I discovered on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, that Fr. Hieromonk David (Pierce) has been confirmed in the rank of Abbot by Metropolitan Hilarion, first hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. Dom David is abbot of the abbey of the Dormition of the Mother of God (of Mt. Royal) in Jacksonville, Florida. Members of the community include the well-known Fr. Augustine (Whitfield) and Br. George. Services are held in the Holyrood (Holy Cross) chapel.
above: Abbot David, at the funeral of Abbot Augustine (Whitfield)
above: Abbot David at time of divine serviceMany Years! Ad multos annos, Domne!
P.S. For those who may imagine that "Dormition" is a specifically Eastern term, it is the very word used in the Sarum "Martiloge" (martyrology) to describe the feast of the Assumption on August 15. It can be said, therefore, that Dormition is a good and proper Old-English word.
