March 26, 2012
Lakewood, NJ: The Feast of the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste in St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

On Wednesday, March 22, the feast of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Lakewood, NJ, local clergy celebrated the namesday of New Jersey dean and cathedral rector Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov, the Eastern American Diocese’s senior-most cleric. On the eve of the feast, the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora, the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, arrived at the cathedral, accompanied by its guardian, Protodeacon Nicholas Olhovsky. The wonderworking Icon will remain in Lakewood until March 24, when it will visit neighboring St. George’s Church on March 24-25.

Father Valery celebrated the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, co-served by diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov, Archpriest Zoran Radovic (rector of St. George’s Serbian Church in Elizabeth, NJ), parish cleric Priest Seraphim Chemodakov, Priest Serge Ledkovsky (deputy rector of St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ), Protodeacon Nicholas Olhovsky, and Deacon Paul Drozdowski (cleric of St. Vladimir Memorial Church. Also praying in church were Priest Vadim Arefiev (rector of the Church of our Lady "The Inexhaustible Chalice" in Brooklyn, NY) and Archdeacon Eugene Burbelo.

Upon completion of the Liturgy, a moleben was served to the Most Holy Theotokos and the Holy Martyrs of Sebaste. On behalf of the First Hierarch of ROCOR and the Diocesan Council, Fr. Serge congratulated Fr. Valery on the occasion of his namesday, wishing him God’s aid in his further service to the Holy Church. On behalf of the parish, Fr. Seraphim congratulated the rector and presented him with a joint gift from the parishioners. The faithful and clergy continued their interaction at a brotherly luncheon prepared by the parish sisterhood.

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