On Sunday, September 13, parishioners and visiting worshippers celebrated the patronal feast and the 77th anniversary of the founding of the St. John the Baptist Parish in Washington, DC, and were blessed with the opportunity to pray before the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora – the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God.

On Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th of September – the very feast day of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist – all the prescribed liturgical services were celebrated, while the public celebration was moved to Sunday, September 13.

On that day, accompanied by the festal peal of bells, His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, and His Grace Theodosius, Bishop of Manhattan, emerged from the parish house attended by the subdeacons and approached the main cathedral entrance, where twelve parish clerics awaited them. As the hierarchs made their way to the church, young women dressed in white scattered flower petals along their path.

Prior to the hierarchs’ arrival – and to the joy of those gathered – the Kursk Icon had been brought into the church and placed on the central analogion.

Following the entrance prayers and the vesting of the First Hierarch, the reading of the Hours began; during this time, the First Hierarch tonsured two parishioners – Alexis Walls and Georgi Kereselidze – as readers.

The bilingual Divine Liturgy then commenced. The church was filled to capacity with worshippers who had come to pray with the First Hierarch and venerate the great holy icon of ROCOR. Two choirs sang at Liturgy: a Slavonic choir directed by Paula Genis and an English choir directed by Reader Konstantine Ogora. Moving new musical settings were performed.

At the Little Entrance, parish Protodeacon John Dean was awarded the right to wear the kamilavka in recognition of his diligent service to Christ’s Church.

After the Eucharistic Canon, Subdeacon Joseph McLeod – a cleric of Holy Innocents and St. Nina Parish in Bristow, VA – was ordained to the diaconate to serve at that church.

During the Communion of the clergy, Bishop Theodosius delivered a remarkable sermon on the Gospel reading. His Grace’s homily can be heard here.

After Bishop Theodosius’s edifying sermon, the Communion of the faithful began. A spirit of reverence filled the church...

Next, a procession took place, with stops made at each side of the cathedral. Fortunately, the weather was beautifully sunny.

Upon conclusion of the moleben and procession, cathedral rector Archpriest Victor Potapov, offered words of welcome to the two hierarchs. Among other things, the rector thanked the hierarchs for visiting Washington and for celebrating Liturgy; he also noted that, four years ago to the day, Bishop Nicholas had been elected by the Council of Bishops as the new First Hierarch of ROCOR. Addressing Bishop Theodosius, Fr. Victor remarked that this was his first – though, he hoped, not his last – visit to the cathedral in the American capital…

After the service, everyone gathered for a festal meal prepared through the efforts of the Holy Protection Sisterhood, led by Marina Zacharin. The parish hall could not accommodate everyone who wished to attend. This had been anticipated, and guests were given the opportunity to dine in the library on the second floor of the parish house and in the adjacent St. George House.

The festivities concluded by three o’clock in the afternoon, yet people were in no rush to leave.

That evening, the hierarchs visited the rector’s home, where they spent time conversing with him and his Matushka Maria.

The following day, the Metropolitan remained in Washington and held several work meetings. On Tuesday, September 15, the distinguished guests departed for home in New York City.

Glory to God for all things!

Archpriest Victor Potapov
Cathedral rector