On Thursday, September 17, the clergy and parishioners of St. Joasaph of Belgorod Church in Brooklyn, NY celebrated their parish’s patronal feast day ‒ the Finding of the Relics of the Holy Hierarch Joasaph, Bishop of Belgorod. Archpriest Serge Lukianov (rector of nearby New Martyrs of Russia Church in Brooklyn) celebrated Divine Liturgy, co-served by parish clergy: rector Archpriest Boris Oparin and Deacon Andrei Silov.

The parish choir sang beautifully. Parishioners gathered to honor the memory of their Heavenly patron. Many communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon completion of Liturgy, Fr. Serge greeted all those present and delivered a sermon on the topic of the feast. Turning to the life of the Holy Hierarch Joasaph, he made particular note of the saint’s zeal for the Lord and his piety. Many years ago, the holy hierarch also faced difficult circumstances, not unlike people in our day. He called on the faithful not to lose their zeal for the Lord, to strive to come to church to pray, and to always remember that the Church is the ark of salvation, in which we receive God’s grace through Holy Communion, which strengthens and heals us.