On Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd of February, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York performed an archpastoral visit to St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ, where he officiated the services. All of the worshippers were inspired by the presence of the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora ‒ the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God ‒ at the divine services.

On Saturday, His Eminence officiated the All-Night Vigil, and on Sunday celebrated Divine Liturgy. Serving alongside the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad were: cathedral rector Archpriest Serge Lukianov, Archpriests Vasily Andrejuk and Boris Slootsky (cathedral clerics), Daniel Andrejuk (dean of Holy Great Martyr Catherine Church in Moscow ‒ Metochion of the Orthodox Church in America), and Leonid Goferman (rector of Holy Virgin Protection Church in New Brunswick, NJ), and cathedral clerics Priest Anthony Williams, Protodeacon Paul Drozdowski, and Deacons Alexandre Sarandinaki and Dimitry Lisan.

The joy of the hierarchal visit was shared with the clergy and parishioners of the cathedral by numerous believers from other states. During both services, the cathedral was filled to capacity. During Vigil and Liturgy, the flow of the faithful to the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon did not dwindle.

During Vigil, the parish choir sang under the direction of Alexandra Lukianov, and during Liturgy, the choir was led by conductor Andrei Roudenko.

At the Little Entrance during Liturgy, for his labors on behalf of the Holy Church, Metropolitan Nicholas awarded Fr. Dimitry Lisan the right to wear the double orarion.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas addressed the faithful with a sermon on the Dread Judgement and the coming Great Lent. His Eminence noted that he always enjoys visiting this church, which is close and familiar to him, praying with the clergy and the faithful. Metropolitan Nicholas congratulated Fr. Dimitry on his award.

His Eminence also congratulated Fr. Vasily and Matushka Olga Andrejuk, who are celebrating 50 years of Fr. Vasily’s ordination to holy orders and the golden jubilee of their marriage. In recognition of his diligent work and in connection with the celebration of milestone anniversaries: Fr. Vasily’s 75th birthday and the 50th anniversaries of his priestly ordination and wedding, Archpriest Vasily Andrejuk was awarded the Synodal Order of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, 3rd Class, and his faithful companion Matushka Olga – for her participation in the feat of serving the Holy Church – the Synodal Ladies’ Order of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, 3rd Class. In 1974, Fr. Vasily graduated from the Warsaw Theological Seminary, and a year later he was ordained a deacon & priest.

Fr. Serge expressed gratitude and joy that Fr. Vasily serves in the cathedral and presented him with a cross to be worn, in Fr. Serge’s words, "in peace and health." On behalf of Fr. Vasily’s family, the cathedral rector presented Fr. Vasily a miter. On behalf of the cathedral, Fr. Serge presented Matushka Olga with a silver cross – for the labors that she has humbly and lovingly carried out for half a century, raising her family, helping her husband and parishioners.

All then proceeded to the cathedral hall, where many more kind words were addressed to the anniversary celebrants, the traditional pre-Lenten "Bliny" luncheon took place, and a concert was given by the cathedral choir (the soloists were Frs. Anthony Williams and Alexandre Sarandinaki) and students of the Russian School, directed by Andrei Roudenko.