On Thursday, August 31, the afterfeast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos and the feast of the Holy Martyrs Florus & Laurus, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, celebrated Divine Liturgy in St. Alexander Nevsky Church at the Russian Archæological Excavations in Jerusalem.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were: the head of ROCOR’s Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), Archpriest Peter Holodny, Abbot Jonah (Galishnikov), Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur, and Hierodeacon Amphilochius (Mazur).

During the service, a special commemoration was performed for the reposed brethren of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville: Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla) and Archimandrite Flor (Vanko), Archbishop Alypy (Gamanovich), whose namesday was the previous day, and Archimandrite Sergei (Romberg), who reposed on that day in 1992.

Liturgical hymns were performed by the choir of the Gethsemane Monastery, with the participation of pilgrims, under the direction of the nun Macaria (Kepke).

Many of those who prayed at the service partook of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

In his sermon at the end of Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas remembered Metropolitan Laurus and the brethren of Holy Trinity Monastery commemorated that day and highlighted their lives as an example of faith, fidelity, prayer, patience, and humility.

After venerating the cross, the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Sisterhood offered a meal, during which interaction between the First Hierarch, clergy, monastics, and pilgrims continued.

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Translation by Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese