On March 18, the Sunday of St. John Climacus, the Sacrament of Holy Unction was served in the Church of the New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia in Brooklyn, NY. The service was led by parish rector Archpriest Serge Lukianov, co-served by Archpriest Boris Oparin (rector of St. Joasaph of Belgorod Church in Brooklyn), Archpriest Petro Kunitsky (parish cleric), Archpriest Paul Ivanov (rector of Holy Myrrhbearers Church in Brooklyn), Archpriest Zoran Radovic (rector of St. George Serbian Church in Elizabeth, NJ), Abbot Arseny (Manko; parish cleric), Priest Nikolai Gulin (cleric of the Orthodox Church in America), and Protodeacon Petr Utkin (parish cleric).

Over 250 Orthodox Christians, including parishioners of church in Brooklyn and across New York, participated in Holy Unction. The parish choir prayerfully sang the responses. There were seven readings from the Epistle, seven from the Gospel, and seven special prayers for healing.

All those praying during the special Lenten service were anointed with holy oil. Upon completion of the service, Fr. Serge thanked the clergy from Brooklyn for participating in the Sacrament and urged the faithful to partake of Christ’s Holy Mysteries at the soonest Liturgy.