On Monday, October 14, the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, celebrated Divine Liturgy in eponymous church in Nyack, NY on the occasion of its patronal feast.
Concelebrating with His Eminence were:
- Archpriest Chad Williams (rector of St. Alexander Nevsky Memorial Church in Richmond, ME)
- Archpriest Elias Gorsky (parish rector)
- Archpriest Serafim Gan (chancellor of the ROCOR Synod of Bishops)
- Archpriest Mark Burachek (dean of the Hudson Valley)
- Archpriest George Temidis (secretary of the diocesan administration)
- Priest Andrew Podymow (parish cleric)
- Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky (cleric of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City)
- Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur (cleric of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY)
- Deacon Nicholas Ilyin (parish cleric), and
- Deacon Konstantin Aleshin (cleric of Nativity of the Mother of God Church at the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY).
Praying in the church were Archimandrite Siluan (Lembei; cleric of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY) and Archpriest Vasily Zelenyuk (rector of Our Lady "Unexpected Joy Church" in Staten Island, NY).
During the service, a special commemoration was made of the late rectors of the parish: Archpriest Seraphim Slobodskoy (+1971) and Archpriest George Larin, who reposed in July of this year.
During his sermon, Metropolitan Nicholas noted that just as then the Most-Blessed Lady and Mother of God, appearing to the Blessed Fool-for-Christ Andrew, spread her sovereign protection over those praying in the Blachernæ Church in Constantinople for salvation from invaders, so now the Theotokos invisibly covers those who pray in church and uses all the Church’s means for our sanctification and renewal.
His Eminence also touched upon the memory of Fr. George Larin, who gave all the years of his service to the Church at Holy Virgin Protection Parish in Nyack, inheriting the rectorship from Fr. Seraphim of blessed memory: "Today's patronal feast day of Holy Virgin Protection Parish is the first without Fr. George, but we believe that he is prayerfully with us, continuing to care for this piece of Russian America and the people who have found spiritual refuge here", the First Hierarch noted.
In response, Fr. Elias Gorsky expressed his deep gratitude to Metropolitan Nicholas for his special care of Holy Protection Parish.
The interaction between the archpastor, clergy, and parishioners continued over a magnificent prepared luncheon hosted by the sisterhood in the parish hall.
With materials from www.synod.com.
Nyack, NY: Metropolitan Nicholas officiates Patronal Feast of Holy Protection Church - 10/14/24
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