On Tuesday the 5th and Wednesday the 6th of May, divine services were held in honor of the patronal feast day of St. George’s Church in Howell, NJ. On Tuesday, parish rector Archpriest Serge Lukianov led the All-Night Vigil. On Wednesday, the clergy concelebrated the Divine Liturgy. Leading the service was Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov (pastor emeritus of neighboring St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral), co-served by parish rector and cathedral dean Fr. Serge Lukianov, cathedral clerics Archpriest Boris Slootsky and Priest Seraphim Chemodakov, and also Priest Serge Ledkovsky (deputy rector of St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ), Priest Alexey Bykon (cleric of Holy New Martyrs Church in Brooklyn, NY), and cathedral clerics Protodeacon Leonid Roschko and Deacon Paul Drozdowski. That same day marked the Midfeast of Pentecost, and prior to the start of Liturgy, the traditional Lesser Blessing of the Water was served.

Many parishioners and faithful from various churches of New Jersey and New York attended the patronal feast day, as well as representatives of the Cossack community. Many communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries. Upon completion of the service, Fr. Valery delivered a sermon on the examples of servitude offered by the Holy Great-Martyr and Trophy-Bearer George and the Empress-Martyr Alexandra, whom the Church also honors on this day. The clergy and faithful then performed a procession around the church, carrying icons and singing a moleben to St. George.

Fr. Serge Lukianov congratulated all of the namesday celebrants – Georges and Alexandras – on the occasion of their patronal feast, and summoned everyone to the Cossack hall next door, where a delicious lenten luncheon was offered for all.