March 27, 2014
Stratford, CT: Bishop Jerome leads Divine Services & Unction at Presentation Church

On Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd of March ‒ the Sunday of the Cross ‒ His Grace, Bishop Jerome, visited Presentation of the Lord Church in Stratford, CT and led the lenten divine services. His Grace served the All-Night Vigil, co-served by rector Archpriest Andrei Semyanko, parish cleric Archpriest Constantine Semyanko, and Deacon George Temidis (cleric of Nativity of the Mother of God Church at the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY). At Divine Liturgy the following morning, parish clerics were joined by Archpriest Theodore Shevzov (cleric of neighboring St. Nicholas Church in Stratford).

At Liturgy, His Grace delivered two sermons: in Russian, on the verse from the Epistle reading, "Let us hold to confession [of the Faith]," on the truth of the Orthodox Faith and the importance of remaining faithful to the True Church; and in English, on the saying "Lent is the time when we set aside meats, and instead devour one another" – how asceticism is of no use without Christian charity.

After a lenten luncheon, the faithful returned to the church, joined by worshippers from neighboring parishes, for the Sacrament of Holy Unction. Bishop Jerome led the service, co-served by the parish clergy, Fr. Theodore, and Archpriest George Lardas (rector of St. Nicholas Church). 

 

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese