On Friday, December 22, the clergy and parishioners of Our Lady "Unexpected Joy" Church in Staten Island, NY celebrated their parish’s patronal feast day.

Archpriest Alexandre Antchoutine (dean of New York City) celebrated Divine Liturgy, co-served by Archimandrite Gabriel (Pigarev), Archpriests Serafim Gan (chancellor of the Synod of Bishops), and Vasily Zelenyuk (parish rector), Abbot Arseny (Manko; rector of Sts. Cosmas & Damian Church in Passaic, NJ), Priest Nicholas Gulin (acting rector of Life-Giving Spring Icon of the Theotokos OCA Mission in Philadelphia, PA), and Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur (cleric of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY).

The service proceeded solemnly and prayerfully, and many communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

After Liturgy, everyone gathered in the church refectory, where the sisterhood prepared a bountiful festal luncheon, during which the interaction of the clergy, parishioners, and guests continued.