On February  20-21, the Sunday  of the Publican and the Pharisee, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan paid an archpastoral visit to St. Andrew Stratelates Cathedral in St. Petersburg, FL, where he officiated the divine services.

Serving with His Grace were: Archpriest Stephan Romanchak (parish cleric; retired), parish rector Archpriest Igor Chitikov, Archpriest Stephen Zaremba (rector of St. Catherine Mission in Clearwater, FL), Priests Dmitri Don (cleric of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY), Michael Criscella (cleric of St. Sophia Mission in Kissimmee, FL), and Joseph Romanchak (rector of St. Basil the Great Church in Belle Vernon, PA), and Deacons Igor Tarasov (parish cleric) and Michael Sementsov (cleric of St. John of Kronstadt Memorial Church in Utica, NY).

During the Sixth Hour on Sunday morning, Bishop Nicholas tonsured Stephan Romanchak a reader and ordained him a subdeacon. At the Little Entrance at Divine Liturgy, His Grace elevated Fr. Igor Tarasov to the rank of protodeacon, and after the Eucharistic Canon, ordained Subdeacon Stephan Romanchak to the diaconate. The newly ordained Deacon Stephan will fulfill his service at St. Andrew Cathedral.

Upon completion of Liturgy, the Bishop Nicholas addressed the gathered faithful with a sermon on the Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee, and then thanked Fr. Igor for his invitation to pray in the cathedral. In turn, Fr. Igor thanked him for his archpastoral visit and shared prayer.

In the parish hall after the service, parishioners were able to continue their interaction with the diocesan vicar.