April 17, 2014
Bishop Jerome celebrates Palm Sunday Liturgy in Brooklyn’s St. John the Baptist Church, and leads Unction in Nyack’s Holy Virgin Protection Church

On Saturday, April 12, the eve of the great feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday), parish rector Archpriest Alexander Belya led the All-Night Vigil and the blessing of the palms in St. John the Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY. He was co-served by Archpriest Ioann Lageza (UOC-MP cleric) and parish Deacon Petr Utkin.

The following morning, on the very day of the feast, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Grace, Bishop Jerome, co-served by the above-named clergy. Many faithful of various nationalities filled the church.

At the Little Entrance, with the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, Bishop Jerome awarded Fr. Petr Utkin the right to wear the double orarion. The marvelous, festal singing of the choir helped set an especially prayerful and pious mood among those praying in the church. The multitude of communicants bore shining witness to the fact that Orthodox people, though living abroad and far from their homes and families, preserve the Orthodox Faith in their hearts and prepare to worthily greet the joyous and radiant feast of Pascha.

Before the dismissal of Liturgy, His Grace delivered a festal sermon, after which Fr. Alexander thanked him, his fellow clergy, the choir, and all of the worshippers for their joint festal prayer, wishing them all spiritual joy in the Paschal days to come.

Bishop Jerome then departed for Nyack, NY, where he led the Sacrament of Holy Unction in Holy Virgin Protection Church. His Grace was co-served by parish rector Archpriest George Larin, Archpriest George Kallaur (rector of Our Lady "Unexpected Joy" Church in Staten Island, NY), Archpriest Ilya Gorsky (parish cleric), Archpriest George Zelenin (rector of St. Michael’s Cathedral in Paterson, NJ), parish Protodeacon Dimitri Temidis, and Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky (cleric of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY). The Sacrament was attended not only by the local faithful, but by parishioners from Paterson, Mahopac, and Poughkeepsie, as well.

Upon completion of Holy Unction, a sumptuous festal meal was offered by the sisterhood in the parish hall.

 

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese