On Saturday, February 7, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York arrived at Resurrection Cathedral, currently under construction in Deerfield Beach, FL, where he served a Moleben before the Beginning of Any Good Work. Upon completion of the service, the archpastor sprinkled the church, parish buildings, and surrounding area with holy water, invoking God’s blessing for the cathedral’s continued construction.

That same evening, His Eminence officiated the All-Night Vigil in St. Luke the Evangelist Chapel at Paideia Classical Academy, where the parish currently holds its liturgical services.

On February 8, the Sunday of the Prodigal Son and that of the New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia, Metropolitan Nicholas was solemnly greeted at the entrance of the church with bread and salt by senior sister, Marina Dringus. The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad then celebrated Divine Liturgy.

Serving alongside His Eminence were: Archimandrite Maximos (Weimar; abbot of St. Panteleimon Skete in Coconut Creek), Archpriests Yaroslav Lutoschin (assistant rector of Resurrection Cathedral) and Peter Jackson (chaplain of Paideia Classical Academy), Priest Mikhail Mikhailenko (cleric of St. Vladimir Church in Miami, FL), Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur (cleric of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY), and Deacons Stefan Stoyanov (cleric of St. Panteleimon Skete) and Deacon Michael Sementsov (cleric of St. John of Kronstadt Memorial Church in Utica, NY).

The liturgical hymns were magnificently sung by the Resurrection Cathedral Choir under the direction of Kaleria Bondarovsky.

The festal services were celebrated in Church Slavonic and English under the prayerful protection of the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora – the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God.

The church was filled with worshippers, and almost everyone present received Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

At the end of Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas, assisted by the clergy, performed a short moleben before the Kursk Root Icon and the icon of the Synaxis of the New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia. Afterward, the First Hierarch read a prayer to the Holy New Martyrs.

The archpastor delivered a sermon dedicated to the heroic deeds of the New Martyrs and Confessors, emphasizing the significance of their witness for modern church life and the spiritual strengthening of all the faithful of our Holy Church.

Upon conclusion of the service, Metropolitan Nicholas was warmly greeted on behalf of the entire parish family by Fr. Yaroslav Lutoschin, who greeted him with the feast and thanked him for his primatial visit and for accompanying the wonderworking icon, which became a source of spiritual comfort and strengthening for the parish.

As a sign of filial love and gratitude, the entire parish community solemnly presented the His Eminence with a klobuk (cowl) and mantle.

In his response, the First Hierarch heartily thanked Fr. Yaroslav, parish warden Alexis V. Lukianov, and all of the clergy and parishioners for their diligent work, care, and selfless service to the glory of God and the good of the Holy Church.

After the service, Metropolitan Nicholas chaired the parish assembly, during which the parish warden presented a detailed report on the progress of the Resurrection Cathedral’s construction, including information on approvals from city authorities and the unanimous support of City Hall for the construction project, which allows for the immediate receipt of all necessary permits to continue construction.

Financial reports were also presented, the 2026 budget was approved, and new members of the Parish Council were elected.

Metropolitan Nicholas called on the clergy and parishioners to continue to support the cathedral's construction with zeal and unanimity, so that the parish community can find its new temple – a house of prayer and spiritual unity – as soon as possible.

Following the assembly, fellowship continued over a festal meal, lovingly prepared by the Resurrection Cathedral sisterhood, led by Marina Dringus. During the meal, the children of the Sunday school congratulated the Metropolitan and parishioners by reading poems and singing festive hymns.

During the day, the Kursk Root Icon visited St. Vladimir Church in Miami, FL.