November 11, 2015
Newark, NJ: Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan leads Patronal Feast of Our Lady of Kazan Church

On Tuesday the 3rd and Wednesday the 4th of November, the feast day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, led the All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy for the patronal feast day of Our Lady of Kazan Church in Newark, NJ. His Grace was co-served by Eastern American Diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov, parish rector Archpriest Mark Burachek, Archpriest Alexis Duncan (rector of the Nativity of the Mother of God Church in Albany, NY), Archpriest George Zelenin (rector of St. Michael’s Church in Paterson, NJ), Priest Dmitri Don (rector of Sts. Cosmas & Damian Church in Passaic, NJ), Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky (cleric of Holy Dormition Convent Novo-Diveevo in Nanuet, NY), Protodeacon Leonid Roschko (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral in Howell, NJ), and Deacon Alexey Pnev (cleric of the Nativity of the Mother of God Church at the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY). Singing the divine services was the parish choir, under the direction of Matushka Maria Burachek.

For the day of the feast, placed in the center of the church was an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos that had been painted on the Holy Mountain 100 years ago, and blessed in the Russian Skete of the Prophet Elijah. The icon was brought to the U.S., and has been in Our Lady of Kazan Church for the past eight years. Yet another parish icon of the Most Holy Theotokos was painted for the church by iconographer Hieromonk Andrei (Erastov).

Faithful from New Jersey and New York gathered for the patronal feast, many of whom communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries. Upon completion of the Liturgy, Archpriest Alexander Fedorowski arrived from Novo-Diveevo and joined the serving clergy, who together with Bishop Nicholas served a short moleben to the Most Holy Theotokos before her Kazan Icon.

His Grace, Bishop Nicholas, congratulated the rector and parishioners on the occasion of the parish’s patronal feast, and addressed the faithful with a sermon, in which he noted that this day is like a second Pascha for those gathered, wherein they rejoiced at the presence of the Mother of God amongst them.

"Orthodox Christians, and especially the Russian people, have always revered and loved the Mother of God, and the Russian land has been called Abode of the Most Holy Theotokos. We have an Intercessor before God for us, sinners. As the Mother of God said, in her dormition she did not abandon the world, and will always pray for the whole world before her Son.

"In these days, when we glorify the Mother of God, I am reminded of the words of Metropolitan Benjamin of Vladivostok & Primorye, with whom I was acquainted and served two years ago: ‘Today we are always in a rush, seeking miracles from God and yearning for immediate answers. But we need to stop and look around ourselves at the world, at nature, which are God’s creation. And as many stars as we see in the heavens, so many are the various icons of the Most Holy Theotokos. Among them are the Kazan, Kursk Root, Reigning, Don, and Vladimir Icons… And the Mother of God covers us with her veil and cares for every one of us.’ And today one of these stars has descended to us and reminds us that she is with us…"

Bishop Nicholas spoke about the recent pilgrimage of the Kursk Root Icon to the Kursk, Ekaterinburg, and Ufa Metropolias of the Russian Orthodox Church, making special note of one encounter he had in the Ufa suburb of Salavat: "When we were leaving with the Icon, one parishioner approached me and expressed his gratitude that we were able to bring the Icon. ‘The Icon was with us for only three days, and we were not able to pray enough before it,’ said the young man. These words touched me, and I have remembered them ever since. We, living in America, were and are able to freely glorify God, to pray, and to perform the Sacraments. We are grateful to God that we have our Protectress, that we have Our Lady of Kazan Church, that we have the relics of the Holy Hierarch John. And yet we think that, if we just go to church, then we are doing everything right and, as a result, are content with ourselves. But do we ever ask ourselves, ‘Did I pray enough?’ We must repeat these words every day: ‘O Most Holy Theotokos, save us! I have not yet been able to pray enough. Give me this opportunity.’ What faithful thoughts! What marvelous words! Let us repeat these words, and they will be heard. And the Mother of God, our Mother, will pray to her Son for us, sinners."

After the service, the parish sisterhood prepared a festal lenten meal for all, during which rector Fr. Mark Burachek spoke about the church’s history, noting that, in two years, the church building will be 150 years old. Parishioners have prepared two raffles, the proceeds from which will go toward renovating and restoring the building. Interaction between clergy and parishioners continued in a warm and domestic atmosphere.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese