I'm a HieroSchemaMonk of the Russian Orthodox Church and have been a monastic for 25 yrs, having spent the first 10 years of my monastic formation and tonsurings at the Monastery of the Glorious Ascension, Resaca, Georgia [USA], under the Mandyas of Archimandrite Damian Hart [R.I.P.]. Subsequently, I assisted in the formation and establishment of the mission parish "Our Lady, Joy of Sorrows" (Atlanta, GA suburbs) as the Russian speaking liaison for the Slavic and Russian speaking portion of the then mostly English speaking congregation. After two years there and having been transfered to New York City, I pursued the task of organizing and founding the first Russian Orthodox parish in central and south Brooklyn. Currently, I am attached to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign in Manhattan, N.Y., under obedience to, and under the Omophorion of, His Emminence Metropolitan HILARION of New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, Moscow Patriarchate. My education and theological formation included Concordia College (Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod) in Bronxville, N.Y. and St. Vladimir's Orthodox Seminary, Crestwood, N.Y., respectively.