December 9, 2015
Howell, NJ: Bishop Peter of Cleveland leads Diocesan Cathedral’s Lesser Patronal Feast

On Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th of December, the 27th Sunday after Pentecost and the feast day of the repose of the Holy Right-Believing Great Prince Alexander Nevsky, His Grace Peter, Bishop of Cleveland, Administrator of the Diocese of Chicago & Mid-America, paid an archpastoral visit to St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral in Howell, NJ. At the invitation of His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, Bishop Peter led the divine services for the cathedral’s patronal feast day.

At the All-Night Vigil on Saturday evening, His Grace was co-served by cathedral clergy: pastor emeritus Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov, dean Archpriest Serge Lukianov, Archpriest Boris Slootsky, Priest Seraphim Chemodakov, and Protodeacons Nicholas Lukianov, Leonid Roschko, and Paul Drozdowski. At Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning, Archpriest Athanasios Kyritsis (cleric of the Orthodox Church of Greece) joined the above-named clergy.

Upon completion of the Liturgy, Bishop Peter addressed the faithful with a sermon. Fr. Serge then greeted His Grace, thanking him on behalf of the clergy and faithful for his archpastoral visit – Bishop Peter’s first visit to St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral in the hierarchal rank. Fr. Serge asked him to relay best wishes to Archbishop Alypy of Chicago and to all of the brethren of our neighboring Diocese, and presented His Grace with an icon of St. Alexander Nevsky in memory of his visit.

After the service, a bountiful lenten luncheon was provided for the distinguished guest, the clergy, parishioners, and guests.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese