On Thursday, July 18, the feast of the Holy Venerable Martyr Elizabeth Feodorovna, Bishop Theodosius of Seattle paid an archpastoral visit to the eponymous church in Rocky Hill, NJ, where he celebrated Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the parish’s patronal feast.

Concelebrating with His Grace at Liturgy were:

• Archpriest George Kurtow (rector of St. Seraphim of Sarov Church in Seaside, CA)
• Archpriest Serge Lukianov (dean of New Jersey)
• Archpriest Luka Novakovic (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ)
• Archpriest David Straut (parish rector)
• Priest Paul Siewers (cleric of St. John the Wonderworker Mission in Lewisburg, PA)
• Priest Anthony Willams (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral)
• Protodeacon Paul Drozdowski (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral)
• Protodeacon Seraphim Komleski (parish cleric)
• Protodeacon Michael Pavuk (cleric of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY)
• Deacon Nicholas Ilyin (cleric of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY)
• Deacon Stephanos Bibas (cleric of Joy of All Who Sorrow Church in Philadelphia, PA)
• Deacon Dimitry Lisan (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral), and
• Deacon Patrick Hinds (parish cleric).

Praying at the divine services was the head of the Bethany School for girls in the Holy Land, Nun Maria (Wall). The parish choir sang prayerfully.

At the reading of the Hours, Bishop Theodosius tonsured parishioner David Beltran a reader.

The church was filled with worshippers. Parishioners and guests from neighboring parishes came to honor the Venerable Martyr Elizabeth. Virtually all communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries. A short moleben was served before the icon of the saint.

Bishop Theodosius greeted all with the feast, and spoke to those gathered about the life and martyric death of the Venerable Martyr Elizabeth and her helper, the Nun Barbara.

The feast concluded with a large luncheon in the open-air pavilion and in the church’s new parish hall, where the clergy and parishioners engaged in fellowship. On behalf of Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, Fr. Michael Pavuk presented the parish with an icon of the Three Holy Hierarchs.