On Monday the 5th and Tuesday the 6th of February, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York paid an archpastoral visit to St. Nicholas Church in Palm Coast, FL. To the joy and consolation of the faithful, His Eminence was accompanied by the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora – the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, which remained at the parish throughout the services that evening and the following morning.

On Monday evening, a moleben to the Mother of God was served before the wonderworking image, prior to which His Eminence blessed the newly renovated church with holy water. The following morning, on the feast of Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad celebrated Divine Liturgy, co-served by parish clerics: Priest Vladimir Kaydanov (rector), Priest Theodore Stavru, and Deacons Lev Opie and John Kern, as well as Archpriest Juan Carlos Rios (diocesan cleric).

This was the His Eminence’s first visit to the renovated church and the first time celebrating Liturgy in the new altar. On his previous visit, Metropolitan Nicholas blessed the space next door to the church with the Kursk Icon in anticipation of the temple’s expansion. A year later, all of the parishioners and a multitude of parish guests, led by the clergy, offered up praises and thanksgiving to God, and in joy and piety reverenced the wonderworking icon of our Lady Theotokos.

A multitude of the faithful were able to commune of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Metropolitan Nicholas noted with gratitude the labors of the rector, clergy, and all of the parishioners in their self-sacrifice and Christian love for one another, for the Holy Church, and for the divine service. The visit concluded with a festal luncheon in the new hall space, which is now able to accommodate all those who wish to become members of the growing Orthodox family of St. Nicholas parish.