On Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th of August, the feast day of the glorification of Venerable Herman of Alaska, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York paid an archpastoral visit to the eponymous church in Stafford, VA, where he officiated the divine services in honor of the parish’s patronal feast day.

On Saturday evening, His Eminence officiated Vespers, co-served by: Hieromonk Silouan (Brown; rector St. John the Wonderworker Mission Center in Uganda), Priest John Cook (rector of St. Tikhon Church in Ruther Glen, VA), and Hierodeacon Mark (Sanford; parish cleric). Praying in the altar was Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen; parish rector).

In the morning, prior to Divine Liturgy, the Lesser Blessing of Waters was performed.

His Eminence was greeted on Sunday morning with the customary bread and salt by church warden James Jatras and with flowers from head sister JoLu Terrell.

Following the Hours, Metropolitan Nicholas blessed the newly expanded church. As they complete preparations to be tonsured readers, Justin Goering, Aidan Hanley, Macarius Tatum, and Anthony Talbert were given a blessing to wear the cassock.

Concelebrating at Liturgy with His Eminence were Metropolitan Jonah, Archpriest Alexander Webster (retired parish cleric), Priests Mark Grant (parish cleric) and Alexander Laymon (assistant rector), and Frs. Silouan (Brown) and Mark (Sanford). 

The choir, directed by Reader Michael Yuschak, sang beautifully at both services.

Liturgy was held under the aegis of the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora – the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God.

Parishioners of St. Herman Church and other churches in the state prayed at Liturgy. Almost everyone communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon conclusion of the service, Metropolitan Nicholas greeted the faithful and addressed them with a sermon. His Eminence emphasized the special importance of venerating the Most Holy Theotokos. He also congratulated the members of the parish with the successful expansion of the historic Clifton Chapel and encouraged parishioners that now that the parish has grown physically, it is time to grow even more spiritually.

The festal day concluded with a meal hosted for the clergy and laity by the parish sisterhood, with the brotherhood manning the grills.