On Sunday, June 23, the great feast of Holy Pentecost, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, paid an archpastoral visit to Holy Trinity Church in Vineland, NJ, where he celebrated the festal Divine Liturgy in honor of the parish’s patronal feast day.

Concelebrating with the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad were parish rector Archpriest Liubo Milosevic and Protodeacon Leonid Roschko (cleric of St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ). Parish Protodeacon Serge Ohotin sang in the choir.

At a work weekend and throughout the preceding week, the parish brotherhood painted the church exterior, while the sisterhood beautifully decorated the church and parish hall, covering the floor, walls, and iconostasis with flowers, leaves, and branches, symbolizing the new life brought into the world by the Holy Spirit.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas addressed the faithful with a sermon on the feast and spoke about resisting being drawn into the ways of the world. He then officiated Great Vespers and read the three Kneeling Prayers.

At the end of the service, the protodeacon intoned "Many Years" for the First Hierarch, clergy, and parishioners.

All were then invited to a luncheon in parish hall organized by the sisterhood. A concert by singers from the parish and from Philadelphia sang a mix of Russian and Serbian folk songs and prayers, while the woman of the parish performed folk dances, and children played music on the piano. Metropolitan Nicholas spoke about how neighboring parishes should support one another and attend each other’s feast days, and expressed his gladness to see that taking place.

The following morning, on the Feast of the Holy Spirit, His Eminence celebrated Divine Liturgy once more, co-served by Archpriest Djokan Majstorovic (rector of St. John Serbian Church in Paterson, NJ), Abbot Eutychius (Dovgan; abbot of St. Nicholas Skete in Freehold, NJ), Archpriests Serge Ledkovsky (deputy rector of St. Vladimir Memorial Church) and Valery Sukholobov (rector of Our Lady "Joy of All Who Sorrow" Church in Philadelphia), and Fr. Serge Ohotin. Fr. Liubo prayed and communed in the altar.

Metropolitan Nicholas thanked everyone present for the invitation and for their joint prayers.

Another luncheon was organized by the parish sisterhood for all in attendance.