On Friday, May 22, His Grace, Bishop Jerome (Shaw), paid an archpastoral visit to St. Nicholas Church in Poughkeepsie, NY, and celebrated Divine Liturgy there in honor of the parish’s patronal feast day.

Concelebrating with His Grace were: Archpriests Elias Gorsky (rector of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY), Alexander Donchenko (parish rector), and George Temidis (secretary of the diocesan administration), Protodeacon Alexey Pnev (cleric of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY), and Deacon Konstantin Aleshin (cleric of Nativity of the Mother of God Church at the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY).

An extended choir with local and visiting choristers sang beautifully at Liturgy. The Epistle and Gospel were read in Slavonic and English, with the readings for the second day of the Ascension in Slavonic, and those for St. Nicholas in English. The service was well attended, with numerous communicants. 

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, a short moleben was served with the prayer to St. Nicholas.

Bishop Jerome delivered a sermon on the epistle for the saint, "Remember them which have the rule over you" (in Slavonic – your teachers or preceptors), as St. Nicholas was an example in his assiduous attendance at church from his youth.

After the dismissal, "Many Years" was sung for the Patriarch, Metropolitan, for our spiritual fathers and for the parishioners, especially those celebrating their namesday. It was announced that that day was the anniversary of the repose of the Most Blessed Metropolitan Anastassy (Gribanovsky; +1965), and "Memory Eternal" was intoned for him.

The sisterhood presented a delicious and varied luncheon, and at the clergy table, Fr. Alexander related some interesting memories of church life in Russia.