May 27, 2014
New York City: Bishop Jerome takes part in Patronal Feast Day of St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral

On Thursday, May 22, the feast of the Translation of the Relics of the Holy Hierarch Nicholas, Wonderworker of Myra in Lycia, the clergy and parishioners of St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City prayerfully celebrated their minor patronal feast day. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk His Eminence was co-served by His Grace, Bishop Jerome, as well as a multitude of clergy from the parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate, the Russian Church Abroad (including Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Hieromonk Tikhon (Gayfudinov), and Deacons Nathan Mousselli and Dionysius Lvov), the Bulgarian Church in America, and visiting clergy from Russia and Transdniestria.

Upon completion of the Liturgy, a short moleben and prayer were performed before the cathedral icon of the Hierarch of Myra. Archbishop Justinian greeted Bishop Jerome, the clergy, and cathedral parishioners and guests with the patronal feast. As reported by the official site of the Patriarchal Parishes, "The Archpastor reminded [the faithful] that veneration of St. Nicholas is widely practiced even among the heterodox, and churches in his honor were erected in Rus’ from the very first years after the Holy Equal-of-the-Apostles [Prince] Vladimir converted his people. ‘It is enough to recall,’ noted His Eminence, ‘That, in his humble cell, St. Sergius of Radonezh had but two icons – the Mother of God with the Pre-Eternal God-Child, and St. Nicholas’".

Archbishop Justinian then blessed a newly-constructed encasement for the wonderworking icon of St. Sergius, which is visiting the cathedral from Russia in honor of the 700th anniversary of the venerable saint’s birth.

Afterwards, the Consul General of the Russian Federation held a festal banquet in honor of the feast and of the opening of the North American Festivities commemorating the 700th Anniversary of St. Sergius of Radonezh.

Photos: www.mospatusa.com

 

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese