On Wednesday, July 28, when the Holy Church celebrates the memory of Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Great Prince Vladimir, Baptizer and Enlightener of Rus’, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan performed an archpastoral visit to St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ, where he celebrated Divine Liturgy in honor of the parish’s patronal feast day

Concelebrating with His Grace were: Archpriest Serge Lukianov (dean of New Jersey), Archpriest Igor Tarasov (rector of St. George Church in Bayside, NY), Archpriests Rafael Melendez and Boris Slootsky (clerics of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ), Abbot Eutychius (Dovgan; abbot of St. Nicholas Skete in Freehold, NJ), Archpriest Seraphim Chemodakov (parish cleric), Archpriest Serge Ledkovsky (deputy rector of the Memorial Church), and Priest Anthony Williams and Protodeacon Paul Drozdowski (clerics of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral). The parish choir sang the divine service.

During the reading of the hours, Bishop Nicholas ordained longtime parishioner Reader James Storms a subdeacon.

To the joy of the clergy and parishioners, the service was held under the aegis of the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. Despite its being a weekday, a multitude of parishioners and guests gathered in the church for the patronal feast, most of whom received Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, Bishop Nicholas greeted all with the feast day and addressed those present with an edifying sermon, in which, in part, he noted that the church in Jackson is "special – it is a monument to the Baptism of Rus’ for the entire Diaspora, a beacon of Orthodoxy."

"Glorifying Prince Vladimir, we remember the Equal-of-the-Apostles Olga. Undoubtedly, she served as an example for her grandson and influenced his choice when he was deciding which faith to choose for Rus’.

"Prince Vladimir enlightened the people, gave them the opportunity to know God, the opportunity to repent of their sins, to ask forgiveness, to learn the Holy Scriptures, which show us how to live, how to love God and neighbor, what commandments to fulfill, how to show mercy – all of this we received from our common godfather.

"We must also remember people: our relatives, loved ones, mentors who passed on the Faith to us, were an example for us – how to live in a foreign land and preserve our Faith, our culture, and to rejoice in the Lord. And we, too, should be an example for those people who surround us, that our word, our behavior would influence them, and they would wish to become, like us, believers, Orthodox Christians, people who are not afraid to talk about God outside of church."

The clergy then served a short moleben to Holy Great Prince Vladimir, the protodeacon intoned the Polychronion to all Vladimirs, celebrating their namesday.

Then the clergy and believers went to the church hall, where the parish sisterhood prepared a festal meal.