On Sunday, June 28, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in Holy Virgin Intercession & St. Sergius Church in Glen Cove, NY. His Eminence was co-served by parish rector Archpriest Alexandre Antchoutine, parish clerics Hieromonk Photius (Oulanov) and Deacon Vladimir Barros, Protodeacon Dimitri Temidis (cleric of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY), and Hieromonk Tikhon (Gayfudinov) and Deacon Dionysius Lvov (clerics of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City). Prior to the start of Liturgy, Metropolitan tonsured Pavel Zhardetsky a reader.

The choir chanted the service under the direction of Adrian Fekula. Praying in church were parishioners and visitors from neighboring and New York City churches.

Holy Intercession Church was founded in 1951 in a former garage on the grounds of an old-age home, thanks to the diligent efforts of Prince Sergei & Princess Florence Beloselsky-Belozersky, parish warden Gregory Mitkevich, and Russian parishioners. In November 1951, the church was consecrated by Metropolitan Anastassy (Gribanovsky), then First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad.

The church was adorned steadily over the course of the more than 60 years of its existence. Fr. Emmanuel (later Bishop Constantine) Essensky carved much of the wood ornamentation. Among the holy items in the parish is a reliquary with the relics of 82 of the fathers of the Kievan Caves.

Upon completion of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion expressed his joy at the joint prayer with the parish clergy and parishioners, and addressed them with a sermon on the Gospel reading on the healing of the Roman centurion’s servant. He drew the attention of the faithful to the importance of prayer for others: not for our own misfortune, not for our own need, not for our own illness, but for the need, misfortune, or illness of another person. Metropolitan Hilarion called on the faithful to pray to the Lord, to free themselves from passions, and to watch after themselves, lest they be cast out of God’s future Kingdom, cast away from the blessedness prepared by the Lord for those who love Him.

Fr. Alexandre thanked the Metropolitan for his shared prayer, and also touched on the second Gospel reading, on the good pastor, who lays down his life for the sheep. He called on the faithful not to forget that "our pastor is our First Hierarch, who knows practically all of his ‘sheep’ by name, and prays for all of them. What joy it is for us to have this good pastor, who does not flee from problems, who does not flee from temptations, and who – despite physical infirmities sent by the Lord – still finds the time to come and share in our prayer."

After the service, the clergy and faithful were invited to the parish hall, where a delicious lenten luncheon was served, and interaction between the clergy and parishioners continued. In particular, they spoke about issues that had been raised at the Women’s Conference, "Living and Thinking Orthodoxy, Yesterday and Today," that had taken place at the parish the day prior.