On Saturday the 7th and Sunday the 8th of February, Holy New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia Church celebrated its patronal feast day. On Saturday night, rector Archpriest Serge Lukianov delivered a reliquary to the church for the All-Night Vigil, which includes a piece of the True Cross and pieces of the relics of the Venerable Optina Elders, the Holy Great-Martyr Panteleimon, the Holy Hierarch Luke of Simferopol, Blessed Matrona of Moscow, and the Nun-Martyrs Elizabeth & Barbara.

On Sunday, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Grace, Bishop Jerome. His Grace was co-served by Fr. Serge, Archpriest Petro Kunitsky and Priest Igor Grytsyna (parish clerics), and Protodeacon Leonid Roschko and Deacon Paul Drozdowski (clerics of St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral in Howell, NJ). Archpriest Boris Oparin, rector of the neighboring St. Joasaph of Belgorod Church, who served in the parish for five years, came later to congratulate the clergy and parishioners.

A multitude of the faithful from various New York parishes gathered for the feast and communed. Fr. Serge thanked Bishop Jerome for coming to share in the feast with the clergy and parishioners, and presented His Grace with a cross and panagia carved from wood brought from Russia, as well as a carved wooden walking staff. Fr. Serge told parishioners about the love for the New Martyrs & Confessors in Russia, and called on them to emulate the Russian new martyrs in hoping in the Lord God and remaining faithful to Him to the end. The rector also called on the faithful to always bear in mind the word "fervor:" to be fervent in attending church and fervent in doing good deeds.

On the very feast day of the New Martyrs & Confessors, Bishop Jerome presented diocesan gramotas on behalf of Metropolitan Hilarion to Boris A. Popov, who served the parish for many years as warden, and to longtime parish treasurer Ludmila N. Kireev.

Upon completion of the service, the parish sisterhood held a festal luncheon in the church hall, during which parishioners had an opportunity to interact with the clergy. Meanwhile, the rector spoke about memorable moments from his recent visit to Russia.

On the parish’s patronal feast day, under the prayerful protection of the Holy New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia, the annual general meeting was held. Parishioners took active part in discussing the many current issues facing the parish. Vladimir Pomagrin was elected the new parish warden; for many years, he and his wife Valentina have fulfilled many obediences in the church.

The newly elected parish council of Holy New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia Church is comprised of the following individuals:

Archpriest Serge Lukianov – parish rector
Archpriest Petro Kunitsky – assistant rector
Vladimir Pomagrin – church warden
Ludmila Kireev – church treasurer
Nina Shumeev – parish head sister
Peter Polonitsky – parish secretary
Alexander Kumaev
Anna Koemetz
Boris Popov
Igor Zayats
Irina Khenkin
Leonid Mueller
Yury Yurevich

After the meeting, Fr. Serge served a moleben "Before the Beginning of Any Good Work" for the new warden and parish council members, reminding the parish’s new stewards of their great responsibility before God, the Holy New Martyrs, and the faithful, calling on them to come together to face their common challenges, confessing and communing more often, in order to receive aid and wisdom from God and be a good example for their fellow Christians.