On Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th of April, the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, visited Holy Myrrhbearers Church in Harrisonburg, VA, and led the divine services for the parish’s patronal feast day. On Saturday, the clergy and parishioners greeted His Grace, who arrived with the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. Bishop Nicholas led the All-Night Vigil, co-served by parish rector Priest Gabriel Weller, Protodeacon Patrick Mitchell (cleric of St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, DC), and parish Deacon Nektarios Kanney. Upon completion of Vigil, His Grace inspired the faithful with a brief sermon in which he compared Christ’s Church to the fragrant flowers surrounding the Icon. "The flowers we see are of various colors, shapes, and scents. So it is with us: we are all different, but when we gather together in church, we form a marvelous community."

On Sunday morning, the clergy and faithful greeted the hierarch, after which the reading of the Hours began. In addition to the clergy who had co-served the evening prior, joining the hierarch in celebrating the Liturgy were Priest Christophe Lepoutre (cleric of neighboring All Saints of North America Church in Natural Bridge Station, VA) and parish Deacon Thomas Opyoke. Many of the faithful gathered at Liturgy, some of whom had traveled more than four hours.

Bishop Nicholas addressed those gathered with a sermon, calling on them all to attend church and be more active in the church’s daily life. Upon completion of the Liturgy, a moleben was served before the Kursk Root Icon for the welfare of the Orthodox faithful of Virginia. On behalf of the parish, Bishop Nicholas was presented an icon of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women, and the clergy and parishioners asked His Grace’s prayers. The patronal feast day concluded with a festal luncheon.