On Wednesday, January 14, when the Holy Church celebrates the feast of the Circumcision of the Lord and the memorial of the Holy Hierarch Basil the Great, Archbishop of Cæsaræa in Cappadocia, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada paid an archpastoral visit to the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" in Staten Island, NY, where he celebrated Divine Liturgy.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were parish rector Archpriest Vasily Zelenyuk and Deacon Alexis Golubov (cleric of St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City).

Despite its being a weekday, parishioners and believers from other churches in Brooklyn, New York, and New Jersey gathered to pray at the service and share the joy of spiritual communion with the clergy and the faithful. Many communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

After Liturgy, Archbishop Gabriel greeted the clergy and the faithful with the feast; he congratulated Fr. Vasily on his namesday, wishing him God’s help, health, and strength in the new year.

Archbishop Gabriel called on the faithful to follow after Christ and to ask themselves: "What gift should we bring to the Lord, Who descended to earth for our sake to raise us to Heaven? We must be better Christians, strive to live according to Christ’s commandments, show piety and faith and, in these difficult times, put our trust in God."

Fr. Vasily thanked His Eminence for his visit, prayers, and support, especially at the start of the year.

The sisterhood, together with head sister Tatiana Borshchevskaya, prepared a delicious meal for everyone, during which those present sang carols.