On Monday the 23rd and Tuesday the 24th of September, the feast of the glorification of Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg (1978), Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, performed an archpastoral visit to the eponymous church in Methuen, MA.

Metropolitan Nicholas officiated All-Night Vigil on Monday evening, co-served by:

• Archpriest Alexander Androsov (rector of Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Manchester, NH)
• Archpriest Michael Crowley (parish rector)
• Archpriest Brendan Crowley (rector of St. Nicholas Church in Enfield, CT)
• Archpriest Victor Boldewskul (rector of Holy Epiphany Church in Boston, MA)
• Archpriest Constantine Semyanko (rector of Holy Presentation Church in Stratford, CT)
• Hieromonk Peter Karakozoff (cleric of "Joy of All Who Sorrow" Cathedral in San Francisco, CA)
• Priest Photios Zelinski (parish cleric)
• Priest Alexei Klar (parish cleric)
• Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky (cleric of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City)
• Protodeacon Alexander Jarostchuk (cleric of Holy Epiphany Church)
• Deacon Alexander Doohovskoy (parish cleric)
• Deacon Dimitry Doohovskoy (parish cleric)
• Deacon John Sarantakis (parish cleric), and
• Deacon Basil Carr (cleric of Sts. Peter & Paul Church).

After Vigil, the sisterhood served a sumptuous meal, enjoyed by the serving clergy and the choir.

To the peal of the church bells, Metropolitan Nicholas arrived on Tuesday morning for Divine Liturgy, welcomed by parish children strewing rose petals and the parish warden, Andrei Doohovskoy, who offered the traditional bread and salt.

Concelebrating at the festal Liturgy with the Metropolitan were the aforementioned clerics, with the exception of Frs. Constantine Semyanko and Basil Carr, and joined by: Archpriest Spyridon Schneider (rector of St. John the Russian Church in Ipswich, MA), Priest Stephen Kaznica (rector of Holy New Martyrs of Russia Church in Norwich, CT), and Priest Peter James (cleric of St. John the Russian Church). Parish cleric Archpriest Constantine Desrosiers prayed in altar.

At the 6th Hour, Ivan Semyanko was tonsured a reader, Reader Seraphim Semyanko was ordained a subdeacon, and altar server Ephrem Doohovskoy was blessed to wear the orarion.

At the Little Entrance, Fr. Alexei Klar was awarded the nabedrennik, Fr. Alexander Doohovskoy was elevated to the rank of protodeacon, and Frs. Dimitry Doohovskoy and John Sarantakis were blessed to wear the double orarion.

Though occurring on a weekday, Divine Liturgy was attended by well over 200 people, the overwhelming majority of whom communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries. The choir, conducted by Laryssa Doohovskoy, sang beautifully for both services, with specific sections performed by the children’s choir.

In his homily, Metropolitan Nicholas stressed not only the continued blessing and example of Blessed Xenia for the parish, but also the importance and meaning of the upcoming great consecration of the Temple, scheduled for Memorial Day 2025. Much prayer and preparation need to precede this perhaps once in a lifetime event.

This year’s patronal feast day coincided with the 30th anniversary of Fr. Michael’s ordination to the priesthood. Metropolitan Nicholas presented him with a Synodal gramota recognizing his years of faithful service. Fr. Michael was also presented with the gift of a pilgrimage to Mount Athos by the parish.

Following the festal procession around the church, the sisterhood served a bounteous banquet for all those attending the feast.

Once again in his words delivered at the banquet, Metropolitan Nicholas emphasized the significance of the upcoming great consecration and urged all to participate in the preparations both spiritually and physically.