November 20, 2014
McKeesport, PA: Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan celebrates Divine Liturgy in Holy Dormition Church

On Sunday, November 2, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the presence of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God in Holy Dormition Church in McKeesport, PA. His Grace was co-served at Liturgy by parish rector Priest Dimitri Ermakov and Protodeacon Stephen Howanetz (cleric of St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Mayfield, PA). The parish choir, under the direction of Martha Martin, sang the responses beautifully, and the altar boys handled all of the extra duties of serving with the bishop quite well.

Following the Liturgy, a moleben was served to the Most Holy Theotokos before the Kursk Root Icon, of which Bishop Nicholas serves as guardian. Upon conclusion of the divine services, all the faithful gathered in the church auditorium for a banquet. The banquet was the parish’s annual "Homecoming" dinner, a tradition that was begun 80 years ago.

As the day’s festivities came to a close, all of the faithful felt truly blessed by the Mother of God because of her presence in the Holy Kursk Root Icon.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese