On Saturday the 30th and Sunday the 31st of May, the Orthodox Church celebrated the great feast of Pentecost. Throughout the Eastern American Diocese, its hierarchs officiated the divine services commemorating the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles: All-Night Vigil, Divine Liturgy, and Great Vespers with the Kneeling Prayers.

The Diocese’s ruling bishop, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, led the patronal feast day of Holy Trinity Church in Mebane, NC, while diocesan vicar Bishop Luke of Syracuse led the patronal feast of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY.

Diocesan vicar Bishop Michael of Boston officiated the festal services at St. Xenia Church in Methuen, MA, co-served by parish clerics Priest Alexei Klar and Deacon Dimitry Doohovskoy. Almost 200 people attended Liturgy and communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen) celebrated Liturgy in St. Herman of Alaska Church in Stafford, VA. The church itself is currently being renovated, so services are being held in the church hall ("worshipping in the wilderness," the hierarch notes with a smile). Concelebrating were parish clerics: Archpriest Alexander Webster, Priests Alexander Laymon and Mark Grant, and Hierodeacon Mark (Sanford). A video of Metropolitan Jonah’s sermon is available here.

Bishop Jerome (Shaw) led the services in the Nativity of the Mother of God Church at the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY, co-served by parish clerics: rector Archpriest George Temidis and Deacons Konstantin Aleshin and Theodotus Conrad.

Meanwhile, diocesan vicar Bishop Theodosius of Manhattan continued his visitation to the Western American Diocese, and officiated divine services for the feast in Protection of the Holy Virgin Church in Hollywood, CA.