April 27, 2016
Nyack, NY: On Palm Sunday, Bishop Nicholas celebrates Liturgy and leads Unction Service in Holy Protection Church

On Palm Sunday, April 24, the great feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, celebrated the festal Divine Liturgy in Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY. The rector emeritus, Archpriest George Larin, greeted the hierarchal guest with welcoming words, thanking Bishop Nicholas for his archpastoral concerns for the parish.

At the Divine Liturgy, His Grace was co-served by parish clergy: Archpriest George Larin, rector Archpriest Ilya Gorsky, Priest Ignatius Green, Protodeacon Dimitri Temidis, and Deacon Andrei Podymow. During the Sixth Hour, Bishop Nicholas awarded parish altar server Alexander Serdsev the orarion. The choir sang beautifully and prayerfully, led by the parish choir director, Elena Miloradovich. Over sixty of the faithful were communed from two chalices.

In his sermon, Bishop Nicholas stressed the need for all Orthodox Christians to personally greet Christ, Who is entering into Jerusalem to be crucified for our sins. His Grace congratulated the parish rector, Fr. Ilya, on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood; this year, as in 1994, Palm Sunday fell on April 24. Fr. Ilya was ordained to the priesthood by Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov) in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

Following liturgy, parishioners joined Bishop Nicholas in the parish hall for a festal luncheon prepared by the sisterhood.

At 4:30 PM, Bishop Nicholas led the Sacrament of Holy Unction, co-served by parish clergy and Archpriests George Zelenin (rector of St. Michael’s Cathedral in Paterson, NJ) and George Lardas (rector of St. Nicholas Church in Stratford, CT), Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky (director of studies at Nyack’s parish school), and Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin; cleric of Holy Dormition Convent Novo-Diveevo in Nanuet, NY), who brought with them large contingents of their parishioners.

Following the Unction service, the sisterhood invited all to an abundant supper in the parish hall. People stayed late into the evening, conversing with Bishop Nicholas and one another.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese