On Sunday, January 29, the feast of the Veneration of the Precious Chains of the Holy Apostle Peter, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York performed an archpastoral visit to St. Luke the Blessed Surgeon Church in Pompano Beach, FL.

Serving alongside the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad at Divine Liturgy were:

• Archpriest Alexandre Antchoutine (acting dean of Florida)
• Archpriest Serge Prisacaru (cleric of St. Vladimir Church in Miami, FL)
• Archpriest Yaroslav Lutoshkin
• Archpriest Nicholas Bargoot (cleric of St. Vladimir Church)
• Archpriest Serhii Vynnychuk
• Priest Mykhailo Mykhailenko (cleric of St. Vladimir Church), and
• Deacon Stefan Stoyanov (diocesan cleric).

The services were held under the aegis of the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora – the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God ‒ which had accompanied Metropolitan Nicholas from New York City throughout the Florida Deanery.

Singing at Liturgy was an expanded parish choir, consisting of parishioners and choristers of the Osanna Youth Chamber Ensemble sponsored by the Patriarch Tikhon Russian-American Music Institute (PaTRAM), under the direction of conductor Katherine Lukianov.

The church was filled with worshippers, virtually all of whom communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon conclusion of the service, a short moleben was served before the wonderworking icon. After a sermon, His Eminence greeted the clergy and parishioners on the recent feasts and wished them God’s strength through the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos.

A luncheon was held in the parish hall, after which Metropolitan Nicholas led the General Parish Assembly. During the meeting, warden Alexis Lukianov presented plans for a capital fundraising plan to construct a new church building.