November 8, 2011
Brooklyn, NY: Bishop Jerome celebrated the Divine Liturgy in Holy New Martyrs of Russia Church

On Sunday, November 6, on the feast of the Icon of Our Lady, "Joy of All who Sorrow," His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Jerome of Manhattan, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia in Brooklyn, NY. A reliquary with the relics of 20 saints was brought from the New Kursk Root Hermitage for veneration by the faithful, including relics of the Holy Apostle Luke, the Great Martyr St. George, St. Nestor the Chronicler, and more. During the Liturgy, the faithful had an opportunity to pray before the holy relics.

His Grace was co-served at the Divine Liturgy by parish rector Archpriest Victor Tseshkovsky, Hieromonk Eutychius (Dovganyuk), Protodeacon Dimitri Temidis (cleric of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY), Deacon Nathan Mousselli (cleric of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign), and parish Deacon Petr Utkin. Upon completion of the Liturgy, Bishop Jerome delivered a sermon in which he said:

"For man is not justified by the works of the law". Today, on the feast of the Icon of the Theotokos, "The Joy of All Sorrowers", the holy Church presents us the images of the foolish rich man, the poor and downtrodden Lazarus, and St. Paul's warning (from the Epistle to the Galatians, 2:16) against thinking that salvation is to be achieved by an outward observance of the law.

It would seem that the rich man (sometimes called "Dives" in English, which is not his name but merely the Latin word for "rich man"), knew the Law of Moses, since Abraham is shown rebuking him and his brethren for their failure to improve spiritually. Therefore the rich man suffers now in hell.

The pauper Lazarus, on the other hand, has borne deprivation, contempt and neglect by others, with only the dogs to console him. But since he withstood all this in faith and hope on the Lord God, after his death he is "in the bosom of Abraham", in heaven.

Some, especially sectarians, draw the false conclusion that "good works (such as feeding the hungry) are not needed for salvation". But St. Paul speaks not of "good" works, but of the ritual works of the Old Testament, or of an outward piety that does not correspond to a true love of God and neighbor.

Those who in this life bear sorrow and suffering in faith and trust in the promises of Jesus Christ, through the intercessions of the Theotokos, will obtain joy and consolation in life eternal".

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese