On Thursday, February 15, the great feast of the Meeting of the Lord, Holy Presentation Church in Stratford, CT, celebrated its patronal feast day. That day, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, arrived to share in the joy of the feast and to celebrate Divine Liturgy.

Early on the morning of the feast, parish rector Archpriest Constantine Semyanko and Deacon Eugene Utnyukhin served the Lesser Blessing of the Water, after which the greeting of His Eminence took place. 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.

In addition to the parish clerics, concelebrating with His Eminence at Liturgy were clergy from neighboring parishes: Archpriest Alexis Duncan (rector of Nativity of the Mother of God Church in Albany, NY), Archpriest Brendan Crowley (rector of St. Nicholas Church in Enfield, CT), and Archpriest Dimitri Jakimowicz and Deacon David Dutkanicz from St. Nicholas Church Stratford. The parish choir sang with enthusiasm.

Following the blessing of the candles, Metropolitan Nicholas delivered a sermon, in which he explained the meaning of several refrains sung during the ninth ode of the festal canon. After Liturgy, a delicious meal was offered to everyone present.