March 24, 2015
Hartford, CT: Bishop Nicholas leads Divine Services in St. Panteleimon Church

On Friday the 20th and Saturday the 21st of March, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, paid an archpastoral visit to St. Panteleimon Church in Hartford, CT, and led the divine services there.

On Friday evening, His Grace led the Sacrament of Holy Unction, co-served by parish rector Archpriest Dionisy Nalitov, Archpriest Brendan Crowley (rector of St. Nicholas Church in Enfield, CT), Archpriest Constantine Semyanko (cleric of Holy Presentation Church in Stratford, CT), Deacon George Temidis (member of the Diocesan Council), and Deacon Alexander Doohovskoy (cleric of St. Xenia Church in Methuen, MA).

The following morning, the third and final Soul Saturday of Great Lent, the Liturgy for the Departed was served. Concelebrating with Bishop Nicholas were the above-mentioned clerics. Special commemoration was offered in memory of Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko), the 55th anniversary of whose repose takes place this year, as well as Bishop Daniel (Alexandrow), who helped design the church and at one time served here.

At the Little Entrance, with the blessing of Metropolitan Hilarion, Bishop Nicholas awarded Fr. Dionisy the right to wear the palitsa.

In his sermon, His Grace spoke about how the departed are specially commemorated on the Saturdays of Great Lent. He also spoke about the life of Archbishop Vitaly, noting the important role played by the departed hierarch in the history of the Church Abroad and the Eastern American Diocese. His Eminence’s work especially shone forth in Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville and in St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ.

Making note of the large kiot containing a copy of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, Bishop Nicholas reminded the faithful that on that same day, March 21, 1898, the Mother of God glorified her icon, saving it and countless worshippers from the explosion of a bomb placed in the church by terrorists.

Upon completion of the service, the bishop thanked Fr. Dionisy, the clergy, altar servers, choristers, and all of the parishioners for their labors and prayers, and wished them all a salvific remainder of Great Lent and a joyous Pascha.

His Grace then departed for the American capital – Washington, DC, where he led Holy Unction once more, followed by the Sunday divine services.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese