On Tuesday, July 2, the feast day of the repose of the Holy Hierarch John, Archbishop of Shanghai & San Francisco, the Wonderworker, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, accompanied by the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, departed for New Zealand. This marks the beginning of His Eminence’s primatial visit to the parishes of ROCOR’s Diocese of Australia & New Zealand.

Traveling with the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad and the Protectress of Russian Diaspora are Archpriest Serafim Gan (chancellor of the ROCOR Synod of Bishops) and Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur (cleric of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY). On Thursday, July 4, Metropolitan Nicholas and those accompanying him arrived in Auckland.

Greeted at the airport by the Dean of New Zealand, Archpriest Vladimir Boikov, His Eminence went to Holy Resurrection Church in Auckland. After venerating the holy icons and relics at the church and familiarizing themselves with the progress of the repair and construction work being carried out in it, the members of the delegation proceeded to lunch in the priest’s residence.

On the same day, in the evening, All-Night Vigil was served, and the next morning Divine Liturgy was celebrated. On this day, the ninth Friday after Pascha, the memory of the Kursk Hodegetria was celebrated. Despite its being a workday, there were 100 communicants at the celebration of the hierarchical Divine Liturgy. That evening, upon learning of the repose of Archpriest George Larin, long-time cleric of the Eastern American Diocese, His Eminence, after praying in the altar of Holy Resurrection Church with a moleben and akathist to the Mother of God, led a general panihida.

On Sunday, July 7, the feast of the Nativity of Saint John, Forerunner of the Lord, His Eminence celebrated Divine Liturgy at Holy Resurrection Church, having officiated All-Night Vigil the evening prior. Concelebrating with His Eminence were the rector, Fr Vladimir, parish clergy, and members of the delegation. At the end of the Hours, Metropolitan Nicholas tonsured one of the altar servers of the parish, Paul Dyachenko, a reader and then ordained him a subdeacon.

Upon completion of Liturgy, His Eminence awarded the choir director Anna Vladimirovna Boikova, Fr. Vladimir’s wife, the Synodal Ladies’ Order of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign," 3rd Class. He then presented Fr. Vladimir a jubilee pectoral cross issued for the centennial of the Russian Church Abroad, and to the parish ‒ an icon painted in commemoration of this jubilee.

After the kissing of the cross, the archpastor, clergy, and parishioners continued the gathering at a fellowship luncheon.

Between the daily services performed during the holy icon’s stay at Holy Resurrection Church in Auckland, Metropolitan Nicholas spent time with the rector, clergy, and parishioners of this church, visiting their homes with the wonderworking icon.

On Monday, July 8, the delegation headed by the First Hierarch departed for Christchurch, located on the southern island of New Zealand.