and to invite the faithful to visit us, as well as to make them aware of the ongoing needs at both the seminary and the monastery.  

Gratitude was expressed to Archpriest Victor Potapov, Marushka Maria, the clergy and sisterhood, as well as all of the faithful for their warm hospitality as well as their generosity. The seminarians were, once again, treated to a wonderful meal prior to leaving for the 7 hour trip back to Jordanville.