The First Hierarch in New Jersey

The First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, spent the entire third week of Great Lent in New Jersey. He headed the pastoral retreat in St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell (Lakewood) (click on photo below).

On Thursday evening after the confession of the clergy, Vladyka Metropolitan visited the small Church of the Assumption in Trenton and met with the rector, the well-known woodworker and church artist, Protopriest Stefan Sabelnik (Photo below: Metropolitan Laurus and Protopriest Stefan in the Church of the Assumption).

On Saturday, 29 March, Vladyka Laurus prayed at the funeral liturgy in St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, then performed a litany at the crypt of his Abba, Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko) of blessed memory (Photo below: Metropolitan Laurus performs a commemorative litany).

The First Hierarch arrived in New York on Saturday evening, where he performed the rite of the Veneration of the Cross at the Synodal Cathedral, followed by divine liturgy on Sunday.

On Tuesday, 1 April, Vladyka Metropolitan traveled to the Canadian capital of Ottawa, where the Eastern Canadian Diocese is holding a pastoral retreat followed by a meeting of the Diocesan Council.