On Monday, December 19, when the Holy Church celebrates the memory of the Holy Hierarch Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York paid an archpastoral visit to St. Nicholas Church in Poughkeepsie, NY, where he celebrated Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the parish’s lesser patronal feast.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were: Archpriest Elias Gorsky (rector of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY), Archpriest Serafim Gan (chancellor of the Synod of Bishops), Archpriest Mark Burachek (dean of the Hudson Valley), Archpriest Alexander Donchenko (parish rector), Priest George Temidis (secretary of the diocesan administration), Priest Andrew Podymow and Protodeacon Dimitri Temidis (clerics of Holy Protection Church in Nyack), and Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin; diocesan cleric).

As a blessing to the clergy and faithful, Metropolitan Nicholas brought the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God for their veneration.

The parish choir sang beautifully and prayerfully, having on the occasion of the feast day had their ranks filled with visiting singers, who came to support the parish choir and celebrate their lesser parish feast.

Upon completion of Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas and the clergy served a short moleben.

The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad greeted the clergy and faithful with the feast, and addressed those present with a sermon. He noted that the entire Christian world loves and glorifies the Mother of God and the Holy Hierarch Nicholas as our speedy helpers and intercessors, while the faithful have this special blessing: the Kursk Root Icon, which for many years has been illumining our diocese and directing us toward salvation. Hi Eminence called on all to pray for the salvation of their souls, for peace throughout the world, not to let their spirits falter, and in these difficult times to continue to pray and ask for the help and intercession of the Savior, the Most Holy Theotokos, and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

Metropolitan Nicholas thanked Fr. Alexander for his longtime dedicated service to the Church and the parish, and presented him with a commemorative jeweled cross in honor of the centennial of ROCOR ((1920-2020).

A festal lenten luncheon was served in the church hall, during which interaction between the clergy and faithful continued.