To mark the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the clergy and laity of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, compatriots and caring Americans held a series of solemn and memorial events.
On May 7, a reception dedicated to the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War was held at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Washington, attended by numerous guests, including compatriots, veterans of the Red Army and of the U.S. armed forces who fought against the common enemy, and representatives of the U.S. Administration and the diplomatic corps. Taking part in the event were the acting Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov), parishioners of St. Nicholas Cathedral in New York, and the rector of St. John the Baptist Cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in Washington, Archpriest Victor Potapov.
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On the morning of the holiday, May 9, parishioners of St. Nicholas Cathedral in New York and members of the Orthodox Youth of New York laid flowers and honored the memory of those who fell in the Great Patriotic War, as well as the Allied soldiers of the USA, at the World War II Memorial in Battery Park, New York.
Afterwards, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Church of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious in Bayside, New York. The service was celebrated by the acting Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov); the head of the chancery, Priest Mark Rashkov; the rector of the parish, Priest Rodion Shamazov; and clergy of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA. Many parishioners and guests from other churches of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia prayed at the service.
After the Liturgy, a procession was held in which parishioners carried photographs of their relatives who had taken part in the Great Patriotic War. After the procession, a thanksgiving moleben to the Lord for granting Victory and a litiya for the departed were served. Hegumen Nikodim conveyed to the rector and parishioners the congratulations of Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, on the patronal feast and Victory Day.
During the fraternal meal after the service, young parishioners, directed by the parish choir director Matushka Lilia Shamazova, gave a concert, performing wartime songs and reciting poems dedicated to Victory Day.
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On the same day, at St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York, Priest Anthony Kurakevich celebrated the Divine Liturgy, a thanksgiving moleben and a litiya for the departed. Parishioners and staff of the Consulate General of Russia in New York prayed at the service.
During the holiday, members of the Orthodox Youth of New York visited veterans, survivors of the Siege of Leningrad and others of equal status living in the city and its surroundings, bringing them gifts.
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On Sunday, May 10, the 5th Sunday of Pascha, at the Church of All Saints Who Shone Forth in the Russian Land at the Patriarchal estate in Pine Bush, New York, the rector of the parish, Priest Artemy Kulikovsky, celebrated the Divine Liturgy, attended by parishioners and guests of the parish — compatriots who had come from surrounding towns to take part in the Victory Day celebrations.
After the Liturgy, the clergy and faithful went in procession to the cemetery, where a thanksgiving moleben and a litiya for the departed were served at the memorial Cross erected on the 70th anniversary of Victory in memory of all who perished in the Great Patriotic War.
After the service, all were invited to a fraternal meal, during which the participants sang wartime songs and shared stories of their family members who had taken part in the Great Patriotic War.
