On Sunday, August 30, 2026, the 13th Sunday after Pentecost and the Afterfeast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, celebrated the Liturgy at St. Nicholas Church in Bayonne, New Jersey.
At the entrance to the church, the bishop was cordially welcomed by Sunday School students and members of the Parish Council. Concelebrating with the bishop were the rector of the church and Dean of the Eastern States, Archpriest Michael Kapcicz; the cleric of St. Nicholas Church, Priest Dimitri Sukhorukov; and clergy of the deanery, Protodeacon Sergius Kerko and Deacon Basil Carr.
After Holy Communion, the archpastor, clergy and faithful sang the glorification of the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.
At the end of the service, the rector of the church, Fr. Michael Kapcicz, warmly greeted the archpastor. The bishop addressed those gathered with a sermon on the Sunday Gospel reading and congratulated them on the continuing celebration of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Bishop Matthew gratefully noted the consistently prayerful singing of the St. Nicholas Church choir under the direction of Matushka Ekaterina Kapcicz. “The organization of prayerful services according to the Typikon, a close-knit parish community and the work of the Sunday School — everything that Fr. Michael, Dean of the Eastern States parishes, tirelessly cares for — is an excellent example for the clergy and parish workers of the entire district,” the bishop said in particular.
Fellowship between the archpastor, clergy and parishioners continued at a fraternal meal, after which Bishop Matthew and Archpriest Michael discussed current matters in the life of the Eastern States deanery parishes.
