On Sunday, November 10, 2024, the 20th Sunday after Pentecost and the feast of the Great Martyr Paraskeva and St. Job of Pochaev, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Cathedral in New York.
Concelebrating with the archpastor at the Liturgy were the rector of the cathedral, Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov; the acting Secretary of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov); the head of the chancery, Priest Mark Rashkov; the rector of St. Nicholas Church in Chester, Pennsylvania, Archpriest Alexis Bocharnikov; and the cathedral clergy. The deacons were led by the head of the hierarchical protocol service, Deacon Alexis Golubov. The liturgical hymns were sung by the hierarchical choir of the cathedral under the direction of choir director Ksenia Afanasyeva.
After the Gospel reading, the bishop offered a prayer for Holy Rus’, as well as fervent prayers for the repose of the newly reposed hierarch of the Russian Church Outside of Russia — Archbishop Peter (Lukianov) of Chicago.
During the Liturgy, after tonsuring him a subdeacon, Bishop Matthew ordained Reader Hilarion Svanidze of St. Nicholas Church in Chester to the diaconate.
At the end of the service, the rector of the cathedral, Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov, warmly greeted the archpastor and, in memory of this long-awaited hierarchical service, presented him with a painting of New York by parishioner Lilia Popova.
In turn, Bishop Matthew addressed those gathered with a sermon on the Sunday Gospel reading (Luke 8:26-39). The bishop also shared his joy at being able, for the first time since the lifting of coronavirus restrictions, to come to his flock in the USA and celebrate a service in the cathedral. The bishop expressed confidence that such prayerful communion will henceforth be regular, especially in the coming year, when the 100th anniversary of the repose of the enlightener of America and founder of St. Nicholas Cathedral in New York, St. Tikhon the Confessor, Patriarch of Moscow, will be marked.
Then Patriarchal decrees on awards to clergy and laity of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA were read. In connection with the 35th anniversary of his ordination and his 65th birthday, the cleric of St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York, Protodeacon Igor Panachev, was awarded the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov, 3rd class. In gratitude for their labors for the good of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and their help to others, His Holiness awarded: the medal of St. Luke of Crimea — to the cathedral cleric Hieromonk John (Shefler); the “Patriarchal Gratitude” medal — to the cathedral cleric Deacon John Peters, to Matushka Elena Bocharnikova, wife of Archpriest Alexis Bocharnikov, and to cathedral parishioners Elena Klimenko and Elena Granstrem.
In conclusion, the archpastor thanked all present for the joy of praying together and gave the faithful the cross to venerate, after which small icons of the Most Holy Theotokos and St. Nicholas were distributed to them with the hierarchical blessing.
Fellowship continued at a fraternal meal prepared by the sisterhood under the leadership of the wife of the cathedral rector, Matushka Alla Vyzhanova. After the meal, Bishop Matthew acquainted himself with the work of the Sunday School and the library and spoke with the teachers and students.
