On Thursday, October 31, and Friday, November 1, the clergy and parishioners of St. John of Kronstadt Memorial Church in Utica, NY celebrated their parish’s patronal feast. Parish rector Archpriest Michael Taratuchin officiated the divine services, co-served by Priest George Goodge (rector of St. George Antiochian Church in New Hartford, NY), Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur (cleric of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY), and parish Deacon Michael Sementsov.

On Saturday morning, all gathered to greet Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad. His Eminence celebrated Divine Liturgy in honor of the 60th anniversary celebrations of the parish and St. John Memorial Fund. Concelebrating with him were:

• His Grace Luke, Bishop of Syracuse
• His Grace, Bishop Jerome (Shaw)
• Archpriest Michael Taratuchin (parish rector)
• Hieromonk Anatoly (Zilin; cleric of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY)
• Priest Dmitri Don (cleric of Holy Trinity Monastery)
• Priest Nicholas Lochmatow (dean of St. George OCA Cathedral in Chicago, IL)
• Priest Ephraim Willmarth (parish cleric)
• Protodeacon Alexander Jarostchuk (cleric of Holy Epiphany Church in Boston, MA)
• Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur (cleric of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY)
• Protodeacon Nikifor Franklin (Nativity of the Mother of God Church in Albany, NY)
• Protodeacon Pavuk (cleric of Holy Trinity Monastery)
• Deacon Michael Sementsov, and
• Deacon Lazarus Sparandera (parish clerics).

At the Little Entrance, for his years of diligent service in the parish and as assistant dean and registrar at Holy Trinity Seminary, Fr. Ephraim was awarded the right to wear the gold pectoral cross.

The choir sang beautifully under the direction of Matushka Natalia Don.

To the joy and spiritual uplifting of the faithful, Liturgy was held under the aegis of the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora – the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God.

Upon completion of Liturgy, a short moleben was served, and His Eminence presented diocesan gramotas to six parishioners: warden Dr. Alexander Naumenko, Svetlana Derevenets, Tamara DeBernardis, Matushka Natalia Don, Angelika Shikula, and Joseph Nimey for their many years of service to the parish.

After the service, a banquet was held at a local restaurant, where interaction between the faithful, clergy, and hierarchs continued, and reminiscences and warm words of congratulation were shared. Deacon Demetrius and Matushka Nancy Richards joined the banquet representing Sts. Peter & Paul OCA Church in East Herkimer, NY, as well as some parishioners from the St. George Antiochian Church in New Hartford.

In honor of the 60th anniversary of the parish and of the glorification by ROCOR of the Righteous John of Kronstadt, the parish has scanned and printed the original icon of the saint and published a full jubilee bilingual service book and akathist (the first Slavonic print since 1964). The book will be available for sale for $25, with purchase options to be announced.