NEW YORK: 1 October 2024
The September services of the Primate of the Russian Church Abroad

On September 1, 2024, the 10th Sunday after Pentecost, a joyous series of events took place in the Church of the Nativity of Christ and St Nicholas in Florence, Italy. The hierarchical services that weekend were officiated by the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York; the diocesan Ruling Bishop, His Grace Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe; and His Grace Bishop Job of Stuttgart, whom Bishop Irenei invited to the parish. Serving alongside the hierarchs were the local clergy of the Florentine parish.

On Sunday, September 8, the feast day of the Meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, Metropolitan Nicholas celebrated Divine Liturgy at St John the Baptist Cathedral in the US capital, where he officiated at the celebration of the parish's 75th anniversary. Concelebrating wer Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, His Grace Bishop Luke of Syracuse, Abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, and Bishop Jerome (Shaw). During the minor entrance, Priest Alexander Reznikov was elevated to the rank of archpriest, and Deacon Gregory Trubetskoy was awarded the rank of protodeacon. After a sermon by Metropolitan Nicholas, a moleben began, combined with a procession of the cross. Upon his return to church, His Eminence presented Protopriest Victor Potapov's wife, Maria Sergeevna, with the Synodal Ladies' Order of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, Third Degree, and Fr Victor with a gramota from the Synod of Bishops on the occasion of his 50th anniversary of pastoral service.

The gramota of the Synod of Bishops was also read out and presented to the entire Cathedral of St John the Baptist. On the same day, in the evening, a festive reception was held.

On Monday, September 9, Metropolitan Nicholas received the warden of the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Geneva, Switzerland, Alexander Romash.

During a conversation that took place during the evening luncheon, His Eminence inquired about the life of the clergy and the cathedral parish in Geneva. According to the warden, the council of the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross decided to send a significant amount from its charitable fund for the renovation of the Synodal residence in New York. Bidding farewell to Mr Romash, His Eminence Vladyka Nicholas asked to convey his gratitude to the clergy and parishioners, invoking God's blessing upon all.

On September 11-12, Metropolitan Nicholas visited the missionary community of St Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna, Enlightener of America, in Bucksport, Maine, and St Alexander Nevsky Memorial Church in Richmond, Maine. At the minor entrance of Divine Liturgy in St Alexander Nevsky Church, His Eminence praised the work of Archpriest Chad Williams, awarding him the right to wear the mitre on the occasion of his 40th anniversary of pastoral service.

On Saturday, September 14, the day of the beginning of the ecclesial New Year and the feast of the Synaxis of the Diveevo Saints, Metropolitan Nicholas visited the Novo-Diveevo Convent of the Dormition in Nanuet, NY, where he led divine services on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the monastery by Archbishop Andrei (Rymarenko, +1978) of blessed memory. The night before, Metropolitan Nicholas celebrated all-night vigil. On Saturday morning, His Eminence was greeted at St Seraphim Cathedral of the monastery. Concelebrating with the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia were Archbishop Gabriel, Bishop Irinej of Eastern America (Serbian Orthodox Church), Bishop Luke of Syracuse and Bishop Jerome, as well as diocesan and local clergy. In his welcoming remarks, Metropolitan Nicholas congratulated the clergy, monastics and parishioners on the significant anniversary, reminding them of the need to hold fast to the faith and preserve the legacy of those who erected the sacred walls of the monastery.

In honor of the anniversary, Abbess Makaria (Fadina) and the sisters were presented with a gramota from the Synod of Bishops. In recognition of her selfless service as choir director and administrator of the monastery office, Maria Nikolaevna Fedorovskaya was awarded the Synodal Ladies' Order of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, III degree.

On Sunday, September 15, the 12th Sunday after Pentecost, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York celebrated Divine Liturgy at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign” in New York, co-served by Archbishop Gabriel and the cathedral clergy.

On Tuesday, September 17, Metropolitan Nicholas visited the residence of His Eminence Metropolitan Sava, head of the North American Archdiocese of the Antiochian Orthodox Church. During the luncheon, a fraternal talk took place on pressing issues of the life of the Holy Church of Christ, her pastoral and missionary ministry, youth work and inter-Orthodox relations. The meeting was held in a warm and friendly atmosphere. At the end of the meeting, the hierarchs exchanged mementos, wishing each other God's help. Metropolitan Sava presented Metropolitan Nicholas with a reliquary containing a particle of the incorrupt mantle of St Raphael of Brooklyn, recently found along with his holy relics. The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad promised to find a worthy place for this relic.

On September 20-21, the great feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, Metropolitan Nicholas visited the Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Albany, NY, and officiated at divine services on the occasion of the parish's patronal feast.

On Sunday, September 22, His Eminence officiated at Divine Liturgy at the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY. His Eminence was co-served by Bishop Jerome and the local clergy, along with a large gathering of the faithful.

On September 23-24, the day of the glorification of Blessed Xenia of St Petersburg by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in 1978, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York visited the church of the same name in Methuen, MA. Despite the fact that it was a workday, the patronal feast gathered a great multitude of pilgrims.

His Eminence celebrated the festal services on the occasion of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord and the Sunday after at the Synodal Cathedral in New York.

Eastern American Diocese