September 26, 2014
Mahopac, NY: Patronal Feast Day celebrated at Nativity of the Mother of God Church

On Sunday, September 21, the great feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, Bishop Jerome celebrated the festal Divine Liturgy and patronal feast day of Nativity of the Mother of God Church at the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY. His Grace was co-served by New York clergy: Archpriest George Kallaur (rector of the Church of our Lady "Unexpected Joy" on Staten Island), Archpriest Alexander Donchenko (rector of St. Nicholas Church in Poughkeepsie), Archpriest Alexandre Antchoutine (rector of Holy Virgin Intercession Church in Glen Cove), Priest Ilya Gun, and parish Deacon George Temidis. Praying at the divine services were faithful from New York City, Poughkeepsie, NY, Stratford, CT, and other locales.

With the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, during the Sixth Hour, Vassili Shevelchinsky was tonsured a reader, while altar server Ivan Temidis was awarded the right to wear the orarion.

Bishop Jerome delivered a sermon on the Gospel reading: "And Martha received Him in her house." Upon completion of the Liturgy, a moleben was served, followed by a procession around the church. The parish sisterhood organized a festal luncheon for the clergy and faithful.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese