May 14, 2016
Staten Island, NY: Bishop Jerome celebrates Liturgy in Church of our Lady "Unexpected Joy"

On Bright Friday, May 6, the feast day of the Holy Great-Martyr & Trophy-Bearer George, His Grace, Bishop Jerome, visited the Church of our Lady "Unexpected Joy" on Staten Island, NY, and celebrated the Divine Liturgy there.

His Grace was co-served by Archpriests Alexander Belya (dean of New York City), George Kallaur (parish rector), and Petro Zgoba (parish cleric), Priest Nikolai Gulin (cleric of St. Stephen Cathedral OCA in Philadelphia, PA), Protodeacons Paul Wolkow and Eugene Kallaur (clerics of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY), and Deacon Alexey Pnev (cleric of Nativity of the Mother of God Church at the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY).

Upon conclusion of the service, Bishop Jerome spoke to the faithful about the martyric struggle of St. George, and his significance for the Orthodox Church, drawing their attention to the opening words of the Great-Martyr’s kontakion: "Cultivated by God…"

On behalf of the clergy and parishioners of St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Brooklyn and the whole New York Deanery, as well as from his family and himself personally, Fr. Alexander congratulated Fr. George on the occasion of his namesday, wishing him God’s aid and the prayerful intercessions of the Holy Great-Martyr George in his difficult pastoral service.

After Liturgy, a bountiful luncheon was served for the clergy and parishioners in the rectory.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese