On Tuesday, October 31, and Wednesday, November 1, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, paid an archpastoral visit to the St. Elizabeth the New-Martyr Church in Columbia, SC. To the joy of the faithful, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad was accompanied by the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora – the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God.

His Eminence’s visit was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the glorification of the Synaxis of the New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia by the Church Abroad (November 1, 1981). In connection with this date, the parish received a blessing to perform the service to their Heavenly patron, the Venerable Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth.

Metropolitan Nicholas officiated All-Night Vigil on Tuesday evening, co-served by parish rector Archpriest Mark Mancuso and deanery, parish, and visiting clergy:

• Archpriest Alexander Logunov (rector of Reigning Mother of God Church in Charlotte, NC)
• Archpriest Matthew Williams (rector of St. Tikhon Church in Blountville, TN)
• Archpriest Mark Tyson (rector of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Tobaccoville, NC)
• Archpriest Alexander Stepanenko (cleric of Reigning Mother of God Church)
• Priest Steven Webb (rector of St. Nicholas Church in Fletcher, NC)
• Priest Ignatius Green (rector of Holy Apostles OCA Church in West Columbia, SC)
• Priest Dmitri Pavlenkov (cleric of St. Nicholas Church in Fletcher)
• Protodeacon Dimitri Temidis (parish cleric)
• Protodeacon Columba Wilson (parish cleric), and
• Deacon Joseph Sefchick (cleric of St. Tikhon Church in Blountville, TN).

The faithful venerated the Kursk Root Icon and the icon of St. Elizabeth, and were anointed with holy oil. After Vigil, a meal was prepared for the clergy and guests.

The following morning, the First Hierarch arrived to celebrate Divine Liturgy. He was greeted at the entrance to the church by parish warden Joshua Shaw, who thanked him for his archpastoral visit and asked for his prayers as the parish continues to grow and thrive with God’s help.

At the Sixth Hour, the Metropolitan tonsured Maximos Mancuso and Michael Lilley readers, and ordained parish Reader Nicholas Oscar Floyd a subdeacon. At the Little Entrance, Fr. Columba Wilson was awarded the right to wear the kamilavka.

Concelebrating at Liturgy were the above-mentioned clerics, with the exception of Fr. Matthew Williams and Fr. Joseph Sefchick.

In his sermon, Metropolitan Nicholas touched on the many blessings that God gives us in His Church – the feasts which we celebrate, the saints who pray for us, and the Holy Sacraments which unite us to Christ. He added that this day united several noteworthy events: the feast of Righteous John of Kronstadt, the glorification of the New Martyrs, and the birthday of the Venerable Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth.

His Eminence congratulated the new readers and subdeacon, as well as Protodeacon Columba on his award. The Polychronion was intoned for all in attendance, and a group photo was taken outside of the church.

After Liturgy, the sisterhood prepared a festal meal, after which fellowship between the clergy and faithful continued long into the day, until the First Hierarch departed with the Kursk Root Icon back to New York City and on to Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, where he would commemorate the namesday of Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral; +2022) of blessed memory.