On the weekend of September 20-21 – the great feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos – the parish of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Albany, NY, celebrated the 75th anniversary of its founding. On Friday evening, the parish gathered in the church to hold a memorial service for all those who have departed this life since the founding of the parish. A great many people attended the service, brought their commemoration books, and remembered all of their reposed loved ones.

On Saturday evening, the parish greeted Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, as well as Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada. The festal All-Night Vigil began with great fervor. Parish rector Archpriest Alexis Duncan served the Vigil, assisted by parish clergy: Protodeacons Michael Soloviev and Nikifor Franklin. At the litia and polyeleos, Metropolitan Nicholas led the parish in singing the praises of God. A long line of the faithful venerated the Kursk Root Icon – which had accompanied the First Hierarch – and the Gospel, then receiving blessed holy oil from the Metropolitan.

Sunday morning saw the arrival of many pilgrims and clergymen from throughout the Northeast. Bishop Luke of Syracuse, abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, arrived to concelebrate at Divine Liturgy.

Serving alongside the hierarchs were: Archpriest Michael Fritz (parish cleric), Archimandrite Theophylact (Clapper-DeWell; deputy abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery), Fr. Alexis Duncan, Archpriest Sergei Sveshnikov (parish cleric), Hieromonk Anatoly (Zilin; cleric of Holy Trinity Monastery), Priest Georges Machtalere (cleric of the Western European Diocese), Protodeacons Paul Wolkow (cleric of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY), Dimitri Timidis (cleric of St. Elizabeth the New-Martyr Church in Columbia, SC), Alexander Jaroschuk (cleric of Holy Epiphany Church in Boston, MA), and Michael Soloviev and Nikifor Franklin, and Deacon Christoper Kimball (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Memorial Church in Richmond, ME).

The parish choir, under the direction of John Schuler, sang beautifully and added to the magnificence of the service. A very large number of parishioners and visitors received Christ’s Holy Mysteries with thanksgiving. At the conclusion of Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas led a cross procession around the church. At the third petition, he blessed a large memorial cross, which was erected by a pious parishioner in commemoration of the parish’s anniversary.

After an inspiring sermon by the Metropolitan, Fr. Alexis greeted the bishops and clergy with the feast, as well as the anniversary of the parish. He asked the Metropolitan to present gifts prepared for the parish clergy. The parish presented Fr. Michael Fritz with a beautiful red miter and Protodeacons Michael and Nikifor with beautiful red diaconal stoles. After the post-Communion prayers, all of the faithful venerated the Cross, and proceeded to a banquet.

A festal banquet was held at the Franklin Terrace in Troy, NY. A bountiful dinner was prepared for all the guests during the festivities. There were songs, presentations, and speeches. Icons of the Nativity of the Mother of God were presented to three founding parishioners of the parish: Valentine Frantsov, Michael Frantsov, and Aleksei Nikiferov. An icon was also presented to the longtime warden John Gonyea and his wife Anastasia. All the faithful lingered in the hall, finding the opportunity to enjoy further social interaction with one another.