On Tuesday the 16th and Wednesday the 17th of July, Bishop Theodosius of Seattle paid an archpastoral visit to Our Lady of Tikhvin Church in Howell, NJ, and officiated the divine services on the feast of the Holy Martyrs Emperor Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra, Crown Prince Alexis, Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia, and the Passion-bearer Eugene the Physician.

Serving alongside His Grace were the parish clergy:

• Archpriest Serge Lukianov (rector)
• Archpriest Boris Slootsky
• Archpriest Luka Novakovic
• Priest Anthony Willams
• Protodeacon Paul Drozdowski, and
• Deacon Dimitry Lisan.

Praying at the divine services was the head of the Bethany School in the Holy Land, Nun Maria (Wall).

A multitude of parishioners gathered at Liturgy, most of whom communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Placed on the analogion in the middle of the church were icons containing the relics of the Holy Royal Martyrs (the work of Fr. Paul Drozdowski) and the Holy Venerable Martyrs Grand Duchess Elizabeth and Nun Barbara.

Singing at the service was the parish choir under the direction of Andrei Roudenko.

Upon completion of Liturgy, Bishop Theodosius and the clergy served a short moleben before the icons of the saints.

His Grace greeted all with the feast, and shared some of memories from his life relating to the holy passion-bearers.

The rector, Fr. Serge, thanked Bishop Theodosius for their shared prayer, and in honor of his visit to the parish presented him with a carved walking stick depicting the Most Holy Theotokos.

The Polychronion was intoned for the namesday celebrants.