On Saturday, October 30, the feast day of the Holy Unmercenaries and Wonderworkers Cosmas & Damian in Cilicia, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan paid an archpastoral visit to the eponymous church in Passaic, NJ, where he led the parish’s patronal feast day.

Concelebrating with His Grace were: Archpriest Mark Burachek (rector of Our Lady of Kazan Church in Newark, NJ), Abbot Nicodemus Balyasnikov (dean of St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City), Archpriest Alexandre Antchoutine (dean of New York City & Long Island), Abbot Arseny (Manko; parish rector), Archpriest Yaroslav Lutoshkin (cleric of St. Nicholas Cathedral), Priest George Temidis (rector of Nativity of the Mother of God Church at the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY), Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky (cleric of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY), and Protodeacon Leonid Roschko (cleric of St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ).

The services were sung by a male choir under the direction of Nikodim Buryakov. The service proceeded triumphally and prayerfully, and many communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

After a short moleben, on behalf of His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, Bishop Nicholas awarded a diocesan gramota to Alexander Lapin & Olga Kubrak for their fervent and exemplary service to the Church.

After Liturgy, a bountiful festal luncheon was held, during which the interaction between the clergy, parishioners, and guests continued.